Aria's apartment was quiet in a way that felt intentional, like the world had stepped back and left her alone with her thoughts.
Not the peaceful kind of quiet.
The kind that made every sound louder every breath, every thought, every unanswered question.
She woke up that morning already knowing she wasn't going to school.
Not today.
Her alarm went off once, then again, and she silenced it without opening her eyes. The ceiling above her looked unfamiliar, like she'd been staring at it for too long lately. Somewhere between the weekend and Monday, the routine of her life had cracked open, and she wasn't ready to step back into it pretending nothing had changed.
Liam was still gone.
No calls.
No texts.
No explanations.
And even though she hated how much it affected her, Aria couldn't ignore the hollow space his absence had carved into her days.
She eventually got out of bed, moving slowly through the apartment, barefoot against the cool tile. She opened the curtains just enough to let sunlight spill across the floor, then turned toward the kitchen.
Cleaning became her distraction.
She folded clothes that didn't need folding.
Wiped counters that were already clean.
Lined up objects with careful precision, like order could quiet the chaos in her chest.
Cooking helped more.
She cracked eggs into a bowl, whisking them slowly. Toast popped up from the toaster, and she sliced fresh fruit with focused attention strawberries, apples, bananas anything to keep her hands busy and her thoughts from spiraling.
Music played softly in the background. One of her old playlists. Familiar. Comforting.
She hummed under her breath without realizing it.
Time passed strangely. Too slow, then suddenly fast.
By the time evening crept in, the sky outside her window had darkened into deep blues and soft golds. Aria checked the clock.
7:02 PM.
She had just put on her headset and leaned back on the couch when her phone buzzed on the counter.
Her heart jumped before her brain caught up.
Liam.
For a moment, she didn't move.
Then she answered.
"Hello?" she said, keeping her voice even, despite the way her pulse raced.
"Can you open the door for me?"
His voice was calm. Familiar. Like he'd never disappeared at all.
Aria stood up so quickly the couch cushion snapped back into place. She crossed the room in seconds and swung the door open
And there he was.
Liam stood in the hallway like he belonged there.
Well-dressed, composed, effortlessly magnetic. His jacket was perfectly fitted, his hair styled like he'd stepped out of a meeting instead of vanishing for days without warning. He looked… fine. Too fine.
As if nothing had been wrong.
"Hey," he said softly, eyes flicking over her face like he was making sure she was real.
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she crossed her arms. "You disappeared."
Not angry. Not accusing. Just factual.
A small smile tugged at his lips. "I know."
"You didn't call."
"I couldn't."
"You didn't text."
"I should have."
She stepped aside, letting him in without another word.
The door closed behind him, sealing the apartment back into quiet.
For a moment, they just stood there.
Then Liam spoke again, his tone lower now. "There was a family situation. Something I had to handle personally."
Aria studied his face, searching for cracks for signs that he was lying or hiding something deeper.
She found none.
"Next time," she said quietly, "just tell me you're okay."
He nodded. "I will."
That was it.
No dramatic apology.
No grand explanation.
But somehow, it was enough.
They sat on the couch, close but not touching at first. He reached for her hands slowly, like he was giving her time to pull away if she wanted to.
She didn't.
His fingers were warm, steady. Familiar in a way that unsettled her.
"I missed you," he said, not dramatically just honestly.
Aria exhaled. "You don't get to say that and disappear."
A corner of his mouth lifted. "I know."
They talked quietly. About nothing important. About everything she hadn't realized she needed to hear. He didn't dominate the space. Didn't rush her. Just stayed present, attentive, intentional.
When he finally stood to leave, something in her chest tightened unexpectedly.
He paused by the door, then turned back.
"I didn't come to stay long," he said. "I just… needed to see you."
Before she could respond, he stepped closer.
The hug wasn't rushed. Or desperate.
It was grounding.
His arms wrapped around her waist like he was reminding her I'm here. His forehead rested against hers, their breaths mingling, the space between them shrinking until it disappeared entirely.
Then he kissed her.
Soft at first. Familiar. Then deeper carrying everything he hadn't said.
Aria kissed him back without hesitation.
When they finally pulled apart, his hands still rested at her waist.
"You're safe with me," he said quietly.
She didn't know why those words stayed with her long after he left.
When the door closed behind him again, Aria leaned against it, heart racing.
She wasn't naive.
She knew things were complicated.
Julian was still part of her past maybe even part of her present in ways she hadn't untangled yet. Chloe's distance still stung. And Liam… Liam felt like something she didn't fully understand yet.
But for the first time in days, the quiet didn't feel empty.
Later that night, she texted him.
Aria: Thank you for coming by. Good night.
His reply came almost instantly.
Liam: Sleep well. I'll talk to you tomorrow.
She smiled, setting her phone down.
Outside, the city hummed softly.
And somewhere between uncertainty and comfort, Aria fell asleep knowing one thing for sure
Liam wasn't just passing through her life anymore.
And whatever came next was going to change everything.