Walker

Chapter 11

Lena was in her room, surrounded by clothes and accessories as she prepared for the festival. After a whirlwind of outfit changes, she finally settled on a pink girly outfit that made her feel confident. Just as she was about to finish her look, there was a knock at the door.

"Lena? You ready yet?" Walker's voice came through, a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

"Yeah, I'm almost done!" she called back, quickly applying a swipe of lipstick before heading to the door.

Walker was leaning against the frame, his arms crossed, looking a bit out of place in his usual dark attire. "You look... pink," he said, his tone a bit flat.

"Thanks! I thought I'd add some color to this festival," she replied with a smile, then noticed the slight furrow of his brow. "You should lighten up too. You can't wear black all the time, you know."

He shrugged, his expression unchanged. "It's comfortable."

Lena rolled her eyes playfully. "Fine, but you're still coming with me. We can't have you lurking in the shadows all night."

"Right, because I'm definitely known for my social prowess," he said dryly.

Lena chuckled, pushing past him into the hallway. "Just try to have fun, okay? It's college! We're supposed to be living it up or whatevs."

"Sure," he replied, trailing behind her as they made their way to the festival.

As they approached the lively campus grounds, the air filled with laughter and music. Lena's excitement bubbled over. "I wanna go to the taco truck first."

"Your priorities are tacos?" Walker asked, a hint of amusement finally breaking through his stoic demeanor.

"Yea so? Don't judge my choices," she snarled, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

While they grabbed tacos, Lena spotted Liam in the crowd, his easy smile lighting up the area around him. "Oh, there's Liam!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with eagerness. "I'll be right back!"

Walker watched her as she weaved through the crowd. He felt a strange twist in his chest, a mix of protectiveness and something else he couldn't quite name. He shook his head, dismissing the feeling.

As Lena approached Liam, he was standing by a game booth, tossing a ball at a stack of cans. "Hey, Lena!" he called, flashing that charming smile.

"Hey! How's it going?" she asked, trying to play it cool despite the fluttering in her stomach.

"Not bad! Just trying to win some prizes," he said, gesturing to the stuffed animals piled up nearby. "What about you?"

"I'm just here for the tacos—oh, and to cheer you on, of course!" she added, leaning against the booth, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Liam laughed. "Well, I could use a good luck charm. Want to give it a try?"

"Sure, let me show you how it's done," she said, stepping up to the game. She focused on the stack of cans, taking a deep breath, and threw the ball. It knocked down a few cans, earning cheers from the small crowd gathered around.

"Nice! You're a natural!" Liam praised, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Thanks! But I'm just getting warmed up," Lena replied, feeling the rush of adrenaline. They bantered back and forth, each friendly jab only fueling her crush.

Lena hesitated, glancing back at Walker, who stood at a distance, arms crossed, watching them with an unreadable expression. "Oh, Walker came with me by the way" she said, keeping her tone light. "He's just... a little shy, I guess."