Liam rolls his eyes and sighs, but doesn't bother to respond further. Instead, he focuses on the upcoming collaboration and tries to put aside his personal feelings toward you. For now, at least, there is a sense of détente in the room as everyone works together to prepare for their big performance. But it remains to be seen whether or not this fragile truce will hold...

Liam stares at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts about the collaboration and their personal issues. Despite his best efforts to focus on the music, he can't help but feel a knot forming in his stomach as he wonders if they'll ever be able to truly put aside their differences. Eventually, exhaustion overcomes him and he falls into an uneasy sleep.

I'll give you three guesses as to why I even bother responding to your pathetic attempts at insults, but the first two don't count. It's because I find it amusing how desperate you are for attention, even if it means stooping this low. And honestly, I feel bad for whoever ends up with a piece of trash like you. But hey, at least they can say they tried their best to tame the wild beast. Now, why don't you just shut your mouth and leave me alone?

Shaking his head in disgust, he turns around and sits on the edge of the bed, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His gaze drifts to the window, clearly trying to avoid looking at you anymore. After a few moments of silence, he speaks up slowly, still not taking his eyes off the glass panes.

Well, I suppose we should get started on unpacking... If we want to have enough time to rehearse and get this fucking collaboration right.

Liam watches anxiously as Arlo takes a tentative sip from the cup, their eyes fixed on his face to gauge any sign of distress. When Arlo seems fine, Liam nods slowly and continues to offer them sips until they've had enough.

Once that's done, Liam carefully helps Arlo sit up straighter against him, holding them close as he tries to give them reassurance without actually promising anything concrete. It's not much, but for now, it's all he has to offer.

---

Over the next few hours, Liam does his best to nurse Arlo back to stability. He coaxes them to drink more water, eventually transitioning to diluted juice when they seem stable enough. There's no food yet, but he keeps a careful eye on Arlo's vital signs, monitoring for any alarming changes.

When exhaustion finally claims Arlo, Liam is relieved. Gently, he guides them onto the bathroom floor, propping their head up on his lap and draping the extra blanket over them.

As they enter the practice room, Liam and Carl take their places at the front with their respective bands. There's a tense silence as everyone watches them, waiting to see what will happen next. But instead of letting this pressure get to them, Liam takes a deep breath and addresses the group, his voice firm but not unkind.

"Alright everyone, we know things haven't been easy between us lately... but that ends today. From now on, we're all going to put our differences aside and focus on making this collaboration the best it can be. Our groups are depending on us, and I refuse to let anyone down." His words hang in the air as he looks around at each person, his gaze steady and unyielding. "So from now on, I want everyone to remember one thing: we're all here because we love music, and we love our groups. Let's show the world what we can do when we work together." The room is silent for a moment before there are murmurs of agreement from both bands. Liam exchanges a brief nod with Carl, acknowledging his support, then turns back to face everyone else.

"Okay then... let's get started!" With that, they dive into rehearsal, working together in harmony to create something truly incredible. The tension from before has all but vanished, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. As the hours pass, Liam can't help but feel a growing sense of pride and accomplishment. Maybe there is hope for this collaboration...and maybe, just maybe, he was wrong about Carl all along.

You did well too, Carl. I think we're really starting to find our groove here. And it feels good, doesn't it? To be working together like this...to know that we can make something amazing happen when we put our minds to it?

The practice session continues for several more hours, with both groups pushing themselves to their limits and striving for perfection. As they run through the last few songs of the night, Liam glances over at Carl out of the corner of his eye, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Maybe, just maybe, this collaboration is going to be everything he'd ever dreamed of...and more.

Fuck you! He grabs your arm roughly and tries to shove you toward the door. He's much stronger than he looks, and easily overpowers you. With each step, his grip tightens as pain shoots through your shoulder and down your arm Get out, bitch! This is my room now!

Oh fuck! He yelps in pain as your teeth sink into his flesh. Without hesitation, he grabs you by the hair and slams your head against the wall, hard enough to make you see stars. The impact causes a loud thud echoing through the room. His grip on your hair tightens even more, making it difficult for you to breathe You little cunt! Do you know how much that hurts? Huh? Do you want some more?

"I'm not here to make friends," you reply coldly, your voice dripping with contempt. "And if you think I'm going to sit back and let you walk all over me... well, then you've got another thing coming." You cross your arms defiantly, staring him down. "But for now, why don't we just try to get some sleep? We've both got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Sleep?" he echoes incredulously, arching an eyebrow. "As if I could sleep with you here! You know what? Fine. If that's how you want it," he mutters under his breath before turning around and stalking back to the bed, flopping down onto it with a huff. "Just don't expect me to be nice about it when you inevitably piss me off."