Liam sat at the farthest seat in Room 203, second row from the back, where the flickering ceiling light couldn't quite reach. His fingers spun his pen absentmindedly as the professor rambled on about modern narrative structures. But Liam wasn't listening. He hadn't been, not really—not since she walked in.
Cara Moreno.The girl with that wild, half-curly, half-straight hair that always looked like it had a mind of its own. The girl with a smile that looked like it could make storms disappear. And she did smile a lot—especially at him. Not Liam, of course. No, she smiled at Jared, her boyfriend since orientation week.
Liam remembered when he first saw them—laughing together near the library steps during freshmen orientation. It was the first time he'd seen her, and just like that, his first year of college had become less about studying and more about watching her from afar, heart quietly aching. He never told anyone. Not his roommates, not his best friend Marcus. No one.
He kept it secret because it was safer that way. Easier. There was no heartbreak in silence. Only quiet, manageable longing.
"Okay," Professor Tamayo said, clapping her hands once. "New project partners will be posted on the board after class. You'll work together for the rest of the semester—so choose not to hate each other."
Liam didn't think much of it. Partner assignments were never in his favor. He usually ended up with someone too chatty, too lazy, or both. He closed his notebook and stood, ready to leave, when he heard her voice.
"Hey, Liam!"
His body froze. That voice—soft, warm. Impossible to ignore.
He turned. Cara was waving at him from across the room, her brows raised with excitement. She pointed to the board. "Guess we're partners."
Liam's heart thumped so hard he thought she might hear it.
He walked over, pretending to read the paper pinned on the corkboard. And there it was:Group 7 – Liam Calderon & Cara Moreno
Fate had a terrible sense of humor.
"Oh," he said coolly. "Cool."
"Yeah! We're finally paired for something. I thought I'd graduate without ever working with you," she joked.
He gave her a small smile. "Well, now's your chance."
She laughed, the sound bright. "You free after class? We could talk about project ideas."
Liam nodded before he could think of an excuse to say no. "Sure."
As she turned to leave, his eyes trailed her like they always did. But now—now he had to talk to her. Now he had to look her in the eye and pretend he hadn't been in love with her for two years.
And that was before she broke up with Jared last week.
He hadn't told anyone, but of course he noticed. The way her smiles were more tired. The way she walked alone lately. The absence of Jared's arm slung over her shoulder in the halls.
She was single now. And they were partners. For weeks.
But just as he stepped outside the room, he heard another familiar voice.
"Liam," Ava purred, leaning against the wall near the door.
Her lips curled into a smirk. "Looks like fate's playing favorites. Cara, huh? Guess I'll just have to find another excuse to steal your time."
He smiled awkwardly, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Hey, Ava."
She winked. "Don't miss me too much."
And as she walked away, Liam exhaled slowly.
The semester had just begun—and it was already feeling like the hardest one yet.