chapter :6,7,8,9,10..(combined chapter)

Chapter 6: Are We Actually Dating?

Ethan felt like he had misheard Liam. Or maybe he had passed out and was hallucinating. Because there was no way—no way—that Liam Carter, the boy everyone adored, had just said he liked him back.

Liam, as if completely unaware of the internal chaos Ethan was experiencing, grinned. “So? Are we dating now?”

Ethan nearly choked on air. “Wh—What?”

Liam chuckled. “You confessed. I like you too. That usually means we should start dating, right?”

Ethan opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “You’re just saying that to mess with me.”

Liam frowned. “Why would I do that?”

“Because—because you’re Liam!” Ethan threw his hands in the air. “Every girl in this school wants to date you. You could literally have anyone!”

Liam tilted his head. “Yeah. And I choose you.”

Ethan's brain short-circuited.

Chapter 7: The First Date (Or Something Like It)

Ethan spent the next few days walking around in a daze, barely believing what had happened. Every time he saw Liam, his heart did this stupid little flip, and his stomach felt like it was full of fireworks.

Noah, however, found the whole thing hilarious.

"So let me get this straight," Noah said, smirking. "You accidentally got into a relationship with the most popular guy in school, and you still don’t believe it?"

Ethan groaned. "It’s not that I don’t believe it. It’s just… weird."

"Sounds like denial."

Before Ethan could argue, his phone buzzed.

Liam: Movie tomorrow? Just us? :)

Ethan stared at the screen. Was this a date date?

"Uh-oh," Noah teased, peeking over his shoulder. "You’re blushing."

Ethan threw a pillow at him.

—

The next evening, Ethan met Liam at the movie theater.

The plan was simple: watch a movie, act normal, pretend he wasn’t dying inside.

But from the moment Liam arrived—dressed casually in a hoodie and jeans, his usual effortless charm making heads turn—Ethan knew ‘acting normal’ wasn’t going to be possible.

“Ready?” Liam asked, smiling at him.

Ethan gulped. “Y-Yeah.”

They sat in the middle row, and as the movie started, Ethan tried to focus. He really did. But halfway through, Liam casually leaned in and whispered, “Are you always this tense?”

Ethan almost jumped. “I—I’m not tense!”

Liam smirked. Then, to Ethan’s horror, he grabbed Ethan’s hand and laced their fingers together.

Ethan nearly combusted on the spot.

But Liam? Liam just squeezed his hand and turned back to the screen, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

And just like that, Ethan finally realized—this was real.

Liam actually liked him.

And maybe… just maybe… Ethan was ready to believe it.

Chapter 8: Public Enemy Number One

The next day, Ethan arrived at school feeling different. Lighter, maybe. Like the world had shifted slightly on its axis.

But he quickly realized that while his world had changed, everyone else’s hadn’t.

Because as soon as he walked into class, the whispering started.

“Wait… is it true?”

“Ethan is dating Liam?”

“No way, Liam could do better.”

Ethan clenched his fists. He knew this would happen. Liam was basically school royalty, and Ethan? He was just… Ethan.

At lunch, he debated hiding in the library, but before he could escape, Liam appeared beside him, looking completely unbothered.

“What’s with that face?” Liam asked, nudging him.

Ethan sighed. “Everyone’s talking about us.”

Liam rolled his eyes. “Of course they are.”

Ethan hesitated. “Doesn’t it… bother you?”

Liam gave him a look. “Ethan, if I cared about what random people thought, do you really think I’d have asked you out?”

Ethan blinked. “But—”

Before he could say another word, Liam grabbed his hand—right there in the middle of the cafeteria, in front of everyone—and grinned.

“If people have a problem, that’s their problem. I’m happy. You’re happy. That’s all that matters.”

Ethan felt heat rush to his face. "You're insane."

Liam smirked. "And you like it."

Ethan groaned, but he didn’t let go of Liam’s hand.

Let them talk.

Because for the first time, Ethan wasn’t just the invisible guy in the background.

He was Liam Carter’s boyfriend.

And that? That was kind of amazing.

Chapter 9: The Trouble with Popularity

Ethan quickly learned that dating Liam Carter came with a lot of attention—both good and bad.

By the end of the week, he had become Public Enemy Number One to half the school.

Girls who used to ignore him now sent him glares. Some guys looked at him with disbelief, as if trying to figure out how he, of all people, had managed to land Liam. Even the teachers seemed surprised.

And then there were the messages.

Anonymous: You’re so lucky!

Anonymous: How did you do it?? Teach me!

Anonymous: You don’t deserve him.

Ethan tried not to let it bother him, but it was overwhelming. He had spent most of his school life trying to blend in, and now suddenly, everyone knew his name.

Liam, however, remained completely unbothered.

"People are just nosy," Liam said casually as they walked home together.

Ethan sighed. "Easy for you to say. You’re used to the attention."

Liam grinned. "True. But you’ll get used to it too."

Ethan wasn’t so sure.

Chapter 10: The Jealousy Problem

It wasn’t just the random stares or messages—there were also the girls.

Ethan knew Liam was popular, but he hadn’t realized just how many girls had been waiting for a chance to confess to him.

"Hey, Liam!"

Ethan turned just in time to see Sophia Martinez, one of the prettiest girls in school, walking up to them. She twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, flashing Liam a sweet smile.

"I was wondering… Are you free this weekend? We could go to the arcade together!"

Ethan froze.

Liam, however, barely blinked. "Sorry, I have plans."

Sophia pouted. "Oh, come on. Just a little while? I’m sure your plans can wait."

Liam sighed, clearly bored. Then, to Ethan’s absolute horror, Liam reached over, grabbed Ethan’s hand, and intertwined their fingers.

"My plans are with my boyfriend," Liam said casually.

Sophia’s eyes widened. "Oh. Oh." She looked at Ethan, then back at Liam. Her face twisted for a moment before she forced a fake smile. "Well, okay then… See you later."

As soon as she walked away, Ethan yanked his hand back, his face burning. "What was that?!"

Liam smirked. "What? You are my boyfriend."

"But did you have to hold my hand like that? In front of her?"

Liam laughed. "Ethan, I could kiss you right now if you want. That would get the message across even better."

Ethan nearly died on the spot.

"You’re the worst," Ethan muttered, shoving Liam lightly.

Liam just grinned.

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