I am late
I said to be at her campus by 3 but it's already 3:10
I have messaged and called her 5 mins ago asking where I should find her but she hasn't replied to me yet. Is she angry with me? I know I am late but it's because I had to go back home , take a shower and change clothes because I was sweating a mess during the race
I park my car near the campus parking area. Well, it's for students but I am or was also a student here right?
I look around the fashion designing facility trying to search for her. Few students are studying, talking or eating around. But Stella is nowhere to be found. Is she inside the building? I decide to walk around a bit before searching inside the building
After a while I finally spot her
She is sitting on a bench alone, her golden hair are her highlight to make her standout. She is wearing a light green shirt tucked in cream coloured jeans and not to mention a pink ribbon tied near her belt
She's reading a book and I can bet it's not related to her studies. I can't identify the cover because it's covered with a knitted book cover . She is smiling while reading and eating a chocolate bar , her smile grew wider as she turns a page
Is it illegal to take a picture?
Even if I try to ask her about the book, there's no way she's gonna tell me about it. So it's better to find out on my own. I walk a little farther than her to sneak up from behind. Luckily she's so invested in reading, she doesn't notice that I am back of her but a few steps away. I try to walk carefully, not to step on a stick or something that would alert her
She turns a page again and I try to read what she's reading maintaining some distance and peek in her book
"Keep your underwear, gloves, and heels on," he said, still in that deceptively soft tone
"And crawl to me."
[A/n: a scene from twisted games ch-36]
I think my lungs forgot their functions because I can't breathe. I look away trying to rethink what my eyes just read. I look back at Stella who's enjoying this too much and smiling and small soft giggles coming from her mouth
What is this girl reading? That too in public damn!
A smirk appears on my lips as an idea pops in my mind . I slowly walk towards the bench and lean over bending to match Stella and whisper near her ear
"That's quite a wild stuff you are reading there maybe you can teach me too"
Goosebumps crawl on her neck , due to my sudden sneak up she yells and gets up from her seat and jumps a little making her book fall down . Her hand on her chest as she tries to calm down
I scared her a little too much
I walk and pick her book up and dust it . Stella turns and notices me. She lets out a breath of relief "why did you do that?"
"I didn't think you would get this scared. I am sorry"
She crosses her arms and shakes her head and walks towards me "you are late!" I nod "yeah i was caught up-" she doesn't listen to what I want to say "doesn't matter. But why did you sneak up on me like that? What are you? A cat?"
I chuckle at her, comparing me to a cat "because I tried messaging and calling you but you were so invested in reading you didn't respond so I did this" she frowns at me and checks her phone to see if I am lying or not . But her face erupts with guilt when she realizes "shit i forgot to remove my phone from silent after class"
She looks around searching for something. I raised my hand which had her book "looking for this?" Her eyes widened seeing me with the book. She tries to snatch it but I don't allow her and hold the book higher . And she isn't wearing heels today so no way she can reach the book
"Give it back!" She pleases
I smirk , I open a random page and read it out loud while she's still trying to take the book from my hand but I keep turning around and switching it between my hands . I land on a scene which is too inappropriate to read out loud even she wouldn't want that , but I will make it happen one day
"Give it back Liam! Right now!" Her soft tone suddenly changes to a demanding one "is it an order or a request?" I ask
"An order" Her gaze looking straight without batting an eye . She's possessive about her books . I smile , if it's an order of course I am gonna listen to it . I forward my hand for her to take the book from me, she is shocked that I agreed this fast she grabs the book and holds it against her chest
Jealousy is a disease and i have it
I step closer to her, "I didn't know you like reading these, freckles. You left me speechless" she gulps at my words and tries to avoid my gaze. I come a little more closer, she takes a step away stumbling on her feet
"Would you mind if I join your reading session?"
"No thank you" she pushes my chest and moves to grab her bag "we are getting late , let's go"
"To Where?" I ask
"To grab lunch" she informs
My ears were working just fine till now , are they still working properly? Because I think I heard her saying' to grab lunch' she is asking me? Or offering?
"I didn't get it"
"Oh I forgot to tell you. We scored the highest score in the group project and you played an important role in it so this lunch is a thank you" she explains.
Oh
If I knew she's gonna take me for lunch I would have put more effort into my dressing. I was literally in a rush .Well I don't mind , we are at progress aren't we?
"So I know this restaurant and I am taking you there"
"Why don't we go in my car? Is it fine with you?" I question, She nods in agreement
We walk outside the campus where my car is parked. I guide her towards it and open the passenger seat door. She looks at me amused due to my actions , she was about to sit when I interrupted her
She is standing in front of the car door making a distance between us "wait is this a repayment?" She shakes her head "nope just a thank you. I know I gotta pay you back but you didn't mention what you want"
I nod, now I know what I want "I will tell it to you soon"
She smiles and sits inside. I close the door and get inside the car . I wait until she wears the seatbelt . Once she's done I start driving "where is the restaurant?" I ask
"You know the new Italian restaurant that opened nearby well not that near but it's going famous now"
An Italian restaurant? Is this day gonna get any better?
I nod I know where that restaurant is so I drive to the same restaurant. The ride is silent, I look at Stella. She's looking outside holding her book on her lap. She is holding on to it too tight
She's nervous
"You like reading this don't you? You were smiling and giggling" I say , her face snaps in my direction "It's bad to stalk someone!"
"I wasn't stalking you , you were reading it in the open, many saw you"
"It's my favorite book. I enjoy reading and I can read anywhere I want"
I need to know more about her favorite book now. "I bet you will enjoy it more when you experience it"
I don't take my eyes off the road but I know she is flustered. She doesn't answer me "I will take that as a yes" I tease her more
"YOU!" She points her index finger at me . When I look at her she groans and clenches her hand and settles back. I couldn't help but smile. I think I found a new hobby
"So what's this book about?" I ask
She looks at me confused. "You wanna know about this?" She points at her book . I nod in agreement and she gives me a more confused expression. "It's a romance novel. Are you really interested to know about it?" If it's your favorite I am willing to know everything about it
I nod again without speaking
"She removes the knitted cover to reveal the original cover of the book "It's called twisted games, I have read it countless times and every time it leaves me giggling. It's about a princess and her bodyguard" she speaks
"Forbidden romance huh?" She smiles hearing me and nods her head "yeah I like that trope".
"So what happens?"
She hesitates but continues "well she's not the heir to the throne but her older brother the crown prince leaves his title to marry his girlfriend and all his responsibilities come to her . But she wants to enjoy her life instead of being stuck in the castle. She loves her kingdom but her freedom too"
"She has a bucket list she wants to complete before becoming the Queen and her bodyguard helps her with that and eventually they fall in love " she finishes
"What about the crawl to me scene?" I teased her about what I read, I was almost gonna choke on air when I read that thing . Her face suddenly becomes red "you don't need to know about it" she says again looking outside
"Why do you always meet me in these situations?!" She cries in embarrassment, hitting her head with the book. I chuckle "Are you talking about 'Lift your hips for me, love' and 'crawl to me' situations?"
I smirk
"Stop it please "
I laugh more and she hides her face in her hands "hey. You like reading and it's not a bad thing no need to be embarrassed I was just teasing you"
She lifts her head from her palm and looks at me "you don't think I am weird for reading this"
"Weird? I think it's rather cute and interesting"
"So what are your favorite books? Besides this one?" I ask trying to continue the conversation
"Well there are so many but I just love Rhys so much"
I hit the break . And the car stops with a sudden jerk. My reflex makes my hand extend to Stella's direction to prevent her from hitting the dashboard "what was that?" She yells
"I am sorry I thought there was a cat" I try to cover up and start to drive again
My grip tightens around the steering wheel . That was a stupid move , we could have gotten hurt but hearing her say 'i love Rhys so much' suddenly short circuited my mind
"Who is this Rhys?" I ask
"The main character of twisted games. He's a huge green flag" she says giggling
A book character?
A fucking book character?
Wow so I am jealous of a book character now ?
Wow
Oh Lord send help
"He's my top favorite from my top ten list"
"You have a favorite top ten list?"
She nods "I have many favorites but only 10 made it into my favorite and Rhys is first then aaron and then Kai too"
So I have to compete against 10 fictional characters?
Amazing
Brilliant
Fan-fucking-tastic
"Why do you like them?"
"Because they are best, they treat their women with so much love" she sighs in a dreamy way . At Least the books make her smile and happy even though I wanna shred those ink on paper
She suddenly sat up straight and said "wait! Why am I the only one talking? Aren't you getting bored by listening to this?"
I shake my head "why would I get bored?" I ask her . She scratches her thumb "well mostly guys don't like girls talking so much and especially about books , they don't even read and-" she doesn't say much .
She still hesitates, I wish she doesn't keep overthinking about what to say to me and talks with her heart
"I don't know what guys made you think like this but I hope you are away from those types of people. And I do read and I don't mind you talking about books or in fact anything. When you are with me you can talk about anything" I say keeping my eyes on the road but she doesn't respond. When I glance at her she's staring at me already but looks away after we made an eye contact
"Tell me something about you" she says
"Like what?"
"Anything " she shrugs her shoulders
"My name is Liam Carter Williams, I am 23 years old , I work as a head illustrator under NYX-" I look at her to see her response. She opens her mouth and scoffs "everyone knows that . You know so much about me and it's not fair you also need to tell me something that describes your personality"
I take a deep breath
Something that describes my personality?
"Well I am a scheduled person. I like things organized, I like going on adventures like hiking, surfing and more but I haven't gotten a chance to do that for a long time . I used to go on trips with my friend when we were in university"
She hums "good olden days"
I frown "I am not that old, freckles that you are saying 'olden days"
She smirks, she mostly smiles and it's rare to find her smirking and now that she's doing that I don't think it's good "But you are older than me" she shrugs
Ouch?
"3 years Stella . I don't think it's a huge age gap"
She hums longer and nods "maybe" she takes her phone out and starts scrolling on it
Maybe?
Maybe?
It's not enough
I want a yes or a no
Wow now I am talking to myself
"Say something more about you " she says putting her phone in her pocket
"You know, during university I created my image as a sophisticated jerk. I didn't like people and I made it clear so that they wouldn't try to get near me. I only talked with people when it was necessary "
Stella was shocked by my words. Maybe her opinion about me will change after this "but why? You look close to Ian and Zuri right?"
"You know my mother " she nods in response. "People tried to get close to me because I am Emily Carter 's son not because I am Liam. I am always called 'he's Emily's son' and even at university I am called 'Liam Carter' and not 'Liam Williams' . It's not that i don't want to be called by my mother's name but I hate that people try to take advantage of my name "
"And about Ian and Zuri. We have been friends since childhood, our parents were friends so we have known each other and trust each other "
She has a sad expression on her face. I hope she isn't pitying me . She carries out a smile "oh! that's why Mrs Grace was impressed knowing we took help from you"
We stayed silent for some time and reached the restaurant. I park my car that's when she speaks "I think I understand your situation and justify your behavior but not everyone knows why you did that so they will judge, you had reasons and it's understandable because of your past experiences " she smiles "and you helped me many times to which I am grateful"
I gulp the lump in my throat, I haven't talked about this to many . But knowing we aren't close and her still trying to understand me makes me overwhelmed
ââ â â ââ â© ââ â â ââââ â â ââ â© ââ â â ââ
Author's Note
So far this is my favorite chapter I have ever written ð
I asked on my insta story to guess Stella's favorite book boyfriend and everyone said Aaron Warner and Zade Meadows but what about Rhys? Why no one took his name ðð
And don't anyone dare come at liam ð¤§
I hope you enjoyed this chapter
Remember to vote and comment<3
-Have a nice day ð«§