A/N: Yep it's official I'm a terrible person. I made you wait more than 4 months for this. I apologise profusely. This chapter may be a little on the short side but it's also kind of sweet – and if this story goes how I plan it to you won't be getting many of those in the future. So enjoy please.

Chapter 6 – School, beans and sweet fights.

As Liam had said summer was nearly over and that meant school would soon be restarting. This realisation had Siren stood in the office yelling at full volume.

"I don't want to go!" She was well aware of the fact that she sounded like a petulant child but there was no way that she could survive in a school. It had been a week since Johnny's comment and Siren's unconscious decision to try to get on with Liam and a few of the others. There had been no fights but there hadn't exactly been any declarations of everlasting friendship either. She was definitely not ready for thousands of people every day.

"You have to got to school Siren. It's the law." Mike was attempting to reason with her but he was struggling.

"I managed without school for a year. I didn't see any government men coming round to enforce it then. Any way you can home school me."

"The fact you haven't been in a year is reason enough for you to go. And I most certainly will not have you home schooled! For one, there is no way I can afford it. Second, if I home school you the others will want it too." Mike was getting tired and angry now and Siren knew that any moment he would send her to her room. In order to win she needed another tactic.

The waterworks were turned on and hot, fake tears streamed down her cheeks. Mike immediately softened and looked at her with kind eyes. A small stab of guilt passed through her and for a moment her resolve wavered. However, with a deep breath grim determination filled her body. This was for the good of her sanity.

"You send me to school and I'll run. You know I will."

Mike sighed, "Not this again Siren, you were doing so well."

"I will go and never return. It took them a year to find me before, who knows how long it will take them next time."

A door opened up behind Siren and she span around. Liam stood there, smirking in the doorway. "Planning on running Siren? Tut tut."

"Shut up you." Siren snarled and she saw that, just for a moment Liam's eyes widened. For the past week Siren had been as gentle as she could, barely snapping at anyone, and so for Liam to see her so angry was a shock to his system. Sometimes he forgot where she came from.

"Be nice." Mike was speaking once again, "You will go to school Siren and you will stay there. That is the end of it."

She wanted to respond she wanted to scream and shout and break everything around her in the neat office. Instead she stormed past Liam and tore up the stairs, shoving a startled Johnny hard into the wall as she passed him. Finally she reached her room and, breathing hard, she began to drag her chest of drawers toward the door. As she fully expected there was a knock at the door and then Liam was pushing at her door, trying to gain entry even as Siren strived to keep him out.

"C'mon Siren. Lemme in."

"Why should I? You'll only gloat about yet another failed attempt of mine to get out of here."

Liam sighed. "If I promise I won't gloat, will you let me in?"

Siren paused. On the one hand she could do with company – she didn't fancy spending a day alone with her thoughts – but on the other hand it was Liam and she didn't trust herself to be near him without getting riled up. In the end the prospect of loneliness convinced her. She tugged her chest of drawers back to where it belonged and Liam entered.

He regarded the carpet just inside her room. "If you're not careful you'll have no carpet left from all that dragging you do."

Siren flashed him a quick smile. That was the most he – or anyone else for that matter – had managed to get out of her and he was determined to make her laugh, just once, before the end of the year. He sat down against the wall and after a moments hesitation Siren joined him, careful to keep some distance.

Making sure to keep facing straight ahead he cautiously asked, "Why don't you want to go to school?"

"There are so many people. I spent a whole year all alone and now I'm expected to spend 5 days a week around hundreds upon hundreds of stupid teenagers. You lot are bad enough but this... this will be hell."

"It won't be too bad. You only have to see around thirty people at a time in class and then at lunch you can hide away on your own if you want. And I'll stay with you – if you want" Liam added hurriedly. He was still unsure of whether what he and Siren had was friendship or simply grudging acceptance of each others company. He felt Sirens eyes on him but he willed himself not to look. Don't look, don't look, don't -

"Look at me." Siren's voice was quiet and so unexpected that Liam found himself looking straight away. "Did you mean that?"

"Of course. Wouldn't of said it if I didn't." Liam grinned at her. The mood had gotten too personal for his liking.

"Don't you have other friends to hang around with?"

"Not really. It used to be just me and Frank but well you know..."

"Yeah."

There was silence until Siren stood and went to her battered rucksack. She rooted around for her a while until she drew out an equally worn deck of cards. "Do you want to play?" She attempted to seem casual but there was still an element of shyness and uncertainty to her voice.

"'Course." Liam saw a small grin on Siren's face as she ducked her head, intent on shuffling the deck.

:::

"What is this meant to be?" Carmen turned her nose up at the gloop on her plate – it was apparently meant to be baked beans but it resembled baby food more.

"She's right Tracy this is disgusting. I'm not eating this" Siren pushed her plate away from her.

"If even Siren won't eat it, it must be bad."

Silence. Johnny had, once again, spoken with thinking. All heads turned to Siren, curious and wary of her reaction. She found her eyes drawn to Liam who was looking at her with a look that said 'Don't kill him. He's an idiot but don't kill him.'

After a deep breath Siren offered a tight-lipped smile to the room in general and looked up at Tracy. "This is true. Tracy you really should buy better beans."

A collective sigh was breathed and people continued to complain about the beans. Siren looked again at Liam to find him staring right back at her. He nodded towards the door and they both stood. No-one seemed to notice. She followed him to his room and closed the door at his request. Liam was rooting around under his bed and his eyes lit up with joy as he found the bag of sweets he kept there. He pulled out a lollipop and threw it at Siren. "Here."

She caught it with ease and began working on the wrapper. It gave her a moment to think about what she wanted to say. When she had decided she looked up to see Liam watching her. "Why are you doing this?"

Liam looked confused for a moment but it was gone quickly, "You didn't think I'd actually let you eat that stuff did you?"

"No I don't mean that. I mean why are you being kind to me? If you remember I tried to strangle you a week ago."

Liam's carefree expression was gone in an instant and Siren almost regretted asking. "I've been on the streets Siren," she was startled – she would never have guessed, "I know how it changes a person. It sucks all the laughter and innocence out of you and replaces it with bitterness and distrust. I want to help you get rid of that. I want to see what lays underneath. I want to hear you laugh."

This last confession was so soft and quiet that Siren almost didn't hear it. But she did and she felt her eyes widen in surprise. However, before she could form a coherent sentence Liam was distracting her with more and more sweets. He threw love hearts and drumsticks and parmaviolets at her and before either of them knew it a full blown war had erupted. Siren felt her mouth stretch wider and wider until her cheeks hurt.

She could not remember a time when she had been happier.

A/N: Well, would you look at that. Who'd of thought they'd be friends. Did you like it? Do you want me to burn in a special part of hell for not updating sooner? Let me know in a review ;)

Also I cant promise updates will come quickly but if you start getting impatient give me nudge I wont mind.

Thank you to Linneagb, The-Procrastination-Station, borntobedark, prizzyfizzyx, CharlieSMarts12, CamoGirl14 and RosaSivermist for favouriting, following and/or reviewing. It is very much appreciated.