A Delicious Breakfast

The next morning, I found myself awakened by the smell of breakfast. The enticing scent is usually the result of Tea’s cooking.

Despite all her goofing around, she is very skilled at things that she’s interested in. And luckily for me, as her current roommate, cooking breakfast was one of those things.

“Someone was up late.” She said as I entered.

As I sat down, the story of the other night, and especially how I’d gotten Liam to join us, quickly found its way across the table of delicious food.

“So you’re into him?” Tea asked, her words mumbled because of the food still in her mouth.

I looked down at the table, trying my best not to blush.

Last night, the truth had become more and more clear no matter how much I tried to ignore it. Despite there being two others talking with us at dinner, I often found my gaze solely on him.

Whenever his dark, brown eyes locked with mine I felt my face grow hot and was forced to look away. I still wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted, but it was enough to be desperate for his time, and take action to make it happen.

“You think so too?” I asked in a defeated tone, knowing that playing ignorant with my own feelings was no longer an option.

Tea set down her phone, an event so rare it could have ended up as a headline in news stories across the school.

Her elbows settled on the table, her palms supporting her chin as her stare probed its way deep into my soul. It felt like I was being watched by a thousand investigators, studying my each and every move and drawing a conclusion so perfect I wouldn’t have even known it about myself.

“Yeah, good luck with that, girl.” She decided while picking her phone back up.

“Good luck with what?”

“That guy, as far as I know he’s never dated anyone here, so you’re gonna have to do a lot of heavy lifting there.”

When it came to relationships around the school, Tea’s memory was as good as it gets, so I could basically take this as a fact from a trustworthy source.

While being aggressive and making bold moves isn’t something I’m particularly opposed to, this wasn’t exactly my field of expertise. On a soccer pitch? No problem. In a relationship? Not so much.

Tea probably knew it better than anyone, since we’d known each other for so long, but I haven’t really been good with relationships. Ever.

My focus had always been on soccer, and while I’d had crushes, gone on dates, and been in relationships before, they’d never last long and my feelings were never as strong as this.

After all, I’d known Liam for over two years now, and the result has been steadily growing and growing until it's now impossible to ignore.

“Tea, give me some advice, please.”

Tea sighed and finished the rest of her food, laying back in her chair and studying me.

“Well, what’s something he likes to do? Invite him with you there.”

“Great idea,” I said, my mind stirring while trying to think of where he’d want to go.

The longer I thought, the more the dreadful feeling in my stomach began to make itself known.

I had no idea what Liam liked outside of his work.

Tea must’ve read the hopeless expression on my face, since she rushed to speak.

“That’s a good place to start then, try to figure that out when you talk to him. And get his number while you’re at it.”

If anything, that just reminded me that I hadn’t even done a simple thing like that and made me feel even worse.

However, despite the poor start, it was two clear objectives for me, which was exactly what I needed right now. Having my goals laid out in front of me was much better than having no idea what to do next.

When I arrived for training later that day, I looked around, hoping to see him in the stands like last time, yet he wasn’t there. I guess it wouldn’t be that easy after all.

After practice, I was walking back to my dorm for the night, wondering where I’d be able to run into him, when I happened to spot Marcus, who I remembered supporting Liam after the interviews yesterday.

“Hey, Ria.” He said, spotting me and telling the friends he was with that he’d meet up with them later.

“What’s up?”

“Do you know where I could find Liam?”

He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text, waiting a second, and then responding.

“He’s at the library in the school records section.” He said, thankfully not asking why I wanted to find Liam.

“Thanks.” I said, heading off at a speedy walk as I wound my way through the campus and towards the library.

When I finally reached the door to the library’s third floor, the one containing the school records, I hesitated.

I’d just about given up on seeing him today, and had planned on finding him another day, and now I was suddenly one door away from him.

Would it be obnoxious to join him while he’s researching after practically forcing him to go out with us yesterday?

I shook my head and steeled my resolve, remembering my chat with Tea in the morning.

Now wasn’t the time to hesitate.

I pushed open the door and stepped through, into Liam’s world.