Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Welcome Friendship

Lunch. I was dreading it. Until I approached the doorway and found Liam standing to one side. He didn't see me at first, back against the wall with his hands in his pockets. I watched him as he watched everyone else, that same gentle look on his face. Not an act, then, a show for my benefit. He genuinely was just a really good person.

Which made me feel terrible. How far had the gay rumor gone? I was pretty sure Liam wouldn't care what other people thought of him, but I felt like I was part of the rumor mill just by association.

I glanced over my shoulder as I approached him. Ms. Spaft hovered at the end of the hall, her evil eye scanning each kid as they passed, though for some reason I felt again like she'd singled me out. Maybe me being the first to pass her little test the other day was a bad thing, made me target zero.

Whatever. I smiled at Liam as he glanced up and saw me, a slow grin making me feel welcome.