"Seriously, not even Kate?" Seth asks me as we are sitting in my kitchen eating breakfast right after I told him the events of last night. I might have skipped a few details here and there.
"That was not why I told you the story, Seth" I say glaring at him.
"No, I get it and it does sound like progress but seriously, why didn't you Liam? I mean even back when I liked Sharon before I had the balls to ask her out, I dated other girls, actually made me realize how much I loved her,"
"I shouldn't have told you,"
"C'mon man, you know what I mean!" Seth urges me to speak up.
"I don't know why, Seth. She has always been the one for me. What was the point of leading someone else on when I know there is no one else I can lo—, I don't know, man."
"Even after she left and you didn't know how things are going to end?"
"I don't feel what I feel on the condition that she has to too and you know how fucked up things were. What else she would have done?"
"No, I know that and I am not blaming her. I am just saying that nobody would have blamed you if you would have moved on, not even, Kiera."
"You know I am not gullible to believe that soul mates exist and all that. I do believe that you can find several people who are meant to be with you. I was just lucky enough to find her this soon and nobody else ever mattered, you know that"
"You are whipped, mate"
"Shut up," I say as he teases me
"I am going. Kiera and I are carpooling to the university,"
"Hey, I study there too,"
"Too bad, shouldn't have irritated me,"
"Yeah, that's why you are not giving me a ride," he says smirking with insinuation again.
"Fuck off," I say as I exit the house to get my car.

Brushing off Seth's insinuations, I send a text to Kiera as I wait outside her house. The memories of last night fill my mind as soon as I see her walking out. An involuntary smile creeps on my face as I remember her reaction after what I said to Reece last night. I saw the faint blush on her cheeks as I murmured in her ears in the study. It took all my will favor to walk back to Reece because I knew she had her dosage of unexpected last night and anymore would just bring back her emotional wall, the one that I am finally seeing break a little.
"Erm, good morning," she greets me with a small smile, awkwardness evident in her tone.
"Good morning, Let's go?"
"Yeah,"
"Do you want to grab a tea from the Bistro before we head for college?" I ask her as I open the door for her to sit in the car.
I can see her think, before she hesitantly agrees.
As I drive to The Bistro, I can see Kiera fidget with the hem of her white dress in my peripheral vision.
"'Did you sleep alright after losing three times to a nine-year old boy, Liam?;'Gee, thanks for asking, Kiera. Yes, I did,"
Kiera turns her head to me with a puzzled expression, "What are you doing Liam?", she ask in a monotone.
"Well, since you have decided not to speak whatever's going on in your head and be a bore, I thought I will start a pretend conversation, you know, a conversation, something two people have,"
She rolls her eyes before turning back the other way looking outside the window now.
Think, Liam. Think.
"Erm, I, erm, just wanted to thank you for last night, Liam," she says as she slowly looks at me, finally breaking the silence.
"...For which part, love?" I say winking at her.
"The talk, Liam," she says slapping my arm.
"It just kind of hard, you know?"
"What is?" she says her eyes scrunching together in confusion.
"To digest sorrys and thank yous when all I have heard is jerk and arsehole from you all my life,"
"Shut up!" she feigns anger but I see a small smile escape her lips.
"That's more like it."

"When does your class end?" I ask her as I park my car in the university parking.
"Erm, three, why?"
"Actually, I have the football practise till four."
"It's okay, I'll just go to Weston."
"You don't mind?" I say as we start heading to the building.
"Of course not,"
"Okay, then. All the best for your first day,"
"Not the first time I am going to college, Liam," she says rolling her eyes at me.
"But it's the first time I am seeing you off," I say as I walk-off calling out a see you later.
I did not see her for pretty much the entire day even though we were in the same building though I was hoping that we might share some classes together.
There's always tomorrow.

As soon as I finish football with the boys, I get changed and head to Weston to find Kiera. I find her sitting at the far end of library focusing her eyes, concentrating at something on her laptop while biting a pencil.
Some things never change.
I smile thinking about how it's weird that just by looking at her my entire mood flips around. When I see her smile, I am the one feeling happy, and no matter how many people are in the room but my eyes will always wander until they find her.
How being close to her makes me feel alive.
I walk up to her but she is so engrossed in her work that she doesn't notice my presence. I tiptoe and go behind her, shaking her lightly shouting a 'boo' in her ears.
Startled, she squeaks making everyone stare at her.
"Liam!" she whisper-yells at me, slightly slapping my arm, as I relax down on the chair beside her.
"Hey, it's not my fault that you scare easy!" I say to have her narrow her eyes at me before she goes back to her work.
"Sorry, I got a little late."
"It's fine. I started working on some things from today," she says still looking at her laptop.
"All these years and you are still a nerd."
Uh-Oh
I look at her wide-eyed, with a sorry grin on my face as she turns to me with her mouth open in shock, now glowering at me.
"I-I didn't mean it. Sorry" I say as she narrows her eyes at me, collects her things hurriedly and stomps out.
"Hey, I was just kidding Kiera-"I shout loudly as I chase after her not realizing that I am standing the middle of the library. I mutter a quick sorry to the withering stares as I follow her.
"K, Stop. I didn—"I stop seeing her stop in front me. She turns around and is storming towards me now, still glowering at me.
Oh, this is bad.
"I'll have you know that I am proud to be a nerd."
"A-A-And you should be, it was just a joke. You know how you use to always be working in the library back in the high school and the debate team a-an-and I am making this worse, aren't I?" I say as I notice her expressions getting angrier.
"You think?" she says grabbing the car keys from my hand.
I quickly sit shotgun before she could drive off without me.
"So,--Mhmm" I start but stop as she glares at me.
"You know Reece, wanted to go see London. I get free at twelve tomorrow. Do you want to come?" I attempt again but no avail.
I attempt again as we reach home, but she collects her stuff and angrily stomps out even before I could get the first word out.

NERD!
Nerd?
He called me a nerd. I probably over-reacted but it was kind of fun to see him get all worked up as soon as the words left his mouth.
I enter the house after college to find Luke working in the living room.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Hey! Oh, nothing interesting thought I was catching up with some work. How was your first day, kiddo?
"It was good. Where's everyone?"
"Mum has her classes. Jen, Sam and Reece are at Sam's house because Reece wanted to have more of her cookies,"
"Alright, I am going to my room. I'll see you for dinner" I say as I turn around to go to my room.
"That's what it's like now? You don't have time for your brother?"
I turn around to find Luke feigning sadness.
"Of course, I do," I say as I sit beside him, "I just thought you were working."
"I always have time for you. So, mum's happy to see you back,"
"Yeah"
"She's not the only one though," he says and I know he wants to talk about Liam.
"Yeah, Sam and Pops are also happy."
"You know what I mean, Kiera."
"I know, Luke. I know." I say as I take his arm and rest my head on his shoulder. He was so much older than me that he has not just been an older brother to me; he's been my confidant, my father for as long as I can remember.
"Why didn't mum tell me that you came to Oxford two years ago and why didn't you to come to Cambridge to meet me?" I say deflecting any talks about Liam.
"It wasn't a vacation, K," he pauses hesitantly before continuing, "It wasn't work either."
"I gathered that much from Sam's expressions last night."
"The rest is not mine to tell."
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Well then maybe you should talk to the one who is waiting to tell you."
"I don't want to talk about it all, Luke. Can we please change the topic?"
"Sure," with an understanding nod.
"Hey, now that you are here on a vacation. How about all of us have dinner together? I'll ask Sharon and Seth too. I'll cook"
"Really?" Luke says with a shocked expression
"Fine, I'll order food," I say rolling my eyes.
"Just call everyone. Mum, Jen and I can make dinner."
"Cool, I'll see you later then," I say before he could rope me in for another talk about Liam. Though everything feels like it is gradually coming to normal, there's this uncertainty still somewhere, and I am just not ready to talk about it, especially to anyone before I talk about it with Liam.

Everyone comes around six for dinner. I open the door for Liam and when I see his expectant and scared face, I remember I was angry at him.
Damn him for looking so handsome.
I am about to turn away when he stretched his hand with my favourite Lindt's and a sorry expression on his face.
I try not to smile as I pick up the chocolate and storm off again.
Every time he tries to corner me for a talk, I ignore him and bring someone else into the conversation.
Chocolates are not going to be enough this time.
"Any reason you are ignoring Liam today?" Sharon asks me as we sit down for dinner later.
"Just milking his mistake of calling me a nerd,"
"It's not been a week and you are already back to troubling him."
"Always," I reply with a smirk.
The entire dinner was like being back to my teenage years. Everything felt normal and everyone was having a good time, even Liam's sorry expression every time we made eye contact.
"I'll get the dessert," I say as we finish with the main course.
"I'll help you," Liam says immediately and before I could even protest he is halfway to the kitchen.
I follow him into the kitchen to spot him leaning on the kitchen top as he smirks at me, "I can't find the pies."
He's upto something.
"They are right on the kitchen top, Liam, behind you."
He turns around to look directly at the pies and then continues, "Can't see them."
"You know what? It's fine. I see them." I say as I go towards him.
I grab the pies cursing him inwardly when I feel his presence behind me. He engulfs me from behind, with both his hands on the counter top blocking me from either way. I could smell his cologne and his breath is fanning my cheek. Immediately, all my pretend anger has disappeared replaced with a pounding heart in my chest and the heat on my cheeks rapidly rising. I feel him nuzzle his face in my hair, so close to me that I gulp in fear.
"I am sorry, love," he whispers in my ear and my body has goose bumps as a reaction to his words. Words form a lump in my throat as they refuse to come out and I have to gather all my strength to squeak out an 'it's alright'.
But he is not ready to relieve me of my misery yet.
"You need to say that to my face, love," he whispers and I am praying that by some miracle he is unaware of the affect his proximity is causing me.
I turn around and he doesn't budge; his face dangerously close to mine, a smug smile on his annoying face.
Breath-taking face
I steady myself by leaning back on the counter top, holding onto it with all my residual courage. He looks into my eyes and his smirk drops into a grave intensity that I feel rapidly rising with the second. Unblinking, he continues to look at me and he is moving closer, so close that I am sure he can hear my heart racing in my chest. He then tilts his face, moves closer to my ear, in a whisper asking me now if I forgive him yet. Too numb to speak, I slowly nod making my cheek graze against his.
Before I could react, he moves back, the pies in his hands now as he mutters a thanks casually shrugging his shoulders and walks-off with the uttermost cool leaving me stupefied.
Arsehole!

Kiera is still mad at me, especially with the stunt I pulled last night but it was fun to see her shocked when I left the kitchen. With her reaction running in my mind, I am sitting waiting for the last lecture to start when I gaze at the door just in time to see Kiera enter.
We do have a class together.
She looks around trying to find a place to sit as her eyes find mine, the same realization striking her now. I smile at her as she starts walking towards me. I move in my chair to make room for her as I see her smirk and occupy the chair right in front of me; next to Dylan and I am immediately regretting my actions yesterday.
"Kiera, Blimey, I didn't recognize you there for a moment. You are even more beautiful now," Dylan flirts as he hugs her and I feel irritated all of a sudden.
"Always the flirt, aren't you Dylan?" Kiera says as she breaks the hug but my mind is stuck on her hand on his shoulder.
"You bring it out in me," he says.
How about I bring out my punches!
Dylan has been hitting on Kiera since middle school, much to my misery and she knows how mad he made me and which is why I am sure she choose to sit next to him.
How the fuck did he even get into Trinity for masters!
I try to concentrate for the next hour, telling myself that she is doing this purposely but Dylan's smug smile is making it impossible for me to pay any heed to what Prof. Reed is saying. She is deliberately moving closer to him and laughing at his unfunny jokes.
FLIRTING LIAM! SHE IS FLIRTING WITH HIM
I am unconsciously leaning forwards as they are hushing and giggling almost to the point that I am standing—
"Do you have a question, Mr. Addington?"
Fuck!
"Erm, no sir," I say standing straight now facing Prof. Reed, Keira simpering as she knows she is winning.
"Is there a particular reason for standing up then apart from disturbing the whole class?"
"Erm, no, not particularly sir," I say as the whole class laughs pissing Mr. Reed more.
"Get out then!" he reprimands me getting back to his lecture.

"Not cool, Kiera. Not cool at all," I say to Kiera as I catch up to her in the parking lot after class.
"What?" she says feigning innocence as we reach her car.
"Oh, you know what? How about we call it even?"
"Or you can admit you are a loser, Addington. I'll see you at home, Reece is waiting for us," she says as she sits in the car.
"I would lose every time just to see you smile, Miss Rutherford," I say  closing the door to a startled face.

**********

Author's Note:

So, here's a light-hearted chapter filled with Kiera and Liam.  I hope you all like it.  Hold on tight, because a lot of stuff is now coming up.
Also, pretty quick for a update form me, huh??

Just a note: Weston is a library in Oxford near Trinity College.

Do vote if you like it. Let me know what you think and anticipate in the comments

Happy Reading❤❤