The Fire in His Eyes

Eve and I walked slowly to café Tina; it was a little bistro next to the park in the middle of campus. She was saying something about her latest lit. paper, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything she was saying because I am just mesmerized by her beauty. She spoke with such enthusiasm and excitement; I could tell she was passionate about writing.

“Liam!” I shook my head and came back to reality. I could hear Eve giggle next to me.

“Li, stop staring at me and order some food,” she said pointing up towards the menu board. I was so captivated by Eve’s beauty I didn’t even notice we had arrived at the café.

“Um I’ll have a medium black coffee and the cheddar club please,” I said to the cashier. He smiled at me and typed in my order. He handed me a ticket with our number on it, 59, to be exact, and our drinks. We walked over to a small two person table by the window to wait for our food. I pulled out her chair for her like the gentleman I am and we proceeded to have small talk until the food was ready.

“So Eve tell me a little bit about yourself?” I asked.

“What would you like to know?”

“Anything you would like to tell me,” she smiled at that. She leaned back in her chair while she rubbed her finger along the cup of her hot black tea thinking. Her small manicured fingers tapped along the cup in a magical way, so rhythmic and musical. I noticed that when she was focused on something, she would get little, tiny crinkles on the side of her eye which made her look absolutely adorable.

“Well, I have 2 older brothers, Brandon and Patrick, a little sister named Nicole but we call her Nicky, and two dads; Oh are you ok with that? I really am starting to like you and I want you to accept every part of my life and I can’t be with someone who would be hateful to my parents in any way, and I,“ I cut off her rambling by holding her hands carefully in mine.

“Eve please stop rambling. I have absolutely no problem with you having gay dads ok. I accept you for who you are and where you came from weather that was from two dads, two moms, or you were raised by wolves it doesn’t bother me; you are perfect the way you are…Eve. Not ‘that girl with the gay dads, just Eve, beautiful, smart, and funny Eve.” A small tear trickled down her face. Oh no did I upset her by calling her just Eve or something? I reached up and whipped her tears.

“Please don’t cry” She smiled, got up from her seat and gave me a huge hug.

“Thank you,” she quietly whispered into my hoodie. I just hugged her back and smiled down at her. “Leon, your order is ready,” Eve and I laughed, all the times I have come to this café and they have never once called me Liam. We grabbed our food to go and headed towards the park to meet up with Zayn. I know he is going to bomb me with a million questions.

We walked in a peaceful silence as we both looked around at the people enjoying the park on this nice fall day. I could see Zayn in the distance sitting at a picnic table reading Paper Towns by John Green; he’s been obsessed with that author lately. I have really wanted to read Looking for Alaska, but I haven’t had the time.

“Over here,” I point Eve into the direction of Zayn. Zayn looked up from his reading point and smiled at us.

“Hey, Payno!” He said standing up and greeting me with a noogie.

“So who’s this beautiful woman?” He said giving out a hand to Eve pretending to be a girl and letting her kiss the top of it. She just chuckled and played along.

“I’m Aleanbh, but you can call me Eve.” Zayn smiled and draped his arm over our shoulder and walked us over to the table he was previously occupying.

“Well hello Eve, any girlfriend Of Lili here is a friend of mine.” I blushed red hot.

“She isn’t my girlfriend Z,”

“Not yet my friend,” he said mischievously looking between me and Eve, “not yet,” he said with a wink.

“But enough of this come, sit, eat, rejoice!” Zayn said leading us to the picnic table. He was just so silly that’s why I loved the kid. A lot of people think he’s shy and quiet but once you get to know him he’s the complete opposite. Eve sat next to me and Zayn sat across from us. I grabbed the bag that held our food and opened it. I handed Eve her grilled chicken salad and muffin. I had an organic turkey club with fresh cut fries and I surprised Zayn with his favorite pesto chicken club and an iced tea. I had barely taken my first bite when I heard Zayn’s big mouth again.

“So Lili, what are your intentions with my darling Eve?” I coughed and choked a little on my sandwich. Eve just giggled as Zayn started at me with all the seriousness in the world but I could tell he was trying really hard not to smile.

“Um, well I um… I-I um-“

"He will be doing his very best to try and woo me,“ Eve said with a wink my way. I smiled at her and she ducked down and ate some more salad. I took another bite of my sandwich. Even though I wasn’t looking up, I could tell Zayn was looking at the two of us with the biggest smirk; I could just feel it.

“So Eve, how long have you been here because I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around campus?” Zayn asked.

“Oh well I was I transferred here this semester from Trinity,” Eve said shyly. Both Zayn and I’s mouths dropped open.

“Tri-trinity college…in Dublin?” Zayn asked awe struck. Eve nodded shyly.

“Holy shit girl! That is the number one ranked school in Ireland! Durham is great and all but it’s definitely no TC! Why did you come here?” Zayn asked. Eve grew quiet.

“Well, I um…it didn’t fit me,” she said hastily. “Um, I have to go and um study for an exam tomorrow so I will talk to you boys later,” she said with a small smile but I could tell it was fake.She started to turn but I grabbed her wrist and she stopped. She gave me the most heartbreaking look a person could give. She shook her head and I knew that she wasn’t ready to say anything and I let her go.

“Dammit, Zayn why did you say that!” I yelled at him. I could feel myself getting angry. His eyes widened.

“Li I’m s-sorry I d-didn’t mean to say anything w-wrong,” He started to stutter, getting nervous by my closeness. I lifted my hand high and then I saw him flinch. I shook my head and came back to reality and looked at what I had almost done to my best friend. I put my hand down and ran away. I could hear Zayn’s screams in the distance.

“Li! Liam, it’s ok I’m fine! Stop running, please!” He yelled as loud as he could, but I didn’t listen. I kept running until I ran into another person. We fell to the ground and I noticed that it was Al. I started balling at her feet. I could hear Zayn running up to us. He was breathing heavily and tried to catch his breath. I could see out of the corned of my eye the two of them shake their heads at each other. Oh great. I could feel Zayn’s hands slip around my arms.

“come on big guy,” he said trying to get me off of the ground. I got up and Al wrapped her hands around my waist.

“Let’ go back to the table, get our stuff, and we can head to my dorm for popcorn andmovie,” Zayn suggested. He lived on campus whereas Al, and now me, lived in a small apartment condo close to campus because we don’t really like people.

“OK, that sound nice,” I said quietly. As the three of us walked back to the table I could feel a pair of eyes on me. I looked around until I found him. I didn’t know who he was but a tall curly haired boy was giving me a death glare and shook his head at me in a disapproving manner from across the quad before he turned and walked away. I shook my head and tried to forget it.

Soon we had all made it to Zayn’s room but I couldn’t help but think of Eve. I she ok? I pulled out my phone and opened the messaged between me and her. I started to type a new message.

To: Your cute friend ;)

Hey, are you ok?

From: The one <3

I waited for a response as Zayn picked out a movie that he thinks will cheer me up.

To: The one <3

Ya I’m fine don’t worry bout it k?

From: Your cute friend ;)

I didn’t believe that for a second. I started a new message.

To: Your cute friend ;)

Ok I kno that we haven’t known each other very long at all but I could tell in your eyes that something was wrong, wanna talk?

From: The one <3

I took almost ten minutes for her to reply; she was probably thinking if she should let me talk to her.

To: The one <3

Ok, could you come over to my room? I’m in building 3 room 357 if you have any sugary treats they would greatly appreciated

From: Your cute friend ;)

I stood up and typed back an ok. I pulled on some shoes a hat and started for the door but then I turned back around got some tissues, ice cream out of the freezer, and one surprise item.

“I’ll pay you back,” I yelled back to Zayn as I ran out the room. Zayn was in building 6 so I just had to go directly across the quad yard. I was in building 3 rather quickly. I got in the elevator to the 3rd floor and looked for room 57. I was almost all the way at the hall. I stopped at her door and was about to knock but I could hear sniffles from the other side; it broke my heart. I knocked on the door and could hear shuffling from the other side. I was shocked to see the curly haired boy from earlier open the door. I immediately gave me a stare that could kill. Eve came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Harry can we have a minute?”

“But E, he’s Liam pa-“

“Harry don’t just please let us talk for a little bit.” She said. He looked between me and her then dramatically sighed and left down the hall. Eve pulled me into her room. It was so cool. The walls were covered in poems and stories, most likely written by her, there was one black wall that looked like she used it as a dry erase board because there were white smears and marks all over it, some song titles and other things. The whole room just screamed Eve.

“Um Liam?”

“Oh hey sorry”

“So…you um wanted to talk?” she asked nervously.

“Well I can tell that it’s still bothering you so I thought we could do something else until you’re ready to talk.” I suggested.

“Oh, Liam I’m not that kind of girl, I’m sorry,” she said, I just chuckled.

“And I’m not that kind of guy. I thought we could enjoy these,” I said pulling the ice cream and movies from behind my back. Eve gasped.

“Oh my gosh Li, thank you so much! These are my favorite movies, how did you know?” I had Perks of Being a Wildflower and Geography Club.

“I just guessed.” I said with a humble smile.

We shared the ice cream and watched both movies cuddled in each other’s arms. After we finished Geography Club Eve finally spoke again.

“Li, I’m ready to talk she said nervously, playing with her fingertips. I reached up and tilted her chin up so she looked e in the eyes.

“And I’m ready to listen…”

I really hope you liked the finished chapter... I tried to make it extra long to make up for my absence. It Is actually 2x as long as I usually make my chapters.

::Question of the day::

What is your favorite song and why???

~~love you all, Lauryn~~
(P.S. If you didn't notice there wasn't a QOTD response posted above it was because no one responded. please don't forget to answer the questions because I really like reading your responses)

Notes

I really hope you liked the finished chapter... I tried to make it extra long to make up for my absence. It Is actually 2x as long as I usually make my chapters.

::Question of the day::

What is your favorite song and why???

~~love you all, Lauryn~~