Friday night came faster than Liam expected. He had barely processed everything between Arthur and Blake when Arthur suddenly texted:
Arthur: "Hey! There's another party tonight. You should come with me."
Liam hesitated at first, but after the emotional week he'd had, a distraction sounded perfect. So he agreed.
When they arrived, the music was louder than the last party, lights flashing across the room as people danced, shouted, laughed, and spilled drinks everywhere. Arthur immediately grabbed Liam's wrist and pulled him toward the kitchen where the drinks were lined up on the counter.
"Shots?" Arthur grinned.
Liam laughed. "Just one."
They took one. Then another.
And another.
Soon they were dancing in the crowded living room, both laughing uncontrollably as they bumped into strangers, shouted lyrics, and let the noise swallow every worry they had.
Arthur leaned into Liam at one point, giggling. "I like partying with you."
"You're fun when you're drunk," Liam teased.
Arthur playfully shoved him, smiling wide. "I'm fun all the time!"
Hours passed in a blur of dancing, drinking, and yelling over music. But eventually, the alcohol hit Arthur hard. He leaned heavily on Liam, eyes glassy.
"Liam… I think… I'm done," he slurred.
Liam wrapped an arm around him. "Okay, let's get you home."
They left the party together, Arthur stumbling but holding onto Liam like a lifeline. The hallways back to Liam's residence felt longer than usual, Arthur mumbling nonsense between soft hiccups.
When they reached Liam's room, Arthur dropped onto the bed, breathing shakily.
"I'm sorry," Arthur whispered.
"For what?" Liam asked gently, taking off Arthur's shoes.
Arthur's eyes filled with tears — sudden, overwhelming tears.
Liam froze.
Arthur pressed a hand over his mouth, voice trembling. "I didn't want to cry tonight."
Liam sat next to him. "It's okay. You can talk to me."
And then everything spilled out.
"Blake…" Arthur whispered brokenly. "I thought… I thought he was the one."
Liam's heart tightened.
Arthur wiped at his eyes clumsily. "You know… he was my first everything. My first real boyfriend. My first real… experience. He… he took my virginity. I gave it to him because I trusted him. Because I loved him."
His voice cracked. "I still love him, Liam."
Liam felt a lump form in his throat.
Arthur continued, crying harder, "And I know it's stupid. I know he moved on. Or he's trying to. Maybe with you. Maybe with someone else. But seeing him again… seeing him with you…"
He pressed his hands to his face. "It hurt so bad."
Liam placed a gentle hand on his back.
Arthur sniffed loudly. "He treated me like I mattered one day, and like a secret the next. I never knew which Blake I'd get. But I always waited. Always hoped."
"Arthur…" Liam whispered.
Arthur looked up at him with red, swollen eyes. "Do you know what the worst part is?"
Liam shook his head softly.
"I still miss him every single day. Even when I'm trying not to."
He let out a sob. "I miss the way he used to hold me. The way he used to look at me like I was his world. And now I see him… confused… lost… maybe falling for someone else."
His voice fell to a whisper. "And I feel like I'll never be enough again."
Liam's chest ached at the rawness of it all.
Without thinking, he pulled Arthur into a hug.
Arthur clung to him, crying into his shoulder — the kind of crying that came from a place too deep to hide.
"I'm sorry," Arthur whispered again. "I didn't mean to dump this on you."
"It's okay," Liam said quietly. "I'm glad you told me."
Arthur nodded weakly, finally letting himself relax against him.
They stayed like that for a long time — Arthur exhausted from heartbreak and alcohol, Liam silently holding him together.
And in that moment, Liam realized something:
This triangle between him, Arthur, and Blake was more tangled than he ever imagined.
And someone was bound to get hurt.