Oliver stayed in the restroom longer than he should have.
He waited until the noise outside faded a little, until the tight feeling in his chest loosened just enough for him to breathe normally again. When he finally stepped out, he kept his eyes low and moved quickly, hoping to disappear into the crowd.
It didn't work.
The whispers started again almost immediately.
Someone laughed behind him. Someone else muttered something sharp and cruel. Oliver felt every word like a stone thrown at his back. He focused on walking. Just walking. If he didn't react, maybe they would get bored.
Then a voice said, loud and clear, "Hey, Oliver."
He froze.
Slowly, he turned.
George and Alejandro stood a few steps away. George tilted his head, pretending to be curious. "So," he said, smirking, "is it true? Or are you just pretending?"
Oliver didn't answer.
Alejandro laughed. "Come on, don't be shy. We're just asking questions."
Oliver's fingers curled into his palm. His heart was beating too fast now. He hated this. He hated how small he felt, how trapped. He looked around, hoping—without knowing why—that Liam would suddenly appear.
But Liam wasn't in school.
George took a step closer. "Must be nice, huh? Getting special treatment."
That was when a shadow moved between them.
"Step back."
The voice was calm. Flat. Dangerous in a quiet way.
Everyone turned.
Tommy stood there.
He hadn't raised his voice. He hadn't shouted. He just stood in front of Oliver, broad shoulders squared, eyes sharp and steady. His hands were in his pockets, but the tension in his posture said he was ready for anything.
George scoffed. "What, you his bodyguard now?"
Tommy didn't even look at him properly. "I said step back."
Something in his tone made the joking stop.
"Mind your business," George muttered again.
Tommy finally looked at him. His gaze was cold. "It is my business."
The hallway had gone quiet. People were watching now. Phones stayed in pockets, but eyes were everywhere.
"You want to talk," Tommy continued, voice low, "talk about your grades. Or your life. Not someone else's."
Then Alejandro laughed nervously. "Relax, man. We were just—"
Tommy moved.
Not fast. Not wild. Just one step forward, close enough that the boys instinctively stepped back.
"Say one more word," Tommy said quietly, "and we'll have a real problem."
Silence.
The boys exchanged looks. Whatever they saw in Tommy's eyes made their courage vanish.
"Whatever," George muttered. "Let's go."
They walked away, shoulders stiff, trying to pretend they hadn't been scared.
Tommy waited until they were gone before turning around.
Oliver was still standing there, stunned. His face felt hot. His chest felt tight. He didn't know what to say.
Tommy studied him for a moment. Then he sighed.
"You okay?" he asked, softer now.
Oliver nodded, even though it wasn't completely true. "Yeah. I think so."
Tommy looked away, jaw tightening. "People can be stupid."
Oliver let out a small, shaky breath. "You didn't have to do that."
Tommy looked back at him, surprised. "Yes, I did."
They stood there awkwardly for a second.
"I heard what they were saying," Tommy added. "Not just today. It's been going on."
Oliver swallowed. "I didn't want trouble."
Tommy frowned. "You didn't cause trouble. They did."
That simple sentence hit Oliver harder than all the insults had.
A bell rang somewhere down the hall.
"Come on," Tommy said, nodding toward the classrooms. "I'll walk you."
Oliver hesitated, then nodded.
Liam returned to school the next day like nothing had happened.
Or at least, that was how it looked on the outside.
His uniform was neat. His face calm. His walk confident. Students still turned to look at him as he entered the gates, some with admiration, some with curiosity, some with guilt they didn't understand.
But the moment he stepped onto the school grounds, something felt… wrong.
The air felt tight.
Too many eyes shifted away when he passed. Too many whispers stopped suddenly. People weren't just staring at him the way they usually did. They were watching him carefully, like they were waiting for something.
Liam's jaw tightened.
He didn't see Oliver anywhere.
That alone already put him on edge.
In class, he couldn't focus. His leg bounced lightly under the desk. He checked the door more than once. Oliver was usually early. Quiet, yes—but always there.
When the lesson ended, Liam stood up immediately and walked out.
He found Tommy by the lockers.
Tommy looked tired. Not sleepy tired—angry tired. The kind that sits deep in the eyes.
"Have you seen Oliver?" Liam asked without greeting.
Tommy looked at him for a long second. Then he exhaled slowly.
"He went to the lab," he said.
Liam frowned. "Why?"
Tommy hesitated. "Because yesterday wasn't great for him."
Something cold slid down Liam's spine.
"What happened," Liam said. It wasn't a question.
Tommy leaned back against the lockers. His voice dropped. "People ran their mouths. Loud. Disgusting."
Liam's fingers curled slowly.
"They cornered him near the restroom," Tommy continued. "Said some things they shouldn't have said."
Liam felt his chest tighten. His vision sharpened.
"Who," he asked.
Tommy shook his head. "Doesn't matter. They backed off."
Liam snapped his head up. "Why."
Tommy met his eyes. "Because I stepped in."
There was silence between them.
Liam stared at Tommy, something unreadable passing over his face—surprise, anger, guilt, all mixed together.
"You did?" Liam said quietly.
Tommy nodded once. "Yeah."
Liam looked away. His jaw clenched hard. "I should've been here."
Tommy didn't argue. "Maybe. But you weren't."
Liam dragged a hand through his hair. Images flashed through his mind—Oliver walking alone, hearing those words, trying not to react. His stomach twisted painfully.
"What did they say?" Liam asked.
Tommy hesitated again. "You don't want to hear it."
"I do."
Tommy swallowed. "They called him names. Said things about your relationship. About his body. About what you do to him."
That was it.
Liam turned sharply and slammed his fist into the locker beside him.
The metal rang out loudly.
Students nearby jumped.
Tommy didn't move.
"They don't get to talk about him like that," Liam said, breathing hard. "They don't get to look at him like he's trash."
Tommy watched him closely. "Then you need to understand something."
Liam looked at him.
"This won't stop," Tommy said. "Not now. Not unless you decide how public you want to be."
Liam's anger faded into something heavier.
He knew that.
He just hadn't wanted to face it yet.
"Where is he now," Liam asked.
Tommy nodded toward the far corridor. "Still at the lab, by the window, I think."
Liam didn't say another word.
He walked.
The hallway felt longer than usual. Every step felt loud in his ears. When he reached the laboratory, he paused at the door.
Oliver was sitting exactly where Tommy said.
By the window.
His shoulders were tense. His head slightly lowered. He looked smaller than usual, like he was trying to take up less space.
Liam's chest hurt.
He stepped inside.
Oliver looked up.
For half a second, relief flashed across his face—pure, unguarded relief—before he quickly looked away, pretending to focus on his book.
Liam walked straight to him and stopped beside his desk.
"Come with me," Liam said quietly.
Oliver stiffened. "Liam—"
"Please."
That one word made Oliver stand up.
They walked out together, hand in hand. No one said anything. No one dared.
Once they reached the empty stairwell, Liam turned to him.
"Why didn't you tell me, at least you could have called." Liam asked.
Oliver pressed his lips together. "I didn't want you to fight."
Liam's voice broke just slightly. "I would fight the whole school for you."
Oliver looked up at him then, eyes shining, scared and soft all at once.
"I know," Oliver said. "That's why I didn't."
Liam pulled him into a hug without thinking.
Not tight. Not possessive.
Just protective.
Oliver hesitated for only a second before leaning into it.
And in that quiet stairwell, with the world pressing in from all sides, Liam made a promise to himself.
No one would ever hurt Oliver in silence again...