Walker

Chapter 10

The warmthness of the café greeted Lena as she stepped inside, her eyes quickly scanning the room before they landed on Liam. He sat at a small table near the window, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. He looked up, catching sight of her, and his face broke into an easy smile. Lena felt a mix of relief and nerves as she made her way to the table, the quiet clinking of cups and murmurs of conversation creating a cozy backdrop.

"Hey, you made it," Liam said, standing up slightly as she approached, then sitting back down with a casual ease that made her smile.

"Of course," Lena replied, sliding into the chair across from him. "I couldn't turn down the chance for some decent coffee and good company."

Liam chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Flattery right out of the gate? You're setting the bar high."

Lena smirked, leaning back in her seat. "Just trying to make sure you're not getting bored already."

"I'm pretty sure that's impossible," he said, his voice light, but there was something in his eyes that seemed genuinely pleased she was there.

As they settled in, the barista came over, and they both ordered their drinks—Lena opting for a vanilla latte and Liam choosing a black coffee. While they waited, Lena took in the surroundings. The café was small, with exposed brick walls and mismatched chairs that added to its charm. The air was filled with the comforting scent of freshly ground coffee beans and cinnamon.

"So, how's your day been?" Liam asked, bringing her attention back to him.

"Pretty good," Lena said. "Just the usual chaos of classes. I swear, I'm drowning in coursework."

Liam nodded in understanding. "Tell me about it. I'm stuck trying to figure out how to write this paper on modern philosophy, and my brain's just not wired for it."

Lena raised an eyebrow playfully. "Modern philosophy, huh? That's a heavy topic. Do you actually get any of it?"

"Not really," Liam laughed, shaking his head. "Honestly, I was hoping you could help me out with it sometime. You always seem like you've got things figured out in class."

"Oh, I'm great at pretending I have things figured out," she teased. "But sure, I could try to help. Just know that my advice might be as lost as yours."

They both laughed, the sound blending with the ambient noise of the café. Their drinks arrived, and Lena wrapped her hands around her warm cup, feeling more at ease. The conversation shifted to lighter topics—their shared frustrations with their professors, favorite music, and the weird habits of their classmates. She found herself genuinely enjoying Liam's company, the easy back-and-forth banter that made the minutes slip by without her noticing.

"So," Liam said after a pause, leaning forward a little, his tone a touch more serious, "I've gotta ask—who's that guy you're always hanging around with? I see him with you a lot."

Lena's heart skipped a beat, the question catching her off guard. She forced a casual smile, taking a sip of her latte to buy herself a moment. "Oh, Walker? He's, um, he's an exchange student. I'm just helping him get used to things around here."

"Exchange student, huh?" Liam said, nodding slowly but with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "He seems... intense."

Lena shrugged, trying to keep her voice light. "Yeah, he's different. Doesn't talk much, kind of awkward in social situations. I think the whole culture shock thing's getting to him."

"Wheres he from?" Liam asked

Lena looked around thinking of what country to say

" Um.. he is from Romania yeah"