[All characters depicted are above the age of 18. This is a work of fiction for the purpose of fantasy, and should not be attempted in real life.]
Liam sips his beer from the couch and watches the last people stream out of the living room into the entrance hall. Owen's going away party had really been one to remember. Beer bottles and solo cups lay strewn around the living room, and party popper strings hang from the furniture. The layout of the room is a familiar one to Liam, with two large couches that Nova used to chase Liam and Owen around as kids, and the framed images of Owen's school pictures over the years on the wall. Liam tries to memorize every detail of Owen's parents home, as he is unlikely to ever see the inside again for at least a year, or perhaps never again, if Owen decided to find an apartment near his college.
Something about that realization hits Liam hard. He sighs heavily, leaning his head against the back of the sofa and closing his eyes. In the entrance hall he can hear Nova saying her goodbyes to the last guests, as the evening comes to a close.
"Hey."
Liam groggily opens his eyes, not bothering to lift his head from where it lays against the backrest. Owen stands above Liam. On his annoyingly handsome face dances an amused smile. Liam grunts in response, which only makes Owen smile wider, revealing white teeth with a chip in one of the canines. A feature that Liam had teased him about when he was younger, but only because it gave him an excuse to unabashedly stare at Owen's mouth when they were alone.
"You're not about to pass out on me are you? Because you promised you'd stay up with us until at least 2."
Liam snorts, and pulls his head off of the couch, which takes more willpower than he'd like to admit. "As if you're not drunk too. I think I saw you holding three beers at one point."
Owen rolls his eyes, and walks around the coffee table to flop down onto the couch opposite Liam. "At least I can hold my alcohol. That was the second time you threw up in my pool you know."
Liam chuckles, shifting on the couch to put his beer on the coffee table between them. "Well the good news about that is it was probably my last."
Owen's smile drops and he averts his gaze from Liam.
Liam realizes his mistake. "Sorry I shouldn't have brought that up. I know tonight was- is supposed to be about having fun not... you leaving."
Owen swallows and looks back at Liam. "No it's ok, really." he pauses, studying Owen. Liam shifts uncomfortably under Owen's scrutiny. But then Owen blinks, and smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes.
"It's just..." Owen trails off. His brows knit together in that all too familiar and endearing way that meant he wants to say something, but doesn't know how to say it.
"I'm going to miss you, Liam."
Liam blinks. "Duh, I'm going to miss you too. But we'll see each other during the holidays when we come back from college." he says, not liking Owen's solemn expression.
"No I mean, like, I'm really going to miss you." Owen looks down and runs a hand through his unkempt hair. God, even his after pool hair is hot.
"I know." Liam said it before his brain had time to think about the implications of his statement.
Owen's eyes snap up to meet Liam's, hazel curiosity flickering behind thick eyelashes. Liam stares back, his heart leaping. Is Owen saying what Liam thinks he's saying?
Mirages of the last couple hours waver into Liam's vision. Owen's hands brushing his when he handed Liam his beer. Owen's smile when he beckoned Liam into the pool before being tackled by a giggling Nova. Owen's concern when Liam then was sick into the pool. And then when he stayed with Liam after the other guests left to grab towels for themselves.
All those times Liam stopped himself from saying something that might alert Owen to his feelings for him, was that all for nothing? Does Owen feel... the same way?
Liam searches his face for any hint of a joke, the cracking of sincerity to reveal that Owen is messing with him. But instead, Owen flicks his eyes to Liam's mouth, and after a pause, his gaze continues to roam. Downward.
A sharp clatter breaks the tension, and both men turn towards the culprit of the noise. Nova stands in the doorway to the entrance hall, her beer bottle, rolling away from her feet. "Oops'' she giggles, bending down and trying to pick up the bottle, but instead nearly falls over.
"Jesus Nova, you're pissed." Liam states.
Nova stands up again, and leans against the door frame, the bottle forgotten on the ground.
"Naaahhh, I'm fine.'' She pushes herself off the doorframe and walks over to them like she just got off the Howling Monkey carnival ride that they used to spend all their allowance money on in the summers.
"Some party huh?" She half sits, half falls onto Owen's sofa, bumping shoulders with him in the process.
Owen clears his throat avoiding looking at Liam. "Yeah, it was cool seeing everyone." Nova leans against Owen, sighing. Her slight figure curls into his side. "I can't believe today's your last day here."