The Date

The Next Day

The class was over and Luke packed his books and headed out of the lecture hall. He had no more class today and all he wanted was to go to his dorm and watch N*****x all day long since the day was Friday. He would study on Saturday.

His phone dinged a notification and he halted in the hall. He reached for his phone and stared at the screen.

It was a message from Sam.

“Hey, can I meet you at Matt's Diner?” The text read, “It's urgent.”

Luke stared at the screen suspiciously, with his brows raised.

What is it now? Has he gotten himself in trouble again?

“Be right there.” He texted back.

In no time, Luke was already in Matt's Diner, but to his utmost surprise, there was no Sam.

Where the hell was he? He thought annoyedly.

He angrily reached for his phone and texted him.

“Hey, dude, where the hell are you?”

He waited as saw the typing icon.

Then the text dropped.

“Please don't kill me” The text came with a smiley emoji, “Actually, I set you up on a date with this dude that has been begging me to link you both up. He's nice. You'll like him. Please don't kill me when you get back.”

Luke gritted his teeth in utter exasperation and cursed under his breath.

That imbecile!

He should have known! He should leave as soon as possible before the date arrives!

He turned to leave when he bumped into someone.

“I'm sorry,” He apologized, looking up at the muscular frame in front of him.

“It's okay,” The guy replied. “You're Luke!” He said in recognition, “Hi, I'm Travis.” He extended his vein-filled hand.

Luke's stomach dropped. This is the date!

He's going to kill that asshole when he gets back! How dare he play Cupid on him?

“Hi,” Luke gave Travis a fake smile, glancing at him over.

The guy, Travis, was tall, not too muscular but adequately muscular and handsome… Luke had to admit… he had this stubble face that made him more handsome than he already was.

His grey eyes were mesmerizing and his toned biceps were literally popping out of the tight shirt he had on.

Damn!

Luke found himself drooling.

“Hi,” He took the guy's hand. He liked the sensation he got when they made physical contact. “I'm Luke.”

“I know.” Travis smiled, revealing his cute dimples.

Damn! He's even more handsome when he smiles! Luke thought inwardly and found his heart fluttering. Goddamn it, I can't be falling for someone else! Of all the ugly dudes on campus, why did it have to be a smoking-hot one?!

Travis released Luke's hand. “I was nervous to introduce myself, so I asked Sam to help out. When he told me you had agreed, I couldn't believe it.” Travis still had a broad smile on his face, “Shall we?”

“Uh… yes.” Luke stammered, swallowing the lump in his throat.

He wanted to explain to Travis that Sam had actually set him up and that he didn't agree to this date, but he couldn't find his voice. There was something about this guy that he found quite interesting.

They chose a table and settled down.

“So, what will you have?” Travis asked, resting his muscular arms on the table as he leaned further.

“Anything you're having,” Luke said, awestruck.

“Alright then.”

Sam called over the waiter and ordered drinks for him and Sam.

As they waited for the drinks to arrive, they got into a conversation. To Luke's surprise, the conversation was as smooth as sailing on calm water.

The waiter brought the drinks.

Luke found Travis fun to be with, he had a great sense of humor and was easy to talk to. He already liked him.

But he was terrified. He was terrified that he liked Travis.

Ever since the Liam incident, he has always been terrified when he fell for someone new. The only solution he had to shove those growing feelings away was to stop seeing them.

But he told himself to enjoy this sweet moment, after all, he'd never agreed to meet up with Travis again unless they accidentally crossed paths.

“Hey, I just remembered,” Travis beamed excitedly, “Our school is having a basketball tournament with Raven College at the school arena. So, what do you say about going there and cheering for our school's team?”

Luke gaped at him.

He had grown to despise the sport called basketball as it did nothing but only remind him of the jerk, Liam. Liam used to be the star player on the basketball team when they were still in high school, and he, the bookworm.

Going to sit in a basketball arena was only going to stir back memories he wished to forget.

But how on earth could he decline Travis’ offer without feeling bad?

“Yeah… sure.” He finally replied and was weirdly happy when the smile on Travis' face broadened.

“Let's go then.”

In no time, they had arrived at the crowd-filled Evermore College basketball arena.

Ever since Luke began attending the college, he had never stepped foot in it, but right now, he wondered why he hadn't. The large space was just simply beautiful.

Even as he admired the place, he still didn't want to be here… the atmosphere, the air, the excited crowd as they cheered for their teams… it was all too familiar and he didn't quite liked it.

“Come on, there's an empty seat at the front.” Travis pointed to the front row excitedly as he pulled Luke along with him.

Great, just great! Luke thought angrily, you're dead Sam! Just you wait!

Travis' handsomeness and likable nature made Luke unable to tell him the date was over and walk out.

He shrugged, besides, it wouldn't be more than twenty minutes before the game ended, the first half was already done.

Raven College, away, had more points than Evermore College, home. The away college was certainly beating their college at their own games.

As Travis yelled and cheered for his team, Evermore College, Luke couldn't bear to watch, he brought his phone and sent Sam a text.

“I'm gonna smother you the moment I get back, just you wait!” He added an angry emoji.

“Too late!” Sam texted back with a mocking emoji, “I'm already out of the dorm, so you can't get me.”

“Better for you!”

The crowd suddenly erupted with another yell and cheer.

Looks like Raven College has scored another goal, Luke thought, glancing up from his phone.

The Raven College dudes were jumping around one of their teammates who was obviously the one who scored the goal.

Luke didn't care, he went back to his phone.

“Liam Fox is just the shit! I love him!”

Luke instantly froze and he felt his stomach tighten as he a fan girl yell.

Did he just hear right? Liam Fox? The same Liam Fox he knew? Or was it someone else with the same name?

He instantly dragged his eyes back to court, his eyes quickly scanning the Raven College dudes. He immediately caught his breath in utter shock the moment he saw him.

There he was… the foolish boy that had left him depressed, the coward, with happy smiles plastered across his lips as he jubilated, his distinctive strawberry blonde hair was scattered all across the side of his head and forehead, the sweatband made him look more… handsome?

What the fuck was Liam doing here? He is a student of Raven College?

Then as if on cue, Liam looked up… and met Luke's eyes.

Luke felt his soul exit his body, a hiccup escaping his lips as stared back at the pair of cobalt blue eyes he used to drown in.

“What the hell…”