Chapter 16

William leans against the wall, looking around at his surroundings. There are a few people walking past him, all on their own mission.

He turns his gaze to the school building across the street from him. The school building looks abandoned, except for a few children running through the halls.  The pale grass in front of the school building makes him feel depressed.

He checks his watch and lets out a frustrated sigh. Blake wanted to see him before he went to the color run. And now he is going to be late. He will just explain the situation to Lianna. She will understand. She always does.

“Oi, why are you standing out in the open?” Blake’s gravel voice startles William. He jerks his head to Blake and finds him standing around the corner of the wall.

“Good afternoon, Blake,” William greets while making his way over to him. Blake lets out a grunt as he leads them around the old wall. They come to a stop and Blake rests against the old wall.

William steps next to Blake and crosses his arms. Blake mumbles to himself before placing his hands in his long black coat. William waits for Blake to speak, aware that something must be bothering Blake if he wants to see him in person. And if something is bothering Blake, it is something serious.

“Your little missus,” Blake starts, his hands searching his pockets, “is going to have to get some security of her own. I heard from a, what one could call a friend, that the pap is getting bored. They want photos of you and the missus. The birdie is telling the story that you have a quite serious relationship going on. The birds don’t like that idea.” Blake draws a packet of cigarettes from his pocket along with what looks like a lighter. He lights his cigarette and lets out a puff.

William waves the cloud away with frustration. He told Blake that he hates the smell of cigarettes, but it must have gone in one ear and through the other one. If it even went into his ears.

“All right. I will look into it. For now, focus more on her. I can handle most of the paparazzi on my own, but she might start talking to them. You never know with her.” Blake hums in agreement.

“Strange, that missus of yours. She might go on spilling your secrets to the pap,” Blake says before he takes another long pull. William purses his lips together, looking to the side.

She would. Unknowingly, of course, but she likes to talk.

Blake flicks the cigarette to the floor and steps on it. He bows his head and starts away from William.

William watches Blake leave and he turns to the school, sighing as the weight sets heavier on him.

“Here you go.” Lianna hands a packet of powdered paint to a boy. He thanks her and runs to his group of friends. Lianna watches them throw the paint at each other with a smile.

She checks her phone and the smile slightly fades. She really wanted William to come. It would have been a great opportunity for him to get rid of some of his stress.

Lianna hands another packet to Mr. Houx, the Math teacher at the school.

“Aren’t you going to join the students?” he asks, glancing over his shoulder to the students running around on the grass and throwing each other with the paint.

“In a minute,” Lianna says and notices a student appearing behind him, aiming at him. Powder comes flying in their direction and Mr. Houx dodges. The powder hits Lianna’s white shirt and some gets on her face. The student laughs and runs away.

“You’re going to regret that, Paige.” Lianna takes a packet of powdered paint, playing around with the packet in her hand. Maybe William got busy or held up.

“Am I too late?” A familiar voice asks next to her and Lianna snaps her head to the side.

“You made it,” she says with excitement. William chuckles. “But you’re still dressed in a suit. You won’t be able to play.” Lianna hides her disappointment. At least he showed up.

“I am going to play, and this suit is not going to stop me,” he says while getting out of the jacket. He places it on the table and takes off his tie.

Lianna laughs and hands him the packet she was holding in her hand. She takes another packet and opens it.

“How do I play?” he asks, eyeing the packet. Lianna laughs again.

“Easy, just open the packet, take a handful of the powder and throw it.” Lianna puts her hand in the packet.

Before Lianna could throw William, he dumps the whole packet on her head. He laughs heartily and grabs another packet, getting away from Lianna.

Lianna lets out an exaggerated gasp, her eyes closed to prevent the powder from getting into her eyes.

“Oh, you are so . . . “ Lianna throws her hair forward, shaking the powder from her hair. She flips her head back and flattens her hair before she runs after William.

William evades her attacks and attempts to throw her again, but Lianna is smarter this time.

They run around in circles, occasionally being hit by a student. William dodges an attack but slips on some of the powder on the dead grass. He falls to the ground, landing on his butt. Lianna bursts out laughing while she runs over to William.

“Are you okay?” she asks in between laughter. William lays back on the grass, out of breath. He laughs again, feeling some of the stress leaving him. This was a good idea.

“I’m fine,” he says out of breath. Lianna hovers over William, the packet in her hand, threatening to dump it all on William. “You wouldn’t dare,” William says, holding his hands out to defend himself. Lianna laughs loudly, slowly tilting the packet. “No,” William shouts dramatically and Lianna laughs again. She dumps the packet on William’s body, ensuring it does not go on his face.

William grabs her hand that is holding the packet and pulls her down. Lianna stumbles and falls next to William. He takes the last bit of powder in his packet and smears it on her cheek.

“Eish, no. Not the face,” Lianna says with loud laughter, struggling to get out of his grip.

William holds her down, laughing along with Lianna. Lianna gives up, letting herself fall next to him, out of breath.

William is also out of breath, his chest heaving up and down. He turns his head to her and sees the small layer of sweat on her forehead, her hair laid out on the grass and her mouth slightly ajar, catching her breath.

“I did not think this would be so exhausting,” Lianna says and William nods.

“I had never done this before,” he says as he sits up, still out of breath. Lianna’s head snaps to him, a deep frown appearing between her brows.

“What? How is that possible?” she asks. She is lying on the ground, looking up at William. He shrugs slightly.

“We were never allowed to get our clothes dirty.” William gives Lianna a small smile and she sits up.

“You never had a childhood, did you?” she asks before she moves her hand closer to William. Her hand goes to his hair, removing the grass from his hair. William closes his eyes and focuses on her slender fingers working through his hair.

“Hm, I had a childhood,” he hums, but he does not even believe himself. His eyes open and he notices the concerned look on Lianna’s face. Perhaps she could understand his situation, but she never had to deal with that type of pressure.

William stands up and holds his hand out to her. Lianna takes it and he helps her up from the grass. He looks at her with a grin.

Her dark curls are tangled and covered in different colors. His eyes travel down to her face which is covered in blue powder, her one cheek covered with dead grass. His gaze ends on her lips and he realizes that he has been staring at her. He averts his gaze.

“Last one to get a packet is a loser,” he shouts, getting a head start to the table with the packets.

“Hey.” Lianna chases after him, but he is much faster than her. He reaches the table and grabs two packets before he hurries away from the table. Lianna grabs a packet filled with red paint and laughs loudly when William almost trips again.

She throws a handful of powder in his direction, but it disappears in the soft breeze. William laughs at her attempt and throws a whole packet at her, hitting her shoulder.

“That is cheating,” she shouts when the powder leaves a yellow stain on her white shirt. William laughs again, sticking his tongue out to tease her.

Lianna tries her best to catch up to him, but he evades her easily.

As William manages to maneuver his way out of another attack, he feels the heavy weight completely lifting off him. He has never felt as free as he does in that moment.

The breeze is cold against his face and he breathes deeply.

“I am going to get you,” Lianna calls after him. He glances at her over his shoulder.

Yes. She just might be the person he needed. The one who has lifted the weight off him that he has been carrying his whole life. She might just be the one to save him from drowning.