#adorkable liam

[bebepac]

Traditions

This is a special holiday edition of School Dayz. To catch up on the series in general please click School Dayz

I am participating in @choicesdecember2023 for Christmas

I am also participating in @choicesprompts holiday rewrite challenge in which I used the candy cane gram scene from Mean Girls.

I am also participating in @choicesflashfics christmas prompt # 59: "Ice-skating? Do you seriously trust me with knives on my feet?" will appear in bold. I also used a previous prompt as well Are you seeing this too or am I having a stroke?

Series: School Dayz

The Book: TRR (no royals)

The Pairings: Liam x Riley

Word Count: 1464

Warnings and Ratings: None. This is for anyone who has eyes. A total fluff piece.

Original post: 12/31/23 at 7:15PM EST.

Science class was different for me now that I no longer sat next to Liam, and shared a table with my sister, since Mrs. Barbour decided to make the class sit in alphabetical order, which I think the only reason for the change was to make taking roll easier. I glanced across the room to Liam whose partner was now Rashad.

My adorkable boyfriend who caught me watching him, smiled and held up his hot cocoa cup to toast me from across the room. Liam was the sweetest boyfriend and stopped by the local coffee shop Brew Bros and always got hot chocolate every morning the way that I liked it.

So I smiled while holding up my cup.

“Oh my God, can you two be any more nerdy?” Taylor asked.

“He’s nice, and you reap the benefits of it too. My boyfriend brings us both hot chocolate, or in your case a coffee drink you like every day without us asking.”

Taylor cocked her head to the side and air toasted Liam, taking a sip from her drink when the door opened.

“Ho , Ho, Ho!!!!! Candy Cane Grams, sponsored by the National Honor Society.”

“Make it quick, Santa.” There was a hint of sarcasm in Mrs. Barbour’s voice as she went to sit at her desk for a moment.

“And his lovely assistant Max Noel!”

“Wait… a sec… Are you seeing this too or am I having a stroke?”

Taylor doubled over in laughter “It is!!!! It’s Drake Walker-Claus.”

Taylor’s laugh seemed to antagonize Drake for a second, but good thing he had his assistant Maxwell. His brooding mood was offset by Max Noel making the class laugh with his dance versions of Christmas music as he followed around the room behind him.

“Hana Lee one for you.”

“Chris Powell four for you, you go Chris Powell!”

“Do we have a Riley Brooks here?”

“That’s her Max Noel. She’s Riley Brooks and looks nothing like the girl sitting next to her. Those two can’t possibly be related.”

“Riley Brooks here you go, one for you.”

“Thank you Santa.”

“Um….”

“And nothing at all for Taylor Brooks, not even coal or black licorice, bye.”

Drake and Max ran out of the room.

Taylor looked at me with curious eyes at the candy cane gram in my hand.

“Who’s that from?”

It wasn’t any of her business. I opened the envelope and read silently to myself.

Liam’s sweet words made me smile, and I didn’t have to answer her, and I looked at him from across the room.

“Oh my god. You guys are too much.”

Taylor looked upset, even though she shrugged it off. Later I found out why at her locker.

“I told you to get me a candy cane gram Nico!!!!”

“Well you telling me to do it, takes the surprise out of it. Me not doing it, guess what you were surprised weren’t you?”

My sister who was always loud looked at him and said nothing.

Before I knew it the words flew out of my mouth.

“Wow, you’re a really bad boyfriend Nico, my sister deserves better than you.”

I slammed my locker walking away from the two of them. I found out later that day, my sister broke up with him, in front of everyone in true dramatic Taylor fashion. I was proud of her.

Christmas Eve

Everyone had come over and was enjoying mom’s Christmas cookies and snacks. My dad brought in a big box sitting it down on the floor.

“I want to thank everyone for coming over tonight to spend time with our family. Our children picked people they care about to spend this time together with you. Ren and I are happy to have you in our home. We both grew up in the foster care system, and learned early in life, sometimes the people that care about you most, are not your blood relatives. So we try to celebrate that.”

“And when we had the opportunity to open our home up to two adorable identical twin girls, we couldn’t say no.” My mother chimed in.

“It’s the best decision they ever made. I went to sleep one night wishing I had a little sister. The next morning I woke up with two.” Jaiden spoke up.

“And we know what it’s like to be alone on Christmas, or missing someone special on Christmas that you were once close to. So we wanted to do something special. Liam would you mind sharing the Christmas Eve tradition you had that you told me about?”

“Christmas was my Mom’s favorite holiday. Every Christmas Eve that I can remember she’d dress us up in these ugly Christmas sweaters

and we would go ice skating on Lake Pine. She loved to ice skate. Then she’d make us take these dorky pictures in our Christmas sweaters that matched. I miss her a lot.”

“I miss her too. I’m not adopted, but Liam’s Mom always made me feel like I was her son too. So I really get what you’re saying about family not always being blood related. She was my mom too.”

Liam hugged his brother.

My dad opened the box.

“With a little help from Riley I found some what I would think are hideously awesome ugly Christmas sweaters, and am secretly happy for your love of Star Trek too. I’m sorry Liam, you can’t be the Captain, this is mine. But this one is yours.”

“Well if I can’t be Captain, being the science officer is the next best and most logical choice.” Liam took his blue sweater graciously.

“That’s what I said! Dad please say you got me a blue sweater too.”

“I did.”

After all the sweaters were handed out, there was still one left in the box.

“Guess you guys bought this before I broke up with Nico. No big deal.”

Once everyone was dressed, they headed out to the vehicles, and Liam stuffed the extra shirt into Leo’s trunk.

“I really don’t know how this is going to go Liam.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ice skating? Do you seriously trust me with knives on my feet?”

“Well good thing you’re not just Riley Brooks today, you’re the science officer for the USS Enterprise. Live long and prosper.”

Liam expected Riley to be as horrible on ice skates as she had been on roller skates, but Riley amazingly was incredibly balanced.

“Have you ice skated before?”

“No! I don’t know how I'm good at this! I usually have no natural balance.”

“You’re a natural at skating…”

“Ice skating. Let's clarify that.”

Taylor was still sitting on the bench watching the couples skate by. “She still hasn’t gotten out on the ice yet. I think she’s feeling lonely and the extra shirt probably made her think of Nico.”

Liam’s phone beeped. “Why don’t you go sit with her for a little bit, and I’ll be back in a few with some hot cocoas for us all.”

“Is cocoa your favorite drink?”

“Yes, and my mom used to always say your heart won’t feel cold if you always have a nice warm cup of cocoa. It always makes me feel better.”

I went to sit with Taylor and Liam continued walking toward the concessions stand.

“You okay?” I asked Taylor.

“I just don’t feel like skating, and look over there.”

Nico was there, with another girl on his arm.

“To be honest I never liked him Taylor. He called you T, like you were a drink or a shirt or something. He wasn’t even really that nice. Good riddance, I say.”

“I never thanked you for standing up for me that day Riley. It really meant a lot.”

“You’re my sister Taylor. I will always have your back, even when you pull me into a tornado.”

“Not on purpose!” She laughed.

“Oh it never is.” I remarked pulling Taylor closer to me in a hug. After a few seconds she pulled away from me.

“What are you doing here?”

“Helping Liam deliver hot cocoa. This one is yours.

I don’t like all the extra stuff in mine.”

Drake handed Taylor her cocoa, as he sat down next to her.

“Just hot and cocoa pretty much then right?”

“Exactly. I’m not that difficult to understand.”

“Do you like to ice skate, Drake?”

“Like it? It’s okay, but I can. Would you like to skate Taylor?”

Drake took off his coat wearing the remaining ugly sweater.

“Okay.” Taylor said in a nonchalant voice.

Taylor’s mood picked up immediately as she skated around with Drake on the ice. She never once glanced in Nico’s direction.

“That was really nice of you to do Liam.”

“He really does like her, you know. Maybe now she can finally see him with Nico out the way.”

“You’re so adorkably sweet Liam.”

“I know Riley, I know.”

[angelasscribbles]

Home For Christmas

Series: American Girl

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Riley x Liam (past)

Rating: PG

Warnings for this chapter: Language, alcohol consumption by people under 21

Word Count: 4,080

A/N: This is a complete AU, my first one that takes them out of Cordonia and makes them normal, average people.

I have no idea what this is. I went to a Christmas party and people watched a group of college-aged kids interact and I shit you not, one was named Riley. Creativity was sparked and here we are.

Fair warning, this is only a Christmas story in so far as it's set over the Christmas break. This story isn't exactly happy, merry, bright or festive. It's a lil' angsty not gonna lie.

I know I am not the first person to write Riley and Liam as high school sweethearts. Notably, @bebepac has a very adorkable version of high schooler Liam Rys. This is simply my twist on that trope and hopefully doesn't step on anyone's toes.

@choicesholidays themes "So glad we found each other" and: "If we hurry, we can still save Christmas", very loosely.

My other stuff: Master List.

Liam checked his appearance one last time in the mirror of his childhood bedroom before bounding down the burgundy carpeted stairs two at a time and skidding to a stop at the bottom.

“Whoa, there!” His father laughed, “Where’s the fire?”

“Sorry! I’m just ready for the party!”

“Ok, son!” his father laughed as he made his way around him, “I’ll be in the kitchen helping your mother.”

The Rys house, nestled in an affluent suburb of Dallas, was draped in Christmas splendor. From the seven-foot tree in the foyer to the holly-adorned fireplace in the formal living room, the house was ready for the annual Rys Christmas party.

Held the week before Christmas, it was a four hour long come and go affair showcasing his mother Eleanor’s considerable baking skills.

“Every surface is covered in food.” She always told her guests, as they circulated through the kitchen, living, and dining rooms all spread lavishly with homemade goodies.

It was true. Every table and counter in the three rooms were covered in food, from freshly chopped fruits and veggies with dip, to baked goods like walnut fudge brownies, coconut rum balls, meringue Christmas trees, four types of fudge, peppermint bark, various assorted cookies, and her homemade Chex mix, a recipe passed on from her mother and affectionally called Texas trash.

There was a chocolate fountain that was always the hit of the party with the ten and under set.

But it wasn’t the food, or the decorations, that had Liam excited for the party.

It was the hope that his high school girlfriend might put in an appearance.

Liam joined his older brother and younger sister in the dining room that graced the front of the house. Guests had just started trickling in.

“Is Riley coming?” Leo asked.

“I…don’t know,” Liam answered honestly.

“Why the hell would she?” His sister Lena looked back and forth between them like they were stupid.

“Uh…because we’ve known her since she was in kindergarten and she always comes….” Leo answered.

“That was before our idiot brother broke her heart.”

“Hey!” Liam protested, “That’s not what happened!”

Lena leveled a skeptical stare at him as she asked, “Did you or did you not break up with her after graduation?”

“It was mutual!” he protested, “Because we were going to college on opposite sides of the country!” He was so tired of explaining his reasoning to everyone.

Their friends all seemed to think he was either an idiot or an asshole for breaking up with her at the beginning of the summer instead of the end.

But he had thought it was better to rip the Band-Aid off.

Long-distance relationships were difficult to maintain and he wanted them both to have options.

Especially Riley. He knew how much getting a scholarship to college meant to her. She was the first one in her family to go to college and she felt all the pressure that entailed.  

He had done it for her. 

“Have you talked to her since you both left for school?” Lena asked.

“No,” he admitted.

He had typed out, and deleted about a thousand text messages.

He had tried calling a couple of times.

She hadn’t answered.

The one time she had called back, he had been taking a test and missed the call.

She hadn’t left a message.

“Hey, she’s here!” Leo called over his shoulder from his spot near the window, next to the chocolate fountain.

“Really?” Liam felt his heart simultaneously rise and fall. He wiped his suddenly sweaty palms on his pants.

“Yeah, really, she just got out of Drake’s truck.”

“What?” Confusion pulled through Liam, “What are they doing together?”

“I don’t know,” Leo shrugged as he grabbed a brownie and covered it in chocolate.

Lena tilted her head to the side, “Have you talked to him since you left for college?”

“A couple of times…” the truth was that Liam had been busy with schoolwork and his own self-imposed heartbreak, so he hadn’t done the best job at keeping up with his childhood best friend.

“Have you asked him about his dating life?” Lena pressed.

Liam’s eyes widened at the implication, “You don’t think they’re together, do you?”

Leo shoved the entire brownie in his mouth as he looked out the window again, “They look pretty together to me.” He mumbled through a mouthful of brownie and chocolate sauce.

Liam leaned forward so he could see out the window.

Her body language screamed that she was nervous as she made her way up the sidewalk, side by side with Drake.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Liam said out loud, “They live next door to each other, he just gave her a ride!”

“Whatever you say, buddy!” Leo slapped him on the back hard enough to jolt him forward, “I saw Mr. and Mrs. Nevrakis come in a minute ago, I’m going to find Liv!”

“But-“

“I think you’re on your own with this, Li.” Lena told him, “you broke it, you fix it.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled as he followed his sister to the front door, “if it’s fixable.”

Lena threw herself on Riley the moment the door opened, “Riley!”

“Hey, Lena!” Riley’s face broke into a genuine smile as she returned the younger girl’s hug, “It’s good to see you!”

“I’ve missed you!” Lena said as she stepped back and pulled Riley through the door.

“What? No hug or I missed you for me?” Drake laughed.

Lena rolled her eyes, “I see you all the time!”

It was true. Drake had stayed in town after graduation and enrolled in the local community college. He was working on a certification in automotive technology. He was paying for it with his job at the local bowling alley, the same one he’d had since he was sixteen.

He was good with anything mechanical, including the pin setters. It made him invaluable to the owner.

In addition to bowling, the place had a video game arcade and laser tag, making it a popular afterschool and weekend hangout.

“Riley!” Eleanor Rys swept into the room, Constantine on her heels.

Greetings and hugs were exchanged between Riley and Liam’s parents as Liam slapped Drake’s opened palm, “Good to see you, bro.”

“You too! Can’t wait to hear all your college stories! Bet they’re wilder than mine!”

“Doubt it,” Liam scoffed, “I spend my weekends in the library studying!”

“Lame. But predictable. How are we friends?”

“You just got lucky I guess.”

Drake snorted, “Yeah, I’m the lucky one, okay!”

Liam’s parents went back to the other adults and Lena joined a group of teenagers on the other side of the room.

Riley hung back with Liam as Drake headed to the hot chocolate, “You want anything, Brooks?” He asked over his shoulder.

“I’m good!” she told him as she watched him walk away before turning to Liam with open arms, “Hey.”

“Hey yourself,” he replied as he pulled her into an embrace.

His body relaxed as he held her tight against him, the familiar scent of her washing over him and flooding his senses with memories.

“You look good,” she told him as she pulled away with a hesitant smile.

“You look great,” relief swept through him that she was there, standing in his living room, smiling at him.

“Liam! Riley!” a voice called out.

“Hey, Rashad,” Liam high-fived his friend and attempted to squash his irritation at the interruption.

Riley was cornered by several more of their former classmates, effectively ending their conversation, at least for the time being.

She gave him an apologetic glance as their friends came between them.

After about half an hour, Riley sidled over to Liam and said, “We should go hang out in the rec room and play pool like we used to.”

“Yes!” Liam agreed, then in a lower voice, “I’ll go sneak some of my dad’s beer!”

“Just like old times!” The smile she gave him filled his heart with hope.

Word passed quickly among their core group of friends and they all filtered upstairs to the rec room.

Several minutes later, Liam glanced up and down the hallway before darting into the room with his ill-gotten gains.

His good mood dampened a little when he spotted Riley in the corner with Drake. She was laughing at something he said, and he was standing far too close to her for Liam’s liking.

Not that he had any right to say anything about who she stood close to. But when they broke up, he had thought that one of two things would happen.

Either one or both of them would move on, eventually, or they would find their way back to each other, after college.

But in the event that one of them moved on, he had thought it would be later down the road, and with someone new, someone that they met at college, in another state.

Not less than six months later with his best friend, her lifelong next-door neighbor.

Riley spotted him over Drake’s shoulder and waved, “Did you get it?”

“Yeah,” he forced a smile as he produced the six-pack from under his shirt.

He didn’t miss the disappointment in Drake’s eyes when she stepped away from him and headed in his direction.

Liam sat the beer down on a table and handed them out.

“Thanks,” Rashad took the proffered beer with one hand and gestured toward the pool table with the other, “Are we going to play pool now or what?”

“Sure,” Liam replied, “If Riley wants to.”

“I’ll play!” Drake answered.

Liam ignored him and turned to Riley, “You and me against Drake and Rashad?” He asked as he handed her a pool cue, “Just like old times.”

“Just like old times.” She grinned at him.

“Or we could switch it up,” Drake interjected, “Riley and me against you and Rashad.”

“No,” Liam gave him a sharp look, “this is good!”

Rashad looked back and forth between them then at Riley, “What’s happening?”

“Nothing,” Drake shrugged as he turned to grab a pool stick, “just trying to shake things up a little.”

Rashad turned his attention back to Liam who also shrugged, “Things are fine the way they’ve always been.”

“Okay…”Rashad’s gaze slid to Riley who just shook her head.

“Let’s play!” Riley said.

“I’ll break,” Rashad decided to ignore whatever weirdness was going on with his friends.

An hour passed while other friends drifted in and out of the rec room. They played pool until Rashad had to leave.

“I’m going to get some of your mom’s famous punch!” Riley told Liam.

“How?” He demanded, “It’s alcoholic!”

“I’m going to have Leo get it for me,” she smirked.

“Oh yeah, that’ll work,” Liam chuckled.

He swore his siblings both liked Riley more than they liked him.

“Make sure the cup is full so we can share,” Drake called after her as she slipped out the door.

Liam found himself alone with Drake for the first time since last summer, “So…you and Riley…what’s that about?”

“What?” Drake looked at him in surprise, “What do you mean?”

“Come on, man. I’ve known you since we were five. Something is going on with you two.”

Drake shrugged, “I mean, we’ve hung out a few times.”

“A few times? Like when?”

“I don’t know,” Drake hedged, “last summer a little and then over Thanksgiving break.”

“She came home for Thanksgiving?”

“Yeah, said she was homesick.”

“Is she…having a hard time at school?” Liam asked with concern.

“Maybe you should ask her that,” Drake responded, “I don’t speak for her.”

“Right, of course, you’re right. Sorry. It’s just still…weird…”

“Why is it weird? I thought you two broke up amicably, by mutual agreement.” Drake leaned on his pool stick as he watched Liam’s face carefully as if the answer was important.

“We did but…I don’t know, we agreed to stay friends, but I swear she avoided me all summer after that!”

“Huh.”

“What’s huh mean?”

“Nothing, man!” Drake threw a hand up in the air, “just trying to figure things out.”

“What things?”

“Who brought it up first?”

“Brought what up?”

“The idea of breaking up. Who floated it out there?”

“I did.”

Drake nodded, “So you could go off to college free and unattached, I get it.”

“No, that’s…I mean, yes but… fuck, shit, I don’t know what I mean!” Liam threw his pool stick on the table and slumped into a nearby chair.

“So, what? You regret it now?”

“Yes!...No!...Maybe, okay?” Liam dropped his head into his hands.

“Okay…” Drake tossed his stick down as well and took the seat across from Liam, “But you did break up with her so if she started seeing someone else, someone you know…would you be mad about it?”

Liam’s head snapped up, “Someone like you?”

“I didn’t say that…”

“But it’s what you meant, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know, maybe. I’m just saying-“

“You can just tell me, Drake! We’ve told each other everything since grade school!” Liam snapped.

Drake looked up at the ceiling instead of directly at Liam as he responded, “I’m interested, okay?”

“Since when?”

“Since always! I dated her before you did if you remember.”

Liam’s mouth fell open, “Are you talking about those two weeks in seventh grade?”

“Yeah.”

“You were twelve!”

“So?”

“So, that’s not really dating!”

“I took her to the sock hop.”

“Your mom drove you both to the sock hop and Riley spent the whole night dancing with Maxwell Beaumont! Then she dumped you for him!”

Drake shrugged, “Like you said, we were twelve. I forgave her for that, and Max turned out to be gay so…”

“Drake, we’ve been best friends since first fucking grade and you have never expressed a romantic interest in her before!”

“I don’t tell you everything, Li.”

Liam stared at his best friend in disbelief, “I tell you everything!”

“You didn’t tell me why you broke up with Brooks.”

“Fuck. I guess I didn’t.”

Drake pulled in a deep breath, unwilling and unable to admit that he’d been in love with her since they were four, “Look, I’m sorry, Li. It’s not like I was keeping things from you. I mean, it was just a crush when we were kids, then in high school, she dated Rashad most of freshman year, and sophomore year I was with Kiara…then she was dating you. It just never seemed like there was anything to tell.”

“I guess.”

“You’re my best friend, Li, and I don’t want to lose that…but…”

Liam’s heart sank, “But?”

“But you did break up with her, she is single, and something did happen between us last summer! I’m sorry, I thought you two were over….”

“We were…I mean we are…I mean…shit… I don’t know what I mean!” He sighed in frustration. All the reasons they broke up in the first place were still valid.

But the thought of her with someone else, anyone else, but especially Drake, stung.

The door creaked open, and Riley came back in, “Got it!” She crowed triumphantly.

Liam shook his head, “I told you he likes you best, he would have never done that for me!”

“Well, I did promise to give him all the dirt on that guy Anton that Liv’s been seeing.”

“Can you deliver on that?” Drake asked.

“I’ll do my best!” she answered with a grin.

Liv and Riley were attending the same school. Riley was a freshman while Liv was a senior, but they still saw each other and ran in some of the same circles.

“You always do,” Liam replied as he stood, “can we talk for a minute?”

“Sure…”

“Privately, I mean,” He said with a pointed look at Drake, “in my room.”

Drake suppressed a sigh as he stood up, “I’m going to find some of those sugar cookies. I’ll be downstairs when you’re done.”

Liam retrieved the last beer from the shelf where he had hidden it behind the trivial pursuit game.

Riley trailed behind him to his room, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mouth went dry as she stepped through the door into his bedroom.

A room she hadn’t stepped foot in since the day he’d broken up with her six months prior.

She blinked rapidly several times to combat the tears that welled up in her eyes at the memory.

The familiar scent of his room rushed over her as she took a seat on the edge of his bed and sat her red solo cup on the nightstand.

She glanced surreptitiously around. Everything looked exactly the same. But nothing was the same anymore.

She clenched her fists tightly in her lap as she struggled to contain her jangled nerves.

Liam sat down next to her on the bed and turned his body to face her as he fidgeted with the unopened bottle in his hand, “Ah…Drake said you came home for Thanksgiving because you were homesick. Is everything okay at school?”

She considered her words carefully before finally replying, “It’s fine. It’s just a big change, you know?”

Liam nodded. His eyes locked on the label he was pulling at on the beer bottle, “Yeah. I do.”

They sat in awkward silence for a moment then Riley asked, “Why did we break up?”

Liam nearly dropped the bottle, as his head jerked up, his eyes wide with astonishment, “What? I thought we agreed it was for the best!”

“I mean…it was your idea,” Riley replied slowly, “What was I going to say once you brought it up? No?”

Liam’s world spun, “I thought….I thought it was what you wanted! Are you telling me I was wrong?”

“Yeah. But once you brought it up, I thought it was what you wanted so….”

“But…you kept talking about how hard long-distance relationships were…did I misread that?”

“I kept bringing that up because I was stressed out and worried about what was going to happen to us, Liam! I wanted reassurance, not to break up!”

“Wow. Okay, so I totally misread that! I am…a fucking idiot, just like my sister said…”

He drew in a deep breath, working up the courage to tell her it was a mistake and he wanted her back.

Long distance was hard, but not impossible. They could do it.

He wanted to do it.

“I don’t know, Liam. Maybe you were right.”

“What?” Disappointment surged through him, “What do you mean?”

“I mean…college is a lot; you were right about that. And we’re not just in different states, we’re on opposite coasts!”

“Yeah, but we have technology! We can text, talk, facetime, all of it! Maybe I could fly out to you one weekend a month or something.”

“Until you need to study for a test on Monday, or want to go out with your new friends. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be doing? Exploring, growing, learning about ourselves?”

Liam felt like he’d been slapped. They were the exact words he’d used to break up with her.

“Yes, but-“

“I don’t want you to start to resent me, Liam. Flying across the country once a month? Missing out on parties and study groups and all those new experiences you told me we were both going to have? And what if you meet someone new at Princeton? I don’t want to be broken up with for someone else. It’s better this way. Our friendship stays intact.” She nodded as she spoke, as if reassuring herself of the facts.

“Sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought.”

“I have,” She assured him, “I was pretty fucked up when you dumped me but-“

“I didn’t dump you, Riley!” He protested, “I thought it was mutual! I thought-“

She reached for his hand, smiling through the tears that suddenly pooled in the corners of her eyes and trickled down her cheeks, “I know that now. And that actually makes me feel so much better about everything!”

“Is that why you avoided me all summer?”

“Yeah, I was pretty hurt but I didn’t want to give you the satisfaction of knowing it.”

“Satisfaction?” He shook his head vigorously, “Riley, I’m man enough to admit that I cried myself to sleep every night for the first two weeks!”

“Really?” She sniffled as she wiped an arm across her face.

“Really…” He scooted closer and pulled her into an embrace, “I’m so fucking sorry. I never meant to hurt you!”

“It’s okay,” she assured him as she buried her face in his chest.

It felt so comforting to be wrapped in his arms.

But college was all about pushing out of her comfort zone. Liam had been right about that.

She pulled away and wiped at her eyes, “Oh my God, it feels so good to be able to talk to you again!”

“Same!” He laughed, “I’ve missed you so fucking much!”

“Me too! I’m used to sharing everything with you!”

“Just to make sure I’m clear this time… you don’t want to get back together?”

The tears flooded her eyes again, “Part of me really does, Liam, but part of me knows you were right about all the reasons we broke up in the first place.”

“To focus on our schoolwork and make new friends?”

“It’s not just that…I have some…things I need to figure out.”

“Things like Drake Walker?” He worked hard to keep his voice even as he watched her face for her reaction.

She cut her eyes sideways at him, “Maybe, but it’s not just that either. It’s…everything.”

“You know I’m here if you ever want to talk. About anything.”

She smiled softly, “I miss our talks.”

“Me too,” he admitted, “I want us to be friends, Riley. Like we were before we dated. I mean, if we’re not going to be together, can we at least go back to being friends? I regret the distance that’s between us now. I don’t want to go back to Princeton and spend another semester not talking to you!”

“That would actually make me really happy,” She gave him a brilliant smile.

Liam hadn’t wanted to break up with her…it changed everything… and nothing.

She couldn’t turn off her feelings for Liam, but she also couldn’t take back what had happened with Drake or the feelings that had unlocked within her.

She needed time, and space, to process everything.

Liam’s phone dinged. He pulled it out and scanned the text, then looked up at Riley, “Drake wants to know if we want to meet out on the roof.”

Riley’s face lit up, “Hell fucking yeah! Talk about just like old times!”

Five minutes later the three of them climbed out of a second-story window and dropped onto the roof of the first-floor kitchen.

They climbed up the peaked roof of the living room and clambered up onto the roof of the second story.

The sound of barely suppressed giggles and quiet shushing noises drifted across the sharp stillness of the night as the lifelong friends made their way to the spot where three gables came together, giving them a place to sit as well as hiding them from the view of anyone on the ground.

Riley shivered inside her jacket as she lowered herself into sitting on the cold shingles, Liam on one side of her, Drake on the other.

Both boys scooted closer to her, and she relaxed into the shared body heat.

They all three tipped their heads back to watch the stars twinkle in the night sky hoping to catch a glimpse of some meteors from the annual Ursid shower as they streaked towards the earth, just like they’d done every year since they were twelve.

She was acutely aware of each of them as they pressed close against her on either side.

They were both intrinsic parts of the fabric of her life and always had been.

She hadn’t lost Liam; their relationship had just changed.

Her relationship with Drake had changed too, but she wasn’t sure exactly how. All the reasons she couldn’t be with Liam also applied to Drake.

There was an entire world out there waiting for them to explore and conquer.

They couldn’t set sail together, but maybe they could be a homeport for each other.  

“Hey,” she said softly, “Let’s agree that no matter what else is going on in our lives, we’re going to be right here doing this exact thing next Christmas.”

“Agreed,” Drake answered quickly.

Liam smiled in the darkness as his hand found hers and squeezed gently, “It’s a date.”

[thessalian]

Thess vs Context

So as I mentioned earlier, the Legend of Vox Machina S2 OST is now out. And the song played when VM takes on the Herd of Storms (called We All Rage, possibly not surprisingly) has just illustrated to me how context can change anything.

I mean, it’s a banger of a song in general, but when you’re not listening to it with the action visuals, you start focusing on other things ... okay, no, sorry, I start focusing on other things; I should not speak for others. Anyway, I also noted that Travis did some of the vocals for that - on further listening, yeah, he’s on the low notes in the chorus.

And then I got to thinking of that video interview thing they did about recording the vocals for the Campaign 2 intro sequence, and Travis bouncing around to the beat while singing it, and then giggling about it. Because that is a Travis thing. He looks like ... well, you know what he looks like. He is a large man, who I know for a fact looks very intimidating when he puts his mind to it (xref: the time he broke a mechanical pencil in half one-handed when Liam had Vax shave off half of Grog’s hard-won beard). But he is also the biggest most adorkable softie in existence.

So I’m listening to this and imagining this dude who looks very much like he could front a metal band of that type growling “We’ve all got to rage, motherfucker” and only getting through it without giggling because he is a professional voice actor, and then imagining the giggling he must have done after. Especially if it took more than one take for whatever reason.

So now I can’t listen to it without giggling unless I’m watching the fight scene along with it. Because my brain is garbage.

[haveihitanerve]

this might be my new favorite interview of all time

holy fuck

im cackling like mad and cannot stop grinning.

theyre such adorkable beans

have an image description-

“Its not really in our nature to argue , except through lawyers. We sulked.” -Roland orzabal “Now i've got you!!” Smith prepares a sneak attack.  Duran Duran collect their Q award. Tears for Fears were not, repeat not, even a tiny bit jealous.  Launching the new Seeds of Love in 1989. No mic for Curt, then? Curt Smith, one day he’ll graduate to the driver’s seat.

Roland, is it true that you once foresaw Curt’s death in a motor race? And have you had any premonitions lately? RO: No, that’s made up as well. Predictive astrology I know nothing about.  CS: Basically, we are dull people so the press are forced to make things up about us. That said, he did used to try to pick up attractive young ladies by guessing their star signs and, 95 percent of the time, getting it wrong. RO: Actually, I didn't do that at all. I would ask them their birthday, and was then able to tell them what their father was like. I was spot on, mostly. It was very impressive.  CS: No, you would tell them that it was in their future to have an affair with a middle-aged pop star…

Curt, what have you been doing for the past 10-plus years? CS: Hanging on. [Orzabal erupts into slightly manic laughter. Smith ignores him] The day after I left the band, I moved to New York because I wanted to disappear. It’s no coincidence that I moved into a city in which you could disappear very easily. A while later, I made a solo album, which I hated; I had a syndicated radio show in America; I was an MTV VJ. In other words, I had a life.

How the hell did you spend one million pounds making The Seeds Of Love? And do you still consider it to be a work of genius? RO: It cost a million pounds because it took over four years to record, and the studio was 1500 a day. I don't think that, overall, it was a work of complete genius, but there are definitely elements of genius in it. Parts of the album are overproduced and pompous, and listening to those parts now makes me cringe. But every time I do listen to it, I still go, Wow, how did I do that? That’s amazing. It’s the most genius Beatles rip-off in existence. Q gave us five stars, you'll remember. I wouldn't have given it as much as that. But you did. 

Who ripped off The Beatles more- you or Oasis? RO: Oasis ripped off The Rutles, not the Beatles. But Liam does do an amazing Lennon, he just does, his voice sounds beautiful. We were ripping off one aspect of The Beatles- Sgt Pepper- while Oasis have made a career out of it.

Roland, is Fish Out Of Water (from Elemental, his first ‘solo’ Tears For Fears album) about Curt? If so, those are some pretty cutting lyrics… RO: Yes, it is, and it contains some of my favourite lyrics. “We used to sit and talk about primal scream/To exorcise our past was our adolescent dream/But now its sink or swim since your memory fails/Now in Neptune's kitchen you will be food for killer whales.” Fantastic, no? Pure vitriol.  CS: I couldn't give a fuck, quite frankly. Its a compliment, in some ways. RO: Absolutely. It means I cared deeply for him. [Laughs] That’s one way of interpreting it, anyway…

The ‘80s: an era of cocaine, non-stop fashion disasters and infinte greed. Discuss RO: Absolutely. It was a time of Wall Street’s “greed is good”, of Margret Thatcher and rampant free market capitalism, that kind of thing. True, the mullets were a disaster, although my hair is much the same today. But, by then, we were the very antithesis of rock’n’roll. The drugs didn't come until much later- I didn't start doing charlie until the ‘90s, and only then because I wanted to catch up. In the ‘80s, I’d denied myself many pleasures. I was very introverted, very anal.  [Smith nods in silent agreement]

After the fallout in 1990, was Roland pleased to see Curt’s career flop? RO: I didn't like his first solo album at all, but then nor did he. I felt it was going in the wrong direction. But his second, Mayfield, was really good. I thought to myself, Why didn't he do this when we were together? I wouldn't have let him? Well, thats probably true. I did view Tears For Fears very much as my band, I suppose.

Who is the best singer? RO: I am. CS: I am.

You were really pretentious, weren't you? RO: [laughing again] We Still are pretentious! But we’re much better at it now. We’ve blended our pretensions with humor, wouldn't you say? We are humorous and pretentious and middle-aged. We’re both 42, after all. CS: But I look younger RO: Cunt. (yes he says cunt, not curt)

Duran Duran got a lifetime achievement at last years Q Awards. Were you jealous? RO [scoffing]: I think, basically, you are running out of people to give awards to, so watch this space, because it could be us next year? What I want to know is why you didn't give it to Phil Collins. Genesis, the solo years and of course The Lion King, the best record he’s ever made. Anyway, how do you define achievement? As Sting once said… CS: oh, for fucks sake, please don't start quoting Sting.  RO:.... As Sting once said, Music is its own reward.

[haru-kuneko]

Three years ago, "Murder Drones" first premiered on YouTube today!

Cutesy li'l drones, eldritch monsters, and a taste of death? "Murder Drones" is an indie CGI-animated show created by GLITCH and Liam Vickers.

The series starts off with our angsty teen Uzi Doorman who wants nothing more but to explore beyond these metallic doors. She has a strained relationship with her father Khan, a famous door engineer, and trouble fitting in at school.

One day, she unexpectedly met a Disassembly Drone named N, who seemed like an adorkable fellow. It was here we start to uncover some sinister lore especially the fate of Uzi's mom. I have heard people say the show is confusing and hard to look at due to how dark the parts of it are but to me, it's an awesome story made for nerds like me who enjoy rewatching episodes all over.

It kind of reminds me of those Cartoon Networks shows I'd watch growing up. If this ever came out at night after school when I was nine, I'd be going crazy over this show. It would be my absolute fave next to "Metabots" and "Megas XLR."

[justmilah]

I ALMOST DIDN'T BECAUSE I AM BAD AT ACCEPTING COMPLIMENTS

Haha bring it! I can talk about Killian, Milah, Liam, Baelfire, or a combination thereof all DAY! (and it helps I can ramble back!)

And thank you for accepting my rambles when I logged back in! (Seriously, I was expecting to fangirl into the wind for a few hours and then leave, but some of y’all have been delightfully enabling and I love it!) (DUDE I now regret not writing MORE Captain Artist Swan back then or being more vocal about it! Because YES that ship lives rent free in a little cuddle pile in my brain somewhere.)

-Incoherent whale noises!- Good because I love reading your stuff! I will GLADLY saturate your brain with Milah related things! There's just not enough of her! Muahaha.

Damn right I am. (And hey, I've said Rogers was adorkable from the get go, so I am not in bad company!)

GOOD! I might have been holding back because I don't wanna be an annoying little shit with them! 

SO ARE YOU and again damn right I am :D

🍓!

I was really hoping you'd send me that I have words for you madam

You're a great person to ceaselessly ramble to (a better term would probably be "good listener")

Thank you for logging back into tumblr and hitting me with various new ships to adore (goddamn you captain artist swan owns a corner of my brain now)

You're a great writer, you have provided my brain with much needed Milah content as that's most of your theme here

I mean this in the greatest way you are the dorkiest little shit (the proper term may be adorkable)

I thoroughly enjoy being sent all your headcanons and writing snippets

Overall you're super fun to chat with you absolute dork

[leneyxis]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Critical Role (@critical_role)

This. Is. It. I've seen some art renditions of this post and each one more beautiful than the previous one and yet each of them beautiful and unique!

[paynesqueen]

Thought of the day:

I just love how adorkable Liam is. Seriously, he brightens my day every time.

[ksketchington]

The Lumen Trio (Liam, Syth, and Tristan)✨ [Click for better quality] Fanart Doodle for @reverseblackholeofwords

[owlbehr]

I’ve made a new Sara Ryder. T^T And I’m trying to romance Liam, ignoring Jaal.  It’s hard. :| Her armor is just whites,grays,blacks now. 

[bebepac]

Need A Little Christmas?

I know, I haven't posted any new stories in a bit, but I am working on a cute little Christmas story featuring my Adorkable Liam and Riley. I thought I would make a little masterlist of all of my Christmas Stories, so if you feel so inclined to re-read some of my past ones in the meantime, here you go!

Riley X Liam pairings

Holiday Vibes : from the series : School Dayz

Holidays With the Brooks Family: from the series: The Life of Riley Book One

A Fast Forward Christmas 🎄: from the series: Fast Forward

King Liam Claus 🎅 : from the series: The Day the Earth Stood Still

A Greek Meat Christmas 🎄: from the series: Greek Meat

Mia X Jaiden (TTR F!OC x M!OC)

Christmas in New York: from the series: Mia's 🌎 World

What We Missed 🍋: from the series: Mia's 🌎 World

Bebe x Liam (TRR F!OC x Liam)

Cinammon Spice 🎄

And Everything Nice 🎄

[hufflepuffleia]

They might not know of my existence, but these nine crazy, lovable dorks are always able to pick me up when I’m down and put a smile on my face.

[moodmusicmonday]

Good gracious... We knew it was too good to be true to think that maybe our tags were working correctly this week! NEWSFLASH: they're not. Ugh, our apologies if you got a tag for the 9/20 post... again. Who wants to yell it with us? You ready? *clears throat*

GO HOME TUMBLR! YOU'RE DRUNK!

On to better things...

Check out this AMAZING ✨NEW✨ playlist! I can vouch that this group of songs will get you up and grooving to your chores! Give it a listen!

And the best part: several of these fanfictions have ALREADY BEEN RELEASED! They are linked below (look for the 📖), so go give these creators some love! Read, like, comment and reblog!

Thanks for another fabulous MMM! We'll see y'all again SOOOOOON!

~🎵~

@alj4890

📖 “Don’t Let the Light Go Out” - Panic! At The Disco; Don’t Let the Light Go Out (OPH; Tobias Carrick x MC)

@bebepac

📖 School Days, The Adorkable Liam Rys (TRR; Liam x Riley)

“Take Me There” - Blackstreet, Mya, Mace, Blinky Blink “Gangsta’s Paradise” - Coolio, LV

@phoenixrising308

“Toothbrush” - DNCE;  Falling for you, one-shot (Forged in Fire AU) [TRR/Perfect Match; Damien x MC (Jessica Garcia)]

“ME!” - Taylor Swift ft. Brendan Urie; Needle in a Haystack, one-shot (Prince Charming AU Pencil Chronicles) [TRR/TRH; Liam x MC (Jessica Garcia)]

“Angel by the Wings” - Sia; Dying young, part 1 (OPH; no pairing)

“Footprints” - Sia; What dreams may come, part 1 [TRR; Liam Rys x MC (Jessica Garcia)]

@queenrileyrose

📖 “Shine a Light” - BANNERS; Irreplaceable, Chapter 21: I’m Only Looking for a Little Peace (TRR/RoE; Leo x Riley)

📖 “Beige” - Yoke Lore;  Irreplaceable,  Chapter 22: Do You Wonder if Every Stupid Little Thing Has Led Us to This? (TRR/RoE; Leo x Riley)

📖 “Night Changes” - One Direction; When in Rome: Changes (TRR/RoE; Leo x Riley)

~🎵~

Tags (please let us know if you'd like to be added/removed)

@21-wishes @alj4890 @ao719 @aussiegurl1234 @axwalker @bebepac @burnsoslow @charlotteg234 @chemist-ana @choicesmonthlychallenge @foreverethereal123 @issabees @jerzwriter @karahalloway @kat-tia801 @lovingchoices14 @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @neotericthemis @nestledonthaveone @peonierose @phoenixrising308 @queenrileyrose @quixoticdreamer16 @sfb123 @socalwriterbee @tessa-liam @twinkleallnight @txemrn @walkerdrakewalker @zaffrenotes

[choicesflashfics]

Week 2 Prompts:

“I remember practicing how to ask you out in the mirror …”

“I can’t believe you would even think to leave me like this.”

“We both know this will be the first time and the last time we ever attempt this.”

But I won’t do THAT! - @jerzwriter (Open Heart; Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

When In Rome: Changes - @queenrileyrose (The Royal Romance/Rules of Engagement; Leo x F!MC)

The Adorkable Liam Rys - @bebepac (The Royal Romance; Liam x F!MC)

Coitus Interruptus - @dcbbw (The Royal Romance; Liam x F!MC)

Until You Love me, Ch.2: I See Other People - @txemrn (Open Heart; Ethan Ramsey x F!MC)

[choicesficwriterscreations]

TRR FotW - Oct. 9 - 15, 2022

🖤 = Adult Content 🔥 = NSFW ORANGE = NAUGHTY & NICE 😈 😇

Cordonian Chaos (Series) | Liam Rys x MC - @angelasscribbles Cordonian Chaos: Riley's Ass Appreciation | Liam Rys x MC 🖤 Cordonian Chaos: Matters of State Part 1 (Leo Abdicates)| Liam Rys x MC 🖤 Cordonian Chaos: Matters of State Part 2 (Liam Abdicates) | Liam Rys x MC 🖤 Cordonian Chaos: Matters of State Part 3 (Lena’s the Favorite) | Liam Rys x MC 🖤 Eidolon (Series) | No Pairings Yet - @angelasscribbles Chapter 4: Protection 🖤 Irreplaceable (Series) | Leo Rys x MC - @queenrileyrose Chapter 22: Do you wonder if every stupid little thing has led us to this? 🖤 Love Everlasting (Series) | Liam Rys (Marquise) x MC - @khoicesbyk Family First 🔥 Mother-in-Law Hell: A Drabble Me This Story | Liam Rys x MC - @angelasscribbles 🖤 Pop’s Place (Series) | TRR F!MC - @bebepac Friends Forever 😇 School Dayz (Series) | Liam Rys x MC - @bebepac The Adorkable Liam Rys Star Crossed (Series) | Drake Walker x MC, Liam Rys x MC - @angelasscribbles Chapter 10: Reconnection 🔥 The Agreement (Series) | Liam Rys x MC, Drake Walker x MC, Liam Rys x Madeline - @angelasscribbles Chapter 3: Denial 🖤 The Promise (Series) | Liam Rys x F!MC - @phoenixrising308 Part 7: A Fool’s Errand 🖤 Unintentional (Series) | Liam Rys x Maxwell Beaumont, Drake Walker x MC - @harleybeaumont Chapter 14: Proposal 🖤 Vancross (Series) | Liam Rys x F!OC - @ao719 Chapter 8: All in My Head 🖤 When In Rome (Series) | Leo Ryx x MC - @queenrileyrose Changes

MAIN CFWC FOTW LIST OPEN HEART FOTW LIST

[winterandwords]

I am proud of The Adorkable Liam Rys. It reminds me of when I was young and dumb (lol) those feelings you get around your first crush and first love. Makes me nostalgic for those days and how carefree my life really was back then.

This sounds so wholesome and lovely! 😍