Sara had gotten the call one summer evening at dinner time. Talked on her phone across the table from Noel, over some couscous and game hen dish. Noel remembered the look on her face of pure exasperation. Perhaps anger. And then, the shift into a smile. Put on, plastic. Was as familiar with hers as he was with his own. And then she told the caller, who he would later be told was her sister, Jane- that they'd be happy to house the lad, at least for the semester. Whatever that meant, Noel thought then, unaware.

His folks wanted to send him to some private school in London for lads with behavioral issues. Where could they put him, when they didn't trust him overnight in a dormitory filled with boys like himself? Why, with Auntie Sara of course. And she'd say yes, without asking her husband, because that's just the kind soul she was. Definitely weren't saving face. Definitely didn't talk mad shit about the boy every time her sister called to inform about his antics in the past. Noel was clearly overjoyed to have such a presence in his house dropped upon him with no warning. Couldn't even argue, because half of everything was Sara's. Sweet joy for him.

So then, that fall, Liam came to stay. And he was horrid. In very specific ways. Could play polite as well as Noel and Sara. Seemed more than a bit thick, but could spring a moment of awareness on you like a shock of lightning. Knew how to play back the passive aggressive put downs Sara specialized in when pissed, enough to get her heated. Still did scally shit. Stole from corner shops, snuck off with girls- but couldn't cut class. Had to be escorted via black car every day lest he face some unnamed punishment by his parents. Didn't have it in him to make the experience of his stay any easier for any of them.

And then there was the beat about his looks, which Noel found especially insufferable. Liam was a pretty thing. As gorgeous as a man could be before crossing into transvestite territory. Hurt some inner inner ego of Noel's, who'd certainly not been such a looker at that age. Only got better with time. And Liam used his gifts for evil. To get out of trouble. To get free things from shops and restaurants. To mess with people's heads. Like with Anais. The custody schedule unfortunately meant they'd cross paths twice a week in Noel's home. And he'd use that time to do what he likely did to all girls everywhere. Bat his eyelashes, smile, flip his hair. Get something like a chore knocked off his list, or homework done, and then turn around to being a prick once success was had. It would've infuriated Noel if he didn't find it as funny as he did, being a barmy old bastard. Sara didn't find it as funny, hated the lad because he existed in her space. In their space. And he right pissed Noel off, too. More times than not. But still, there was something magnetic about the lad. Liam. Made Noel think of a time when he was younger, and life hadn't been so cookie cutter. Those baby blues took him somewhere else if he caught them passing in the hallway, or across the table at dinner. Like his own, but full of so much more life.

Noel had a problem. And that problem liked to stare him down when they were alone.