Liam didn't announce his decision to anyone, not even Emily. It wasn't about proving something; it was about reclaiming the part of himself he'd lost in the endless pursuit of Naomi.
The first step was small but symbolic. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, scissors in hand, and cut off the unruly bangs that had always obscured his face. The strands fell into the sink like remnants of his old self.
The next day at school, no one noticed.
The lack of reaction stung, but Liam told himself it was only the beginning. Over the next few weeks, he committed to the change. He started waking up earlier, running before school to build strength and clear his mind. He swapped out his baggy clothes for simple, fitted outfits he picked up at a thrift store, experimenting with styles until he found something that made him feel… confident.
His final transformation came when he traded his glasses for contacts. The first time he looked in the mirror, he barely recognized himself.
---
It wasn't until a month later that the school noticed.
"Liam?" Naomi's voice cut through the din of the cafeteria, drawing the attention of everyone within earshot.
Liam turned, tray in hand. Naomi stood behind him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Wow, you look… different," she said, tilting her head. "In a good way."
The cafeteria seemed to hold its breath, waiting for his response. Liam felt the weight of their stares but refused to falter.
"Thanks," he said simply, offering a polite smile before walking away.
Naomi blinked, caught off guard by his lack of enthusiasm. She wasn't used to being brushed off, least of all by Liam Cooper.
---
The shift in dynamics didn't go unnoticed by Emily. As they walked home together that afternoon, she studied him with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"You've been acting weird lately," she said.
"Weird how?" Liam asked, adjusting the strap of his backpack.
"You're different. Confident. It's not a bad thing," she added quickly, "but it's… new."
Liam shrugged. "I got tired of being the guy no one notices."
Emily frowned. "I noticed you."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. Liam glanced at her, but her face was unreadable. He wanted to say something, to acknowledge her constant presence in his life, but the words didn't come.
---
By the following week, Naomi's interest in Liam was impossible to ignore. She started lingering by his locker, joining him at lunch, and laughing at his jokes with an enthusiasm that felt forced.
"Naomi's all over you," Emily said one afternoon as they walked home.
Liam shrugged. "She's just being friendly."
Emily stopped walking, forcing him to turn back. "You've been obsessed with her for years. Don't tell me you're not thrilled about this."
He hesitated. The truth was, Naomi's sudden attention felt hollow. It wasn't the connection he had dreamed of; it was superficial, born out of his transformation rather than who he was.
"I guess I've just… changed," he admitted.
Emily's eyes softened, but there was something guarded in her expression. "I hope you know what you're doing."
---
That night, Liam lay awake, replaying the day's events in his mind. Naomi's flirtatious smiles. Emily's quiet support. For years, he had been so focused on one girl that he had failed to see the other.
Emily had always been there—walking home with him, listening to his complaints, offering advice he rarely heeded. She was his constant, his anchor.
For the first time, he wondered what it would be like to see her in a different light.
---
The next day, Liam found Emily sitting alone in the library, a book open in her lap. She looked up as he approached, her expression wary.
"Hey," he said, sliding into the seat across from her.
"Hey," she replied, closing her book. "What's up?"
"I've been thinking," he said, leaning forward. "About us."
Emily blinked, startled. "Us?"
"We've been friends for so long," Liam continued, "but I feel like I've taken you for granted. You've always been there for me, and I've never really… appreciated it."
Emily stared at him, her cheeks flushing. "Liam, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I want to be better," he said. "Not just for myself, but for the people who matter to me. And you're one of them, Em. Maybe the most important one."
For a moment, she didn't say anything. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face.
"It's about time you figured that out," she said, her voice soft but teasing.
---
As they left the library together, Liam felt a sense of clarity he hadn't experienced in years. Naomi's attention no longer mattered. He was done chasing shadows.
For the first time, he was starting to see what had been in front of him all along.
---