The gala’s ballroom hummed with muted conversations and the soft clink of glasses. Yet, as Liam stood before her, Aria heard none of it. The world faded, leaving only the charged space between them.
She hadn’t seen him in nearly a decade, but her heart recognized him instantly. His piercing blue eyes bore into hers with the same intensity as when they’d first met. He looked both familiar and foreign, his once-carefree charm now laced with a maturity she couldn’t ignore.
“Aria,” he said again, his voice lower this time, softer, like he was afraid she might disappear.
“Liam,” she managed, her voice trembling. The sound of his name on her lips felt strange and yet oddly natural.
Before either of them could speak further, a passing waiter interrupted with an offer of champagne. The spell was broken, and reality seeped back in—the crowded room, the cameras flashing in the distance, the overwhelming sensation of being seen after years of carefully fading into the background.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Liam said, his hands buried in his pockets as though to steady himself.
“Likewise,” she replied, clutching her clutch tightly.
Liam’s lips curved into a faint smile. “You look… amazing.”
Aria felt her cheeks flush. “Thanks. You too.”
The air between them was thick with unspoken words, but before either could say more, Liam was whisked away by a publicist who urgently needed his attention. He glanced back over his shoulder as he walked away, his expression a mixture of longing and regret.
Aria exhaled shakily, her chest tightening as the memories she’d buried began to resurface.
***Flashback: How They Met***
It was a late September afternoon on campus, the sun casting long shadows across the quad. Aria, a first-year student clutching a stack of books, was hurrying toward the library when her foot caught on a crack in the pavement.
Her books tumbled to the ground in an unceremonious heap. “Perfect,” she muttered, crouching down to gather them.
“Let me help.”
The voice was warm and deep, laced with amusement. Aria looked up to see a tall boy with messy black hair and an easy smile kneeling beside her.
“I’m fine,” she said quickly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Clearly,” he teased, handing her a book. “I’m Liam, by the way.”
“Aria.”
“Nice to meet you, Aria.” He grinned. “Next time, watch out for those cracks—they’re sneakier than they look.”
She couldn’t help but laugh, and just like that, something shifted.
***Flashback: Falling in Love***
Their friendship grew quickly, fueled by late-night study sessions, stolen glances, and moments that felt almost too perfect to be real.
One night, during a campus bonfire, Liam pulled out his guitar. The flames danced in his blue eyes as he played a song he’d written.
“What’s it called?” Aria asked, her voice barely audible over the crackle of the fire.
“I haven’t named it yet,” he admitted. “I’m waiting for the right inspiration.”
He looked at her then, and she felt her heart skip a beat.
***Flashback: The Breakup***
The summer after their second year of college was supposed to be perfect. But life had other plans.
Liam had just been offered a record deal—a chance to chase his dream of becoming a musician. Aria, meanwhile, had been accepted into a prestigious writing program in another state.
The argument began innocently enough, but it quickly escalated.
“You’re just going to leave?” Aria had shouted, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m not leaving you,” Liam had insisted. “I’m just… taking a chance. For us.”
“For us?” she’d repeated bitterly. “Or for you?”
The words hung in the air, heavier than either of them could bear.
***Aria’s Emotional Reaction (Present Day)***
Back in the present, Aria sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the journal she’d kept all those years ago. She opened it hesitantly, her fingers brushing against the yellowed pages filled with poems, letters, and unsent messages to Liam.
She’d poured her heart into those pages, using words to say what she couldn’t in person. Now, with Liam back in her life—even if only briefly—those emotions bubbled to the surface again.
She closed the journal with a snap and pressed it to her chest, as if trying to keep the memories from overwhelming her.
***Liam’s Perspective***
Liam sat in his hotel room, strumming his guitar absentmindedly. The melody of Falling Back to You filled the space, but it felt hollow without Aria’s presence.
Seeing her tonight had shaken him. He’d told himself he was over her, that he’d moved on, but the moment their eyes met, he knew the truth.
The knock at the door startled him. It was Jake Rivers, his bandmate and closest friend.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Jake said, flopping onto the couch.
“Maybe I have,” Liam replied, setting the guitar aside.
“Let me guess—Aria?”
Liam shot him a sharp look. “How did you—”
“Come on, man. You’ve been writing songs about her for years. It’s not exactly a secret.”
Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to do, Jake. She looked at me like I was a stranger.”
“Maybe because you are now,” Jake said gently. “But if she’s the one, you’ll find a way. You always do.”
Liam leaned back, his mind racing. Jake’s words were meant to comfort, but they only deepened the ache in his chest.