Love and friendship

Friend of a Friend

"BUZZ,BUZZZ!" a notification vibrated on Bella's phone. "Alex added you to a WhatsApp group chat".
"Who's numbers are these?" Asked Bella.
"Oh I met this new girl in our course called Lucy she works at my dad's Pub, and the other number is her friend Tariq", replied Alex.
Bella didn't know who these people were and decided not to say anything in the group chat.

"PING,PING!" a notification sounded on Tariq's phone. "Lucy added you to a WhatsApp group chat".
Just like Bella, Tariq had no idea who the other two people were so he also decided to lay low and not say anything either.

Throughout the day Lucy and Alex were constantly texting in the group chat until Lucy realised something weird.
Tariq and Bella were not talking in the group chat but were both online reading the messages being sent in the group chat.

Lucy called out Tariq and Bella, "We created a group chat so we can all get to know each other, you can't get to know each other if you two don't talk haha".
"I agree with fellow Lucy here lol, come on guys say something, we all friends here......I think haha", joked Alex.
"No point in reading texts if you won't talk lol", added Lucy.

With the pressure on Tariq and Bella, one of them was sure to break.
Bella was the first, "Hey I'm Bella".
"Ayyy there she is!" Replied Alex enthusiastically.
"Heyy Bella, I'm Lucy nice to finally talk", joked Lucy.
"Haha yea sorry about that", laughed off Bella.
Tariq virtually had to say something now because he was the only one left.
"Hi I'm Tariq", finally Tariq joined in.
"Seeeee how hard was that, we need to meet in person so we can talk properly because over text it's not the same", explained Lucy.
"Let's meet at my dads pub tonight, me and Lucy are both working till 7 then after we can have a chat over some drinks", suggested Alex.
As nervous as Bella was, she accepted just so she didn't let Alex down.
"Yea sure let's do it", replied Bella.
Tariq was also nervous and his anxiety was making his heart race, but he too accepted the invitation just to keep Lucy happy.
"Yea I'll come", Tariq answered nervously.
Okayyyy, see you guys at Old Cambridge Inn after 7 then!" Texted Lucy excitedly.

Just like that, Tariq and Bella were heading to their first night out and still didn't realise that they were the very two people that bumped into each other on their first day at university.

Fate again stringing two hearts, it's like god planned for Lucy and Alex to do the dirty work and bring Bella and Tariq together.

6.30pm, Bella was choosing which outfit to wear. She had 4 choices of outfits to choose from. It was a hard choice because 2 outfits were two dressy and the other 2 outfits looked like something you'd sleep in.
She gave up and went for the safe option, Dark blue jeans with sneakers and a black jumper.
She headed to the pub which was 15 minutes from her house.
Tariq on the other hand, didn't live in Cambridge, he lived in London. So after university finished he stayed in the Uni library until 7pm.

The pub was pretty busy at this time as everyone goes there after work or uni.
Bella was the first to arrive, she stood at the door of the pub but couldn't see Alex.
She gave him a call but no answer. She decided to wait 5 minutes before calling again. Their was an empty seating area and so she decided to sit there facing away from the noise at the bar.
Tariq finally arrived at the bar. He looked for Lucy and saw her near the pool table at the very back. Lucy was easy to spot as she was the only person in the pub with blond hair.
He had to walk past the seating area where Bella was sat to get to the pool table area.
Bella was facing away from the bar so Tariq didn't see her face well enough to realise it was the girl he bumped into.
He walked straight past Bella.
Bella didn't see Tariqs face as he walked past but she suddenly got a hit of cologne she remembered from the other day. The boy was wearing the same black nike shoes, it soon became obvious to her that it was him, the boy she bumped into.
"Omg him again, why is he here ffs", mumbled Bella nervously.
Bella watched him walk through the crowded pub into the pool table area.
He stopped and starting talking to a girl with blond hair. Bella knew with his looks he had a girlfriend. Unconsciously Bella, deep deep down felt jealous.
But then she saw the blond girl talking to another guy next to her, the other guy was Alex.
"PING,PING", sounded a notification on Bella's iPhone. Alex had texted her asking where she was and that she was waiting with Tariq and Lucy.
It finally occurred to her that the boy she bumped into is in fact Tariq and that girl is Lucy.
She began feeling nervous and hot, maybe the jumper was a mistake.
"Omg OMG he is Tariq! Why him noo.....", she felt really uncomfortable now and felt like going home, but at the same time she felt a little excited because she had an obviously attraction towards him ever since that small interaction.
She realised she'd have to spend another 3 years on the same course with him and this awkwardness is hard to bear, constantly trying to avoid him.
She built up her confidence, took a big breath and went towards Alex, Tariq and Lucy.
Alex saw Bella as she was walking towards the pool area and ran up to her.
"There you are Bell!" Alex was happy to see her.
"Yea sorry went to the loo", explained Bella.
"Ah it's alright, come meet Lucy and Tariq they are really cool".
She was hesitant at first but followed Alex.
Tariq saw Alex walk back to the pool area with a girl. His eyes focused on the girl and his heart dropped, his palms became sweaty and he felt like he was standing in a pit of fire.
He realised Bella was that girl he bumped into on his first day.
Now they both know each other, at least there would be less awkwardness.
"Hey, again! Laughed off Bella.
"Hey there", replied Tariq nervously.
"Wait you guys know each other already, Hey that's awesome!" Alex was already excited about this new friendship.
"Come with me to the bar Alex pleaseeeee", begged Lucy.
"Fine, we'll be right back, you two chat for a bit", Alex went to the bar with Lucy.
"Well then, you up for some pool?" Asked Tariq.
Yea sure", Lucy accepted.
"So how you finding the course so far?" questioned Tariq.
"Yea it's good, how are you finding it?" Asked Bella.
"Yea it's going alright, at least I got Lucy now you and Alex to talk to", replied Tariq.
"Haha yea, that's true. By the way if you don't mind me asking, how did you meet Lucy?" Asked Bella.
"Oh I met her on the first day, just like I met you", joked Tariq.
"Oh I see haha, did you give her a good push like you did to me?" Bella joked back.
"No, and sorry about that push you should look where you are going", Tariq answered with a comeback.
"Bella, I'm sorry too haha", Bella smiled.
"Is Alex your bf?" Tariq goy straight to the point.
"Lol, nooo just friends just like you and Lucy. How are you asking that question already?" Bella joked with Tariq.
"Oh sorry just asking", smiled Tariq but at the same time felt stupid and embarrassed for asking that question.
Bella was wondering why Tariq asked the question about her relationship status but was happy he asked because she was interested in his relationship status too.
"Looks like you two really hitting it off", butted in Alex as he returned with Lucy.