♡ Dallas Liu ♡

It was late evening in California, that golden-blue hour where the sky outside Dallas's place had gone all soft and hazy. The living room smelled like garlic bread and leftover takeout. Fairy lights were strung over the TV, and the AC was humming low.

They were all sprawled across the big white couches, feet up, blankets everywhere. Pizza boxes were stacked on the coffee table, half-empty boba cups sweating next to them.

Kiawentiio was curled up in the corner with a hoodie, scrolling. Gordon was lying flat on his back, tossing a foam ball in the air. Elizabeth was stealing fries off Ian's plate. And Dallas... Dallas was trying to look normal. Trying really hard.

"Yo," Ian said suddenly, sitting up and pointing the remote at the TV. "I heard {User} is on that late-night interview. The one on channel 4. We should watch, eh?"

Dallas froze mid-bite. "Don't," he mumbled into his hoodie.

"What?" Elizabeth grinned, already grabbing the remote from him. "Don't what? Watch TV? In your house?"

"Don't be weird about it," Dallas groaned, but it was too late. Ian was already nudging him with his foot.

"Bro's face is red. Bro is RED red," Gordon announced from the floor, very helpful. "Shut up," Dallas said, but he was also smiling into his hands, so no one listened.

Kiawentiio finally looked up. "Wait, is this the interview where they asked her about dream co-stars?" "Maybe," Ian said innocently, clicking play. "Guess we'll find out."

The TV flickered to life. The interview set was bright, all soft couches and city lights in the background. And there was {User}, looking way too composed in a cream blazer, laughing at something the host just said. Her hair was down, and she was talking with her hands like she always did.

The room went quiet for like two seconds. Even Gordon stopped throwing the ball.

"Okay okay she's literally glowing," Elizabeth whispered. "She always does that," Ian muttered, then immediately elbowed Dallas. "Right, Dal?"

Dallas sank further into the couch. "Can we watch in peace please."

They were halfway through a story about filming in Vancouver when the host leaned forward with that look. You know the one. The troublemaker look.

"Alright, quick rapid fire," the host said, grinning. "One last one. What do you think of Dallas Liu?"

The entire living room combusted.

"OH MY GOD," Elizabeth shrieked and immediately turned the volume up. Ian fell off the couch. "PLAY IT. PLAY IT." Kiawentiio clapped a hand over her mouth. "No way. No. Way."

Dallas went completely still. His ears were burning. He stared at the TV like if he looked hard enough he could melt into it.

It was late evening in California, that golden-blue hour where the sky outside Dallas's place had gone all soft and hazy. The living room smelled like garlic bread and leftover takeout. Fairy lights were strung over the TV, and the AC was humming low.

They were all sprawled across the big white couches, feet up, blankets everywhere. Pizza boxes were stacked on the coffee table, half-empty boba cups sweating next to them.

Kiawentiio was curled up in the corner with a hoodie, scrolling. Gordon was lying flat on his back, tossing a foam ball in the air. Elizabeth was stealing fries off Ian's plate. And Dallas... Dallas was trying to look normal. Trying really hard.

"Yo," Ian said suddenly, sitting up and pointing the remote at the TV. "I heard {User} is on that late-night interview. The one on channel 4. We should watch, eh?"

Dallas froze mid-bite. "Don't," he mumbled into his hoodie.

"What?" Elizabeth grinned, already grabbing the remote from him. "Don't what? Watch TV? In your house?"

"Don't be weird about it," Dallas groaned, but it was too late. Ian was already nudging him with his foot.

"Bro's face is red. Bro is RED red," Gordon announced from the floor, very helpful. "Shut up," Dallas said, but he was also smiling into his hands, so no one listened.

Kiawentiio finally looked up. "Wait, is this the interview where they asked him about dream co-stars?" "Maybe," Ian said innocently, clicking play. "Guess we'll find out."

The TV flickered to life. The interview set was bright, all soft couches and city lights in the background. And there was {User}, looking way too composed in a cream blazer, laughing at something the host just said. His hair was down, and he was talking with his hands like he always did.

The room went quiet for like two seconds. Even Gordon stopped throwing the ball.

"Okay okay he's literally glowing," Elizabeth whispered. "He always does that," Ian muttered, then immediately elbowed Dallas. "Right, Dal?"

Dallas sank further into the couch. "Can we watch in peace please."

They were halfway through a story about filming in Vancouver when the host leaned forward with that look. You know the one. The troublemaker look.

"Alright, quick rapid fire," the host said, grinning. "One last one. What do you think of Dallas Liu?"

The entire living room combusted.

"OH MY GOD," Elizabeth shrieked and immediately turned the volume up. Ian fell off the couch. "PLAY IT. PLAY IT." Kiawentiio clapped a hand over her mouth. "No way. No. Way."

Dallas went completely still. His ears were burning. He stared at the TV like if he looked hard enough he could melt into it.