The email arrived on a Thursday morning, buried between notifications for overdue library books and the latest sale at the campus bookstore. Ellie Parker wouldn't have even noticed it if Sara hadn't burst into their shared study space, waving her phone like a lunatic.
"Did you see it?" Sara practically yelled, plopping down into the chair across from Ellie and slamming her phone onto the table.
Ellie blinked at her, bleary-eyed and still nursing her first cup of coffee. "See what?"
"The reunion!" Sara exclaimed, her voice dripping with excitement. "It's happening next weekend, and we're going."
Ellie froze, her stomach dropping as she stared at Sara's screen. Sure enough, there it was: a brightly colored announcement inviting the graduating class of their high school to a reunion at their old gymnasium.
"Why would I want to go to that?" Ellie said, her voice flat.
"Uh, because it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to relive your glory days and see all the people who peaked in high school?" Sara grinned. "Come on, Ellie, it'll be fun!"
Ellie rolled her eyes. "High school wasn't exactly my 'glory days,' Sara. And I don't think seeing a bunch of people I barely remember counts as fun."
Sara leaned closer, her grin turning mischievous. "What if I told you Liam Carter is going to be there?"
The name hit Ellie like a brick to the chest. She tried to keep her face neutral, but she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks.
"He's not going to be there," Ellie said, shaking her head. "Why would someone like Liam come back to a small-town high school reunion?"
Sara shrugged. "Why not? He went to school with us, didn't he? And besides, wouldn't it be hilarious to see the look on everyone's faces when a literal rock star walks into the gym?"
Ellie stared at her coffee, her mind racing. The idea of seeing Liam again made her stomach twist in knots. It had been years since he left—years since that one magical night at prom when she thought they might have something real. And then he'd vanished, off to chase his dreams while she stayed behind, stuck in the same old town.
The thought of facing him now, with his fame and fortune and perfect life, felt unbearable.
"I'm not going," Ellie said firmly, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Oh, yes, you are," Sara said, crossing her arms. "You can't hide forever, Ellie. It's time to face your past and, I don't know, maybe have a little fun for once."
Ellie shook her head. "There's no point. Liam probably doesn't even remember me."
Sara raised an eyebrow. "You're kidding, right? You do realize he wrote a whole song about you."
"That doesn't mean anything," Ellie said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sara sighed, her expression softening. "Ellie, you deserve closure. And who knows? Maybe this is your chance to finally figure out what really happened between you two."
The days leading up to the reunion were a blur of anxiety and second-guessing. Ellie tried to distract herself with work and classes, but Liam's name seemed to follow her everywhere. His face stared back at her from magazine covers at the grocery store. His songs played in the background at coffee shops and on car radios. Even her dreams were haunted by memories of him—his crooked smile, the way his fingers danced over his guitar strings, the sound of his voice when he'd called her name.
By the time Saturday arrived, Ellie was a bundle of nerves. She stood in front of her tiny closet, staring at the limited options she had for something to wear.
"Why am I even doing this?" she muttered to herself, pulling out a simple black dress that had seen better days.
"Because you're brave and fabulous and deserve to show everyone how amazing you've become," Sara said from the doorway, holding up a pair of silver heels. "Here. These will go perfectly with that dress."
Ellie groaned. "I can't walk in those."
"Then practice," Sara said, tossing the shoes onto Ellie's bed. "You've got an hour."
The gymnasium hadn't changed much since their high school days. The same creaky bleachers lined the walls, and the faint smell of old wood and cleaning supplies lingered in the air. The only difference was the crowd of adults milling about, their voices filling the space with laughter and nostalgia.
Ellie lingered near the entrance, clutching a cup of punch and wishing she could disappear.
"Stop lurking," Sara whispered, nudging her in the side. "You're here now. Own it."
Ellie shot her a glare but took a tentative step forward, scanning the room for familiar faces. She recognized a few people—former classmates who offered polite smiles and awkward small talk. But there was no sign of Liam.
"See?" Ellie said, turning to Sara. "I told you he wouldn't show up."
Sara opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, the room fell silent. Ellie turned toward the entrance, her breath catching in her throat.
There he was.
Liam Carter stood in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the fading light. He wore a leather jacket over a simple T-shirt and jeans, his dark hair slightly tousled. He looked older, sharper, but still unmistakably Liam.
Ellie's heart pounded as he stepped into the room, his green eyes scanning the crowd. The room buzzed with whispers and murmurs, everyone craning their necks to get a better look at the rock star in their midst.
"He came," Sara whispered, her voice tinged with awe.
Ellie didn't respond. She couldn't. Her legs felt rooted to the spot as Liam's gaze swept across the room—and then stopped, locking onto hers.
For a moment, everything else faded away. The noise, the people, the years between them—it all disappeared as Liam's lips curved into a small, almost hesitant smile.
Ellie's pulse raced, her mind screaming at her to move, to say something, to do anything. But she couldn't. She just stood there, frozen, as Liam began to make his way toward her.
"Ellie," he said, his voice warm and familiar.
"Liam," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
And just like that, the past came rushing back, colliding with the present in a way that left Ellie breathless.