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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Mar 24, 2018 22:23:32 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2018 22:23:32 GMT -7
Liam didn't know how he was handling this. Actually he did know. He wasn't handling it. His best friend in the entire world was dating the woman of his dreams. At least, he was dating the woman Liam dreamed about since first year. Tamara Finch. She was in Hufflepuff, beautiful and smart and he couldn't say two words to her. His mind went into hyperdrive anytime she was around and Liam couldn't convince himself to speak. It wasn't a surprise that Ethan realized how perfect she was and asked her out- the guy just had a way with people- but that didn't make it less hard for Liam. Ethan was practically a brother to him, but watching him with Tamara was torture.
He stormed into an empty classroom after spending his dinner sitting next to the happy couple, pushing over a couple desks as he made his way to the window angrily. It didn't matter. He'd pick them up before he left. Probably. Right now he had to figure out how to stop caring for Tamara. He couldn't pine after his best friend's girlfriend, that was just wrong. It didn't matter that he cared for her longer than Ethan, or how deep his feelings for her were. He needed to find a way to get past this, but he didn't know how. Worse than that, he didn't have anyone he could go to about this. He was alone.
@tia
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Mar 26, 2018 5:55:33 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2018 5:55:33 GMT -7
 THE HALLS OF HOGWARTS WERE BUSTLING AFTER DINNER. Tia was on patrol as a Prefect, having finished picking at her dinner with zero appetite. She'd had the pleasure of seeing Tam and Ethan at the Ravenclaw table, eating together like a two-headed monster. It had put her entirely off her meal.
Tia hadn't spoken to Tam since she had confronted her about Phoenix Rising. Which had went about as well as she should have expected... The air between them had been stale before, now it was positively toxic. Tia couldn't be seen looking at her own sister without it being slick with dislike. It was horrible, and often turned her mood. She'd left long before they had, discarding her food with a backwards glance of disgust.
However, it was because she was in the halls that she saw them leave. Liam in tow, until he seemed to sweep off on his own. A flurry of robes and clenched fists. The lovebirds seemed none the wiser, but Tia wasn't a fool. With a cursory glance around the hall, Tia 'patrolled' her way behind him. Unable to catch up until she saw him turn in to a classroom. She was frowning, both in concern and curiosity. At the door frame, she stopped, the sound of clattering desks and chairs echoing in the empty room.
Toeing the door open fully, Tia leaned against the frame. "As a Prefect, I feel obligated to tell you not to damage school property." She declared, crossing her arms and raising both brows. "As... your friend... I might ask what bit you in the arse."
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Mar 31, 2018 18:27:13 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2018 18:27:13 GMT -7
Liam was so distracted by his fury that it was all he could think about. He couldn't seem to focus on anything else but the raging jealousy. The worst part was that he was jealous of his best friend. This shouldn't be happening! He needed to get over Tamara, to move on so he could stop feeling bad that he wanted her so badly. He couldn't let anything ruin his friendship with Ethan. Ethan was like a brother to him.
He jumped when he heard a voice behind him. The voice was familiar and he knew who it was. Liam didn't turn away from the window, not wanting to let her see his face. Tia knew him too well already. "It's not damaged. It's just on his side. That can be fixed in a moment." With a flick of his wand, all the desks moved back to their previous state, as if nothing happened to them. "Nothing," he growled when she asked what was wrong with him. He could tell Ethan about Tamara because Ethan was dating her. He couldn't tell Tia because she was Tamara's sister. He just needed to move on.
@tia
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Apr 4, 2018 6:40:40 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2018 6:40:40 GMT -7
TIA ROLLED HER EYES WHILE HIS BACK WAS TURNED. Good thing he didn't see in his melancholic mood, he'd have snapped at her and she hadn't rolled her eyes to goad him this time. She simply found his stoic answer a bit of a farce. "Show off," She quipped, entering the classroom simply because he hadn't told her to bog off immediately.
She navigated the tables and chairs, rounding a the end of a table just behind where Liam was stood and hopped up to sit on the end, gripping the edge and swinging her legs. Something was wrong, she knew that. Liam was the silent type, but this was different. He pulsed with the same anger that had upturned an entire table. Something twisted in her gut, a feeling that Tia often only had for her own sister. Worry.
"Okay, so nothing is wrong." She said flatly, shrugging one shoulder. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, deciding carefully how to proceed. "Stare out that window all you want, I'm not leaving." She was stubborn enough to know that this was true, and Liam would know too. "You don't have to tell me." She clarified, looking down at her polished school shoes as they swung back and forth. "I can just sit here, make sure you don't set the place on fire."
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Apr 5, 2018 6:02:51 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2018 6:02:51 GMT -7
She called him a show off and Liam almost smiled, not that she would have known since she was behind him. He just wasn't in the mood to smile right now. He couldn't decide what to do, or how to do it. If he chose to give up Tamara ... how was he supposed to follow through with that? He'd loved her for years.
He could hear Tia approaching and a part of him wanted her to leave, but he wouldn't say anything. He knew that Tia would have no idea calling him out if she felt a need and he didn't really want to give her that chance. He didn't want to deal with it, because he wasn't sure if he could keep his temper. He hardly had it under control as it was.
She started out by commenting that nothing was wrong, adding that she wasn't leaving. Ugh, why couldn't she just let him be angry in peace?! She said he didn't have to talk about it, that she could just watch him. Liam hung his head. "I'm a terrible person," he muttered under his breath. Sighing, he decided to tell her. "There's this ... girl. I've cared for her for years, but I can't talk to her. I just can't." Coward. Though to be fair, he couldn't talk with most people. "And now she's dating someone else and I need to move on, but I can't." There. That was honest enough, though he left out the details. Like how the girl was Tia's sister and how the guy she was dating was Liam's best friend. He didn't need to actually say that, did he?
@tia
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Apr 10, 2018 14:03:15 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2018 14:03:15 GMT -7
THOUGH CONTENT SITTING IN SILENCE, TIA WAS relieved when Liam eventually broke it. She strained to hear, leaning forward on the table. A girl? Her face pulled in to a frown as she considered the fact. All of this was about a girl? She didn't understand. "You're... one of the least terrible people I know," Tia said, brows raised. It was true, though. Liam was by far a much better person than she was. However, when it came to love advice... well, Tia was left floundering.
Sighing audibly, Tia pushed off the table and stood up. She approached Liam tentatively, hesitating slightly before she placed a hand on his robed shoulder. "Listen here, okay?" She said, a firmness in her tone. "If it's making you this... upset... you have to talk about it." She licked her lips, wrinkling her nose slightly at the cliche of her own advice. "If not with her then... I don't know... with me? Or even Ethan." Though love advice was perhaps her least capable subject, Tia would give it a try for Liam.
"C'mon, stop being a goof and actually talk to me." She nudged her shoulder lightly. "Tell me I'm a shit dueller or something." Pulling back from his shoulder, Tia shifted to his side, ducking her head and moving it between him and the window so that she could scowl right in to his face. "Are you paying attention, Mr. Flint?" She joked, eyes wide open, cheeks full of air. She didn't like seeing Liam like this. So withdrawn she couldn't even read his face. Where was her friend?
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Apr 10, 2018 20:23:16 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2018 20:23:16 GMT -7
He wasn't looking at Tia. He didn't want to. Didn't want to know if she thought he was an idiot or if he was overreacting or anything of the sort. He didn't want to see her frowning at him, so it was better to not look at her, right? Then she spoke, saying that he was one of the least terrible people she knew and he felt the guilt rise inside him. She shook his head, looking down now. "You don't know," his voice cracked.
He heard her approaching and looked back out the window, trying to force himself to not look at her. He couldn't right now. She shook his head as she said he needed to talk about it. "I can't," his voice was low and gravelly. "I definitely can't tell Ethan. Or her," Liam paused for a moment and glanced over at Tia. He bit the inside of his cheek. "I'm not even sure you'd want to know." He knew that would make her curious, but he couldn't see her reacting positively to the fact that he was in love with her sister, who was also his best friend's girlfriend.
Tia was trying to make him feel more comfortable now, nudging his shoulder and teasing him a little. Liam felt the ghost of a smile tug at the corner of his mouth, but he shook his head. "Don't want you demanding a duel to prove I was lying," he quipped as an excuse, taking a step back when her face was suddenly in front of his. What was she doing now? He could tell she was joking and trying to get him to smile, so he forced one. "I always pay attention." He was trying to tease her back, but he knew his tone wasn't right. He sounded entirely serious.
@tia
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Apr 17, 2018 6:13:37 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2018 6:13:37 GMT -7
TIA COULD NOT BE CONVINCED OF HOW TERRIBLE Liam thought he was. It just seemed too unlikely for her. The fact that he thought so had no effect on her opinion on him whatsoever. In fact, she had to refrain from rolling her eyes as he pressed upon the matter. The only thing that stopped her was the very obvious crack that was heard in his voice. It wasn't like him to be so emotional.
Twisting her lips, Tia stopped her eyes from widening at the mention of Ethan. "He's your best friend!" She said, as if it wasn't obvious. "Whatever it is, I'm sure... he'll understand." It seemed simple to her. Nothing could be that serious. Not even a girl. Her brain, however, was already working over time. Whoever this 'her' was she had a lot of explaining to do, Tia reckoned. "It can't be... that bad." Tia muttered, though she'd begun to doubt her own words. Tia didn't usually want to know anybody's business. It just so happened that Liam's poor mood would effect hers, eventually.
With lack of a better plan, she tried teasing him instead. So he didn't want to tell her, so what! She caught the shadow of a smile and her own peaked her cheeks slightly. Tia wasn't really the smiling type, but sometimes even she couldn't help herself. "Like you would mind putting me on my arse, Flint." Tia said, crossing her arms firmly. She quirked her brows. Brown eyes alight with a tentative amusement. Though his own smile was so obviously fake that her face flattened almost immediately.
"Okay, this isn't working." She reached over and tugged the sleeve of his robe. Eventually pushing his shoulders, she led him by both to a table, kicking a chair out and forcing him in to it. She crossed around and sat opposite him, both hands flat on the table. "You're being weird..." She said bluntly. "I don't like it." Her eyes were open and sincere. "Is it... she someone I know?" She asked, pulling her hands in to her lap and playing with a woven bracelet around her wrist. "That Ethan and I... both know?" One brow was hiked higher than the other as Tia slowly deduced what Liam was unwilling to tell. "I'll guess right eventually!" She declared with certainty.
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Apr 17, 2018 17:51:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2018 17:51:42 GMT -7
Liam finally turned to meet Tia's eyes. "And you've never kept a secret from your best friend?" He didn't say Tamara's name, though that's who he meant. He wasn't sure if they were on good terms right now, but they were sisters and apart from Ethan, Liam was definitely close with River. So it made sense to him. He shook his head, "No, it's ... too late for that. I can't tell him now." Liam had years where he could have told Ethan how he felt for Tamara. Now Ethan was dating her and Liam would not ruin that for his best friend. He couldn't say more. He wanted to, kind of. A part of him really wanted someone to know how he felt, but at the same time wouldn't that make everything so much harder. He shook his head again when Tia said that it couldn't be that bad. Would she hate him if she knew what a coward he was? Or for the fact that he was in love with her sister? He'd hardly ever spoken more than five words at a time with Tamara, but he still loved her.
His smile became a little more real when she commented that he'd have fun attacking her in a duel. Tia knew very well that both of them were very good at dueling. If they were to fight one another, it wouldn't be as easy as that. He could tell she was trying to cheer him up though, so he was trying to make it seem like it worked. It wasn't working. Apparently she realized that as well.
What Liam didn't expect was for Tia to tug on his robe. He turned to look at her curiously, then led her push him around. He rolled his eyes, but sat down when he realized that was what she wanted him to do. She said he was being weird and Liam felt the pit in his stomach grow. "Sorry," he croaked. He didn't want to upset her, he just couldn't really control himself. Then she was asking questions. Liam met her eyes, showing absolutely no sign on his face that she was right on target. She asked if she knew the person, then if Ethan did as well. His stomach twisted, but Liam still didn't move. He felt like if he did, then it all would come spilling out. Every last bit of it, and that would be bad. He couldn't do that to Tia. She was one of the few people who understood him and took the time to get to know him. After several moments, he gave one firm nod of his head, still meeting her eyes. "You're going to hate me," he whispered, his expression finally crumpling as he looked down at the table now. "So would Ethan if I told him." Liam wasn't quite as sure of that, but he knew that telling Ethan would hurt his best friend, which Liam wanted to avoid at all costs. Ethan was like a brother to him. He couldn't tell him the truth.
@tia
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Apr 26, 2018 7:16:58 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2018 7:16:58 GMT -7
A COLD FLASH RIPPLED DOWN TIA'S SPINE AS Liam hit out at her. Did she have any secrets? Certainly. From her best friend? "I don't have a best friend," Tia said coldly, pulling back from Liam but not away. So, he didn't want to tell Ethan, she wasn't going to force him. She just hated to see him like that. Reaching, but never grabbing. It must be serious, she knew it must.
If it were anyone else Tia would have walked away. But it wasn't just anyone, it was Liam. She ushered him over to a table without waiting for a refusal. Not acknowledging his pitiful apology, she sat him down and sat opposite him. Very business-like, which was her favourite way to approach things as sticky as emotions. But, it was like he couldn't even look at her.
"Hey... hey, Liam..?" Tia tried to coax his gaze up to hers to no avail, her voice uncharacteristically soft - with a familiar hard hint for consistency. "If he hates you he was never your friend." Tia lacked belief that Ethan would ever hate Liam. There friendship was almost akin to how Tia and Tamara used to be. Attached at the hip. She felt no need to clarify that the same could be said for herself. She almost thought he was being ridiculous, but it wasn't in Liam's propensity to be theatrical.
Suddenly, Tia felt the pressure of Liam's emotions. She began to wonder if maybe it was as bad as he made it out to be. "I mean... how bad can it be?" She said with a nervous chuckle. "Are they a mass murderer?" She widened her eyes. "Do they check out library books and then never return them?" Her small smile was strained and she was incessantly circling a finger on the desktop. "You can't help who you love, right?" She wasn't sure if she believed that, but she thought it sounded right.
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Apr 26, 2018 19:59:13 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2018 19:59:13 GMT -7
Crap. Why was he saying everything wrong right now? Liam didn't want to upset Tia. He just ... he was having a bad day and he was taking it out on her. She didn't deserve that. She was trying to be a good friend. Liam looked over at her, trying to catch her eye. "Hey, I'm sorry." He meant it and hoped she'd be able to see that. He didn't want her to think he didn't appreciate her caring about him.
She kept on going, trying to get his attention. She had it, but Liam wasn't sure he wanted to look at her right now. He was starting to feel guilty for keeping this from her, even though he didn't think she would be happy if she knew how much he cared for her sister. He nodded slowly, "He won't hate me," he answered slowly. "I just ... don't want to tell him. It would hurt him." There. Maybe that would help her understand.
When Tia asked how bad it could be and started giving examples, Liam gave her a wan smile. "No, it's not like that." He sighed, "In the big scheme of things, it's not a big deal at all, I'm sure." Which made it even harder to talk about now, because even though it wasn't a big deal, it was to him. He shook his head, growing frustrated with himself. This was ridiculous. He looked down and stared at the desk. "It's Tamara," he whispered. He wanted to say more and explain himself a bit, but he couldn't force his mouth to say anything else. He couldn't even look up at Tia. A part of him hoped that she didn't hear him admit the secret he'd kept for years.
@tia
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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May 26, 2018 15:57:56 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 26, 2018 15:57:56 GMT -7
TIA CHOSE NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE LIAM'S apology. Not because she didn't forgive him, but because she didn't think it was necessary. Plus, she never wanted to be pitied for not having a best friend. That was pathetic. She had friends, okay. Why 'best' was important at their age, she didn't know. Some missing chip in her.
Instead, Tia focused her efforts on coaxing Liam back from whatever edge he had found himself on. It was a lot of work, admittedly. Gnawing on the inside of her lip, she watched Liam agonise. "Oh." Why was it worse that Liam didn't think his friend would hate him? Why did it seem like hurting Ethan was worse than making him hate him? Tia nipped a little too hard at the inside of her mouth and flinched. She didn't know what to say, she hated not knowing what to say. "That is different," Tia admitted, pulling the sleeve of her robes over her hands.
Tia had tried to inject humour. Something she wasn't at all good at, and naturally failed miserably. But, she wasn't a quitter by a long shot. "Then honestly, Liam, I don't know why you're torturing yourself!" Tia rambled, she thought her friend was perhaps punishing himself a little too harshly, but as she inhaled to tell him as much, her breath caught somewhere in the back of her throat.
Tamara. It was Tamara. Of course it was Tamara. Who else could it be? Why else hadn't he told her AND Ethan. God, she was an idiot. Why had she allowed herself to be duped like this? Her entire frame was wound tight, frozen mid breath. Her eyes wide, something wild filling them with every passing, maddening thought. She didn't move, just in case whatever came out of her scared Liam away. She had an unpredictable fire in her.
"T- Tamara," She eventually whispered, after a beat too many. As if saying it out loud to be sure she'd heard him right. Her sister. The sister she hadn't spoken to in... god, since Summer break. She clicked her tongue, shifting her eyes in an attempt to seem at ease. How did she feel about that? Did she hate him? No.. no she didn't. "My sister Tamara." Tia felt dumb the more she said it, but it was like she couldn't help herself.
Licking her suddenly dry lips, she twisted her neck as if to crack it. No longer smiling that uncharacteristically soft thing for him. But, then Tia did something quite mad. She snorted. A loud thing in the silence between them. She was the one avoiding Liam's eyes now, her brain working over time. But, after the breach, she dropped her head in to her arms and snickered in to them quietly. "God, Liam," She said without looking up, voice slightly muffled by the fabric of her robed arms. "You're totally fucked."
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Jun 4, 2018 16:42:02 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2018 16:42:02 GMT -7
Tia seemed to be starting to understand, little by little. Why he couldn't tell Ethan about this, at least. It wasn't that he didn't want to his friend to hate him (though that definitely was part of it). More, Liam couldn't stand the fact that his confession would hurt Ethan. He nodded slowly, but said nothing in response, shrugging when she said she didn't know why he was torturing himself. She didn't get it. She'd understand if she knew who it was. So he told her.
Her eyes grew wide after he said the words and Liam waited, staring at her desperately. Tia was one person who would probably understand this. Why it was so hard to tell anyone, and why Liam felt so guilty about it.
After what felt like ages, Tia finally spoke, repeating Tamara's name. Liam nodded, but couldn't force himself to say anything in response. He wanted to apologize or at least say something, but what? What could he say to justify this? Nothing. The worst part was that he couldn't read Tia right now. He couldn't tell if she was angry or merely surprised.
Then she snorted. What? Was this funny or something? Liam's eyes were wide in surprise as he continued to wait. What else could he do? At her words, he barked out a laugh and then groaned as he glanced around the room. "I know. I just ..." he glanced back to Tia. "Are you mad at me?" If she was it wouldn't change his feelings, but Liam didn't want to lose his friend. Not one bit.
@tia
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Jun 21, 2018 8:17:39 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2018 8:17:39 GMT -7
WITH HER HEAD IN HER ARMS TIA COULD PRETEND for a moment that Liam hadn't said anything at all. That he wasn't agonised over her perfect sister, or that he hadn't spent however long trying to work up the courage to simply say it out loud. As if he'd killed somebody. As if she were going to kill him for it herself. She sighed deep in her arms, her laugh dying to a long and heavy sigh. Was she mad?
"I'm not..." Tia said, muffled by her robes. She lifted her head and set it on her arms, lips pursed seriously. "I'm not anything." She said honestly, her emotions surprisingly blank. "I mean, if you'd asked how I thought I'd react to a bombshell like this?" Tia blew out a noisy breath. Her relationship with her sister was contentious and Liam knew this. Everybody knew it. "I'd have said 'mad'." Because didn't she have a right? No, she thought after a second. Not really.
"I just-" Tia's eyes narrowed as she straightened up, stretching her arms out in front of her. "I don't get it, she's so obsessed with Ethan." Tia remembered the fuss she had made. Had seen the change in her sister the moment he had walked in to her life. But, that was from afar. Tia didn't know anything for sure. "Why would you love someone who can't love you back?" Tia looked at Liam, a blunt curiosity on her face.
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last online Apr 25, 2024 16:54:20 GMT -7
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Jun 21, 2018 22:53:41 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2018 22:53:41 GMT -7
Liam waited, unable to stop the anxious feeling in his stomach. Hopefully Tia wouldn’t be too mad at him. He really did appreciate her friendship, which was why telling her about his feelings for Tamara was so hard. He didn’t want to hurt her or upset her in any way. Finally she spoke, saying that she wasn’t feeling anything, specifically. She thought she’d be mad, but she wasn’t?
He flinched when she started talking about how her sister was obsessed with Ethan. That wasn’t news to Liam. It was perfectly clear, and also the reason he was sitting in a room grumpy. He was in love with a girl he could never have. He shrugged, “I’ve loved her for a long time, Tia. Long before she and Ethan started dating, but you know me … I’m not good at talking. She’s so pretty … I could never find the courage to tell her.” He couldn’t look at Tia, too nervous to see that she thought he was an idiot. He could talk with her, at least, without stuttering and stammering. That was the benefit of actually being friends with her. If it was Tamara in the room with him, he wouldn’t be able to utter a syllable.
@tia
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