LIAM AND AUSTIN'S APARTMENT
"Liam, my girlfriend is coming today. So, bro, you gotta respect yourself. Don't be all awkward and mysterious, alright? Just... be normal."
Austin slung an arm around Liam's shoulder with a boyish grin, his cologne lingering with the confidence of someone who believed the world owed him nothing but love and loyalty. His voice was teasing but layered with something deeper—a subtle pride, maybe even protectiveness. The kind of energy guys gave off when they were genuinely smitten.
Liam chuckled, half focused on the beer in his hand, the other half on the NBA game playing on their wall-mounted TV.
"Austin, really?" he muttered, shooting him a side glance. "I got you. I'm not gonna scare her away with my weirdness."
"You better not," Austin said, eyes narrowing in mock seriousness. "She's... special. Like, actually special."
Liam nodded with a faint smirk, swirling the beer in his glass before taking a sip. "Noted. I'll be the best roommate version of me. Promise."
Truth was, Liam didn't really care much about his best friend's latest girl. Austin had been in and out of relationships over the years like changing shoes, even if he'd toned things down lately. Liam respected whoever Austin brought home, but he never gave it much thought. Girls came and went. Some were sweet, others too self-involved, and a few simply didn't click with their lifestyle.
But today, Austin was acting different. Nervous, excited, eager.
So Liam paid attention.
He helped Austin tidy up the apartment—a modern, cozy space they'd been sharing for nearly a year in the heart of Georgia's Appalachian Valley. Warm lighting, leather furniture, a kitchen island that had never seen a full meal unless someone's mother visited. The scent of lemon floor polish still lingered from Liam's half-hearted mop job.
At exactly 6:43 p.m., a knock echoed through the apartment.
"That's her!" Austin beamed, suddenly adjusting his shirt and running a hand through his already tousled curls.
Liam remained seated on the couch, eyes still on the game but senses completely alert.
When the door opened, the air shifted.
She walked in like a song.
Mia.
And Liam forgot what team was playing.
She wasn't just beautiful. She was magnetic. Radiant in a soft, effortless way that made time hesitate. Dressed in a simple navy-blue dress, with brown waves cascading over her shoulders, her presence filled the room before she even spoke.
"Hi," she said, her voice smooth like silk dipped in honey. "I'm Mia."
Liam stood, suddenly aware of how wrinkled his shirt was. He managed a half-smile, one hand extended while his other hid the beer behind the couch.
"Liam," he replied, keeping his voice even. "Nice to meet you."
Their hands touched briefly.
Electric.
Mia's eyes lingered for a second too long. Or maybe it was Liam's imagination.
Austin shut the door behind her, clearly oblivious to the tension that had just been born between his best friend and his girlfriend.
"Let's eat! I ordered from The Garden Bowl. Your favorite, babe."
"You did?" Mia turned to him, smiling. She kissed his cheek softly. "You're too sweet."
They settled into the small dining space beside the kitchen. Plates of creamy pasta, roasted vegetables, and crusty bread lined the table. Austin poured wine, bragging about how he picked it without Googling this time. Mia laughed. Liam listened.
Watched.
Studied.
She was smart. Witty. Her laughter wasn't exaggerated, it was real. She had a way of looking at people when they spoke, eyes wide and interested, that made Liam feel seen even when she wasn't talking to him.
"So how long have you two been living together?" Mia asked, turning to Liam with a curious tilt of her head.
"Almost a year now," Liam replied. "Surprisingly still alive and not at each other's throats."
"Barely," Austin added, rolling his eyes. "He leaves books in the kitchen. Who reads during breakfast?"
"People with functioning brains," Liam shot back.
Mia laughed again, and it lingered.
They talked about everything—college memories, terrible neighbors, music. Mia and Liam both liked old-school soul. He found that out when she sang a line from a Donny Hathaway track and his eyes nearly lit up.
She noticed.
He pretended he didn't.
After dinner, Austin went to take a call from his mom, leaving Mia and Liam in the living room. She stood by the window, gazing at the soft drizzle outside, fingers gently resting on the sill.
"He talks about you a lot," she said without looking at him. "Says you're the only person who's ever really understood him."
Liam sat on the arm of the couch, watching her silhouette.
"Yeah, we've been through stuff. Thick and thin. High school. College. Dumb fights. Dumb girls, he has been my best friend since childhood, you know"
She turned slightly, lips curling. "Dumb girls?"
"Yeah. You know the type."
"Do I?"
Liam smiled faintly. "Hopefully not. You seem... smarter."
Their eyes met again. Long. Quiet. Weighty.
Then Austin returned, and the moment shattered like glass.
"Hey, everything okay?" he asked, stepping toward Mia.
She nodded quickly, clearing her throat. "Yeah. Your mom's okay?"
"Same old. Telling me I need to take vitamins and stop living off Chinese takeout."
He kissed her temple. She smiled.
Liam looked away.
AFTER MIA'S DEPARTURE
That night, long after Mia had left and Austin had passed out with headphones in, Liam sat on the balcony, a cigarette between his fingers that he never actually lit. The air was thick with late-night stillness. Cars hummed on distant roads. The sky was blanketed with stars, the kind you only noticed when your mind was spinning.
She was different.
He shouldn't be thinking about her.
But he was.
There was something in her laugh. Something in her stare. A quiet sadness tucked behind her cheer. And a strange gravity that was already pulling Liam toward something he couldn't name.
He closed his eyes.
This is bad, he thought. I can't have eyes on my buddy's girl. Probably because she was beautiful." He said within himself
This is going to get complicated.
And he was right.
Because that night wasn't the end.
It was the beginning.
Of something neither of them were ready for.