Chapter 2: Unlikely Allies

Liam spent the next few days in a haze. He couldn’t stop thinking about Dominic—about the way his voice filled the space around him, the way his smile seemed to pull everything into focus, like he was always the center of attention. Every time Dominic’s words replayed in Liam’s head, his stomach twisted, and not in a bad way, either. It was unsettling, almost like he was standing on the edge of something he wasn’t ready to fall into.

He sat in his room, staring at his laptop, trying to focus on his readings. The novel was thick and heavy, the kind of thing that usually made him feel safe. But today, the words on the page blurred together, his mind drifting to the chaotic, unpredictable presence that was Dominic.

It wasn’t as if Liam hadn’t interacted with people like Dominic before. He’d known other outgoing students in high school, but there had always been an unspoken distance between them. They were the "popular" kids, and he was... not. Quiet, reserved, and careful about what he said, he’d always kept a safe distance from anyone who seemed too big, too loud, or too self-assured.

But Dominic? He was different. His energy wasn’t just loud; it was contagious, alive. And while that terrified Liam, he couldn’t help but be drawn to it.

The problem wasn’t just Dominic’s charisma. The real issue was how easily Dominic seemed to wear his identity. He was out. Proud. So sure of himself, so unapologetically who he was. And that made Liam feel small in comparison. He hadn’t come out to his parents yet. Not officially. Not in a way that meant anything. His parents were still too set in their old ways, and Liam was terrified of disappointing them.

A knock at the door broke his thoughts. It was Jasmine, his childhood friend and the only person who knew the full extent of his struggle with his sexuality. She was a bright, bubbly person, the complete opposite of Liam in nearly every way. Where he was quiet and thoughtful, she was loud and spontaneous, and yet they had always gotten along, ever since elementary school.

"You ready to hit the library?" Jasmine asked, standing in the doorway with a bright grin. Her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and she had on one of those oversized sweatshirts she always wore when she was comfortable, looking like she had just rolled out of bed.

Liam forced a smile. "Yeah, just a minute." He closed his laptop and grabbed his bag. The last thing he wanted to talk about right now was Dominic, but Jasmine had a way of sensing when something was off. He’d never been able to hide his emotions from her.

"How’s the project going? You still stuck with that theater guy?" Jasmine asked, her voice teasing but laced with genuine curiosity.

"Yeah, Dominic Carter." Liam shrugged, trying to play it cool. "He’s... fine."

"Fine? You sound so thrilled," Jasmine said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she crossed her arms. "What’s really going on?"

Liam hesitated, his thoughts spinning in circles. He couldn’t very well tell her about the attraction he was beginning to feel for Dominic, the way his heart raced when Dominic’s eyes met his, or how even the smallest touch from Dominic made him feel like his world was tilting on its axis. That wasn’t something he could share. Not with her. Not with anyone.

"It’s just... I don’t know, Jas," Liam said, his voice quieter now. "He’s kind of... I don’t know, loud and... confident. It’s hard to keep up."

Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "You don’t do loud. I get it. But I think it’s kind of good for you, Liam. He’s pushing you out of your comfort zone."

Liam bit his lip. She wasn’t wrong. The project had forced him into this uncomfortable, chaotic space where he had no choice but to engage with Dominic, to work with him. But it wasn’t just the project that made him nervous—it was Dominic himself.

"Maybe," Liam muttered. He looked at his phone, avoiding Jasmine’s eyes. "I just don’t know how to... deal with him."

"You’ll figure it out," Jasmine said with a shrug. "You’re smart. You know what you’re doing."

Liam wasn’t so sure. But the conversation didn’t leave him much room to argue, so he just nodded and followed Jasmine out the door.

Later that afternoon, they met up at the campus library. Jasmine headed straight for the table by the window, while Liam lingered by the door, trying to find the energy to focus on the task ahead. The library was quiet, the soft hum of distant conversations and the rustling of pages the only sounds that broke the silence.

Liam pulled out the book he’d been reading for his other class and opened it to the first page, trying to settle into the rhythm of his usual study routine. But his mind wouldn’t stop drifting. Dominic’s voice kept echoing in his head, the teasing, confident tone, the way Dominic had leaned in close when they’d talked after class.

What was it about him? Why did he make Liam feel so... flustered?

He tried to focus on the text in front of him, but the words seemed to blur. Maybe it was the constant hum of other students talking, the chatter in the back of his mind that wouldn’t settle, or maybe it was the anticipation of meeting Dominic later in the week, to actually get the project underway. Either way, his mind kept drifting to the same place.

He glanced up from his book.

Across the room, Dominic stood near the library’s entrance, talking to a couple of friends, laughing loudly. He had that effortless way of commanding attention, his body language wide and open, unafraid of being noticed.

Liam had to look away quickly, a wave of heat spreading across his face. Why did Dominic make him feel like this? Why was everything about him so... intense?

"Earth to Liam," Jasmine’s voice broke through his thoughts. She leaned over the table, her arms crossed. "What’s going on in that head of yours?"

Liam looked up at her, feeling his cheeks flush again. "Nothing."

Jasmine studied him for a moment, her gaze sharp. "You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?"

Liam opened his mouth to deny it, but before he could say anything, she raised a hand. "It’s okay, you know. I’m not stupid. You’re not that great at hiding it. The way you react when he talks to you? You can’t fool me."

Liam felt a tightness in his chest. He wasn’t ready for this conversation, not yet. "We’re just working on a project together, Jas. That’s all."

Jasmine didn’t let up. "I’m just saying—if you like him, you should figure it out. You can’t keep pretending like you don’t."

Liam let out a heavy sigh. "I don’t know if I’m ready for that, Jas."

"You’ll never know until you try," Jasmine said softly, her tone almost too understanding. "Just don’t let fear stop you from finding out who you really are. You’ve been doing that for a long time, haven’t you?"

The weight of her words lingered in the air between them. For a moment, Liam didn’t know how to respond. He had spent so long hiding, so long trying to push down the parts of himself that didn’t fit the mold he’d been raised in. But maybe Jasmine was right. Maybe he didn’t have to keep pretending anymore.

Just maybe.

**End of Chapter 2**

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