𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒 , ᶻᵃʸⁿ ᵐᵃˡⁱᵏ

ties that bond

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋
SERENA:

The crowd's roar hits me like a wave as the lights dim, the familiar buzz of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I should be focusing on the energy of the night, but all I can think about is Liam. Why has he been so distant? It's not like him to act this suspicious, dodging my questions, avoiding eye contact. The way he hesitated to answer his phone still nags at me, and I can't shake the feeling that something's off.

I spot him near the side of the stage, standing with the security team. He's not looking at me. It's like I'm not even here, and that hits harder.

My fingers tighten around the mic, the intro music playing louder in my ears than usual. I push the thoughts down, trying to bury them beneath the rhythm. But it's not working. All I can picture is all the different scenarios that could be going on behind the scenes.

My voice wavers slightly on the first note, but I recover fast. This is my stage. My tour. I can't let Liam—whatever this is—mess with my head. Not tonight.

But even as I hit the chorus, pouring every emotion into the lyrics, I can't help glancing back at him. Is he hiding something from me? Or am I just imagining things?

As the final notes of the last song echo across the venue, I hold the mic close to my chest, letting the moment sink in. The crowd cheers louder than before, but instead of basking in their energy, my mind drifts back to Liam. His distance hasn't gotten any better throughout the night. I saw him speaking with some of the crew earlier, his face serious, and every time I looked his way, he avoided me.

I offer the crowd one last smile and wave, doing my best to stay present, but inside I'm racing through every conversation we've had over the past week. Was it something I said? Did I push him away? The applause swells, and I take a deep breath, giving them all my focus for these last few seconds.

As I step off the stage, the energy of the tour wrapping up is palpable. The crew is already in motion, breaking down equipment and packing up for the next stop. But instead of excitement, I feel uneasy. Liam is right there in the thick of it, but even now, he won't look at me. I weave through the chaos toward him, determined to get answers. If something's wrong, I need to know.

I call out his name, my voice lost in the clamor. He turns, his expression unreadable, but there's something in his eyes—something he's not telling me.

𝄞
LIAM:

I stood at the back of the stage, watching Serena bask in the final moments of her set. The lights illuminated her like a goddess, but I couldn't shake the worry gnawing at me. She looked invincible, yet I knew better. She wasn't.

I hated that she had to see the confusion in my eyes, the way I was holding back. I remembered when she called me, her voice tinged with concern, and I had hesitated to answer. My heart had raced as I let it ring, but I needed to focus on her safety. My father's family had been trying to reach me again, and I couldn't let them get to her.

Each missed call felt like a weight on my shoulders, pulling me deeper into my own mess. Ignoring her wasn't easy; it hurt us both. But with every threat from my past creeping closer, I knew that staying distant was necessary. If they discovered Serena was connected to me, things could spiral out of control. I couldn't risk her safety, not now.

As the crowd began to fade, cheering her name, I pushed my worries aside, focusing on her. She deserved this moment, every bit of it, and I promised myself I would protect her, even if it meant keeping my secrets hidden a little longer.

I stood just outside Serena's dressing room, my heart pounding as the echoes of the concert faded into the background. The adrenaline still coursed through me, but a heavy weight settled in my stomach as I waited for her to come out. I could hear the distant sounds of the crew packing up equipment, the buzz of excitement lingering in the air. In three days, we'd be heading to New York, and I needed to figure out how to protect her without letting my guard down.