Liam: You stand around the living room, scanning the environment, absorbing the different social groups around the party. "Happy birthday, (Y/N)! I hope you like the party! I'll be right back!" your friend says, before she gives you the 'I'll be right back' motion, walking away with some guy you've never seen before. You sigh, realizing you know almost no one at this 'birthday party' of yours. You begin to feel dizzy as the warmth envelopes you, and you weave through people, trying to fend yourself towards the back balcony. The air is refreshing, your bare arms chilled as the cold air brushes over you. You lean against the porch railing, your water bottle held over the wood, as you sigh to yourself, having no ride home since you were taken to your friend's house, which makes you the designated driver. "Not having fun?" a familiar accent rings, and you quickly turn around, distracting your thoughts. You're taken back when you see a very familiar face, an unsure smile over taking your lonely smile. "Not really..." you say, as he stands next to you on the porch, his elbows resting on the wood railing, memories flushing your mind, regrets roasting your blood. He stands there silent for a moment, and you look anywhere besides his eyes. He coughs uncomfortably, and you finally look at him. "(Y/N), Do you regret it?" he asks, and your stomach churns in agreement, knowing what he's talking about. "Yeah, I do..." you say quietly, his eyes meeting yours, the party seeming to be drowned out by your quiet conversation. After another torturous minute, you look at him, his eyes already fixated on yours, this moment feeling familiar, and strangely enjoyable. "Well if we could pretend that didn't happen, would you?" he asks, and you look at him skeptically, yet you nod slowly. His smile grows, and he licks his bottom lip. "Well, can we do that? Try to forget that one stupid night, but not all of those late night memories?" he asks, and you can't help the smile that appears on your lips. "I mean I guess... if that is possible, really..." you say shrugging, biting you lip out of nervous habit. "We can try?" he asks unsure, and you nod silently, your mind automatically swiping the past couple of months from memory. "Well-ummm I guess it's a fresh start?" he asks, and you nod, a genuine smile interlacing your uncomfortable one. After a comfortable and simple minute, he coughs uncomfortably, and you look at him quickly, nostalgia filling your eyes. "Wait, isn't this your party?" he asks skeptically and randomly, and you nod slowly. "Yeah kind of..." you say, shrugging at him, as his familiar eyes cast over yours. "What do you mean kind of, (Y/N)? It's your birthday bash!" he playfully exclaims, pretending to dance to the beat of the song playing through the house. You shake your head and laugh, playfully pushing him. He bites his bottom lip, laughing in the process as you narrow your eyes at him. "Wait... so you aren't having any fun?" he asks, raising an eyebrow, a smirk evident on his lips. "Not really..." you say quietly, hoping your friend doesn't think you don't appreciate her surprise party. Liam looks at you for a moment, licking his bottom lip out of habit. "Well come on then." He says, nodding behind him. You look at him confused, and he smiles. "Let's go somewhere, do something you want to do. Since it is your birthday. I know you aren't a party type, (Y/N); more of a diner, café, sit-in kind of girl..." he says, wagging his eyebrows, making you smile at his remembrance of details. "But I can't because this is kind of my birthday party, and I don't think I can just leave. That would be mean..." you say, and he looks around suspiciously, leaning closer to you. "But if you're not having fun, why not? I mean, it's not like you're doing anythingwrong, because they aren't celebrating with you... we're just sneaking out... And it is your birthday, anyways; this is something you want to do. Sneaking out will be fun, just like old times..." he says, and you bite your lip, contemplating your decision. "Alright fine..." you mumble after a moment, knowing you can't really say no. "You ready, love?" he asks, as he skips down the wooden stairs of the back porch after you fetch your wallet and phone from inside. You can't help but to smile at the familiarity of the words as you follow. "Holy shit. It's dark. Does she not have any light back here?" he asks, as the small backyard light casts a low and dim light on the back alleyway to the gate. You laugh at his words, as his hand finds yours. "Careful, there's some uneven cement..." he mumbles, gripping your left hand, the feeling very familiar to you. You smile to yourself, thankful that he can't see you blush, as a wave of nervousness crashes through your body. "Come on..." he says happily, as he unlatches the back gate slowly, looking around for anybody. He pulls you along with him, closing the gate door quietly. "You think she might be out here?" you hear a familiar voice exclaim, and Liam instantaneously pulls you into him and against the house's brick wall. Your breath hitches, and his hand rests on the small of your back, the other still intertwined with your left hand. You stand paralyzed, as the feel of this feels so right, so familiar, so perfect. His breathing is steady, as he peeks over the corner, and you both listen to your friends. "I don't see her... Marc was going to ask her out again... She better not have left... He's hot..." You hear the clicking of their heels fade off of the wooden porch, signaling they have left in search for you. You remain still, not wanting to let this moment slip through your grasp, as his back leans against the house, you in his arms. He pulls back, and looks at you worried. "What?" you whisper, not sure if anyone is on the porch. He raises an eyebrow, and studies your facial expression. "Marc?" he asks, and you smile at the familiar facial expression of worry mixed with protection on his face. "Oh, just some guy... he's a total dick, so don't worry..." you say, shrugging, as his facial expression morphs slightly. "Dick? Did he hurt you? Say something shitty? Do I need to beat the shit out of him? I can beat the shi-" a sudden fire surges your body, and your right hand finds the back of his neck as you quickly bring your lips up to his, stopping his words quickly and suddenly. The heat is real, the fire burns quickly, and your hands remained interlaced, his left hand still on your back. He mumbles for a second before you pull away, a look of bewilderment and satisfaction on his lips. "What the-" You tug on his hand, guiding him away from the house and to his car. "Just like old times, except maybe we won't fuck it up tonight." You say, a satisfactory smirk on your lips as his eyes search through yours confused yet acceptingly.
