Collided & Confess

I jolted awake, heart pounding from yet another nightmare. Blinking against the morning light, I glanced at the clock—8:36 a.m. My stomach dropped. Crap. I'm late. I shot out of bed, rushing through a shower that was more water splashing than actual cleansing. Clothes were thrown on in a blur, and I swiped on just enough makeup to look half alive. By the time I burst out the door, panic buzzing through me, I was already fumbling for a taxi. In my frantic dash, I collided with someone—hard. "Sorry!" I muttered without even looking up, too focused on my disaster of a morning. Seconds later, I slid into a cab, breathless, and told the driver my campus address. My pulse finally slowed as the city blurred past the window, but a nagging thought lingered at the back of my mind: "Who did I just bump into?"I brushed it off as I paid the cab driver and hurried onto campus. I wasn't the smartest girl in school, nor the prettiest, but I wasn't exactly invisible either. My shoulder-length blonde hair framed my face, my cat-like eyes and full lips giving me just enough confidence to stand out. And while I'd never admit it out loud, my hourglass figure tended to draw attention, whether I wanted it or not. I brushed everything off as I stopped by my locker before heading into class. To my surprise, despite thinking I was late, the room was practically empty—just me and him. He stood out instantly. Tall—at least 6'2—he seemed massive compared to my 5'5 frame. Dark hair fell slightly into his eyes, sharp and unreadable. His lips were thin, but perfectly shaped, and his body looked like it had been sculpted by the gods themselves. Everyone knew he was the captain of the soccer team, but what made him even more intriguing was how quiet he always was. While the rest of his teammates soaked up attention, he kept to himself, focused on his studies, as if the noise of the world didn't touch him. He looked up at me, and I instantly dropped my gaze, heat rushing to my cheeks. Great. Way to embarrass yourself, Lily. I hadn't even realized how long I'd been staring until it was too late. He bent his head again, scribbling something in his notebook—something I couldn't quite see. I slid into my seat just as the room began to fill with chatter. Friends grouped up, laughter echoing through the air, but I didn't have many close ones here. Besides, Ava—my childhood friend. That was enough. Ava had her own kind of energy—loud, bold, and impossible to ignore. Her long dark hair and confident smile made her stand out in any room. But if Ava's aura was fire, mine was something softer, like sunlight. My blonde hair and quiet confidence carried their own weight, and I knew I wasn't invisible. People noticed me, even if I wasn't always chasing the spotlight the way Ava did. "Lily! Lily!" she practically screamed, rushing to my side. She plopped into the chair next to me, eyes sparkling with mischief. "I've got my eyes on someone," she whispered dramatically. I barely looked at her, already used to this routine. "Who this time?" I asked, my voice flat. This was nothing new with Ava. "Liam," she said. I froze, the name hitting me harder than I expected. Slowly, I turned to look at her, searching her face. "Liam?" I repeated, almost as if I needed to make sure I'd heard her right. Ava only nodded, her eyes lighting up with excitement. Shock rippled through me. Liam was the last person I thought she'd set her sights on. He wasn't her type—not even close. Ava usually went for the guys who lived to party, the ones who were loud, flirty, and a little too obsessed with themselves. Liam was none of that. He was quiet, focused, almost untouchable in the way he carried himself. My chest tightened as my eyes drifted back toward him. There he was—head bent over his notebook, pen moving steadily as if the chaos of the world didn't reach him. And for the first time, I wondered what would happen if Ava actually got her way.Before I could even say a word, the classroom door swung open and the teacher walked in, her voice cutting through the noise. "We'll be starting a new project today," she announced, shuffling a stack of papers. "I've already assigned partners based on your performance in class." The room went quiet as she began calling out names. My heart skipped when I heard, "Lily and Liam. You two will make a great team, considering you're both passing with good grades." I felt it immediately—his gaze on me. My breath caught, and I forced myself not to look up, though curiosity tugged at me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ava turn, her expression sharp with something unspoken. "What is it, Ava?" I whispered, already sensing what she wanted. "Can you ask the teacher to switch partners with me? Pretty please?" she begged, her eyes wide with excitement. For a second, I hesitated. A selfish part of me wanted to say no, to hold onto this one chance I'd been given. But then I saw the way she looked at me—hopeful, pleading—and my chest tightened. With a sigh, I pushed myself to my feet. Ava practically bounced in her chair, already celebrating as I walked to the front. "Ms. Knight," I asked, trying to sound casual, "is it possible for me to switch partners with Ava?" The teacher looked up at me, brows pulling together in confusion. "Um, I'm sorry, Lily, but I'd prefer to keep the partners I assigned." I walked back to Ava and gave her a small shrug. "She said no." Ava groaned in disappointment, but before either of us could say more, Ms. Knight clapped her hands. "Alright, that's it for today. You're dismissed. Remember—the project is due in one week. Use your time wisely." Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone rushed to leave. I slid my books into my bag, trying not to think too hard about what it meant to be stuck with Liam. And then it happened. As he walked past my desk, Liam paused just long enough to slip a folded piece of paper onto the corner. My eyes shot up to him, but he didn't say a word. He just kept walking, his tall frame disappearing out the door without a glance back. Curiosity burned in my chest. With hesitant fingers, I unfolded the note.A single line stared back at me—his number, written in quick, messy handwriting. I shoved the note into my backpack and hurried out of the room, slipping in my AirPods as if the music could drown out the swirl of thoughts in my head. I wandered aimlessly across campus until something through the window caught my eye—the boys' soccer practice. I paused, leaning closer as the game unfolded. My gaze kept drifting back to Liam. The way he moved, sharp and focused, the determination etched on his face—it was different from how I'd seen him in class. He looked so alive, so passionate, and I couldn't help but watch a little longer. Before he could notice me staring, I turned away from the window, nodding my head to the music as if it could hide my thoughts. In the cafeteria, I dug through my backpack for a pencil but instead pulled out the note. Liam's number. My heart skipped. Should I save it? Should I text him? Hi, I'm Lily from class. Ugh, awkward. I stuffed the note back in, shaking the thought away, and opened my laptop. Homework was easier than overthinking. An hour slipped by before I finally shut my computer, exhaustion sinking in. As I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed toward the exit, I wasn't paying attention—until I collided with a tall figure. My eyes traveled upward, and my breath caught. Liam. I almost stumbled backward, but his hand shot out, grabbing my arm. I froze for a second, too close, and suddenly I could smell him—fresh, like the ocean. My heart skipped a beat. I pulled away quickly, looking up at him. "Um... sorry about that," I mumbled, staring at the ground. He looked down at me, his expression unreadable. "It's okay," he said finally, his voice low. There was a pause, and then he asked, dryly, "Did you get my note earlier?" "Oh... yeah. I did," I admitted, tucking my hair behind my ear. "About the project... when do you wanna work on it?" I tilted my head, opening my mouth to suggest a time, but he beat me to it. "My place. I'll send you the address." I froze, my mind racing. His tone was casual, but the closeness, the lingering scent... it made my stomach twist in a way I hadn't expected."Yeah... sure. Whatever works for you," I said, awkwardly but trying to sound casual. "I guess it's my turn to give you the note, huh?" I added, attempting a joking tone. He pulled out his phone and handed it to me. "No need. I have my phone." "Oh... right," I whispered, heat rising in my cheeks. My fingers shook slightly as I typed in my number, and I gave him a quick, shy smile before turning to leave. I excused myself, walking briskly toward the street. I slid into the nearest cab, gave the driver my address, and leaned back in my seat. The city blurred past the window as I stared at the lights, my mind spinning. By the time I got home, it was only three o'clock. I dropped my bag on the floor and wandered into the kitchen, searching for something quick to eat. Somehow, I ended up with a steaming bowl of noodles balanced in one hand and my phone in the other, scrolling aimlessly as I slurped. After a while, the walls started to feel too close, and I needed fresh air. I slipped my headphones in and headed out, my feet carrying me toward the lake. The water shimmered softly under the late-afternoon sun, and I let the music drown out my thoughts. Until my phone buzzed. My heart jumped immediately—Liam. It had to be. But when I glanced down, it wasn't him. It was Ava. The message lit up my screen: Lil, yk since it's Friday I'm having a party later. Wanna come?? I sighed, thumb hovering before I typed back quickly: Ava, you know I don't do parties like that. Not even five seconds passed before the three dots popped up. Then her reply: Guess who's coming? I froze, staring at the screen. My chest tightened even before I typed: ...Who? But I already knew who she meant. And as expected, her reply popped up: Liam. I stared at the screen, my stomach tightening. Shock rippled through me. Liam? At a party? That didn't make sense. He didn't even seem like the type who liked loud music and crowded rooms. Before I could process it, another bubble appeared. Maybe it's my sign to shoot my shot today. My heart sank. I gripped my phone tighter, reading the words over and over. A part of me wanted to laugh it off—Ava said things like that all the time—but another part of me couldn't ignore the knot forming in my chest. Why did it bother me this much? My phone buzzed again. Then again. Ava had triple-texted. Please come I need support. I scoffed out loud. Ava? Needing support? She was the most confident person I knew—the kind of girl who walked into a room and owned it without even trying. If anything, she probably just wanted me there as backup. Still, I stared at the screen for a long moment before finally typing back: I have nothing to do tonight. I'll come. Her reply came instantly, a kiss emoji that somehow made my chest tighten. I sighed, shutting off my phone and tossing it onto the counter. With a deep breath, I turned to head toward my room, already wondering if I'd made a mistake agreeing to go. By the time I got home, my nerves were already buzzing. I hadn't been to many of Ava's parties, but from the stories alone, I knew they always spiraled into something wild. I slipped into the shower, letting the hot water calm me down, though I spent longer in there than I meant to. Nearly thirty minutes later, I finally stepped out, wrapping myself in a towel as I stared at my reflection. For once, I didn't stick to my usual light touch of makeup. I went fuller this time—still clean and soft, but obvious enough that I looked different, sharper. My hair curled into loose waves, brushing my shoulders, and I slid into a tiny pink dress that hugged my waist a little too perfectly. When I finally arrived at Ava's house, I expected chaos. But to my surprise, only a few people were scattered around, music playing softly in the background. It felt like the calm before the storm. And I couldn't help but wonder—was Liam here yet? As I scanned the room, waiting to see if he was really here, Ava suddenly appeared behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’re here,” she said with a bright smile. I nodded, returning the smile, but before I could get a word out, she pressed a cup into my hand. “It’s apple juice. I know you don’t drink,” she added quickly. Relieved, I smiled again and took a sip. The sweet taste calmed me a little, even as the house began to fill. Music thumped louder with each passing minute, and the once-quiet space transformed into chaos. The living room swelled with people—laughing, dancing, drinking—and the air grew heavy with energy.I let myself relax, just a little, and started dancing with the crowd. For the first time that night, I felt a bit free. But then—a prickling sensation crawled up my spine. Someone was watching me. I scanned the room, and my eyes landed on him. Liam. Even across the distance, our gazes locked for a brief second. My heart skipped, but before it could mean anything, I broke the eye contact and looked away, forcing myself to keep moving with the music. After a while, I slipped away and ducked into the bathroom, needing a breath. When I stepped back out, Ava was waiting. Her cheeks were flushed, a faint wobble in her stance—she’d had a few drinks, but nothing too heavy yet. “I’m going to talk to him now,” she blurted out. I froze, searching her face. “Are you… okay?” I asked carefully. She gave me a puzzled look, tilting her head. “Yes. Do I not look okay?” “No you look good just checking up” I forced a weak smile and nodded, though inside, something knotted tighter in my chest. “Okay, come with me,” Ava said, grabbing my wrist before I could argue. She dragged me across the room toward Liam and his friends. “Hey, guys,” she greeted brightly, her confidence effortless as always. A chorus of greetings followed, everyone smiling back at her. The moment we reached them, Ava slipped her hand from mine, already shifting her attention fully onto Liam as if the rest of the world had disappeared. I stood awkwardly at the edge, watching her work her usual charm. I’d seen Liam around campus countless times, but never like this—surrounded, yet somehow set apart. The only girl I’d ever noticed him with had been his ex. She was striking in her own way—slender, with soft curves and long, flowing red hair that always caught the light. But then, almost as quickly as she’d appeared in his life, she was gone. After the breakup, she stopped coming to campus altogether, leaving nothing but questions in her wake. People whispered, speculated, but Liam never said a word. Not once. That silence made him even more of a mystery—and somehow, even harder to look away from. Everyone else was drinking, their laughter echoing over the music, and I found myself glancing around for something—anything—to do. That’s when an old friend spotted me. We started chatting, but no matter how much I tried to focus, my attention kept drifting back to Ava and Liam. They were deep in conversation, and when Liam’s eyes suddenly flicked to mine, my breath caught. For a split second, it felt like the world stilled. But then, just as quickly, he dropped his gaze back to Ava. A strange twist of jealousy knotted in my stomach. I shook my head, forcing a laugh at whatever my friend had said, trying to shove the feeling down, but it lingered like a shadow I couldn’t shake. Before long, someone shouted, “Let’s play truth or dare!” The suggestion sent a ripple of excitement through the room. We all gathered into a wide circle, bodies pressed close, drinks in hand, anticipation buzzing in the air. When it was Ava’s turn, someone dared her to kiss anyone in the circle. The group erupted in cheers and teasing. With so many people to choose from, she could have picked anyone—but my stomach tightened with a heavy certainty. I already knew who she’d choose. Ava stood, her smile mischievous as the circle erupted with cheers. Everyone leaned forward, eager to see who she’d choose. My chest tightened with every step she took, and when she finally stopped in front of Liam, the noise around me blurred into nothing. She leaned in and gave him a small, teasing peck on the lips before pulling back with a shy laugh, as if she hadn’t just lit the room on fire. The circle roared—screams, whistles, laughter bouncing off the walls. And me? I just sat there, frozen. Jealousy curled hot in my chest, sharp and unrelenting. I didn’t even understand why. Could it be… that I actually had feelings for Liam Petrov? The game carried on, dares and laughter spilling into the night, but I couldn’t focus. One by one, people started leaving, the crowd thinning until only a handful remained. I scanned the room, searching for Ava, but my heart sank when I realized—she and Liam were both gone. A heavy weight settled in my stomach. I grabbed my things, ready to escape the suffocating noise. But as I stepped outside, there he was. Liam. Sitting alone on the porch steps, half-hidden in the shadows. I froze. My first instinct was to look down, pretend I hadn’t seen him, and just keep walking. But something about the stillness of the moment made it hard to move at all. As I walked past him, I felt it—his eyes on me. Heavy, lingering. But he didn’t say a word, and neither did I. I kept moving, pretending not to notice, until I finally slipped into a cab. By the time I made it home, exhaustion weighed on me like a second skin. I barely managed a quick shower before collapsing into bed, the night replaying in fragments behind my eyelids. When I finally woke, sunlight was already streaming through my window. The clock read 10 a.m. I stretched, groggy, before reaching for my phone. That’s when I saw it. A message from an unknown number. “Today. My house. 4 p.m.?” My pulse quickened as my eyes dropped to the next line. “This is Liam, by the way.” I looked at the message for what felt like forever before finally typing out a simple reply: “Okay.” A few minutes later, another text came through—his address. My stomach flipped as I stared at it, the reality sinking in. This was actually happening. I pushed myself out of bed, trying to shake off the nerves, and slipped into the shower. The hot water helped a little, but not enough to quiet the storm in my chest. Afterward, I made myself breakfast and tried to distract my thoughts with a book. For a while, the words blurred together on the page, my eyes scanning but not really reading. When I finally checked the time again, it was already 3 p.m. My stomach dropped. I shot up from bed and rushed to get ready, rifling through my closet until I settled on a small sweater and baggy jeans—comfortable, nothing too flashy. I scraped my hair into a messy bun and added just enough makeup to look alive, though my nerves made my hands shake. After gathering my things, I slipped into a cab and gave the driver Liam’s address. The ride felt both too short and far too long, my mind running in circles the entire way. When we pulled up, my breath caught. His house was… nice. Not too big, not too small. Just the kind of place that felt personal, private. I walked up to the front step, each one heavier than the last, and raised my hand to knock. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might echo through the wood. The door opened. And there he was. Face to face with Liam Petrov. He glanced down at me, his expression unreadable, before turning away. “Come in,” he said over his shoulder as he walked further inside. I followed, my pulse racing, until we reached his room. It was exactly what I imagined—neat, but with just enough mess to feel lived in. And the smell… it was him. Fresh, like the ocean, layered with a woody warmth that made the space feel even more his. I slid into a chair nearby, trying to act calm, though my hands fidgeted in my lap. A moment later, he pulled another chair closer and sat down, his presence filling the space between us. “So,” he started, his voice low, steady. “The project—” But his words trailed off, like he was deciding whether to finish the sentence. I answered quickly, not wanting the silence to stretch. “Oh, right—I came up with a few ideas,” I said. “Lemme hear it,” he replied simply, leaning back in his chair. We spent the next two hours working through notes and brainstorming, the conversation mostly practical, though every so often my eyes lingered on him longer than they should have. By the time we had a solid outline, my energy was starting to dip, and boredom crept in. “Want any snacks?” he asked suddenly. Before I could even respond, he pushed back his chair and stood. Halfway to the door, he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes meeting mine. “Are you coming?” For a moment, I just blinked at him, caught off guard. Then I quickly got to my feet and followed him into the kitchen, the air between us carrying a quiet, unspoken tension I couldn’t quite name. He reached into the fridge and grabbed two sodas, handing one to me before popping his open with an easy flick. I cracked mine as well, the quiet fizz filling the silence between us. I decided to break it. “So… about soccer?” I asked, tilting my head. “Why that sport?”He looked up at me, pausing for a second before answering. “When I’m on the field,” he said slowly, “I feel alive. Everything else disappears—just me, the ball, and the game. I worked my way into being captain. No one gave it to me.” He leaned back against the counter, his soda can dangling loosely in his hand as he continued. “Most people only see the wins, the titles, the attention. But what they don’t see are the hours I spent running drills until my legs gave out. The mornings when the rest of campus was asleep, and I was out on the field practicing in the cold. Soccer isn’t just a sport to me—it’s discipline, it’s escape, it’s the only place where I feel like I’m in control.” For a moment, his eyes softened, almost distant, like he was remembering something. “Some people party to feel free. Me? I play. That’s where I get to breathe.”For a moment, I just stared at him, taking in the weight of his words. I’d never heard Liam talk that much, let alone with that much fire in his voice. A small smile tugged at my lips. “You make it sound like more than just a sport,” I said softly. “Honestly… it’s kind of inspiring. Not a lot of people can say they’ve worked that hard for something and actually earned it.” His eyes flicked to mine, and I thought I saw the corner of his mouth twitch, like he was fighting a smile. “You think so?” he asked, his tone low, almost testing. I nodded, holding his gaze this time. “I know so. It takes real dedication to do what you’ve done. That’s something people can’t fake.” The silence that followed wasn’t awkward—it felt charged, like the air between us had shifted. His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he asked, “What about you? What’s something you enjoy doing?” I hesitated, caught off guard. Nobody ever really asked me that—not like they genuinely wanted to know. I fiddled with the tab on my soda can, buying a few seconds. “I… like reading,” I admitted with a small laugh. “I know it sounds boring compared to, you know, being captain of a whole soccer team, but it’s different for me. When I’m reading, I get to escape too—just in another way. It’s like living a hundred different lives without leaving the room.” I glanced at him, worried he might find it silly, but his eyes stayed steady on mine. That quiet intensity of his made my chest tighten. “It doesn’t sound boring,” he said finally. “It sounds like you care about it. That’s what matters.”As we sipped our sodas, a sudden downpour began hammering against the windows. Thunder cracked a second later, sharp and violent, and my whole body stiffened. The sound was enough to shake something deep inside me. The next strike boomed louder, and I couldn’t help it—I dropped my soda can and clamped my hands over my ears. My chest tightened, breath quick and shallow. I hated thunder. I always had. Memories surged, uninvited. I was ten years old again, sitting in the back seat of our car. Rain coming down in sheets, wipers fighting against it. My dad’s hands tightening on the wheel as the car began to skid. My mother’s gasp. My brother’s scream—then nothing but the crunch of metal, the world flipping, breaking. That night changed everything. My parents were gone in an instant. My brother survived, but barely—slipping into a coma that stole years away. It’s been eleven years, and still, every thunderstorm drags me back to that night. And now, at twenty-one, I was sitting in Liam’s kitchen, frozen, trembling, powerless against the sound of the sky tearing open. I tried to steady myself, but my hands wouldn’t leave my ears. My throat felt tight, and the fear I hated admitting to anyone had already betrayed me. I tried to fight it, tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but the tears came anyway. Hot, stinging, unstoppable. Why did it have to happen? What went wrong? The questions I’d carried for years came crashing back all at once, and the ache of missing my parents tore through me. Before I knew it, I was sobbing, shoulders shaking as the storm outside raged on. Then I felt it—strong arms wrapping around me, pulling me in. Liam. For a moment I froze, stunned, but then I melted into him, clutching the front of his shirt as though it could anchor me. His warmth, the steady beat of his heart, the quiet strength in the way he held me—it all steadied the panic clawing inside my chest. “I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice low and steady, almost drowned out by the storm. I hugged him tighter, trying to calm myself, my breathing uneven. Slowly, the trembling eased, though the ache in my chest remained. Still, in that moment, being in his arms made the fear feel just a little less unbearable. I finally felt calm enough to loosen my grip and step back, wiping at my eyes. What felt like hours had only been a few minutes. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice barely there. “No need to apologize,” Liam said gently. He helped me up and guided me toward the living room, settling me down on the couch. He didn’t press, didn’t pry—just sat close enough for me to feel his presence. The silence stretched until he finally spoke. “Are you okay?” Something in the way he asked—soft but steady—made the words tumble out before I could stop them. Half sobbing, half speaking, I told him everything. Chapter one done….