Chapter 19 - Waiting for Liam

Vera's POV

"What are you two still doing in the changing room?"

I turned my head toward the voice.

Sarah stood at the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest, one eyebrow raised as she looked at us.

"Changing?" I answered plainly, looking at her like she'd just asked the most obvious question in the world.

Behind me, I heard Queen let out a nervous laugh.

"Sorry, Sarah. We'll get going."

My head snapped toward Queen with a confused frown on my face.

‘What is wrong with you, girl?’

Queen hurried over and grabbed my wrist.

"Come on," she said, trying to pull me gently toward the door.

I didn't move.

Instead, I stayed exactly where I was and finished pulling the leggings properly over my waist.

Without rushing, I reached for the buttons on my school shirt and slowly undid them, one by one.

The shirt fell open with my tits on display as I didn't wear a bra.

Sarah's eyes stayed locked on me the whole time.

A small, cold smile slowly crept across her lips.

She pushed herself off the doorway and walked toward me with slow, confident steps.

"Well, well, well..." she said slowly, her eyes moving over me before landing back on my face.

"See who thinks her tits are perfect enough for my eyes to see?"

I didn't answer her.

Without breaking eye contact, I picked up the crop top Queen had given me and pulled it over my head. I smoothed it down, straightening the fabric.

Behind me, Queen quickly gathered my uniform from the floor and shoved everything into her locker with shaky hands.

The locker door slammed shut.

She came rushing back to me and… Sarah turned to look at Queen and asked in a cold voice.

“Are you new here?”

Queen shook her head immediately with her hand nervously holding the top she was wearing.

“So… why haven't you and this…” she looked me uo and down with demeaning eyes and then back at Queen. “ still here?”

I could feel my blood boil at the way she looked at me like I am a piece of shit. I was about giving her back the perfect reply, but… Queen wrapped her fingers around my hand.

"Let's go," she whispered.

This time, I let her lead me.

We walked toward the door together.

As we passed Sarah, she stepped slightly to the side, leaving just enough room for us to pass.

Then her voice came from behind us.

"You should watch your steps," she said, then she paused briefly. "You might trip."

I clicked my tongue and my eyes hardened in slight anger.

Without turning around, I walked straight out of the changing room.

The moment the door shut behind us, I finally spoke.

"She's such a bully."

Queen sighed. "You have no idea."

We walked into the dance studio as she kept talking.

"I forgot to tell you earlier," she said, glancing around before lowering her voice. "Sarah is mean to almost everyone."

I frowned. "Really?"

Queen nodded. "There was a girl who talked back to her once during this class. Sarah grabbed her by the hair and dragged her across the floor."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"The teachers suspended her from dance class for two lessons after that." She looked at me seriously. "Just be careful around her."

I shook my head. "I hope she gets banned from this class forever."

Queen suddenly burst out laughing, bending slightly with one hand on her stomach and the other covering her mouth.

I blinked at her, as I watched her in confusion.

‘Did I say something funny?’

Before I could ask what was so funny, the sound of heels clicking against the wooden floor echoed through the room.

Queen stopped laughing right away and stood up straight.

I followed her gaze.

A woman walked into the studio with a bright smile. Her makeup was neat, her short hair framing her face perfectly. She moved with confidence as she walked to the middle of the room.

Queen leaned closer to me. "Money is power, Vera," she whispered. "Sarah gets away with almost everything."

A bitter feeling settled in my chest.

I pressed my lips together.

"A straight line, everyone!" The teacher's voice rang out, filling the room.

Students quickly lined up.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sarah walking out of the changing room like nothing had happened with her chin held high. She joined the line without sparing anyone a glance.

I stood beside Queen, who held one of my hands while another student held the other.

The teacher's eyes landed on me, and a warm smile crossed her face.

"I see we have a new face today," she said. Several students turned to look at me. "Let's welcome our new student."

She clapped once. "One... two... go."

Everyone's feet moved together right away. Their joined hands stretched forward as they shook their fingers playfully, all chanting at once.

"Welcome!"

A small smile appeared on my face.

"Great!" the teacher said, her attention staying on me. "Please introduce yourself."

I nodded with a polite smile, "My name is Vera. I'm glad to be in this class."

"Perfect," she said warmly, placing a hand on her chest. "I'm Rachael. Welcome to my class."

Then her eyes slowly moved toward Sarah. Her smile stayed, but her voice carried a quiet warning underneath it.

"And some people should remember to behave themselves."

Sarah didn't react, she just kept looking straight ahead.

Miss Rachael turned back to the rest of the class. "Alright," she said, clapping her hands together. "We'll continue from where we left off last week."

***

"Bye!"

I waved at Queen. She smiled back before climbing into the car waiting outside the school gate. I watched the car slowly drove off.

I stood there for a moment, then turned toward the parking lot, my eyes searching for the familiar spot.

The red Mercedes was still there.

I frowned. "Where are you, Liam?"

I pulled out my phone and quickly typed a message.

[I don't see you by your car. Where are you?]

I hit send. Then I waited.

I checked the time with my feet tapping against the floor. Three minutes had passed and still, no reply.

Students kept leaving the school grounds. Cars pulled out one after another until the parking lot was almost empty.

Just then, two girls walked past me.

"The others are watching Liam practice on the field."

"Let's go before our drivers arrive."

My head snapped toward them, but they kept walking, not even noticing I was there.

I sighed. "He could have at least sent a message saying he had practice."

I put my phone back into my bag. "I can't believe I have to wait..."

Muttering under my breath, I walked behind the girls toward the football field.

The moment I stepped onto the bleachers, my footsteps stopped. Every word disappeared from my mouth.

Liam had lifted the edge of his jersey to wipe the sweat off his face. My eyes moved slowly over his chest and his strong abs, sweat running down his skin, and for one brief second, the afternoon sun caught the drops of sweat on his skin. I caught my lip between my teeth without meaning to.

I couldn't look away.

My eyes stayed on him until he pulled his jersey back down and went straight back to training like nothing had happened.

My heart beat a little faster.

He ran across the field with confidence. Every move he made looked effortless. Even though I knew almost nothing about football, watching him somehow made the whole game look exciting.

My eyes wandered across the field. There were plenty of players out there.

But somehow, my eyes only followed one that made butterflies stirred wildly in my belly.

I forced myself to look away toward the bleachers instead. They were filled with girls, some whispering, some giggling, others openly staring at Liam.

I rolled my eyes. Most of them clearly weren't here for football. They were here for him.

I picked a seat far away from everyone else and sat down quietly, watching him train.

His feet moved fast across the field. He dribbled, passed, shot and ran again.

Time passed by. Little by little, the girls started leaving. Soon, practice ended, and most of the players headed toward the lockers.

But Liam stayed behind.

He kept shooting the ball toward the goalpost from different angles. Again. And again. And again.

Not once did he glance toward the empty bleachers. It was as if he'd grown completely used to people watching him.

Or maybe nothing else mattered to him while he trained.

Forty-five minutes passed, and the school grounds slowly fell silent.

I was still there. Still watching and waiting patiently, leaving him to be in his own world.

Then a tiny drop landed on my arm.

I looked up at the sky, another drop fell on my nose. Then another.

Rain.

I stood up from the bleachers and hurried toward the shelter near the exit. Within seconds, the drizzle turned into a heavier rain.

But Liam was still on the field. Still kicking the bal and aiming for the goalpost from different spots.

Rain soaked through his clothes, but he didn't stop.

I frowned.

‘Doesn't he care about his own health?’

Standing under the shelter, I cupped my hands around my mouth. "Liam!"

He didn't respond.

"Leave the rain!" I called out again.

The only answer I got was the sound of another hard kick.

The rain grew heavier. Wind pushed the water further under the shelter until cold drops splashed against my legs.

I looked toward the doorway, then back at Liam.

My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.

Should I stay here... or should I go make him leave?

I already knew my answer.

I set my school bag down carefully near the exit, then stepped out into the rain.

Cold water soaked through my clothes within seconds.

I walked straight toward him.

At the sound of footsteps approaching, Liam finally stopped. His head turned and his eyes met mine through the falling rain.

A line formed between his brows.

"Why are you still in school?”