#˳೫˚∗ briar hamilton

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liam couldn't hold back a soft chuckle at briar's words. "the least you could do? are you kidding me? i mean... you made time out of your insane schedule to see me. it's the least i can do to make it worth your while...ish. 'gotta make up for the damage your reputation's about to take by being seen here", he joked, hoping to keep things light. briar was a global pop phenomenon, and liam had no illusions about that. he hadn't gotten to experience her fame firsthand yet, and no matter how humble briar seemed to have remained, liam knew she could easily afford the ihop franchise if the whim struck.

"something something i'm being a gentleman, alright?" he shrugged, a half-hearted way of closing the matter. there was no way he'd let her pay. or carry her bags, either. "oh, i know. but isn't there power in making me your butler, too?" liam gently set down the luggage when they reached his truck to unlock the passenger side for briar. he popped the door open with a quiet grunt. "i really need to get this door fixed... it's been giving me hell lately. so don't think this is some dig at your independence, okay?" before she could climb in, he stepped back and loaded her luggage into the backseat, but froze when he heard her question.

it was the world's worst-kept secret that liam had been harboring feelings for briar. well, to everyone but briar, apparently, and for that, he was grateful. she meant too much to him to risk ruining their friendship with unreciprocated feelings. he'd rather have her like this, as a friend, than not at all. in his mind, keeping his feelings buried was a way of protecting them both. growing up, he'd had to endure the endless jokes about when he and briar would finally get together, even from his parents. so while liam wasn't thrilled with the distance between them now, it made things... simpler. he'd learned to live with it. in fact, it had even helped him feel like he was moving on from that childhood crush. at least, that's what he'd thought— until he saw her again, with her beautiful smile and bright blue eyes. her mere presence stirred up feelings he'd worked so hard to get past. god, this was a mess.

"uhh, well... sort of. i don't know about juicy, though. what about you? too old for dicaprio now, but i bet you've got good stories", he said in an attempt to deflect, but he knew briar wouldn't let him off so easy. the truth was, there was someone. it was recent, they both hadn't talked about putting a label on things, but liam was enjoying himself. so he didn't know why bringing it up to briar now felt so... wrong. he pushed the thought aside, willing himself to keep things casual.

the days that lead to briar's visit for her were filled of thoughts such as would liam still want to be her friend ? and did liam think she was a bad person like 90% of the world ? she didn't want the person she considered her best friend to see her in any sort of bad light-- even if she'd had a few bad years in the press. ❝ are you absolutely sure ? because i'm okay with paying, really. it's the least i can do. ❞ she told him, blues widening as a small pout formed. the laugh at her pancake voice made her grin from ear to ear again, watching as he took her luggage. ❝ i could have carried those, you know. i'm a strong, independent woman, or have you forgotten ? ❞ she teased as she made her way toward his truck, letting him carry her luggage. ❝ so, tell me all the juicy details of your life now. got a girlfriend ? ❞ not that it mattered or anything, they were just friends. that's all they'd ever been and all they'd ever be. at least, that's what she kept telling herself. maybe she'd had a tiny crush on him before she left. maybe. and maybe she wanted him to give her a reason to stay back then but when he didn't, briar left thinking he'd never feel the same.

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"excuse me, i changed plenty. you just have your hollywood goggles on", liam played along. he was shocked at how easily they'd seemed to have slipped back into their old bantering. but what was more shocking, ironically enough, was how briar didn't feel all that different herself. in the days leading up to her visit, liam had driven himself up the walls with worry. what if she got bored with him? what if she'd become out of touch? he knew now that his fears were unfounded. maybe it was too early to tell, but if the ease with which they spoke was anything to go by? they'd be fine. he found himself exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "no, no, i meant it: my treat! i can afford ihop at the very least, alright?" liam insisted, but his tone was lighthearted. the last thing he wanted was for briar to pity him, to look down on him, even if subconsciously. he didn't have time to dwell on it that briar busted out her best...pancake voice? it elicited a genuine laugh from liam. "okay kool-aid man, my truck's over here, come on", he pointed at a nearby truck before bending down to grab briar's luggage.

briar let out a soft laugh, giving a playful eyeroll.  ❝ you haven't changed a bit, have you ? ❞ the blonde grinned as she looked to her old friend. she did take note that he had gotten cuter. maybe he'd always been that handsome, but she'd only just noticed. ❝ i'm joking. but seriously, i'll pay. my treat. think of it as a sorry i haven't come to visit sooner. ❞ after leaving, briar truly didn't want to come back and face everything. with everything that happened between her and her sister, the divorce between her parents, it was all a mess. the only thing that brought her back was liam. he was always the one there for her even if she hadn't been the best friend to him in return. ❝ let's head out ! i'm starving and i can hear those pancakes calling my name. briar, briar, come eat us. ❞ she put on a goofy voice when talking as the pancakes, bursting into laughter. being herself like this felt so natural around liam. in la, she felt like she had to put on this fake persona to be liked by others.

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"i feel like you're a hologram or something. like, if i waved my hand, it'd go right through you!" liam teased, extending his hand and waving it as close to briar's face as he could without actually touching her. he pulled it away and tucked it back in his pocket with a soft chuckle. it was easier to goof off than having to confront the very real panic surging through his veins. briar was here. for real, this time. they'd talked so often about getting together, but her hectic schedule had never allowed it before. that single thought made his heart swell with pride. she'd really made it. he could never hold that against her. even if that meant leaving him behind. but seeing her again now... it made all sorts of complicated feelings he'd been ignoring try to claw their way back to the surface. liam cleared his throat. "woooow... what good is popstar money if you're not even gonna get me a measly rooty tooty? i was gonna say it's my treat anyway. a fine dining experience, free of charge for the guest of honor... 'feels correct. what more could you ask for?"

briar felt a pang of guilt at liam's words. ❝ yeah, i feel so out of place, ❞ she admitted, scratching the back of her neck. ❝ it's good to see you again though... i've missed you. ❞ briar offered a small smile as she looked at him for a moment, as if studying his features so that she wouldn't forget them. ❝ absolutely not. i will never turn down midnight ihop runs. ❞ she didn't want things to feel awkward between them, she was still the same briar that hung out with him before she'd left town. ❝ you can't judge me for the amount of pancakes i'm going to scarf down, okay ? like, seriously, if i see you judging, i'm sticking you with the bill, ❞ the blonde teased as she let out a loud laugh, a snort escaping along with it.