Walker

Chapter 5

Walker and Lena sat across from each other in a small, slightly chaotic diner. The smell of coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, and the morning light filtered through the window, casting a soft glow over their table. Walker poked at his scrambled eggs with the intensity of someone who'd never seen breakfast before.

Lena smirked at him, taking a sip of her coffee. "You act like you've never eaten eggs before."

Walker shrugged, still focused on the food. "Eggs aren't a part of the... usual diet where I come from."

Lena: Right, You eat humans and animals or whatever

He shot a look
"Kinda" he muttered, not really in the mood to give her the satisfaction of an answer.
A large family walked in the diner. And I caught myself smiling at them and looking down at my food after. Somehow walker saw me and After a beat of silence, he asked, almost too casually, "Do you have family?"
Which shocked me tbh

Lena's face fell slightly, her usual sarcasm fading. She stared down at her cup, swirling the coffee around in her hands. "Not really close to them. We're... not a family i guess." She paused, then let out a short laugh that didn't reach her eyes. "It's easier to just not bother."

Walker looked at her for a moment, a flicker of something in his eyes. "I don't have any family. Not anymore i guess. Maybe never did, really," he said, his voice almost distant.
"I've always been on my own. Guess that's just how things are."

Lena glanced up at him, their eyes meeting across the table. For once, there was no bickering or teasing, just a quiet understanding. She nodded slowly, realizing that maybe, in some weird way, they weren't so different. "Yeah," she said softly. "Guess that makes two of us."

They both looked away awkwardly, not knowing what to say now that they'd stumbled onto common ground. Walker cleared his throat and went back to his eggs, while Lena tried to shake off the vulnerability that had crept up on her.

**Later, in Class**
Lenas POV
We entered the lecture hall, with Walker still looking like he'd rather be anywhere else..

"Try not to look like you're plotting everyone's demise," I said

"I am plotting their demise," he shot back, deadpan.

The class was loud and busy today, which irritated me.
"Humans," he muttered under his breath, looking ready to snap his pencil in half.

Lena: Im annoyed too

Walker turned his gaze to me, almost as if he was about to smile at my comment but he quickly masked it with a grumble. "I hate this. I don't know why I'm even here," he said, but there was a hint of something softer in his frustration now.

As the class continued, I noticed Liam out of the corner of my eye sitting. It grew silent in class and i finished my worksheet, ( well walker did it)
So i just ended up staring at him. The thing is, i have a bad staring problem. I mean i just stare off and forget to notice. Yup. Thats what happened here

Liam caught me staring and i widened my eyes, unable to look away frozen

To my surprise, he smiled

My heart literally felt like it was shaking and i did a downward smile, looking away trying to contain my excitement and blush. If i was alone rn id be squealing.

Walker noticed my nervousness and made a confused face at me.

Walker: Why are you so giddy?

Lena: Because.. i ugh

I got a pencil and wrote down on my paper so i wouldnt be too loud

Liam smiled at me :DD

I looked at Walkers face smiling waiting for a reaction, but instead my smile drops to a dead face when I realize Walker has lirerally no reaction. Lol.

Walker: Okay

I remained annoyed at him and we didnt talk for the rest of the class

---

Lena couldn't shake the image of Liam's smile from her mind as she walked alongside Walker. They were headed to their usual spot—an old bench outside the library that they'd claimed as their own. Walker, as usual, looked completely unbothered by everything, which only annoyed her more.

Lena: "You know, you didn't seem to care at all when Liam smiled at me in class."

Walker shot her a sideways glance, his expression unreadable.

Walker: "Why should I care?"

Lena rolled her eyes. Of course, he didn't get it. How could he?

Lena: "I don't know, because it's a big deal for me? Most guys would be at least a little jealous or, I don't know, curious."

Walker: "Jealousy is pointless. Romantic love is stupid anyway," he said, shrugging as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Lena stopped walking, staring at him like he'd grown a second head.

Lena: "What do you mean, 'stupid'? How can you say that?"

Walker paused and looked back at her, completely serious.

Walker: "It just doesn't make sense to me. All that fuss over... what? Holding hands and making eyes at each other? Humans get so distracted by it. They act like it's this great, mystical thing when really, it's just chemicals messing with their heads."

Lena blinked, trying to process his words. She wasn't sure whether to be offended or to laugh.

Lena: "Wow, you really don't get it, do you?"

Walker: "No. And I don't see why you're so worked up over a guy smiling at you."

Lena crossed her arms, a mischievous glint sparking in her eyes.

Lena: "Alright, fine. If you don't understand romantic love, we're going to have to change that."

Walker raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping into his voice.

Walker: "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

Lena: "By making you watch a romance movie," she said, already feeling a mix of amusement and determination. "You're going to see what all the fuss is about."

Walker looked genuinely horrified at the idea.

Walker: "A movie? You mean those boring human stories where they all cry and say things they don't mean?"

Lena couldn't help but laugh at his reaction.

Lena: "Exactly. We're going to watch one, and you're going to sit there and learn. Who knows, maybe you'll actually feel something."

Walker: "Doubtful," he muttered, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes that he couldn't quite hide.

.