The morning sun poured through the school courtyard in golden sheets, bright and almost too cheerful for how quiet everything felt lately. Rumors about Adrian's sudden disappearance had spread fast, though no one could agree on the reason. Some said he transferred schools again; others whispered that he was caught in something shady. Whatever it was, neither Alex nor Liam brought him up anymore. It was like the school itself had decided to erase him.
Liam leaned against the locker door, hair still damp from practice, shirt unbuttoned halfway as he rifled through his bag. Alex was sitting on the bench nearby, scrolling through his phone, pretending not to stare but failing miserably.
"You know," Alex muttered, not looking up, "for someone who says he hates attention, you sure walk around looking like a Calvin Klein ad."
Liam smirked, glancing over his shoulder. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
