Liam hesitated at Lily's door, the faint light from her room casting a shadow across the hallway. Her message earlier had been unusually vague. "Can you come to my room later? I need to talk." The tone of her voice had carried an unfamiliar nervousness, enough to leave him wondering what she could possibly want.
Knocking lightly, he waited.
"Come in," came Lily's familiar voice, though it lacked its usual carefree lilt.
Pushing the door open, Liam found her sitting cross-legged on her bed. Papers, notebooks, and textbooks were scattered around her, a chaotic battlefield of academic determination. She looked up at him, her lips twitching into a sheepish smile.
"Hey," she said, patting the space beside her. "Thanks for coming. I, uh, need help with something."
Liam raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess—math?"
Lily scrunched her nose. "It's not just math! It's... everything." She sighed, shoving a notebook toward him. "I feel like I'm drowning here."
He sat down, flipping through the pages. "We covered most of this last week. Didn't we go through these problems together?"
"Yeah, but…" Lily's voice trailed off. She fiddled with her pen, her usual confident demeanor nowhere to be found. "It's not sticking. I just—"
She bit her lip, hesitating. Then, in a quieter voice, she admitted, "What if I'm just not cut out for this?"
The vulnerability in her tone took Liam by surprise. He set the notebook aside, his focus shifting entirely to her. "Lily," he said firmly, "you've come a long way. You're working harder than I've ever seen you work. Don't sell yourself short."
Lily glanced up, her eyes wide, as if she wasn't expecting his encouragement. "You really think so?"
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it," he replied, his voice softer now.
Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away. "Thanks, Liam. I… I don't think I've told you how much it means to have you around."
He felt a warmth spread in his chest, unfamiliar and unsettling. But as soon as it surfaced, he pushed it away. There was no room for those kinds of feelings—not with the expectations his parents had for him.
Across the hall, Emily paced in her room, her nerves a tangled mess. She had rehearsed her confession at least a dozen times, yet each attempt felt inadequate.
"You've always been so strong, Liam," she murmured, practicing her lines. "I admire that about you. I…" She faltered, shaking her head. "No, too formal. Maybe I should just say it outright."
She sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed. Her gaze drifted to the small bracelet on her wrist, a simple trinket she'd bought during a group outing with the others. It reminded her of the little moments that had drawn her to Liam—his quiet strength, his unwavering determination, and the rare moments when his guard slipped, revealing the boy beneath the perfection.
Standing, she moved to her closet, picking out an outfit. A soft blue blouse and a flowing skirt—simple but elegant. Adjusting her hair in the mirror, she gave herself a determined nod.
"You can do this, Emily," she whispered.
Back in Lily's room, the books and notes had been shoved aside, replaced by an easy flow of conversation that meandered between lighthearted teasing and deeper reflections. They sat cross-legged on the bed, the dim glow of a small bedside lamp casting warm, flickering shadows.
"Remember the first time you tutored me?" Lily asked, a grin tugging at her lips. "You looked like you'd rather be anywhere else."
"That's because I would've," Liam admitted with a rare chuckle. "You showed up thirty minutes late and didn't even bring your notebook. Who does that?"
"Hey, in my defense, I didn't think tutoring would be so... serious." She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "I thought we'd just, you know, talk and somehow the knowledge would magically transfer."
"Because that's how learning works," he said dryly, shaking his head.
She nudged his arm playfully. "Well, excuse me for not being a study machine like you."
He smirked, but his gaze softened. "You're not a machine, Lily, but you've got your own strengths. You're way more determined than people give you credit for."
Lily blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. "You really think so?"
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't."
For a moment, she was silent, staring down at her hands. "You know, sometimes I feel like I'm just faking it. Like everyone expects me to be this bubbly, carefree person, and if I let them down…" She trailed off, biting her lip.
Liam leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "You don't have to be what people expect. You're allowed to be yourself, even if that self isn't perfect all the time."
She looked up, her eyes shining with an emotion she couldn't quite name. "That's easy for you to say. You're perfect at everything. Everyone expects you to be amazing, and then—you just are."
Liam frowned, his jaw tightening. "Perfect? Lily, my parents push me so hard I can't even breathe sometimes. Every test, every grade—it's all just a number to them. If I don't get 100, it's like I'm a failure."
He shrugged, trying to play it off. "It's fine. It's just how it is."
"No, it's not fine." Lily's voice was firm, her brows furrowing. "You deserve more than that. You deserve to just... be happy."
He met her gaze, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "Happiness is a luxury I can't afford right now."
The weight of his words hung in the air, and Lily reached out, her hand brushing against his. "You're not alone in this, you know. You've got me."
Her touch was light, but it sent a wave of warmth through him that he struggled to ignore. He forced a small smile, nodding. "Thanks, Lily."
As the night wore on, their conversation shifted to lighter topics.
"Okay, favorite childhood memory. Go," Lily said, lying back against her pillows.
"Easy," Liam replied. "The time my dad taught me how to ride a bike. He wasn't as strict back then, and for once, he was just... proud of me."
Lily smiled. "That's sweet. Mine's probably the time my mom let me bake cookies by myself. I burned half of them and set off the fire alarm, but she ate every single one and said they were delicious."
"She must really love you," Liam said with a chuckle.
"She does," Lily agreed, her voice softening. "Even when I screw up, she's always there for me."
The vulnerability in her tone pulled at something deep within him. He wanted to say something, to offer her the same reassurance she always gave him, but the words wouldn't come.
Somewhere around three in the morning, their conversation took a sillier turn.
"Okay, serious question," Lily said, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "If you could be any animal, what would you be?"
"An eagle," Liam answered without hesitation.
"An eagle?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"They're free," he explained. "They can go anywhere, see everything."
Lily tilted her head, considering his answer. "That's actually kind of deep. I was going to say a golden retriever because they get to nap and eat snacks all day."
Liam laughed, the sound rare but genuine. "Of course you would."
By the time the first rays of dawn began creeping through the window, both of them were lying on their backs, staring at the ceiling.
"This was nice," Lily said softly. "Just... talking."
"Yeah," Liam agreed, his voice equally quiet.
For a moment, there was only the sound of their breathing. Then, Lily spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're the best thing in my life, Liam."
The words hit him like a bolt of lightning, and he turned his head to look at her. She was staring up at the ceiling, her expression unreadable.
"You're important to me too, Lily," he said, the words slipping out before he could stop them.
Her eyes flicked to him, wide and vulnerable. But before either of them could say anything more, the alarm on Liam's phone buzzed, breaking the moment.
"I should go," he said, sitting up and running a hand through his hair.
"Yeah," Lily murmured, sitting up as well. "Thanks for staying up with me."
"Anytime," he said, his voice soft.
As he left her room, his heart felt heavier and lighter all at once, a confusing contradiction he couldn't quite unpack
Later that evening, Liam was sprawled on the couch in the living room, a thick textbook resting on his lap. His posture was slouched, and his eyelids drooped with the weight of exhaustion. He had spent most of the day tutoring Lily and tackling his own coursework, and it was clear that even he was starting to feel the toll.
Emily lingered at the doorway, her heart thudding against her ribcage. She had rehearsed this moment countless times but still couldn't shake her nerves. With a deep breath, she stepped into the room, her voice soft yet cheerful.
"Hey, Liam," she said, trying to sound casual.
He looked up, his expression brightening slightly at the sight of her. "Hey, Emily."
She approached him, her hands clasped behind her back. "You've been working really hard lately. Maybe too hard. Don't you think it's time for a little break?"
Liam blinked, his tired brain struggling to process her words. "A break?"
"Yeah," she said, smiling warmly. "Why don't we go grab some coffee? There's this nice little café downtown I think you'd like." She hesitated, then added, "It's on me."
Liam hesitated. His body was screaming for rest, but he couldn't bring himself to say no. Emily's hopeful expression made it hard to refuse.
"Sure," he said after a moment, closing his book and setting it aside. "Let me just grab my jacket."
Emily's face lit up, and she nodded. "Take your time. I'll wait."
As Liam headed to his room, Emily let out a small breath of relief. This was her chance—a moment to be alone with him and finally take the next step.
---
From the kitchen, Avery leaned against the counter, her arms crossed as she watched the interaction unfold. She sipped her drink, her sharp eyes tracking Emily's every move.
When Liam disappeared into his room, Avery turned to Lily, who was sitting at the kitchen table. Lily was absentmindedly stirring her drink, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
"Do you see what's happening over there?" Avery asked, her tone laced with amusement.
Lily looked up, confused. "What are you talking about?"
Avery motioned toward Emily, who was straightening her hair and adjusting her outfit in the reflection of a nearby window. "Your girl Emily is making a move. She's taking him out, just the two of them. And you're just sitting here."
Lily frowned, setting her glass down. "So? It's not a big deal. They're just getting coffee."
Avery smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, come on, Davenport. Don't play dumb. Emily's not just inviting him for coffee; she's making her intentions clear."
Lily flushed, shaking her head. "That's ridiculous. Liam and I are just friends. He can hang out with whoever he wants."
"Uh-huh," Avery said, drawing out the syllables. "Keep telling yourself that. But don't come crying to me when Emily seals the deal."
Lily rolled her eyes and looked away, but the flush on her cheeks betrayed her unease.
"You know what?" Avery said, setting her drink down with a clink. "You need a little push."
Before Lily could react, Avery grabbed her wrist and started pulling her toward the door.
"Wait—what are you doing?" Lily protested, trying to dig her heels in.
"We're following them," Avery said matter-of-factly.
"What? No way! That's so weird!"
"Too bad," Avery replied, her grip firm. "Consider this an intervention. If you're not going to fight for him, at least watch the game before you lose."
Lily groaned but allowed herself to be dragged out the door, muttering under her breath. "This is ridiculous…"
"Maybe," Avery said with a sly grin, "but it's also necessary."
The café Emily had chosen was tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, far from their usual haunts. Its charm lay in its simplicity: warm wooden furnishings, the faint scent of fresh coffee in the air, and the soft hum of conversation that never grew too loud. Liam followed her inside, his movements slower than usual, his exhaustion evident in the way he rubbed at his eyes.
Emily glanced at him, concern flickering in her chest. "Are you sure you're up for this? We can do this some other time."
Liam shook his head. "I'm fine. Besides, you seemed excited about this."
Her cheeks reddened slightly, but she smiled. "Alright, let's get a seat by the window."
They settled into a small corner table, the golden light of the evening sun bathing the room in a comforting glow. Liam leaned back, his gaze distant, while Emily fiddled with the edge of her coffee cup, trying to muster the courage to speak.
"You've been pushing yourself too hard," she said softly, breaking the silence.
Liam blinked, as if her words had pulled him from some distant thought. "It's nothing new," he replied. "I've always had to work hard."
"Yeah, but you don't have to do it all alone," Emily pressed. Her voice was gentle but firm. "You've got people who care about you, Liam. You know that, right?"
He looked at her then, his expression unreadable. "I know," he said simply.
Emily bit her lip, wishing she could find the right words to tell him how much she cared. But she forced herself to wait. Not here, not yet.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Emily suggested a walk. Liam agreed, though his steps were slower than usual, and she had to glance back a few times to ensure he was keeping up.
The park they strolled into was quiet, the kind of place where the world seemed to slow down. Streetlights began to flicker on, their soft yellow glow illuminating the path ahead. Emily led the way, her heart pounding harder with each step.
When they reached the large oak tree near the center of the park, she stopped, her palms damp with nervous sweat. She turned to face him, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
"Liam," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while."
He looked at her, curiosity flickering in his tired eyes. "What is it?"
Emily inhaled deeply, forcing herself to steady her nerves. She had rehearsed this moment over and over, but standing here, the words felt heavier than she expected.
"I've always admired you," she started, her voice soft but unwavering. "You're so strong, Liam. You've been through so much, and yet you keep going. You inspire me."
Liam blinked, clearly caught off guard.
Emily stepped closer, her eyes locked onto his. "But it's not just that. I admire you, but I also… I like you. A lot. I think I've liked you since the moment I saw how much you care about the people close to you."
Her words hung in the air, a mixture of vulnerability and determination. For a moment, Liam just stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then he opened his mouth, as if to respond—
But his knees buckled beneath him.
"Liam!" Emily cried, lunging forward to catch him.
Across the park, Avery and Lily had been following at a safe distance, sitting on a bench under the guise of casual observation. Avery spotted the commotion first, her sharp eyes narrowing.
"Something's wrong," she said, standing abruptly.
Lily turned, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Emily crouched beside Liam, her face pale with worry.
Without waiting, the two girls rushed over.
"What happened?" Lily demanded, her voice trembling as she reached Emily.
Emily's hands shook as she helped steady Liam. "I—I don't know. He just… collapsed."
Avery frowned, slinging one of Liam's arms over her shoulder while Lily took the other. Together, they supported him, his weight making the short walk back to the apartment feel much longer than it was.
As they walked, Lily glanced at Liam's pale face, her heart heavy with worry and something else she couldn't quite name. For the first time, she realized just how much he carried—and how close she might be to losing him.