The afternoon sun was shining brightly when Megan and I decided to step outside. The air carried a mix of fried food, fresh grass, and the faint perfume of passing students. We had just finished a long morning of classes, and my stomach was growling loud enough for Megan to hear.
"Come on, Hannah, let's grab something to eat before we faint," Megan said, tugging on my arm.
We strolled down the corridor and into the cafeteria, the kind of place that was always buzzing with noise—chairs scraping, trays clattering, and voices blending into one constant hum. The smell of pizza, grilled chicken, and milkshakes filled the air, making it impossible not to smile.
As soon as we stepped inside, Megan leaned close to me, whispering with that mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know, Hannah, the way you and Liam act in class is suspicious. Honestly, it's like you two were made for each other."
I felt heat rush to my cheeks and rolled my eyes to hide my smile. "Don't be ridiculous," I replied, though I knew she had noticed the way Liam and I sometimes looked at each other when we thought no one was paying attention.
We grabbed our food—chicken wraps for both of us, plus milkshakes to make the afternoon sweeter—and found a quiet spot in the corner of the cafeteria. Sitting opposite each other, we began gossiping about everything: our holiday plans, who was dating who, which lecturer gave the hardest assignments. For a while, it felt like we were in our own little world.
But then, the air shifted. The room seemed to grow quieter, and I noticed the way students' heads turned toward the entrance.
Liam Hunter had just walked in. And he wasn't alone.
Beside him was a boy I had never seen before—a tall, dark-skinned, strikingly handsome guy whose presence immediately drew every pair of eyes in the room. He had an easy smile that seemed to charm anyone who looked his way, and his confident stride matched Liam's.
Megan nearly dropped her milkshake straw. "Rrrr… dark chocolate," she whispered dramatically, giggling as she stared at him.
I burst out laughing, covering my mouth to keep it from being too loud. That was so like Megan—bold with her words, never afraid to say what she thought. "Dark chocolate? Really?" I teased.
"Don't judge me," she whispered back, still staring dreamily at the new guy. "He's… wow."
And honestly? She wasn't wrong.
Around us, I could hear whispers and see other girls pretending not to stare, failing miserably. Some were openly waving or giggling, trying to get the boys' attention. Liam's friend seemed to enjoy the attention—he smiled at the girls, nodding politely. But Liam looked annoyed, almost irritated by the way they threw themselves at him.
"They look like models," one girl hissed behind me. "Especially the new guy. Who is he?"
I turned back to Megan and shrugged, trying to appear uninterested. "Let them have their moment. We're not like those girls," I said, leaning back in my chair.
"Exactly," Megan agreed, though I caught her sneaking another glance at "dark chocolate."
We forced ourselves to continue our gossip, pretending not to notice when Liam and his mysterious friend scanned the room, clearly searching for a place to sit. My heart skipped a beat when their eyes landed on us.
Before I knew it, they were walking toward our table.
I froze. Megan froze. The cafeteria seemed to hush again as if everyone was watching what would happen.
Liam slid into the seat right next to me, his presence filling the space with that familiar mix of mischief and confidence. His friend sat down beside Megan, his smile widening as he looked at her.
"I'm Mason Hill," he said smoothly, holding out his hand to Megan. His voice had a warm, deep tone that made Megan's cheeks turn bright red. She shook his hand shyly, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
Liam turned toward me, grinning. "Hey, stranger."
I blinked at him. "Stranger? Really? After all those classes together, I'm a stranger now?"
He chuckled. "Just joking. Don't take it so seriously."
Before I could reply, he reached for my vanilla milkshake. "Let me taste that, pumpkin."
"Excuse me?" I tried to sound offended, but I was already smiling.
He took a sip anyway, his eyes twinkling. "Hmm… you're a bad girl, Hannah."
I raised my eyebrows. "Wow, so you know my name now? White chocolate."
His smile grew wider. "Of course. I asked Mrs. Hannah Blackwell—your lecturer—just to be sure."
I snatched my milkshake back. "Then you can march yourself over to the counter and buy your own. Bring mine back."
He laughed, pretending to grimace. "Honestly? It's not that nice. Look at them." He gestured toward Mason and Megan, who were now deep in conversation, laughing like they'd known each other for years.
"Liar," I muttered, shaking my head. "Go get a room, you guys!" I called out, making both Mason and Megan laugh even harder.
And then it happened.
Mason leaned closer to Megan, whispering something in her ear, and before I could process it, he kissed her. Just like that, right in front of everyone. The cafeteria seemed to explode with whispers, gasps, and even a few jealous scoffs.
I turned back to Liam, shocked, but when our eyes met, the world around me seemed to fade. His gaze was steady, deep, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the room.
We leaned closer—just a little. My heartbeat raced. His hand brushed against mine on the table. Our faces were inches apart, and I could already feel the heat of the moment pulling us in.
But then—
The school bell rang, loud and sharp, cutting through the magic.
We jumped back, startled, and the spell was broken.
"Saved by the bell," Liam teased, standing up and grabbing his bag.
I rolled my eyes, gathering my things. Inside, though, I couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment mixed with excitement. That almost-kiss was going to replay in my mind a thousand times.
Megan walked beside me as we left the cafeteria, Mason close at her side. She looked happier than I'd ever seen her, and though I teased her about it, I was secretly thrilled for her.
When we entered our next class—Physics II—the atmosphere changed again. Heads turned, eyes followed, and I could practically feel the jealousy radiating from some of the girls. Liam sat beside me, his presence so close I could barely focus. Megan sat next to Mason, her face glowing like she'd swallowed the sun.
Then the door opened, and Ms. Rachel Lawson walked in. The room fell silent.
But even as she began the lecture, my mind kept wandering back to Liam. His smile, his voice, the way he called me "pumpkin" and stole my milkshake. And most of all—the kiss that almost happened.