The cafeteria was chaos, as usual—half a hundred conversations crashing into each other, trays clattering, music leaking from someone's Bluetooth speaker, and the faint smell of overcooked rice hanging in the air. But Liam had long since learned to tune it all out.
His eyes scanned the room until he saw it—their table.
Tucked near the far window, half-covered in old graffiti and battle scars from years of group pranks, the table was home to five idiots who had survived two years of college life together. It was already packed when he arrived.
"Well, well, well," said Marcus, lounging like he owned the whole school. "Look who finally joins us. Mister Project Partner of the Year."
Josh snorted, nearly choking on his sandwich. "He probably had to calm his nerves after Cara said 'Hi.'"
Zack leaned forward, grinning. "Bet you wrote her name in your notebook. With hearts."
Kenji, the calmest one of the group, raised an eyebrow. "You didn't faint, right?"
Liam dropped his tray on the table and sat down with a sigh. "You guys are actual children."
Marcus ignored that. "Tell us everything."
"Nothing to tell," Liam muttered. "We got paired for a project. That's it."
"Cara Moreno," Josh repeated, dragging out the syllables like a drama narrator. "The goddess of English Lit. The walking sunshine. The girl you've liked since freshman year and never told us about until fate made her your project partner."
"I never said I liked her."
"You didn't have to," Zack grinned. "You go silent every time she walks by."
"Or when Jared used to kiss her near the lockers," Marcus added. "Your poker face was trash, bro."
Liam looked down at his tray and picked at his food. "That was a long time ago."
"Sure," Kenji said coolly. "But she's single now."
Liam froze. Briefly. Barely. But it was enough.
Josh leaned in, eyes wide. "Wait—you knew already?"
Liam didn't answer. He didn't need to.
"You totally did!" Zack slapped the table. "This is your chance, man!"
"No," Liam said quickly. "We're just partners. I'm not going to be some rebound guy, okay? She's fresh out of a relationship."
"Respect," Kenji nodded.
Marcus, however, smirked. "Still. Just saying—you've been pining in silence since Year One. Maybe it's time to see if there's something there."
"Or get rejected and finally move on," Zack added helpfully.
Liam groaned. "You're all terrible."
The boys laughed, and the teasing died down for a moment as they focused on their food. For a few seconds, it was peaceful.
Until Josh asked, "Hey, what about Ava?"
The whole table paused.
Kenji gave a slow whistle. "The one you turned down last year?"
"Who still flirts with you like nothing happened," Marcus added.
Liam didn't look up. "Yeah. I told her I wasn't interested. Thought she got the message."
"You sure?" Zack asked. "'Cause she was staring hard at you in the hallway this morning."
"She's persistent," Josh shrugged. "Honestly, I thought you two had a thing going."
Liam shook his head. "I couldn't. Not when…"
He didn't finish.
The others fell quiet for a beat. They knew. Even if he never outright said Cara's name before today, they knew.
And now? The girl he'd kept in his heart for two years was single. And his partner. And texting him.
As if on cue, his phone buzzed on the table.
Cara Moreno
Hey! You free tomorrow? Want to grab coffee and talk about the project? :)
Liam stared at it for a second too long.
Josh leaned over and nearly spat his drink. "Dude. DUDE. It's starting."
Marcus banged the table with excitement. "It's happening! The prophecy is real!"
Zack whistled. "Coffee date. Project talk. Emotional bonding incoming."
Liam smiled a little despite himself. "It's not a date."
"Yet," Kenji said.
They all burst into laughter again, and Liam leaned back in his chair, trying to act like it wasn't a big deal.
But it was.
He was finally going to sit across from Cara Moreno. Not as a stranger. Not as a classmate.
As something closer.
And across the room, near the vending machines, Ava was watching. Her smile was small, unreadable.
This game wasn't over.