Walker

Chapter 9

As Lena made her way across campus, her backpack felt heavier than usual. She pushed open the door to the main building and headed down the hallway, her mind preoccupied with the upcoming exam. Just as she was about to pass the library, she spotted Liam leaning against the wall, his signature half-smile breaking through the hallway noise.

"Hey, Lena!" he called out, pushing himself off the wall as she approached.

"Hey, Liam! What's up?" she replied, trying to sound more casual than she felt.

"I was hoping to catch you," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I could really use some help with the homework. I'm struggling to keep up with everything."

"Sure! I can help," Lena said, eager to assist. "What are you stuck on?"

"Well, mostly the last few problems from the assignment," Liam said, his gaze flickering briefly before he added, "But I was thinking it'd be better if we could, you know, work on it together? Like, outside of class?"

Lena felt a flutter of excitement. "You mean, like a study date?"

"Yeah, something like that," he said, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks. "I mean, I could use the help, but it'd be nice to hang out too."

"Sounds fun!" Lena replied, her heart racing. "When were you thinking?"

"How about Saturday afternoon?" Liam suggested. "We could grab coffee afterward.." he said shyly

"Oh yeah ..!," Lena said, trying to contain her enthusiasm. "What time should we meet?"

"Maybe around two?  We can meet up there if you want."

"Sounds perfect." Lena felt a grin spreading across her face.

Liam nodded, his expression brightening. "Awesome. Thanks, Lena! You're a lifesaver."

"No problem!" she said, feeling a rush of warmth as he started to walk away.

"Hey, wait!" Lena called out, catching his attention. "Do you want to work on that math stuff before Saturday? I can help you out."

Liam hesitated, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Sure, but I don't want to take too much of your time. I know you've got your own stuff to handle."

"Of course!," Lena said, hoping to sound sincere.

"Okay then," he replied, a hint of relief in his voice. " see you." He said quietly

As Liam waved goodbye and walked off, Lena turned to head to her next class, only to spot Walker leaning against a nearby wall, his arms crossed and a stern look on his face

"What was that about?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Just planning a study session," Lena said, trying to keep her tone light.

"Study session, huh?" Walker replied, sarcasm dripping from his words. "You looked pretty cozy."

"Whatever," Lena shot back, feeling defensive. "It's not like you care."

"Right," he replied, his voice flat. "Do you actually like him?"

Lena hesitated, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. "Yeah, I do. He's nice, and we click."

"Nice?" Walker scoffed. "Is that all it takes?"

"What do you mean?" Lena asked, trying to read his expression.

"I don't know. You're acting like you're in high school. What's the point of liking someone just because they're nice?" Walker challenged, the irritation in his tone palpable.