Louis stares blandly at the teacher as she talks about parabolas or absolute functions. Something about that sort. He couldn't pay much mind to her when Liam-fucking-Payne was sitting next to him, looking a absolutely godly in his tank top. His muscles in his arms had gotten obscenely large and even when he was just writing, it made Louis swoon.

"Mr. Tomlinson,"Louis snaps his head away from Liam and looks at the teacher with an annoyed expression.

"Yeah?" He asks and Mrs. Stewart places her hands on her hips.

"Care to tell us the answer to number twelve?" She questions.

"Seventy-three," Louis retorts. The class bursts out in laughter. He rolls his eyes and shrugs. Mrs. Stewart sighs exasperatedly and turns back to the lesson about graphing.

Liam leans over and his fingers ghost over Louis' arm, a simple gesture that had his skin feeling like it was on fire. Liam grins at him and turns back to his notes.

Louis huffs and tries to go back to his, but the feeling of their skin touching was too much for him to concentrate.

****

"Wanna come over later? We can work on that history project," Liam asks Louis, smiling. The smaller boy shrugs and goes back to eating the un-nutritional greasy pizza they offered in the school cafeteria.

"Sure, I guess. What time?" Louis inquires.

"Right after school! You can even spend the night," Liam offers and Louis nods, throwing his cardboard tray in the nearby trashcan. Louis nods and they talk a bit more until the bell rings.

They stand up and head to the crowded hallways. Louis sticks next to Liam's side, arms swinging carelessly side by side. Louis wants oh so bad to reach over and grab his hand, intertwining their fingers.

But he couldn't.

By the time school ended, Liam was already waiting against the hood of his car, running a hand through his hair. Louis felt like this was a scene in a movie. A romantic tragedy. A boy pining over his best friend who is as straight as a line.

Louis smiles at Liam and watches discreetly how his arms flex from the smallest movements like opening the door for him or the way he smiles at Louis.

Louis settles into the passenger seat and let's Liam round his car and drive out of the school. They stay silent as they drive to Liam's house, the small hum of the radio the only noise.

"What's up with you?" Liam finally asks, snapping Louis out of his reverie. He looks over at Liam with wide eyes.

"What do you mean?" He questions, bringing back his calm demeanor and resting his head on the window.

"You've been...odd lately," Liam replies, glancing at him. They stop at a red light and Louis sighs, rubbing his temple.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe it's just the fact that we're in our senior year of high school and soon we'll be off to Uni and—"

"Okay, okay. Calm down, Lou. Everything's gonna be alright," Liam says and Louis sighs deeply.

"Sorry. I'm just stressed, I guess," God, he should be an actor.

Liam finally pulls up to his house, a grand place, brick-built beautifully. His family has always had a bit of money stocked up and Louis was always jealous, wishing for a house this large instead his small two story home that he shared with his sisters and parents.

When they entered the house Liam's mum, Karen, was bustling around the living room, rolling some suitcases to the front door.

"Oh, Liam, dear. How was school?" She asks, pushing one of the suitcases to the door.

"Good. What's all this?" Liam questions. Karen smiles and places her hands on her hips.

"Your dad has another business meeting. In California. Maura will be here soon," She explains. Liam's shoulders slump slightly before he composes himself and plasters on a smile. Louis feels for him.

His parents always left suddenly, leaving the house empty without them. His sisters were gone too, moved to New York a few years ago to pursue their own career. The house got so quiet.

Until the housekeeper, Maura came by with her son to stay a few nights. Her son, Niall, was always loud, bringing excitement and mostly trouble wherever he went.

"We'll only be gone for a week. Love you," Karen says, kissing Liam's cheek quickly and patting Louis' shoulder on the way out.

Liam's father, Geoff, came downstairs seconds later, talking on the phone, only stopping to wave at Liam on the way out the door.

The front door closes quietly behind them and the house is silent. Liam lets out a deep sigh and Louis rubs his shoulders softly.

"It's okay, Lima," Louis says, leading his best friend to the couch. He sits him down and settles himself beside him.

"I know it is. I just wish they were around more," He mutters. Louis stands up and looks for the Fifa game that they love so much.

"Come on. Let's play. We can be as loud as we want," Louis winks sarcastically. Liam laughs a bit and grabs a controller from the dining table.

"Lou, sometimes I really question your sexuality," The comment was supposed to be sarcastic. It was supposed to be humorous. But all it did was make Louis swallow a lump in his throat and give Liam a tight smile.