Saturday afternoons were sacred to Liam and his crew. No schoolwork. No deadlines. Just sunlight, grilled meat, and good-natured chaos.
The university quad buzzed with life — music playing from speakers, the scent of grilled hotdogs wafting through the air, and students lounging on picnic blankets. Liam, Marcus, Josh, and Kenji had claimed a patch of grass near a makeshift barbecue.
Marcus held up a charred sausage with suspicion. "Do we eat this… or offer it to the gods for mercy?"
Josh snorted. "Pretty sure if we eat it, we meet the gods."
Kenji lounged back with a soda can balanced on his chest. "Y'all are dramatic. It's not that bad. Just crunchy."
Liam laughed as he bit into his burger. "Honestly? I missed this."
"You've been in Partner World lately," Josh teased. "Ever since you and Cara got paired up, it's like you disappeared."
Marcus nodded. "Yeah, man. You've been all 'Cara this, Cara that.' You in love or something?"
Liam rolled his eyes. "We're just… getting to know each other. It's not like that."
Kenji raised a brow. "Yet."
Before Liam could argue, Josh gasped and gestured toward the pathway.
"Oh ho… speaking of the queen herself…"
Cara approached, wearing a laid-back smile and denim jacket over a simple tee. But she wasn't alone. Three girls followed her — each radiating distinct energy.
The first was petite with bubblegum-pink hair and a phone glued to her hand. She waved excitedly at a group across the quad before snapping selfies.
The second girl had a cool, aloof vibe — tall, sleek, with earbuds in and dark eyeliner. She looked like she hadn't smiled since 2019.
The third had a warm, bookish look: glasses, flowy skirt, and a gentle smile. She walked beside Cara, chatting quietly.
"Hey, boys," Cara greeted, slowing down as she reached them. "Mind if we join your blanket kingdom?"
Marcus stood up dramatically. "The realm is open to visitors."
Cara laughed and gestured to the girls. "These are my friends — Amber, Skye, and Eliza. We were headed to the other side of the quad but figured it'd be more fun here."
The girls nodded or waved. Liam tried not to look like a deer in headlights.
"Sure," he said. "More the merrier."
As everyone adjusted to fit on the shared blanket, the dynamics quickly shifted into chaos.
Amber immediately roped Josh into a TikTok dance. "C'mon, you've got decent rhythm. You just need confidence!"
"Why is this happening to me," Josh whispered, obeying.
Skye had taken Kenji's earbuds out and was exchanging playlists with him. "You like synthwave?"
"Do I like synthwave?" Kenji said. "It's 90% of my personality."
Marcus, meanwhile, tried to impress Eliza with barbecue trivia he was clearly making up. "Fun fact — charcoal was invented by accident when someone tried to cook during a volcano eruption."
Eliza blinked. "That doesn't sound right."
He grinned. "Doesn't it?"
Cara sat down beside Liam, smiling as she watched the scene unfold. "Your friends are fun."
"I could say the same," Liam replied, watching Josh flail behind Amber.
She turned to him, a little more serious. "I like this. Blending our circles."
He looked at her. "Yeah. It feels... different. But good."
There was a pause. Just the wind and laughter and music filling the air between them.
Cara glanced sideways. "I feel like… I've gotten to know you better these past weeks. More than I did in all of first and second year."
Liam nodded slowly. "Me too. I mean, I always noticed you, but—"
He stopped himself.
Cara raised an eyebrow. "But?"
He smiled awkwardly. "Never mind. Dumb thought."
She leaned a little closer. "Liam."
His heart skipped.
"Yeah?"
She held up a half-burned hotdog. "Is this even edible?"
He burst out laughing. "Only if you're desperate."
She laughed with him, her shoulder brushing his.
Behind them, Marcus whispered to Josh, "They're so in the pre-relationship phase it hurts."
Josh, now filming his fourth TikTok, replied, "I swear if Liam gets a girlfriend before me, I'm legally filing a complaint."
Kenji fist-bumped Skye. "This might be the best barbecue we've ever been to."