Arguing...

The subway car rattled softly as it sped through the underground, casting intermittent light over the grim expressions of you and Liam. Both of you sat slouched on the worn, blue seats, the weight of the evening pressing heavily. The silence between you felt like a boulder, almost suffocating, before Liam finally broke it.

"I can't believe you went that far," he said, his voice teetering between disbelief and concern. "With Vincent, of all people. A stranger! And for what? A connection that didn’t even exist?"

You closed your eyes, leaning your head back against the window. The hum of the subway offered no comfort. "I know, Liam. I know. You don’t have to remind me." Your voice was low, tinged with exhaustion and frustration.

He shook his head, staring at the floor. "But why? I mean, you barely even hesitated. You... kissed him. You let him—"

You cut him off, not wanting to rehash the mortifying details. "I thought he was close to Damian, okay? I thought... I don’t know. I was trying to make progress, trying to do something, _anything _to get us somewhere." You could hear the desperation creeping into your own tone, and you hated it.

"And yet, here we are," Liam muttered. He gestured vaguely at the subway car, his frustration palpable. "Leaving empty-handed after everything. No connection, no lead, nothing but... that."

You turned sharply to him, your cheeks burning. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't feel stupid enough already? I wasted time. I—" Your voice cracked slightly, and you bit your lip, willing yourself not to spiral. "I was just trying to get us closer to finishing this damn trial. That's all it was."

Liam softened at that, his annoyance shifting to sympathy. "I get that you're under a lot of pressure. This whole thing... it’s insane. But you don’t have to throw yourself at people like that. Especially not for someone like him."

You huffed, crossing your arms. "Not like I knew he was a poser at the start."

Liam sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fair, but... I don't know. Seeing you do that—it’s just... not like you." He hesitated before adding, "At least, not like the you I used to know."

The words stung more than you expected, even if they weren’t meant to. You stared out the window, the lights of the passing stations streaking by. "Yeah, well," you muttered, "nothing about me is like it used to be."

For a moment, neither of you spoke. The rattling of the train and the distant hum of conversation from other passengers filled the space. Then Liam spoke again, his voice softer this time. "So... what’s next?"

You exhaled, your breath fogging the window slightly. "I don’t know. I’ll figure it out. I always do." But even as you said it, the words felt hollow.

The subway slowed to a stop at your station, and both of you stood, stepping out into the cool night air. Liam kept pace with you as you walked the short distance home. Despite everything, he didn’t say another word, and for once, you were grateful.

You needed the silence to wallow in your own thoughts, to figure out how to salvage the mess this trial was becoming.

The night air bit at your skin as you and Liam walked side by side, the glow of streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. The adrenaline and **** from the gala were wearing off, leaving you cold, tired, and fuming. Every step echoed with the frustration gnawing at your mind, a storm of emotions waiting to explode.

“I can’t believe this,” you muttered under your breath, the anger bubbling up.

“What now?” Liam asked, his voice tinged with caution.

You stopped in your tracks and turned to him, your fists clenching. “This whole night was a disaster. And you—you're the one who picked him, Liam. You’re the one who said, ‘Go talk to that guy.’”

Liam stared at you, his brows furrowing. “Oh, come on. You agreed! It’s not like I **** you.”

“Yeah, because I trusted you! I thought you had a good read on him!” You threw your arms up in exasperation. “And look where that got us. Nowhere.”

Liam exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I made a call based on what little we had. It’s not like we had a lineup of people to choose from!”

“And what about the lollipops, huh?” you snapped, changing gears as your anger swelled. “You tossed them out when you knew they helped. You refused to buy more, even though they kept this stupid oral fixation under control.”

Liam looked at you like you’d just accused him of arson. “Are you serious right now? The lollipops? That’s what you’re mad about?”

“Yes!” you spat. “Because everything’s just been piling up, Liam! You think this is fun for me? You think I like being paraded around in dresses, being **** to flirt with creeps like Vincent, while you stand there with that stupid look on your face, acting like I’m the problem?”

Liam stopped walking and turned to face you, his jaw tight. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? I’ve been doing nothing but trying to help you since this curse started. Do you think I enjoy watching you put yourself through this? Watching you spiral?” His voice rose with every word, his frustration finally boiling over. “You blame me for everything when you’re the one who threw yourself at that guy! You’re the one who decided kissing him was worth it!”

You flinched, his words hitting harder than you expected. “I was doing it for the trial! For us!”

“For us? Really?” Liam laughed bitterly. “It didn’t look like it was for us when you were practically in his lap!”

Your face burned with a mix of shame and fury. “Fuck you, Liam.”

“No, fuck you!” he shot back, his voice loud enough to echo down the empty street. “You act like this is all my fault when I’m the only one here, helping you, dealing with all this crap while you take your anger out on me every chance you get!”

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of your hurried footsteps as you started walking again, trying to put space between you and him. Liam caught up, his voice softer but still firm. “You don’t get to treat me like this, not after everything I’ve done for you.”

You reached the door to your dorm and fumbled with your keys, your hands shaking with residual anger. “I didn’t ask for this curse, Liam. I didn’t ask for any of it.”

“And neither did I,” he replied quietly.

The tension in the air was palpable as you finally unlocked the door and stepped inside. You kicked off your heels, not caring where they landed, and turned to Liam, ready to say something—anything—to end the conversation.

But a sharp knock at the door stopped you both in your tracks.