Aria sat at her desk, the faint hum of the radiator filling the otherwise silent room. A blank page stared back at her from the open notebook. Writing usually gave her solace, but now it felt like another burden she couldn’t carry.
Liam’s song still played in her mind, its lyrics wrapping around her thoughts like vines she couldn’t untangle. Every word felt like a plea, a confession, and a promise all at once.
But could she trust it?
She closed the notebook with a sigh, her hands trembling as she pushed it aside. Her reflection in the nearby window caught her attention. The woman staring back looked tired—her auburn hair messier than usual, her hazel eyes heavy with doubt.
The truth was simple, yet impossible to accept: a part of her wanted to believe him. A part of her longed to feel that all-encompassing love again, to surrender to the pull Liam Carlisle had always had on her.
But the other part—the cautious, pragmatic part—whispered a warning: Love isn’t enough to erase the past.
Across town, Liam stood in the dimly lit rehearsal studio, his guitar resting against the wall. His bandmates chatted nearby, their laughter a distant echo in his ears.
“Earth to Liam,” Jake said, snapping his fingers in front of him. “You’ve been zoning out all night. What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Liam lied, though his voice lacked conviction.
Jake gave him a pointed look. “It’s Aria, isn’t it?”
Liam sighed, leaning back against the wall. “She’s… complicated.”
Jake laughed. “She’s always been complicated. That’s why you love her.”
“It’s not that simple,” Liam muttered. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “I hurt her, Jake. And now I’m trying to fix something I might not have the right to fix.”
“So, what’s your plan?” Jake asked.
Liam hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I don’t know. But I can’t just walk away. Not again.”
Jake clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Then start small. Prove to her that you’re not the same guy who left. Actions, not words.”
The next day, Aria was surprised to find an envelope slipped under her apartment door. She hesitated before picking it up, her heart pounding when she recognized Liam’s handwriting on the front.
Inside was a letter and two concert tickets.
**The Letter**
***Aria,***
***I know showing up at your college was a lot, and I don’t blame you for being guarded. I’d probably feel the same in your shoes. But I meant what I said: I want to prove to you that I’ve changed.***
***I’m performing at the Civic Hall this Friday, and it would mean the world to me if you came. No pressure, no expectations—just you and the music. If you decide not to, I understand. Either way, I’ll keep trying.***
***\- Liam***
Aria’s fingers tightened around the letter. She hated how her heart betrayed her, beating faster at his words. But she couldn’t ignore the fear creeping in. Attending his concert would mean stepping into his world—a world that had already broken her once.
Maggie’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “What’s that?” her friend asked, walking into the room with a cup of coffee.
“An invitation,” Aria said simply, handing her the letter.
Maggie scanned it quickly, raising an eyebrow. “Well, this is… unexpected.”
“Tell me about it,” Aria muttered, sitting on the couch.
“So, are you going to go?” Maggie asked, sitting beside her.
“I don’t know,” Aria admitted. “What if it’s just more of the same? What if I get hurt again?”
Maggie placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Look, I get it. Trusting him isn’t going to happen overnight. But if there’s even a small part of you that wants to see where this could go, isn’t it worth taking the chance?”
Aria didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the tickets.
Unbeknownst to Aria, Liam’s invitation wasn’t as private as he’d intended. The paparazzi had caught wind of his sudden reappearance in their hometown, and rumors about a rekindled romance were already swirling.
That evening, Aria’s phone buzzed with a notification. When she opened her social media app, her heart sank.
A photo of her and Liam at the charity gala was trending, accompanied by headlines like:
***“Rock Star Rekindles Romance with College Sweetheart?”***
***“Who Is Aria Benson? The Woman Behind Liam Carlisle’s Heartfelt Lyrics.”***
***Her fingers shook as she scrolled through the comments, each one more invasive than the last.***
***“Is she the reason he wrote Falling Back to You?”***
***“She looks so plain. What does he see in her?”***
***“Ugh, another fame-hungry ex trying to ride his coattails.”***
Aria closed the app, her chest tightening. This was exactly what she’d feared—being thrust into the public eye, judged and dissected by people who didn’t even know her.
Her phone buzzed again, this time with a call from Liam. She hesitated before answering.
“Aria,” he said, his voice laced with concern. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think this would happen.”
“Didn’t you?” she snapped, the stress and fear boiling over. “This is your life, Liam. Cameras, rumors, people picking apart every detail. I don’t belong in this world.”
“I know it’s a lot,” he said gently. “But I’ll handle it. I’ll make sure they leave you alone.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” she asked bitterly. “By writing another song? By telling them to back off? You can’t control this, Liam. It’s bigger than you.”
There was silence on the other end before he said, “You’re right. I can’t control it. But I can stand by you, no matter what.”
**The Concert**
Despite her reservations, Aria found herself at the Civic Hall on Friday night, the tickets clutched in her hand. The venue was smaller than she’d expected, intimate and dimly lit. She slipped into a seat near the back, her heart racing as she watched the stage come to life.
Liam’s silhouette appeared, his guitar slung over his shoulder. When he stepped into the spotlight, his eyes scanned the crowd. For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t see her, but then their gazes locked.
He smiled—a small, genuine smile that sent a ripple through her chest.
“This next song,” he said into the microphone, his voice steady, “is for someone who taught me what love really means.”
The audience erupted into cheers, but all Aria could hear was the pounding of her heart.
As he began to play, the melody was soft and haunting, wrapping around her like a warm embrace. Liam’s voice carried the weight of every apology, every promise, and every hope he couldn’t put into words.
For the first time in years, Aria felt herself beginning to believe.