Liam hadn't been to a party before—not a real one, anyway. Standing outside Ryan's house with Emily by his side, he felt an unusual mix of excitement and apprehension. The muffled bass of music vibrated through the walls, and laughter spilled out into the cool night air.
Emily tugged at her sweater, looking just as uneasy. "We can still turn back, you know," she said, glancing up at him.
Liam smiled faintly. "We'll give it an hour. If it's awful, we leave."
She nodded, though the tension in her shoulders didn't ease.
As they stepped inside, the chaos engulfed them. Teenagers were packed into the living room, shouting to be heard over the music. Lights flashed, illuminating the scene in bursts of color. Liam spotted Naomi almost immediately. She was perched on the arm of a couch, her radiant smile drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
"Liam!" she called out, waving him over.
Emily froze, her grip tightening on her purse. Liam hesitated, glancing at her. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she said quickly. "Go ahead. I'll find something to drink."
"Emily—"
"Go." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Reluctantly, Liam made his way to Naomi.
---
Naomi leaned in as he approached, her perfume sweet and overwhelming. "You actually came," she said, her tone half-surprised, half-teasing.
"Yeah," Liam said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thought I'd give it a shot."
Her eyes scanned him, lingering a little too long. "Well, you clean up nice. I mean, I already noticed, but seeing you like this..." She trailed off, her smile widening.
Liam shifted uncomfortably. This was what he'd wanted for so long—Naomi's attention, her approval. But now that he had it, it felt... wrong.
"Thanks," he said simply.
Naomi's smile faltered for a moment before she leaned closer, her voice dropping. "You know, I've been meaning to tell you—you're different now. In a good way. More confident. It's... attractive."
Before Liam could respond, someone bumped into him from behind, spilling their drink on his shirt.
"Crap, sorry, man!" the guy said, laughing awkwardly before stumbling away.
Naomi grabbed his arm. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."
---
In the kitchen, Naomi handed him a towel. The party noise was slightly muted here, but the tension between them was palpable.
"Thanks," Liam said, dabbing at his shirt.
Naomi leaned against the counter, watching him. "So, are you seeing anyone?"
The question caught him off guard. "Uh, no. Why?"
She shrugged, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "Just curious. A guy like you probably has girls lining up now."
Liam thought of Emily—how she'd always been there, how she'd smiled at him before they walked into the party. "Not really," he said.
Naomi tilted her head, studying him. "Well, that's a shame. You deserve someone who sees how amazing you are."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
---
Meanwhile, Emily stood by the drinks table, feeling out of place. She'd poured herself a soda but hadn't taken a sip. From where she stood, she could see Liam and Naomi in the kitchen. The way Naomi leaned toward him, the way Liam seemed unsure—it was like watching a scene from a movie she didn't want to be part of.
"You okay?" a voice asked.
Emily turned to see Ryan, the party's host, smiling at her. "Oh, yeah. Just... not really my scene."
"Same," Ryan admitted. "But I live here, so, you know."
Emily managed a small laugh.
"You're friends with Liam, right?" Ryan asked, nodding toward the kitchen.
Emily's gaze followed his, her stomach twisting. "Yeah. We've known each other forever."
"He's changed a lot lately," Ryan said. "But I guess that's a good thing. People notice him now."
"People should've noticed him before," Emily said quietly.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you did."
Emily didn't respond.
---
Liam left the kitchen feeling unsettled. Naomi's attention, while flattering, felt performative. He spotted Emily by the drinks table, her face lighting up when she saw him.
"There you are," she said. "Thought you got lost."
Liam smiled, the knot in his chest loosening. "Nah. Just... needed a break."
"Want to leave?"
He hesitated, looking around at the party. Naomi caught his eye from across the room, her expression expectant. But when he turned back to Emily, her quiet, steady presence grounded him.
"Yeah," he said. "Let's go."
---
The walk home was quiet but comfortable. The cool night air was a relief after the suffocating party.
"Sorry I dragged you there," Liam said.
Emily shook her head. "It's fine. I'm glad you asked me to come."
"Really?"
"Yeah." She glanced at him, her expression soft. "It reminded me why I don't like parties—but also why I like hanging out with you."
Liam stopped walking, her words catching him off guard. "Emily..."
She turned to face him, her brow furrowing. "What?"
"Thanks," he said. "For always being there."
She smiled, her cheeks flushing. "Of course, dummy. That's what friends do."
Liam watched her for a moment, a strange warmth spreading through him. For the first time, he wondered if friendship was enough.
---