Liam sighed as he glanced around the living room, already regretting the decision to join this "game night." He could think of a dozen better ways to spend a Saturday evening—like catching up on his study goals or even just getting an early night's rest. But with the girls crowding around him, pushing bowls of snacks into his hands and setting up pillows and blankets around the room, his usual escape route was blocked.
"Come on, Mr. Robot, time to relax!" Lily teased, poking him in the arm. "We're all together, so you have no choice. Just give it a chance."
Avery, leaning back on the couch with her arms crossed, smirked. "Yeah, you're not getting out of this one. And don't worry, we'll go easy on you. Well, I will, at least."
Emily handed Liam a drink, eyes gleaming with quiet excitement. "It'll be fun! You might actually enjoy yourself, Liam," she said, giving him a hopeful look.
Liam sighed, accepting the drink but still maintaining a slight distance, settling himself into a corner of the couch. "Fine," he replied, his tone flat. "Just… nothing too ridiculous."
The girls laughed, exchanging knowing glances. They could already tell they'd be pushing Liam out of his comfort zone tonight.
The evening kicked off with "Two Truths and a Lie," a relatively safe game to start with. Liam watched as the girls took turns, learning bits and pieces about their pasts, their quirks, and the occasional embarrassing memory. When it was his turn, the girls leaned forward in anticipation, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Alright, I'll keep it simple," Liam said, maintaining his usual composed demeanor. "One: I've never failed an exam. Two: I'm actually terrible at swimming. Three: I'm fluent in three languages."
Avery snorted. "Come on, that's too easy. You're like some grade-A student prodigy. Obviously, number one is true."
Emily tilted her head thoughtfully, her eyes narrowed. "But I feel like he could be the type to secretly be bad at swimming..."
Lily's eyes sparkled mischievously. "I say number three is the lie. I mean, he's fluent in studies, not languages!"
Liam allowed a faint smirk. "Wrong on all counts. Number two was the lie. I'm actually decent at swimming, though I doubt you'll ever see me at a pool by choice."
Laughter broke out among the girls, filling the room with warmth. The ice had finally begun to break, and Liam's reluctance seemed to soften, just slightly.
After a few more rounds of storytelling, Lily, who seemed to have boundless energy, grew tired of sitting. "Let's spice things up with dares," she announced, eyes gleaming. "But nothing too wild…yet."
Avery shot a determined look at Liam. "Alright, first dare: I dare Liam to do a handstand!"
Liam raised an eyebrow, arms folded. "A handstand? Really?"
"Oh, come on," Avery pressed, nudging him with her foot. "It's just to see if the 'genius' has some actual balance."
With a half-hearted shrug, Liam set his drink down and stood up. Clearing a small space in the room, he bent forward, balanced himself, and gracefully lifted his legs, holding a surprisingly steady handstand. Lily and Emily clapped, cheering him on, and even Avery couldn't help but grin.
"Alright, alright, you're decent," she admitted, trying to hide her smile.
The dares continued, each one drawing Liam slightly further from his usual reserved nature. At one point, Lily dared him to spin her around the room, forcing him to join in a spontaneous "dance." Though he initially looked ready to bolt, he surprised everyone by pulling her close and spinning her in a simple twirl. The two of them locked eyes, a flicker of unspoken tension passing between them before they pulled back, both laughing it off to keep the moment light.
Emily's cheeks flushed as she watched them, her feelings for Liam growing a little stronger. She couldn't deny how easily Liam had brought out a lightheartedness in all of them, even when he was barely trying. As the games continued, she found herself stealing glances at him, both admiring his self-control and wondering what lay beneath it.
After a while, the group decided to take a break, lounging around in the dimmed light of the living room. Avery had settled into her competitive side, challenging Liam in chess on a tablet they found, and to everyone's surprise, she put up a decent fight. She lost, but not without a fierce grin.
"I'll get you next time," she promised, still flushed from the mental exercise.
Lily and Emily excused themselves to the kitchen, gathering more snacks and taking a moment to share thoughts on the night. Sensing Emily's quiet glances at Liam, Lily nudged her friend.
"Something on your mind?" she asked with a grin.
Emily bit her lip, nodding shyly. "I guess… I just admire him, you know? He's so disciplined and focused, but he's also…there's something about him. I didn't expect him to be this way."
Lily's smile softened. "Yeah, he's a bit of a mystery sometimes. But believe me, he's worth knowing."
Emily's expression grew serious. "You think he ever…has fun? Or lets loose? I don't know if I've ever seen him just relax."
Lily explained Liam's home life briefly, highlighting the intense academic pressure and his strict upbringing. Hearing this, Emily's expression grew pensive, her admiration tinged with sympathy. "I understand him a little better now," she murmured, her feelings for Liam deepening with her newfound understanding.
As the evening wrapped up, each of them retreated to their rooms. Liam lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling as fragments of the night replayed in his mind. Despite his better judgment, he found himself thinking of the laughter, the warmth, and the companionship that felt oddly foreign but comforting.
He closed his eyes, knowing he had let his guard down, even if just slightly. The realization both unsettled and intrigued him. For once, he had actually enjoyed himself, and he couldn't deny that being around them had felt like…home.
With that thought, he drifted off to sleep, still uncertain but feeling an unexpected flicker of anticipation for what the future might hold.