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eva, 20, đ”đ, she / her
gcesters DNI !! no ai used in my writing
the best fanfiction you've ever read was written by a woman in her 40s before she made dinner for her kids. it was written by a teenager after school when they should've been studying for a history test. and a barista came up with the idea while they cleaned the espresso machine and busser fact-checked it on their break and the post-doc edited between writing grant proposals and the nurse apologized for typos in the notes after a long shift and behind every drabble and one-shot and multi-chapter fic there is a person with a wonderful and interesting and chaotic life and it is such a privilege that we get to be a part of it because they decided to do this thing we all share, for fun.
UPTOWN GIRL - pt. 1
prefame!liam x fem!reader
in which: The daughter of one of the wealthiest (and possibly strictest) families in town goes out one night to see a band play in a cramped pub. She doesn't expect to leave with a date with the lead singer the next day. What starts as secret meetings after school and chip shop dates turns into something bigger- but with a father determined to keep them apart, things soon head for disaster. a/n: This is my first fic on oasisblr and actually the first full one I've written probably since I was 14 writing dramione fanfics on wattpad LOL so please ignore how rusty I am. This is pretty much straight fluff and I was originally going to make this a one-shot but I'm splitting it up into probably (?) 2 parts just so it's not too long. For some context, it's meant to be set in Manchester and they're both around 17/in year 11. wc: 5,807
There was nothing you hated more than sitting in greasy, packed pubs with loud crowds that cheered raucously after every cover the band played. Yet that was the situation you seemed to find yourself in this evening. Whatâs more, your head was pounding, you were ridiculously overdressed, and most of all, youâd gone through hell convincing your parents to let you stay out past nine. Nine, on a Saturday night. If the absurdly early curfew gave any idea as to just how strict your parents were, then anyone could tell that even getting them to let you go out in the first place had taken great efforts.
All because Lila- your best friend and the single most persistent person you knew- had spent the better part of the day badgering you into coming out tonight because âthe best band ever is playing!â Itâd be âsooo funâ sheâd insisted, and eventually youâd caved, though more to shut her up than anything else.
But so far, the night hadnât even come close to justifying the argument it took to get you here, and you were beginning to regret ever listening to her.
You stared into your drink, swirling it absently as the band stepped down from the stage into a round of drunken applause. It seemed that the louder that they became, the more your eyes glazed over until the roar of the crowd dissolved into a dull, distant hum. âStill with us?â Lila said, waving her hand in front of your face. âYou know, maybe you wouldnât be so bored if you actually said yes to things every now and then.â
You snapped out of your thoughts. âWhat are you talking about? Only reason Iâm here in the first place was because I said yes to you.â
âYou know thatâs not what I meant! Three blokes have asked to buy you a drink already tonight, thatâs three more than me- and youâve turned down all of them.â
âI donât go out with guys, you know that. Besides, if you wanted any of them, youâre more than welcome.â
She rolled her eyes. âYou could start. Might do you some good, having fun for once.â
You sighed. âItâs just not my sort of thing. And perhaps I would if they didnât all seem like complete idiots,â you added, though you knew that really wasnât the issue.
âHow would you know? You never even so much as glanced at any of them!â Lila shot back, exasperated. She straightened up in her chair and paused. âRight, new rule: no more saying no tonight.â
You stared at her for a moment. âFine,â you replied defeatedly.
From a distance, you could hear a guy across the bar arguing loudly with his friends.
âFat chance! Sheâs way too fit for you,â one teased.
âGo on then, bet sheâll just tell ya to fuck off.â
He scoffed. âThem birds canât resist me. Watch and learn,â he retorted. Only then did you notice that theyâd been looking in your direction, and now it seemed he was headed towards you.Â
You groaned.
âHere comes your man,â Lila teased, in the tune of the song. âWell, donât go back on your promise now.â
You scoffed. âPlease. As if-â
âYâalright there?â
As it turned out, the guy from across the bar was the lead singer of the band whoâd been playing earlier. He looked around your age, though he tried his very best to look older- his hair was messy, paired with clothes clearly two sizes too large that he probably thought made him look like a proper rockstar.Â
Yet, despite that, there was something unmistakeably boyish about him. You could picture his mum smoothing down his hair before he left (âcome on mam, itâs fashion!â), only for him to ruffle it up the moment sheâd turned her back.
âPerfectly fine, thanksâ you replied, glancing away. Beside you, Lila sighed in exasperation.
âDâya want a drink?â
The words no thanks nearly tumbled out of your mouth, but you suppressed them as she shot a pointed glare at you. Right.
â...Well, go on then.â
Lila flashed you a triumphant smile before going off to find another seat, leaving the empty seat beside you free. He dropped into it as if he belonged there and waved the barman over.
âA Malibu, please,â you told the barman.
He raised an eyebrow. âBit fancy, that. Sure yâdonât want a pint?â
You sighed, regretting this agreement already. âOn second thought, a pintâs perfectly fine. A Carling, then.â
âSâmore like it,â he said, taking a swig out of his own drink. âSo then. Hear us earlier? Whatâd you reckon?â
You tilted your hand in a so-so gesture. âNot bad.â
âNot bad? Youâve got high standards,â he said, laughing. âBut I was the best bit, eh?â
âBit full of yourself, arenât you?â
âNah, âm just right.â His eyes flickered over you. âBit posh, arenât ya?â
That caught your attention, and you raised your eyebrows in mild surprise. âTouchĂ©.â
âWhat school dâya go to?â
âWithingtonâs.â
âThatâs that fancy girlsâ college, innit?â His brows furrowed in thought. âI go Barlow. Sâjust down the road. Reckon Iâve seen you sometime.â
You studied him properly this time, and now that heâd mentioned it⊠There was something familiar about him. Vague memories came to mind of someone with his same walk and loud laugh hanging about outside the school gates once or twice with a crowd of other boys.
âHang on,â you said, pointing at him. âYouâre that bloke who nearly got banned from school for harassing girls. Liam Gallagher, isnât it?â
âThat was all a load of rubbish. I wasnât harassing them, only trying to talk.â
âIâve seen you about before trying to chat up some poor girl,â you recalled in amusement. âYou always seem to corner them by the gates. Or ask them out shouting half across across the courtyard.â
He put a hand over his chest in mock offense. âI was being nice! And anyways, it works. Sometimes.â
âI just think that if you went about it properly, maybe it wouldnât be just sometimesââ
âMust work well enough,â he interjected, tilting his head towards you. ââCause Iâm talking to ya now, arenât I?â
âHavenât agreed to go out with you, though,â you replied with a shrug.
âWell, not yet.â
You rolled your eyes. âYou know,â you said, refusing to let him derail your point, âbeing a gentleman. Giving them flowers and all that, not asking them out with half your friends watching.â
He stared at you in confusion for a second as if you were from another world, before letting out a laugh.
âHow is that funny? HonestlyâŠâ
He shook his head, still grinning, and nodded towards the door. âRight. Wanna go outside? Bit easier tâhear each other.â
Finally. Youâd been trying to get out of the bar since the moment youâd been dragged through the front door, and even talking to him would be worth an excuse to escape the unbearable noise. You glanced through the bar until you found Lila, who caught your eye instantly and gave you an exaggerated thumbs up once she saw Liam standing next to you.
Turning back to him, you put your drink down and smiled politely. âAll right.â
He was already halfway to the door before you ever stood up, holding it open and stepping aside with an exaggerated flourish. âAfter you.â
You looked at him, tilting your head in amusement and walking out.
âSee? I can be proper,â he said proudly as he shut the door.
The second the door closed behind you, the noise of the bar faded out and the cool air outside enveloped your face.Â
Liam was surprisingly easy to talk to. Sure, a bit annoying at first with the cocky way he spoke, but it soon gave way to a more genuine boyishness as he rambled on about the Beatlesâ best albums and how âabsolutely mega John Lennon isâ. You ended up talking for maybe a half hour, and by the end of it you started to almost enjoy his stupid jokes; though you wouldnât admit it to yourself.
It was strange. Youâd seen him around before, ridiculed his confidence and the way he tried to pick up girls- but standing here, you saw a different side of him. Maybe youâd just never bothered to look properly, but he wasnât exactly who you thought heâd be.
After a long pause in the conversation, he cleared his throat. âSoâŠâ he started, glancing down. It was subtle, but he seemed less sure of himself than heâd been all evening.Â
âWould you wanna go on a date with me?â
You blinked. It wasnât the question that had caught you off guard. In fact, youâd half expected heâd ask it the first time he came up to you. No, it was more so the way he said it, with the tiniest hint of very un-Liam Gallagher-like doubt in himself.
âWith you?â
He laughed. âYeah, me, who elseâd ya think?â
âNo shouting across a courtyard? No cornering, even?â you teased.
âThought Iâd try something new.â Suddenly, he paused and looked at something at the edge of the pavement. âWait, almost forgot something.â
He crouched down and picked something up. His hand outstretched, you could see what heâd picked up. It was a small white flower, one that had been growing through the cracks of the pavement. You stared at it.
âConsider it like a promise. Iâll bring some on the actual date,â he added.
Taking the flower out of his hand, you smiled at him. âYou seem very confident that there will be an actual date.â
He raised an eyebrow. âWell, what dâya say?â
Normally, you would have hesitated. Normally, you would have made up some excuse to say no, or even just said it out of spite for how sure he was. Lila would never know anyway.Â
ButâŠyou sighed. âFine.â
âFine?â
You sighed in mock exasperation. âI mean yes, Liam, Iâll go on a date with you.â
âWell, seems your advice works, then,â he said, his face breaking into a wide grin that he quickly tried to hide.
You laughed at his attempt to look indifferent. âOh, but youâll have to have me back before eight,â you added.
âStrict parents?â
âJust my father. Protective and all that, sorry itâs a bit early,â you said apologetically.
He waved it off dismissively. âNah, âs okay. Iâll see you then. Pick ya up after school tomorrow?â
âSure.â You looked away, trying to hide a small smile yourself.
Unfortunately, he noticed. âAww, got ya smiling already.â
âWas not.â
âYou most definitely were.â
***
Liam showed up after school as promised. According to a friend of yours whoâd seen him from a window, he had left school early and run across the street, dashing through the gates of the courtyard exactly as the bell rang and sighing in relief. After ignoring Lilaâs endless teasing, you found him leaning against a wall, trying to catch his breath and wiping off drips of sweat.
You stifled a laugh and stood there, waiting for him to notice. After a few moments, Liam looked up and started at seeing you, quickly straightening up and trying to play it off.
âChrist, ya scared me there.â
You laughed. âWhatâre you all sweaty for?â
âEr, nothing, had gym class before this is all,â he said, waving the question off.
âReally now? Thought I saw you running down the street earlier.â
âUhâŠyeah, that too,â he admitted sheepishly. âWas just trying to be here on time.â
You couldnât hold it anymore and burst into laughter. âOh, donât go acting all cool now, it was actually very nice of you.â
His face relaxed into a smile. It was obvious heâd been embarrassed about trying for once, why you couldnât understand; it was probably something about contradicting the rockstar persona he tried so hard to be. As if him making an effort to come on time wasnât shocking enough, he brought out a bouquet from behind his back.
âHere, âs for you. Like I promised, yeah?â
It was made up of some assorted flowers that heâd probably picked out from his mumâs garden, and was tied together with a piece of ribbon. Messy, because it had probably been his first time doing something like this; but the thought was clearly there.
Courtship wasnât exactly unfamiliar to you. Your father was an old-fashioned type who believed in the parents choosing the dates, arranged marriage and the like, which meant there had been no shortage of ârespectable young menâ appearing at dinners over the years. They had given you flowers- all far bigger, prettier, and undoubtedly hundreds of times more expensive than this oneâŠyet somehow, this gift mattered infinitely more than any of them.
He must have mistaken the expression on your face as you looked at them for something like disappointment, because he hastily added, âMam picked these flowers. Know itâs probably a lot uglier than what youâre used to, but-â
You interrupted him with a hug. âNo, Liam, I love it. Itâs beautiful,â you insisted with a warm smile. âReally, I mean it.â
âWell, if you say so then,â he replied, his face lighting up. âCome on then, got to hurry up so I can return ya to Buckingham Palace before ya turn to dust.â
He led you through streets and alleys youâd never seen to a small restaurant tucked away in a corner. Despite its unassuming exterior, it was packed with a loud crowd of people inside; yet somehow there was an intimate, almost cozy feel to it. He led you to a table for two, which to your surprise had a rose in a vase and candle in the middle (which later you found out heâd arranged for with the owner, a friend of his mumâs).
âBest fish and chips shop in town. Used to go here nearly every day with my mam. Ever been?â
âNo, never.â You paused. âActually, I havenât ever had fish and chips from a shop like this.â
His eyes widened in shock. âNever? Youâve never had chips wrapped in paper, with all the oil on them and that?â
You shook your head in confirmation, and he laughed incredulously. âWhatâve ya been doing your whole life? Fucking hell. Just about the best thing ever, after school especially. Now youâve got to try it.â
Amidst his relentless laughter (âCome on, itâs not that funny!â), you agreed to let him order for you. He watched you eagerly as you took the first bite.
âItâsâŠactually pretty good.â
He grinned. âTold ya.â
You sat at the store talking until you noticed people leaving and checked your watch- seven thirty! He paid the bill and you quickly left, but upon stepping outside, you discovered that it was pouring rain.
âChrist, what do we do! Iâm going to be late,â you said, nervously pacing around. âMy fatherâll kill me!â
Liam shrugged. âLetâs run, then.â You looked at him in horror. âAre you blind? Itâs pouring! Weâll be soaked-â
He interrupted you by grabbing your hand and before you could protest, suddenly dashing out into the rain and breaking into a sprint. You ran all the way home, the two of you nearly collapsing in exhaustion once you finally got there.
âAre you crazy? Look at us, weâre all wet!â you managed to exclaim between breaths.
He sat on the floor, panting. âWell, weâre on time, arenât we?â
You shook your head incredulously.
ââS a good thing I wore my running shoes today,â he joked.
âTheyâre the only ones you ever wear!â you replied, gesturing to his beat-up Adidas trainers. There was nothing really funny about what youâd said- or his joke- but it was one of those moments where just about everything seems hilarious, and you both fell into breathless fits of laughter.Â
Once youâd calmed down a bit, he straightened up and dusted off his pants. âYouâve got mascara down here,â he said, wiping away a smudge under your eye.
If it wasnât so dark, he wouldâve seen the way your cheeks flushed at his touch. âThanks,â you muttered.
âSo I suppose you wouldnât mind another date? Seeing as this one didnât go so badâŠâ he said with a hopeful grin.
âDidnât go so bad?â you teased, raising an eyebrow and gesturing to your clothes.Â
âHey, âs not my fault! And ya have to admit, it was pretty fun, eh?â
You shrugged playfully, pretending to take a moment to think about it. âSure. But this time, I choose where we go.â
***
The next day, you took him on your date of choice as promised. It started with going to a nearby cafe and picking out some pastries, which youâd fully intended to pay for as you both knew he couldnât afford them without probably running out of his pocket money for the month. Yet despite his gaping at the prices (âPeople actually pay this much for one biscuit?â) and your insistence on paying, youâd still had to resort to a tricky maneuver of distracting him so he wouldnât sneakily slip some cash over the register before you had the chance to pay.
After, you brought him to a beautiful park by a lake, one of your favourite spots in town. It was the sort of place you went to when you just needed to get away from everything. It was a lazy Thursday afternoon and families were scattered across the grass, their children chasing each other along the paths as a row of ducks drifted across the water.
You wandered along the lakeside with your bags of pastries, breaking pieces off and feeding them to the ducks as you walked. Every few steps Liam would point out a different person and make up something about them, and it soon became a competition of who could come up with the better story.
âRight, Iâll do ya one better. See that bloke?â He nodded towards an elderly man sat calmly on a bench across the path.
You glanced over. âYeah, what now?â
âSecret agent. Got an earpiece in his ear, see?â
You raised an eyebrow at what was most definitely a hearing aid.
âWatch,â he continued confidently. âIn about ten seconds, heâll fold the paper up, stand up, and walk off. âS like in the movies.â
You folded your arms, humoring him. OneâŠtwo⊠by pure coincidence, the old man lowered his newspaper. Liamâs eyes widened dramatically. ThreeâŠfour⊠the man stood up, tucked the newspaper under his arm, and wandered off.
He gasped and pointed after him. âWhatâd I tell ya!â
You pushed his hand down, laughing. âHey, itâs rude to point! Look, theyâre staring at us.â
âYou just donât wanna admit Iâm right.â
âThat was completely luck!â
âLuck? Nah, thatâs years of detective work, that is.â
You continued walking until suddenly, Liam decided to veer off the path. He flopped onto the grass with a dramatic sigh, gesturing for you to join him before folding his arms behind his head.
You shook your head. âIâll ruin my clothes.â
âSo wash âem! Come on-â he said, interrupted by a fly landing on his nose. He swatted at it lazily at first, but it persisted in flying rounds around his head. Eventually, heâd worked himself up so much chasing it around that he tripped over a rock and fell, face-first. You burst into laughter as you walked over to him and helped him up. To your surprise, he was grinning triumphantly.
âWhatâre you smiling about? Have you gotten a concussion or something and gone crazy?â you teased between laughs.
âNo, âs just that thatâs the biggest laugh Iâve gotten out of you yet.â
âThat was the fly, not you.â
âIâll take partial credit,â he said, shrugging. âNow come on, lie down with me.â
You hesitated for a moment, thinking of what your parents would think seeing your uniform all rumpled and grass-stained- but there was just something so enticing about the soft grass and that look on his face. With a quiet sigh of surrender, you lowered yourself onto the patch beside him.
A comfortable silence had settled between the two of you as you bathed in the warm afternoon sun. Youâd shifted slightly closer before resting your head against his shoulder, almost absent-mindedly, when he suddenly went stiff.
You propped yourself up and looked at him, frowning. âYou all right there?â
He was clearly flustered and his ears had turned noticeably pink. âNo, no, âm fine!â
âYour ears are red,â you noted, amused.
He averted his gaze. ââS nothing, justâŠjust lie back down.â
You couldnât stop smiling as you relaxed back onto his shoulder. âSo this is all it takes to fluster Liam Gallagher, supposedly Casanova extraordinaire.â
âOh, shut up, you.â he said, groaning and covering his face.
The warmth of the day slowly gave way to evening, and you reluctantly started the walk back home. You werenât exactly sure of when it had happened, but at some point, Liam had quietly slipped his fingers into yours. By the time your house came into view, the sun had nearly disappeared.Â
He paused and checked the time. âTwo minutes past eight. Better get back in before we get in trouble, Cinderella.â
Normally youâd have panicked by now, perhaps said a rushed goodbye and ran in. But the happy languor of the afternoon had yet to wear off, and you laughed softly instead. Just then, you heard the sound of a car engine and your smile immediately vanished.
Liam followed your gaze to the car turning the corner at the end of the street.
âThatâs your father?â
You nodded quickly. âIf he sees us-â
Without thinking, he caught your wrist and pulled you behind a large hedge bordering the neighbouring house. The car rolled past, headlights just missing where the two of you stood, and the front gates closed behind it. You breathed a sigh of relief.
âWould it really be that bad if he saw us?â
You winced. âMy father, you probably know heâs very particular about the sort of people he thinks I should spend time with.â
The implications were obvious; Liam wasnât of that sort. A heavy pause settled in between you.
âI mean, I donât care about that stuff at all,â you clarified. âItâs not you specifically. Thatâs just how he is, and nothing ever changes his mind once heâs set it. Heâs already planned out my whole future; where Iâll live, what Iâll beâŠright down to who I talk to.â
Noticing that Liam was still a bit down, you attempted to lighten the mood. âThere was this one time he set me up with the most stuck-up guy ever. The whole night, he went on talking about statistics and all his âgeniusâ investments. Never once asked me a question, you know!â
A small smile tugged at his mouth despite himself. âWell. Guess weâll just have tâbe clever about it, then. Might even have to climb up to your window once in a while.â
You laughed and rolled your eyes affectionately. âLooking forward to it. Goodnight, Liam.â
âNight.â
He waited until you'd slipped safely through the garden gate before finally turning to head home himself. Youâd run in and tried to sneak off to your room, but not before your father caught you and demanded an explanation, you saying you were just out with friends and swearing up and down that it wouldnât happen again. Oh well, couldâve been worse- and besides, you figured it was worth getting in trouble for just this once.
***
As you soon found out, it definitely did happen again, and several times at that. Liam waited outside after your classes, and sometimes youâd even beat him to it. Youâd been hanging around each othersâ schools so much that youâd gotten to know his friends, and he yours. Most times it was his older brother Noel talking to you, who openly wondered at Liamâs ability to âkeep a proper girl like you from running away at the sight of his face aloneâ- which usually ended in a wrestle between the two, you standing to the side and sighing.
Your friends had eventually warmed up to the idea of him being around, and youâd even caught them talking sometimes when you came out late. Though Lila would never admit it to him (âheâs far enough up himself as it isâ), she told you once that youâd been a good deal happier since he came along.
On some days, youâd just hang out. Sometimes a football game with his mates, or aimlessly wandering around, but many times you came with him to band practices.
âYouâve spelled âdefinitelyâ wrong.â
âNo I havenât.â
âYes you have, youâve put two fâs, see?â
âOh, shut up.â
âOfficialâ dates usually consisted of you introducing new things to each other. Liam would show you Manchester how he saw it- in rooftops overlooking the city, Sifters Records, and quiz nights at greasy pubs where you argued over what your team should be named. You took him to your favourite spots too, which mostly consisted of museums, libraries, and many movie nights. One time youâd brought him out to see Dead Poets Society and by the end of the movie, he had started to tear up and was pointedly avoiding your gaze (âJust got summat in my eye âs allâŠ).
Weeks passed like that- a couple hours after school turned into full days, weekends, and stolen hours in between.
***
A few days before his birthday, youâd remembered the worn-out trainers he always wore and bought him a new pair, ones youâd seen him admire through shop windows every time you passed by.
Youâd told him to meet you at a little park by his school, tucked away from prying eyes. Once he arrived, you smiled and brought out the neatly wrapped box from behind your back. âHappy birthday, Liam.â
He hugged you before unwrapping the gift eagerly, as an excited child on Christmas day. Once he opened the shoebox, he froze. He stared at them for a long moment before saying, âI canât take these!âÂ
âLiam-â
âIâve got trainers already,â he said, gesturing to the pair on his feet. You looked pointedly down at them. The soles were practically separating from the fabric, and there were remnants of shoe glue put in unsuccessful attempts to hold them down.
âBesides, they cost a fortune. Iâve seen the prices on them, you know,â he added. He shut the lid and tried to hand them back to you.
You refused to take it. âI can see your socks through your shoes.â
âSo? Theyâre nice socks, got a print on them and all.â He was smiling now, clearly trying to make light of the situation.
You glared at him. âLiam, I know how much youâve been wanting these! Just take them, will you?â
âBut they were so expensive,â he started. âMakes me feel like a bloody Make-A-Wish kid. I donât want you thinking Iâm hanging around you because I want money or summat.â
You softened. âYou know Iâd never believe that. I mean, look at you now! If you were looking for money, youâd have jumped at the chance.â You picked up the shoebox and firmly handed it back to him âI didnât buy these because I pity you. I bought them becauseâŠwell, because itâs you. And itâs your birthday, silly.â
He looked down at the box before glancing back at you, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
âBecause of me, yeah? And this irresistible face, surely?â He scratched the back of his neck. "Sâpose itâd be rude to say no, then, since you like me so much.â
At the rate heâd been wearing them after that day, youâd probably need to buy him a new pair next year as well.
***
One weekend, Liam took you to a park overlooking the city after another ordinary afternoon. He had been unusually quiet all day, and now he was sitting in silence beside you fidgeting with a bag in his hands. After a few moments, he cleared his throat and looked at you.
âCan I ask ya something?â
You were about to reply with some sarcastic joke, but you suddenly noticed that he seemed to actually be nervous about this and paused. âGo on.â
He had suddenly become fascinated by the pavement. âWell, weâve been doing all this for weeks now,â he started, gesturing vaguely between you. âAnd I know I canât take ya to fancy places or buy ya all the things youâre used to. Know blokes like that are more what your father wants.â
âOh, he can have them then,â you said with a laugh. âIâm only interested in one idiot from Burnage.â
â...So,â he started, still unsure of himself. âWould that idiot have any chance of being your boyfriend?â
You pretended to think about it for a moment, but you couldnât stop the smile coming across your face. âI donât know,â you started. His face dropped. âYou are awfully full of yourself.â
âCome on, this is serious!â
You laughed and slipped your hand into his. âGood thing I happen to like that about you.â You smiled to yourself. âAnd Lila did make me promise to stop saying no to things.â
He blinked. âIs that a yes, then?â âYes, Liam.â
His face had split into a wide grin. You were searching for something witty to say when he suddenly leaned forward and closed the gap between you.
He kissed you surprisingly tentative at first, as though he couldnât quite believe you were letting him. You kissed him back, firm and sure, and whatever nerves heâd been carrying earlier seemed to melt away.
When you got home, you felt a weight in your pocket. Strange- you hadnât brought anything. It was a small box, and inside was a thin gold bracelet with a note attached to the top that read âGot this for you. Hope ya like it. - LG xâ
***
The next afternoon, Liam suddenly told you that heâd arranged for you to meet his mum for dinner that evening. You completely flipped out- you hadnât had time to prepare a gift, not even pastries or fruits. He laughed in disbelief when you confided your anxieties to him, but let you drag him to a flower shop to buy a bouquet so you at least had something.
When you greeted Liamâs mum, she laughed at your stiff âMrs. Gallagherâ and insisted you call her by her first name, Peggy, instead. After putting your flowers into a vase, she shot an incredulous glance at Liam. âNow how on Earth did you manage such a nice girl?â
ââS exactly what I said when I first saw her. Thought she mustâve owed him something,â snorted Noel, who was already stuffing his mouth at the table.
Liam glared at Noel and was about to punch him when Peggy swatted at him and he stopped reluctantly. Noel stuck his tongue out at him teasingly.
âReally, the way those two act at their age, Iâd wondered at their ever getting a girlfriend! You deserve a medal for putting up with him. Heâd never bought any girl flowers before, you know,â she told you. âNot that he ever got many,â she added with a laugh.
He groaned. âDidnât have to add that, mam.â
As you ate, she asked many questions about how you met him and Noel occasionally interjected with quips (âWhat I really want to know is how you stand him!â) that were met with clenched fists on Liamâs part. Much to his embarrassment, Peggy showed you numerous childhood photo albums- âthereâs Liam in the bath, thatâs him after his first tooth fell outâŠâ as he tried in vain to stop her.
Before you left, you noticed Peggy pull him aside for a moment.
âDonât let that one go,â she whispered.
âIâd be a right idiot to.â
Liam walked you home afterwards, stopping a block before your house to say goodbye.
âDo you think she liked me?â
âAre you havinâ me on? Reckon she liked ya more than me,â he scoffed. âSo, when am I meeting yours?â he added, attempting to make the question sound casual.
Youâd expected this and he knew the answer as well as you, but it was so hard to tell him it just couldnât happen when you could see how much he wanted it to.
You sighed. âWell, you know how they are.â
âYeah, but sâpose they like me!â he said. âHard to resist my charms.â
â...Iâll try,â you replied with a tight-lipped smile.
It was hard to miss the way his face lit up at that, harder still to imagine how it would fall when you told him some lie about how they couldnât fit it into their schedule. But worst of all would be seeing Liamâs expression after your father would inevitably take him aside after dinner and tell him he âjust wasnât right for youâ, that heâd never be.
The lesser of two evils, you conceded with a sigh.
***
But over the next few days, strange things began to happen. It started off small; one of your parentsâ business friends seeing you together. Your driver remarking that youâd been hanging out with your friends a lot lately with a playful smirk as if he were in on something, and your mum taking an increased interest in what you did after school. It was obvious that something was wrong.
It was a Monday. Nearly every day, your parents were off to work early and especially on weekdays- so when youâd gone down for breakfast and saw your father already eating, you nearly dropped what you were holding.
âSo who is this Liam Gallagher Iâve been hearing about?â he asked coolly, without looking up from the newspaper he was reading.
Your eyes widened and you stood frozen, your mouth opening and closing uselessly as you struggled to find words to say. â Iâ,â you started. âHeâs just a friend, reallyââ
âInvite him to dinner tomorrow,â he interrupted, standing up and brushing crumbs off his suit. Before you could even reply, he had already stood up and began walking out the door.
You immediately started pacing around alone. Liam meeting your parents! The thought alone flooded you with anxiety. You started running through solutions in your mind. For one, you could tell him Liam couldnât make it tomorrow. That was no use, heâd just reschedule it. You could try and convince him that he was really just a friend, but by the way heâd acted earlier it was obvious he wouldnât be so easily fooled. That left you with the only possible option: acrually telling him and introducing him to them.Â
You sighed. At least Liam would be pleased, and you supposed it really was well overdue. They would have found out sooner or later anyway. Well, there was your problem of asking them settled at leastâŠ
itâs like a matter of grasping the concept of empathy that i genuinely donât think exist among men and i unfortunately have lost all faith that it ever will. i mean, a woman was so violently raped by a man that she had to have her tampon surgically removed and youâre not only comfortable in watching him play his sport but youâre also rooting for him? how does that not rotten your stomach. the paul thing i honestly understand when it comes to them still hanging around him, thatâs their brother and i imagine itâs hard cutting ties, especially with their story with their dads and the fact that noel and liam went no contact for so long and leaving paul to be the only sibling they had in some sort. but a man who you have no relationship with? dumb and gross
iâm truly baffled, with my own experience of having a dad thatâs OLD im trying to hold onto the fact that maybe he deadass doesnât know about this, but i also donât know whatâs like in the news/midia in europe, if this story is very known to a point where itâs impossible noel doesnât know about this. but again, itâs not like heâs known for being a good person sjshdjdnd i avoid saying that because i (neither anyone here or twitter) donât know him personally. we have many concrete information of him being a dick but also a nice person, but at the end of the day we know nothing about someoneâs character, i personally adore noel and think heâs very very talented and overall a cool person and obviously? very sexy? hello. but pretending this didnât happen is embarrassing !! iâm a fan girl but im a woman and a person with two thinking brain cells, no horniness or admiration in me would put me in a place of defending a dumbass man praising a terrible person
Ë.âê°à§§ FIRSTS à»ê±â.Ë
A Pretty Girl Avenue Special! đ
SUMMARY: A man his age should really have more experience. Especially a seasoned rockstar whose whole life once revolved around sex, drugs, and rock & roll. But dating a younger woman introduces Liam Gallagher to some firsts that he never would have known without you.
FOREWORD: bello !!! hereâs a little something for you guys !!!! surprise !!! iâve recently just failed a few test drills and i desperately needed to take my mind of it so here comes a little pga special !! the timelines of this jump a lot, and itâs in no chronological order. the only one set at the present is the owala story !! also spot a few cameos đ
i just rewatched derry girls in 2 days and i literally cannot think about anything else. i NEED more bc i love them sm but at the same time i love how it ended. everyone go watch it rn.
UPTOWN GIRL - pt. 1
prefame!liam x fem!reader
in which: The daughter of one of the wealthiest (and possibly strictest) families in town goes out one night to see a band play in a cramped pub. She doesn't expect to leave with a date with the lead singer the next day. What starts as secret meetings after school and chip shop dates turns into something bigger- but with a father determined to keep them apart, things soon head for disaster. a/n: This is my first fic on oasisblr and actually the first full one I've written probably since I was 14 writing dramione fanfics on wattpad LOL so please ignore how rusty I am. This is pretty much straight fluff and I was originally going to make this a one-shot but I'm splitting it up into probably (?) 2 parts just so it's not too long. For some context, it's meant to be set in Manchester and they're both around 17/in year 11. wc: 5,807
There was nothing you hated more than sitting in greasy, packed pubs with loud crowds that cheered raucously after every cover the band played. Yet that was the situation you seemed to find yourself in this evening. Whatâs more, your head was pounding, you were ridiculously overdressed, and most of all, youâd gone through hell convincing your parents to let you stay out past nine. Nine, on a Saturday night. If the absurdly early curfew gave any idea as to just how strict your parents were, then anyone could tell that even getting them to let you go out in the first place had taken great efforts.
All because Lila- your best friend and the single most persistent person you knew- had spent the better part of the day badgering you into coming out tonight because âthe best band ever is playing!â Itâd be âsooo funâ sheâd insisted, and eventually youâd caved, though more to shut her up than anything else.
But so far, the night hadnât even come close to justifying the argument it took to get you here, and you were beginning to regret ever listening to her.
You stared into your drink, swirling it absently as the band stepped down from the stage into a round of drunken applause. It seemed that the louder that they became, the more your eyes glazed over until the roar of the crowd dissolved into a dull, distant hum. âStill with us?â Lila said, waving her hand in front of your face. âYou know, maybe you wouldnât be so bored if you actually said yes to things every now and then.â
You snapped out of your thoughts. âWhat are you talking about? Only reason Iâm here in the first place was because I said yes to you.â
âYou know thatâs not what I meant! Three blokes have asked to buy you a drink already tonight, thatâs three more than me- and youâve turned down all of them.â
âI donât go out with guys, you know that. Besides, if you wanted any of them, youâre more than welcome.â
She rolled her eyes. âYou could start. Might do you some good, having fun for once.â
You sighed. âItâs just not my sort of thing. And perhaps I would if they didnât all seem like complete idiots,â you added, though you knew that really wasnât the issue.
âHow would you know? You never even so much as glanced at any of them!â Lila shot back, exasperated. She straightened up in her chair and paused. âRight, new rule: no more saying no tonight.â
You stared at her for a moment. âFine,â you replied defeatedly.
From a distance, you could hear a guy across the bar arguing loudly with his friends.
âFat chance! Sheâs way too fit for you,â one teased.
âGo on then, bet sheâll just tell ya to fuck off.â
He scoffed. âThem birds canât resist me. Watch and learn,â he retorted. Only then did you notice that theyâd been looking in your direction, and now it seemed he was headed towards you.Â
You groaned.
âHere comes your man,â Lila teased, in the tune of the song. âWell, donât go back on your promise now.â
You scoffed. âPlease. As if-â
âYâalright there?â
As it turned out, the guy from across the bar was the lead singer of the band whoâd been playing earlier. He looked around your age, though he tried his very best to look older- his hair was messy, paired with clothes clearly two sizes too large that he probably thought made him look like a proper rockstar.Â
Yet, despite that, there was something unmistakeably boyish about him. You could picture his mum smoothing down his hair before he left (âcome on mam, itâs fashion!â), only for him to ruffle it up the moment sheâd turned her back.
âPerfectly fine, thanksâ you replied, glancing away. Beside you, Lila sighed in exasperation.
âDâya want a drink?â
The words no thanks nearly tumbled out of your mouth, but you suppressed them as she shot a pointed glare at you. Right.
â...Well, go on then.â
Lila flashed you a triumphant smile before going off to find another seat, leaving the empty seat beside you free. He dropped into it as if he belonged there and waved the barman over.
âA Malibu, please,â you told the barman.
He raised an eyebrow. âBit fancy, that. Sure yâdonât want a pint?â
You sighed, regretting this agreement already. âOn second thought, a pintâs perfectly fine. A Carling, then.â
âSâmore like it,â he said, taking a swig out of his own drink. âSo then. Hear us earlier? Whatâd you reckon?â
You tilted your hand in a so-so gesture. âNot bad.â
âNot bad? Youâve got high standards,â he said, laughing. âBut I was the best bit, eh?â
âBit full of yourself, arenât you?â
âNah, âm just right.â His eyes flickered over you. âBit posh, arenât ya?â
That caught your attention, and you raised your eyebrows in mild surprise. âTouchĂ©.â
âWhat school dâya go to?â
âWithingtonâs.â
âThatâs that fancy girlsâ college, innit?â His brows furrowed in thought. âI go Barlow. Sâjust down the road. Reckon Iâve seen you sometime.â
You studied him properly this time, and now that heâd mentioned it⊠There was something familiar about him. Vague memories came to mind of someone with his same walk and loud laugh hanging about outside the school gates once or twice with a crowd of other boys.
âHang on,â you said, pointing at him. âYouâre that bloke who nearly got banned from school for harassing girls. Liam Gallagher, isnât it?â
âThat was all a load of rubbish. I wasnât harassing them, only trying to talk.â
âIâve seen you about before trying to chat up some poor girl,â you recalled in amusement. âYou always seem to corner them by the gates. Or ask them out shouting half across across the courtyard.â
He put a hand over his chest in mock offense. âI was being nice! And anyways, it works. Sometimes.â
âI just think that if you went about it properly, maybe it wouldnât be just sometimesââ
âMust work well enough,â he interjected, tilting his head towards you. ââCause Iâm talking to ya now, arenât I?â
âHavenât agreed to go out with you, though,â you replied with a shrug.
âWell, not yet.â
You rolled your eyes. âYou know,â you said, refusing to let him derail your point, âbeing a gentleman. Giving them flowers and all that, not asking them out with half your friends watching.â
He stared at you in confusion for a second as if you were from another world, before letting out a laugh.
âHow is that funny? HonestlyâŠâ
He shook his head, still grinning, and nodded towards the door. âRight. Wanna go outside? Bit easier tâhear each other.â
Finally. Youâd been trying to get out of the bar since the moment youâd been dragged through the front door, and even talking to him would be worth an excuse to escape the unbearable noise. You glanced through the bar until you found Lila, who caught your eye instantly and gave you an exaggerated thumbs up once she saw Liam standing next to you.
Turning back to him, you put your drink down and smiled politely. âAll right.â
He was already halfway to the door before you ever stood up, holding it open and stepping aside with an exaggerated flourish. âAfter you.â
You looked at him, tilting your head in amusement and walking out.
âSee? I can be proper,â he said proudly as he shut the door.
The second the door closed behind you, the noise of the bar faded out and the cool air outside enveloped your face.Â
Liam was surprisingly easy to talk to. Sure, a bit annoying at first with the cocky way he spoke, but it soon gave way to a more genuine boyishness as he rambled on about the Beatlesâ best albums and how âabsolutely mega John Lennon isâ. You ended up talking for maybe a half hour, and by the end of it you started to almost enjoy his stupid jokes; though you wouldnât admit it to yourself.
It was strange. Youâd seen him around before, ridiculed his confidence and the way he tried to pick up girls- but standing here, you saw a different side of him. Maybe youâd just never bothered to look properly, but he wasnât exactly who you thought heâd be.
After a long pause in the conversation, he cleared his throat. âSoâŠâ he started, glancing down. It was subtle, but he seemed less sure of himself than heâd been all evening.Â
âWould you wanna go on a date with me?â
You blinked. It wasnât the question that had caught you off guard. In fact, youâd half expected heâd ask it the first time he came up to you. No, it was more so the way he said it, with the tiniest hint of very un-Liam Gallagher-like doubt in himself.
âWith you?â
He laughed. âYeah, me, who elseâd ya think?â
âNo shouting across a courtyard? No cornering, even?â you teased.
âThought Iâd try something new.â Suddenly, he paused and looked at something at the edge of the pavement. âWait, almost forgot something.â
He crouched down and picked something up. His hand outstretched, you could see what heâd picked up. It was a small white flower, one that had been growing through the cracks of the pavement. You stared at it.
âConsider it like a promise. Iâll bring some on the actual date,â he added.
Taking the flower out of his hand, you smiled at him. âYou seem very confident that there will be an actual date.â
He raised an eyebrow. âWell, what dâya say?â
Normally, you would have hesitated. Normally, you would have made up some excuse to say no, or even just said it out of spite for how sure he was. Lila would never know anyway.Â
ButâŠyou sighed. âFine.â
âFine?â
You sighed in mock exasperation. âI mean yes, Liam, Iâll go on a date with you.â
âWell, seems your advice works, then,â he said, his face breaking into a wide grin that he quickly tried to hide.
You laughed at his attempt to look indifferent. âOh, but youâll have to have me back before eight,â you added.
âStrict parents?â
âJust my father. Protective and all that, sorry itâs a bit early,â you said apologetically.
He waved it off dismissively. âNah, âs okay. Iâll see you then. Pick ya up after school tomorrow?â
âSure.â You looked away, trying to hide a small smile yourself.
Unfortunately, he noticed. âAww, got ya smiling already.â
âWas not.â
âYou most definitely were.â
***
Liam showed up after school as promised. According to a friend of yours whoâd seen him from a window, he had left school early and run across the street, dashing through the gates of the courtyard exactly as the bell rang and sighing in relief. After ignoring Lilaâs endless teasing, you found him leaning against a wall, trying to catch his breath and wiping off drips of sweat.
You stifled a laugh and stood there, waiting for him to notice. After a few moments, Liam looked up and started at seeing you, quickly straightening up and trying to play it off.
âChrist, ya scared me there.â
You laughed. âWhatâre you all sweaty for?â
âEr, nothing, had gym class before this is all,â he said, waving the question off.
âReally now? Thought I saw you running down the street earlier.â
âUhâŠyeah, that too,â he admitted sheepishly. âWas just trying to be here on time.â
You couldnât hold it anymore and burst into laughter. âOh, donât go acting all cool now, it was actually very nice of you.â
His face relaxed into a smile. It was obvious heâd been embarrassed about trying for once, why you couldnât understand; it was probably something about contradicting the rockstar persona he tried so hard to be. As if him making an effort to come on time wasnât shocking enough, he brought out a bouquet from behind his back.
âHere, âs for you. Like I promised, yeah?â
It was made up of some assorted flowers that heâd probably picked out from his mumâs garden, and was tied together with a piece of ribbon. Messy, because it had probably been his first time doing something like this; but the thought was clearly there.
Courtship wasnât exactly unfamiliar to you. Your father was an old-fashioned type who believed in the parents choosing the dates, arranged marriage and the like, which meant there had been no shortage of ârespectable young menâ appearing at dinners over the years. They had given you flowers- all far bigger, prettier, and undoubtedly hundreds of times more expensive than this oneâŠyet somehow, this gift mattered infinitely more than any of them.
He must have mistaken the expression on your face as you looked at them for something like disappointment, because he hastily added, âMam picked these flowers. Know itâs probably a lot uglier than what youâre used to, but-â
You interrupted him with a hug. âNo, Liam, I love it. Itâs beautiful,â you insisted with a warm smile. âReally, I mean it.â
âWell, if you say so then,â he replied, his face lighting up. âCome on then, got to hurry up so I can return ya to Buckingham Palace before ya turn to dust.â
He led you through streets and alleys youâd never seen to a small restaurant tucked away in a corner. Despite its unassuming exterior, it was packed with a loud crowd of people inside; yet somehow there was an intimate, almost cozy feel to it. He led you to a table for two, which to your surprise had a rose in a vase and candle in the middle (which later you found out heâd arranged for with the owner, a friend of his mumâs).
âBest fish and chips shop in town. Used to go here nearly every day with my mam. Ever been?â
âNo, never.â You paused. âActually, I havenât ever had fish and chips from a shop like this.â
His eyes widened in shock. âNever? Youâve never had chips wrapped in paper, with all the oil on them and that?â
You shook your head in confirmation, and he laughed incredulously. âWhatâve ya been doing your whole life? Fucking hell. Just about the best thing ever, after school especially. Now youâve got to try it.â
Amidst his relentless laughter (âCome on, itâs not that funny!â), you agreed to let him order for you. He watched you eagerly as you took the first bite.
âItâsâŠactually pretty good.â
He grinned. âTold ya.â
You sat at the store talking until you noticed people leaving and checked your watch- seven thirty! He paid the bill and you quickly left, but upon stepping outside, you discovered that it was pouring rain.
âChrist, what do we do! Iâm going to be late,â you said, nervously pacing around. âMy fatherâll kill me!â
Liam shrugged. âLetâs run, then.â You looked at him in horror. âAre you blind? Itâs pouring! Weâll be soaked-â
He interrupted you by grabbing your hand and before you could protest, suddenly dashing out into the rain and breaking into a sprint. You ran all the way home, the two of you nearly collapsing in exhaustion once you finally got there.
âAre you crazy? Look at us, weâre all wet!â you managed to exclaim between breaths.
He sat on the floor, panting. âWell, weâre on time, arenât we?â
You shook your head incredulously.
ââS a good thing I wore my running shoes today,â he joked.
âTheyâre the only ones you ever wear!â you replied, gesturing to his beat-up Adidas trainers. There was nothing really funny about what youâd said- or his joke- but it was one of those moments where just about everything seems hilarious, and you both fell into breathless fits of laughter.Â
Once youâd calmed down a bit, he straightened up and dusted off his pants. âYouâve got mascara down here,â he said, wiping away a smudge under your eye.
If it wasnât so dark, he wouldâve seen the way your cheeks flushed at his touch. âThanks,â you muttered.
âSo I suppose you wouldnât mind another date? Seeing as this one didnât go so badâŠâ he said with a hopeful grin.
âDidnât go so bad?â you teased, raising an eyebrow and gesturing to your clothes.Â
âHey, âs not my fault! And ya have to admit, it was pretty fun, eh?â
You shrugged playfully, pretending to take a moment to think about it. âSure. But this time, I choose where we go.â
***
The next day, you took him on your date of choice as promised. It started with going to a nearby cafe and picking out some pastries, which youâd fully intended to pay for as you both knew he couldnât afford them without probably running out of his pocket money for the month. Yet despite his gaping at the prices (âPeople actually pay this much for one biscuit?â) and your insistence on paying, youâd still had to resort to a tricky maneuver of distracting him so he wouldnât sneakily slip some cash over the register before you had the chance to pay.
After, you brought him to a beautiful park by a lake, one of your favourite spots in town. It was the sort of place you went to when you just needed to get away from everything. It was a lazy Thursday afternoon and families were scattered across the grass, their children chasing each other along the paths as a row of ducks drifted across the water.
You wandered along the lakeside with your bags of pastries, breaking pieces off and feeding them to the ducks as you walked. Every few steps Liam would point out a different person and make up something about them, and it soon became a competition of who could come up with the better story.
âRight, Iâll do ya one better. See that bloke?â He nodded towards an elderly man sat calmly on a bench across the path.
You glanced over. âYeah, what now?â
âSecret agent. Got an earpiece in his ear, see?â
You raised an eyebrow at what was most definitely a hearing aid.
âWatch,â he continued confidently. âIn about ten seconds, heâll fold the paper up, stand up, and walk off. âS like in the movies.â
You folded your arms, humoring him. OneâŠtwo⊠by pure coincidence, the old man lowered his newspaper. Liamâs eyes widened dramatically. ThreeâŠfour⊠the man stood up, tucked the newspaper under his arm, and wandered off.
He gasped and pointed after him. âWhatâd I tell ya!â
You pushed his hand down, laughing. âHey, itâs rude to point! Look, theyâre staring at us.â
âYou just donât wanna admit Iâm right.â
âThat was completely luck!â
âLuck? Nah, thatâs years of detective work, that is.â
You continued walking until suddenly, Liam decided to veer off the path. He flopped onto the grass with a dramatic sigh, gesturing for you to join him before folding his arms behind his head.
You shook your head. âIâll ruin my clothes.â
âSo wash âem! Come on-â he said, interrupted by a fly landing on his nose. He swatted at it lazily at first, but it persisted in flying rounds around his head. Eventually, heâd worked himself up so much chasing it around that he tripped over a rock and fell, face-first. You burst into laughter as you walked over to him and helped him up. To your surprise, he was grinning triumphantly.
âWhatâre you smiling about? Have you gotten a concussion or something and gone crazy?â you teased between laughs.
âNo, âs just that thatâs the biggest laugh Iâve gotten out of you yet.â
âThat was the fly, not you.â
âIâll take partial credit,â he said, shrugging. âNow come on, lie down with me.â
You hesitated for a moment, thinking of what your parents would think seeing your uniform all rumpled and grass-stained- but there was just something so enticing about the soft grass and that look on his face. With a quiet sigh of surrender, you lowered yourself onto the patch beside him.
A comfortable silence had settled between the two of you as you bathed in the warm afternoon sun. Youâd shifted slightly closer before resting your head against his shoulder, almost absent-mindedly, when he suddenly went stiff.
You propped yourself up and looked at him, frowning. âYou all right there?â
He was clearly flustered and his ears had turned noticeably pink. âNo, no, âm fine!â
âYour ears are red,â you noted, amused.
He averted his gaze. ââS nothing, justâŠjust lie back down.â
You couldnât stop smiling as you relaxed back onto his shoulder. âSo this is all it takes to fluster Liam Gallagher, supposedly Casanova extraordinaire.â
âOh, shut up, you.â he said, groaning and covering his face.
The warmth of the day slowly gave way to evening, and you reluctantly started the walk back home. You werenât exactly sure of when it had happened, but at some point, Liam had quietly slipped his fingers into yours. By the time your house came into view, the sun had nearly disappeared.Â
He paused and checked the time. âTwo minutes past eight. Better get back in before we get in trouble, Cinderella.â
Normally youâd have panicked by now, perhaps said a rushed goodbye and ran in. But the happy languor of the afternoon had yet to wear off, and you laughed softly instead. Just then, you heard the sound of a car engine and your smile immediately vanished.
Liam followed your gaze to the car turning the corner at the end of the street.
âThatâs your father?â
You nodded quickly. âIf he sees us-â
Without thinking, he caught your wrist and pulled you behind a large hedge bordering the neighbouring house. The car rolled past, headlights just missing where the two of you stood, and the front gates closed behind it. You breathed a sigh of relief.
âWould it really be that bad if he saw us?â
You winced. âMy father, you probably know heâs very particular about the sort of people he thinks I should spend time with.â
The implications were obvious; Liam wasnât of that sort. A heavy pause settled in between you.
âI mean, I donât care about that stuff at all,â you clarified. âItâs not you specifically. Thatâs just how he is, and nothing ever changes his mind once heâs set it. Heâs already planned out my whole future; where Iâll live, what Iâll beâŠright down to who I talk to.â
Noticing that Liam was still a bit down, you attempted to lighten the mood. âThere was this one time he set me up with the most stuck-up guy ever. The whole night, he went on talking about statistics and all his âgeniusâ investments. Never once asked me a question, you know!â
A small smile tugged at his mouth despite himself. âWell. Guess weâll just have tâbe clever about it, then. Might even have to climb up to your window once in a while.â
You laughed and rolled your eyes affectionately. âLooking forward to it. Goodnight, Liam.â
âNight.â
He waited until you'd slipped safely through the garden gate before finally turning to head home himself. Youâd run in and tried to sneak off to your room, but not before your father caught you and demanded an explanation, you saying you were just out with friends and swearing up and down that it wouldnât happen again. Oh well, couldâve been worse- and besides, you figured it was worth getting in trouble for just this once.
***
As you soon found out, it definitely did happen again, and several times at that. Liam waited outside after your classes, and sometimes youâd even beat him to it. Youâd been hanging around each othersâ schools so much that youâd gotten to know his friends, and he yours. Most times it was his older brother Noel talking to you, who openly wondered at Liamâs ability to âkeep a proper girl like you from running away at the sight of his face aloneâ- which usually ended in a wrestle between the two, you standing to the side and sighing.
Your friends had eventually warmed up to the idea of him being around, and youâd even caught them talking sometimes when you came out late. Though Lila would never admit it to him (âheâs far enough up himself as it isâ), she told you once that youâd been a good deal happier since he came along.
On some days, youâd just hang out. Sometimes a football game with his mates, or aimlessly wandering around, but many times you came with him to band practices.
âYouâve spelled âdefinitelyâ wrong.â
âNo I havenât.â
âYes you have, youâve put two fâs, see?â
âOh, shut up.â
âOfficialâ dates usually consisted of you introducing new things to each other. Liam would show you Manchester how he saw it- in rooftops overlooking the city, Sifters Records, and quiz nights at greasy pubs where you argued over what your team should be named. You took him to your favourite spots too, which mostly consisted of museums, libraries, and many movie nights. One time youâd brought him out to see Dead Poets Society and by the end of the movie, he had started to tear up and was pointedly avoiding your gaze (âJust got summat in my eye âs allâŠ).
Weeks passed like that- a couple hours after school turned into full days, weekends, and stolen hours in between.
***
A few days before his birthday, youâd remembered the worn-out trainers he always wore and bought him a new pair, ones youâd seen him admire through shop windows every time you passed by.
Youâd told him to meet you at a little park by his school, tucked away from prying eyes. Once he arrived, you smiled and brought out the neatly wrapped box from behind your back. âHappy birthday, Liam.â
He hugged you before unwrapping the gift eagerly, as an excited child on Christmas day. Once he opened the shoebox, he froze. He stared at them for a long moment before saying, âI canât take these!âÂ
âLiam-â
âIâve got trainers already,â he said, gesturing to the pair on his feet. You looked pointedly down at them. The soles were practically separating from the fabric, and there were remnants of shoe glue put in unsuccessful attempts to hold them down.
âBesides, they cost a fortune. Iâve seen the prices on them, you know,â he added. He shut the lid and tried to hand them back to you.
You refused to take it. âI can see your socks through your shoes.â
âSo? Theyâre nice socks, got a print on them and all.â He was smiling now, clearly trying to make light of the situation.
You glared at him. âLiam, I know how much youâve been wanting these! Just take them, will you?â
âBut they were so expensive,â he started. âMakes me feel like a bloody Make-A-Wish kid. I donât want you thinking Iâm hanging around you because I want money or summat.â
You softened. âYou know Iâd never believe that. I mean, look at you now! If you were looking for money, youâd have jumped at the chance.â You picked up the shoebox and firmly handed it back to him âI didnât buy these because I pity you. I bought them becauseâŠwell, because itâs you. And itâs your birthday, silly.â
He looked down at the box before glancing back at you, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
âBecause of me, yeah? And this irresistible face, surely?â He scratched the back of his neck. "Sâpose itâd be rude to say no, then, since you like me so much.â
At the rate heâd been wearing them after that day, youâd probably need to buy him a new pair next year as well.
***
One weekend, Liam took you to a park overlooking the city after another ordinary afternoon. He had been unusually quiet all day, and now he was sitting in silence beside you fidgeting with a bag in his hands. After a few moments, he cleared his throat and looked at you.
âCan I ask ya something?â
You were about to reply with some sarcastic joke, but you suddenly noticed that he seemed to actually be nervous about this and paused. âGo on.â
He had suddenly become fascinated by the pavement. âWell, weâve been doing all this for weeks now,â he started, gesturing vaguely between you. âAnd I know I canât take ya to fancy places or buy ya all the things youâre used to. Know blokes like that are more what your father wants.â
âOh, he can have them then,â you said with a laugh. âIâm only interested in one idiot from Burnage.â
â...So,â he started, still unsure of himself. âWould that idiot have any chance of being your boyfriend?â
You pretended to think about it for a moment, but you couldnât stop the smile coming across your face. âI donât know,â you started. His face dropped. âYou are awfully full of yourself.â
âCome on, this is serious!â
You laughed and slipped your hand into his. âGood thing I happen to like that about you.â You smiled to yourself. âAnd Lila did make me promise to stop saying no to things.â
He blinked. âIs that a yes, then?â âYes, Liam.â
His face had split into a wide grin. You were searching for something witty to say when he suddenly leaned forward and closed the gap between you.
He kissed you surprisingly tentative at first, as though he couldnât quite believe you were letting him. You kissed him back, firm and sure, and whatever nerves heâd been carrying earlier seemed to melt away.
When you got home, you felt a weight in your pocket. Strange- you hadnât brought anything. It was a small box, and inside was a thin gold bracelet with a note attached to the top that read âGot this for you. Hope ya like it. - LG xâ
***
The next afternoon, Liam suddenly told you that heâd arranged for you to meet his mum for dinner that evening. You completely flipped out- you hadnât had time to prepare a gift, not even pastries or fruits. He laughed in disbelief when you confided your anxieties to him, but let you drag him to a flower shop to buy a bouquet so you at least had something.
When you greeted Liamâs mum, she laughed at your stiff âMrs. Gallagherâ and insisted you call her by her first name, Peggy, instead. After putting your flowers into a vase, she shot an incredulous glance at Liam. âNow how on Earth did you manage such a nice girl?â
ââS exactly what I said when I first saw her. Thought she mustâve owed him something,â snorted Noel, who was already stuffing his mouth at the table.
Liam glared at Noel and was about to punch him when Peggy swatted at him and he stopped reluctantly. Noel stuck his tongue out at him teasingly.
âReally, the way those two act at their age, Iâd wondered at their ever getting a girlfriend! You deserve a medal for putting up with him. Heâd never bought any girl flowers before, you know,â she told you. âNot that he ever got many,â she added with a laugh.
He groaned. âDidnât have to add that, mam.â
As you ate, she asked many questions about how you met him and Noel occasionally interjected with quips (âWhat I really want to know is how you stand him!â) that were met with clenched fists on Liamâs part. Much to his embarrassment, Peggy showed you numerous childhood photo albums- âthereâs Liam in the bath, thatâs him after his first tooth fell outâŠâ as he tried in vain to stop her.
Before you left, you noticed Peggy pull him aside for a moment.
âDonât let that one go,â she whispered.
âIâd be a right idiot to.â
Liam walked you home afterwards, stopping a block before your house to say goodbye.
âDo you think she liked me?â
âAre you havinâ me on? Reckon she liked ya more than me,â he scoffed. âSo, when am I meeting yours?â he added, attempting to make the question sound casual.
Youâd expected this and he knew the answer as well as you, but it was so hard to tell him it just couldnât happen when you could see how much he wanted it to.
You sighed. âWell, you know how they are.â
âYeah, but sâpose they like me!â he said. âHard to resist my charms.â
â...Iâll try,â you replied with a tight-lipped smile.
It was hard to miss the way his face lit up at that, harder still to imagine how it would fall when you told him some lie about how they couldnât fit it into their schedule. But worst of all would be seeing Liamâs expression after your father would inevitably take him aside after dinner and tell him he âjust wasnât right for youâ, that heâd never be.
The lesser of two evils, you conceded with a sigh.
***
But over the next few days, strange things began to happen. It started off small; one of your parentsâ business friends seeing you together. Your driver remarking that youâd been hanging out with your friends a lot lately with a playful smirk as if he were in on something, and your mum taking an increased interest in what you did after school. It was obvious that something was wrong.
It was a Monday. Nearly every day, your parents were off to work early and especially on weekdays- so when youâd gone down for breakfast and saw your father already eating, you nearly dropped what you were holding.
âSo who is this Liam Gallagher Iâve been hearing about?â he asked coolly, without looking up from the newspaper he was reading.
Your eyes widened and you stood frozen, your mouth opening and closing uselessly as you struggled to find words to say. â Iâ,â you started. âHeâs just a friend, reallyââ
âInvite him to dinner tomorrow,â he interrupted, standing up and brushing crumbs off his suit. Before you could even reply, he had already stood up and began walking out the door.
You immediately started pacing around alone. Liam meeting your parents! The thought alone flooded you with anxiety. You started running through solutions in your mind. For one, you could tell him Liam couldnât make it tomorrow. That was no use, heâd just reschedule it. You could try and convince him that he was really just a friend, but by the way heâd acted earlier it was obvious he wouldnât be so easily fooled. That left you with the only possible option: acrually telling him and introducing him to them.Â
You sighed. At least Liam would be pleased, and you supposed it really was well overdue. They would have found out sooner or later anyway. Well, there was your problem of asking them settled at leastâŠ
thinking about prefame noel being exactly like this every single school morning IM SICKK i have such a soft spot for prefame noel and liam
oasis releasing a teaser for a teaser for their documentary, setting up a whole countdown, liam hyping it up on twt and then the teaser being less than a minute longâŠbye theyâre so extra
currently writing something about prefame early 90s secondary school liam set in manchester who doesnât know how to properly get girls. he has no clue why the girls he asks out by basically yelling across the schoolyard in front of all his friends or who he tells to âdress upâ for their date but then takes to the noisiest pub never agree to a second date
then someone on tiktok reccomends finding emily, which i immediately go watch without knowing a thing abt it beforehand and: a. the male lead looks exactly like early 90s liam, b. itâs set in manchester, and c. he acts almost exactly like the liam in my fic (only a little less clueless but still very golden retriever). not only that but it is absolutely adorable and the cutest romcom iâve seen in a hot minute. yeah sure itâs a little stereotype-y and there are some annoying bits but still!! spike fearn is worth it
bottom line: go watch finding emily. life changing
the unfinished fanfic in my google docs is tempting me rn but i have to study... UGH i hate finals
thinking abt liam in this picâŠâŠ. this isnât funny anymore