Saturday afternoons on campus were usually quiet. Most students either went home or locked themselves away in dorms with energy drinks and deadlines. But for Liam and his friends, Saturday was sacred—it was ramen day.
Every week, without fail, Marcus, Josh, Kenji, and Liam made their way to a small ramen joint just off campus. It wasn't the best place in town, but it had the perfect combination of good food, bad lighting, and the kind of waiters who didn't care if you stayed for hours talking nonsense.
But this time, when Liam arrived, Ivy was already at the table.
"Hey," she waved with a smile. "Hope you don't mind. Marcus invited me."
Liam raised an eyebrow and looked at Marcus.
Marcus just shrugged. "She threatened to expose all our embarrassing nicknames if I didn't."
"Fair," Ivy said, sipping her iced tea. "Besides, I think you all need a little more gender balance. This group radiates sweaty locker room energy."
Josh held up a finger. "Excuse me. I wear cologne."
"You wear Axe," Ivy shot back. "That doesn't count."
Kenji choked on his soda from laughter.
Liam grinned. "Alright, fair enough. But don't expect us to hold back just because there's a girl now."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Ivy said. "Besides, I already know all your secrets."
Marcus leaned over to Liam and whispered dramatically, "This is how it begins. One girl joins the group, and next thing you know, we're doing skincare routines and talking about our feelings."
"You could use a skincare routine," Ivy said loudly.
Everyone laughed—except Marcus, who looked genuinely offended and began inspecting his reflection in a spoon.
They ordered, argued over toppings, and settled into the usual chaos. But Liam couldn't help but notice Ivy's banter with Josh. The two had always had a strange energy—half sibling-like, half something else.
When Ivy swatted Josh's hand away from stealing her egg and Josh retaliated by stealing her chopsticks, Liam made a mental note: Definitely something there.
After ramen, the group split up—Kenji and Marcus to check out a local game store, Josh claiming he had a meeting (suspiciously vague), and Ivy... somehow still walking next to Liam.
"So," she said casually, "You and Cara are looking more and more like a thing."
Liam nearly tripped. "We are not a thing."
"Not yet," she said, grinning.
He groaned. "Please don't you start, too."
"I'm not teasing," Ivy said, surprisingly genuine. "I think it's kind of sweet."
Liam glanced at her. "Even though she just broke up with her boyfriend?"
Ivy shrugged. "Breakups are messy. People heal differently. But if I were her... I'd probably notice someone who's always kind and low-key hot."
He raised an eyebrow. "Low-key?"
"Don't get cocky," she laughed.
They stopped outside the dorms. For a moment, Liam hesitated.
"Hey... Ivy?"
"Hmm?"
"Thanks. For coming with us. It was... nice."
She smiled. "I like being around you guys. Feels like family. A chaotic, food-obsessed, weird family."
"Yeah, that's accurate."
"Oh," she added before heading up the stairs, "also—Josh totally likes me."
Liam blinked. "What?"
"Just saying." She winked, then disappeared inside.
Later that night, Liam was alone in his room, headphones in, scrolling through photos from their ramen outing. Someone had snapped a picture—Marcus, probably—of him mid-laugh with a noodle halfway hanging from his mouth. Another was of Ivy and Josh arguing over who had better toppings. It made him smile.
He clicked out of the gallery... and paused.
There was a new message from Cara.
Cara: Hey :)Cara: Do you mind if we meet tomorrow? I want to talk about something.
Liam stared at the message for a long second, then replied.
Liam: Of course. What time?
She responded instantly.
Cara: After lunch? Same café?
Liam: Sure. See you then.
He sat back, heart racing a little.
She wanted to talk.
What about?
A confession?
An apology?
An awkward "let's stay friends forever and ignore the heart-stopping tension between us" kind of talk?
He didn't know. And part of him didn't want to know.
Not yet.
Not until tomorrow.
He closed his laptop and shut the light.
But sleep? Sleep didn't come easy that night.