Chapter 6

Isabella's pov;

"Submit all of your assignments before going to your spots," Ms Devlin said before the class began.

My eyes nearly popped out when she announced it.

"Did you finish your assignment?" I inquired, turning to Sophia.

"Yes, why are you questioning me? Didn't you complete it?"

"What am I going to do now?" I asked, shaking my head.

"What did you do yesterday in the library?"

"I... I fell asleep." And let out a nervous laugh.

Evelyn mocked me, adding, "And you said you didn't want my help."

I went to Liam and inquired, "What about your homework? Did you complete it?"

"Yup!"

I threw a glare at him and turned to Noah and asked him, "How about you?"

"Last night, I pulled an all-nighter and finished my assignment."

"Am I the outcast again?"

They went to their assigned seats one by one, submitting their assignments on the table. I should request permission.

Ms Devlin, seeing that I was empty-handed, inquired, "Where's your assignment, Ms Garcia?"

"I... I-I forget my assignment, mam."

"Do you forget to bring or do you forget to do?"

"I completed it, but I forgot to bring it with me."

"Well, by Monday, I need your homework on my desk by eight a.m."

"Yes, ma'am, I will turn in my project by eight o'clock, ma'am."

"And don't forget about it."

"No, ma'am, I'm not going to miss it."

"If you did, remember that you will not be receiving your internal grades from me this semester."

"Certainly, ma'am."

"Please take your seat."

"Thank you very much, ma'am."

I strolled to my spot, dropping my head and without glancing around.

Sophia said, "Liar," as soon as I sat down beside her.

I flashed her a phoney smile and asked Liam, "Can I come to your place today?"

"Yeah, and you don't have to ask me every time you come," Liam remarked with a smirk.

"You don't want my aid, but you always wind up asking Liam for assistance. In your eyes, who am I?" Evelyn sounded irritated.

I pressed my lips on Evelyn's cheeks and murmured, "I don't want to bother you with my projects because you help me so much. And in my view, you are my lovely little best friend. Or do you wish for us to be more than just friends?"

"Don't swing in that direction because I'm waiting for you here," Liam stated as he drew me closer to him.

"You don't have to worry about it since I already have my sights set on a guy," Evelyn remarked.

I stepped out of Liam's grasp and inquired, "Who's it? Is he one of our classmates?"

She responded with a 'no' by shaking her head.

"Which class is he?"

"It's a closely guarded secret."

"I'm going to find out."

Evelyn smirked and resumed writing in her notebook.

"First and foremost, think about your assignment," Sophia said to me as I was challenging Evelyn.

"I'm not sure how I'm going to accomplish my schoolwork today," I complained even more.

Liam, "Tell me the books you'll need to refer to for your topics. I'll go to the library and grab it for you."

Sophia, "This is why she'll come to you whenever she needs assistance." This is not how you assist. You should assist her by working alongside her rather than for her."

"She'll learn it soon," he said to Sophia as he rubbed my head.

"Sophia is correct. I can't constantly come to you for assistance. I should teach myself how to accomplish these things. I forgot about the homework, so it's my fault, and I'll accompany you to the library. We'll go to the library and look for books together."

Liam cracked a smile.

Noah, "You guys! Stop being too flirtatious. Aren't you two sick of it?"

Liam and I laughed together, which irritated him even more.

"Quiet!" Ms Devlin yelled at us and went back to teaching.

During our lunch break, Liam and I were looking for a book for my references in the library. While he was on the internet to search the book's location in the library, I went through the bookshelves. These books are giving me migraines. Why are there so many different titles? It also makes me tired. I'm curious how people spend the majority of their time in this dreadful location.

"Hey!" Liam appeared out of nowhere in front of me.

"You frightened me!"

He chuckled and inquired, "Did you find out anything?"

"Yes, I have one. Here." I offered the book I discovered after searching an entire book shelf.

"Okay. Let's have a peek over there." He led me to another location where we both searched together.

"I found one!" With a smirk on his face, he showed me the book.

Searching for a book is simple with him because he knows the library inside and out; he is a member of the library organisation, not because he is a scholar. After a while, we acquired the books I wanted from the library and checked them out.

"First, I'll go to my place and change."

"OK," he answered with a nod and we parted in our ways.

I stood in front of Liam's house, rang the doorbell, and waited for him to open the door, hoping it wasn't his mother.

The door swung open. I noticed Liam standing there, dressed in a white t-shirt and black trousers. I entered the house and followed him to his room, asking him, "What happened to your mother? Is she still at home?"

"Ah! Are you still afraid of her?"

"I'm not afraid. It's only..."

"Bella! You haven't been here in days. How are you doing, darling?" His mother appeared out of nowhere and hugged me.

I struggled to break free from her grasp while saying, "Ms Smith, I'm doing OK. How are things going for you?"

She broke the embrace and said, "I'm good too. Are you hungry? I made some Mac and cheese for Laila."

(Laila - Liam's younger sibling)

"Ms Smith, I ate before coming here. Also, thank you for your offer. Um... I came here to complete the assignment..."

She interrupted my statement by saying, "Yes, yes. Go ahead. After a while, I'll deliver some biscuits to Liam's room."

"Your mum is so tactile, gooey, smushy," Liam says in his room.

Liam came in and sat on the bed with me, closing the door behind him.

"Because she thinks you're cute."

"Urgh! And why is this so?"

"What makes me think that? Perhaps you did something beneficial to her eyes?"

I sighed and inquired, "By the way, where is Laila?"

Liam took the books we had brought from the library and placed them on the table, saying, "She's taking piano lessons at her school."

"Piano? Really? Laila?"

"I was astounded as you were when she asked her mother about taking piano lessons. But she appears to be interested, so I'm going to get her a piano for her birthday."

"Don't!"

"What?"

"She's attending classes because she's interested in them, you can buy her anything at any time, but not for her birthday. A girl her age does not want a piano as a birthday present."

"So, what should I get her? I'm completely perplexed. It took a long time for me to consider getting her a piano. Now, what should I do now? What should I buy her?"

"How about a piano?"

"What?"

"Laila is taking piano lessons, so buying her a piano will be beneficial to her."

He still had a puzzled expression on his face.

I put my hand on his shoulder and added, "I was joking at the time. Do you trust everything I say?"

"You like taunting me, huh?" he shoved me on the bed and got over me.

I chuckled at him and told him, "Yeah. It's entertaining."

"Then I'll have some fun as well."

"What are your plans?"

He appeared suspicious. His gaze shifted from my face to...

"Don't do it! Stop! Hahaha... Stop hahahahaha…"

He tickled me on the waist incessantly, causing me to laugh uncontrollably. He slid and fell on me when I tried to move him. Our faces were inches apart, and I could feel his breath on my cheek. He looked at me as if he was about to kiss me.

I pushed him away and sat down, saying, "I have homework to complete. Don't mess with me."

I began working on my task by consulting the library's literature. When I turned to look at him to see what he was doing silently, I noticed he was on his phone. I went back to my work.

Someone knocked on the door, and when I attempted to get up, he said, "I'll get it."

"Bella!" someone yelled once I opened the door.

That scream! I missed this scream very much.

"Laila!"

Laila rushed up to me and hugged me, saying, "Why didn't you pay me a visit? I was missing you."

"I missed you too, Laila," I said as I hugged her back. I interrupted the embrace and inquired, "Your brother mentioned that you'll be taking piano lessons. What caused it to happen?"

She moved closer to me and whispered, "It's because there's a boy I like."

I returned her whisper, "What? So you're going to see him because you want to?"

"Yes, I enjoyed the piano lessons later on. Learning is enjoyable."

We both laughed out loud.

"Laila, she has an assignment, so make your way out."

"Fine!" she exclaimed to his face. "Come downstairs after you finish," he urged, turning to face me.

While she was departing, I gave her a thumbs up.

After she had gone, I questioned him, "Why must you be so impolite to her? Is this my fault? Is it my fault that I pushed you away? Is it because you didn't receive a kiss..."

Liam walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Did he become enraged? Ah! Don't worry about him.

I finished my homework and checked the time. What? Is it already seven o'clock? I collected my things and went downstairs, where I found Ms Smith and Mr Smith talking in the gallery, Laila watching television, and Liam... What happened to Liam?

"Bella, my dear! Did you complete your homework? Do you want to eat something? Should I make something for you?"

"It's all right, Ms Smith. I'm not hungry because I ate all of the biscuits you gave me earlier."

"Okay."

"Um... Ms Smith, where is Liam?"

"I'm here!"

When I turned around, he was walking out of the kitchen with a dish of food in his hand. He handed it to me and said, "It's intended for you. Eat it before you get to your house."

"I am not hungry."

When I attempted to leave, he grabbed my hand and said, "I'll..." His mother arrived before he finished, so he let go of his grip on me.

Ms Smith inquired, "Are you already on your way? Is your mother back from work?"

"Um… I had no idea. I have some stuff to accomplish, so I should get going."

"All right, but come whenever you want."

"Ms Smith, yes. Have a nice night."

I strolled out of the house and down the street, taking in the scenery.

"I'll walk you to the bus station."

Liam was walking next to me.

I sighed and proceeded on my way.

Liam, "The whole class thinks we're dating, but I couldn't even..."

"We talked about it a lot, Liam."

"Yes, I am aware. You told me several times. How am I going to forget that? But... leave it alone. So, did you finish your homework?"

"Yeah."

"Remember to bring it in on Monday morning."

"Okay."

We arrived at the bus station. In the bus terminal, Liam stood behind me.

"What keeps you here? Aren't you returning home?"

"I'll go once you've boarded the bus."

I jabbed his chest and said, "I'm not a young lady. You don't have to be concerned about me. Get the hell out of here."

He stood there as if he didn't want to leave.

I wished the bus would arrive soon. I looked at the bus schedule. A bus should arrive in around five minutes.

He asked, "What do you have planned for the weekend?"

"No. And I'm not accompanying you anywhere."

He appeared irritated.

The bus pulled up.

I ignored him and boarded the bus, taking a seat.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" I asked as he entered the bus and sat near me.

"All I remember is that I have to go somewhere."

"Where? Give it a name."

"What is your motivation for requesting the name? Do you want to come along?"

I kept silent and ignored him. To get away from this obnoxious person, I took out my iPod and inserted it into my ears.

Liam took one of my earphones and stuck it into one of his ears saying, "Aren't we friends?"

I ignored him and continued listening to the song which is playing in my playlist.

Someone tapped on my shoulder.

"Your halt has arrived." Liam was yelling my name at me.

Did I fall asleep? I stepped away from the spot and exited the bus.

"Why are you accompanying me?" Asked him while he was walking beside me.

"Who will accompany you? I'm coming to see a pal."

"Menteur"

"What? What does this mean?"

I laughed out loud.

"What does this imply? Come on, Say it."

"Ask the friend you'll be meeting."

I went to my residence.

"Isn't your mother not at home?"

"Yeah."

"Lock your doors before going to sleep."

I nodded.

"Okay. Goodnight. Hello, goodbye, hug?"

"Leave right now."

I entered the house and shut the door behind me.