Tasha tried to focus on the professor. Dr. Evans was talking about the history of psychology, but Tasha's mind kept drifting. She could feel Liam next to her, even without looking. He was quiet, but his presence felt huge.
She risked a quick glance. Liam was leaning back in his chair, one arm resting on the table. His eyes were on the professor, but his face gave nothing away. He looked bored, yet somehow completely alert. He was typing notes on his laptop, his fingers moving fast and silently.
He's actually paying attention? Tasha thought, surprised. She expected him to be fiddling with his phone or clearly not caring. Instead, he seemed just as focused as anyone else. It was annoying. He was annoying.
The lecture continued. Dr. Evans was talking about different types of human behavior. "Sometimes," she explained, "we find ourselves repeatedly encountering certain individuals. These repeated encounters, even if negative, can create a strange sort of connection, almost a… forced familiarity."
Tasha's eyes flicked to Liam, then quickly back to the professor. She swallowed. Forced familiarity? Oh, great. It felt like Dr. Evans was talking directly to her.
After what felt like forever, the lecture ended. Students started gathering their things, chatting as they stood up. Tasha quickly packed her notebook, hoping to get out fast before Liam could say or do anything else.
"Hey, you done with those notes?" a low voice asked from beside her.
Tasha froze. It was Liam. He was standing, looking down at her, his expression still unreadable.
Tasha clutched her notebook. "What about them?" she asked, trying to sound calm, but her voice came out a bit shaky.
"Just wondering if they're actually useful, or if you just scribble aimlessly," he said. There was no real insult in his tone, but it felt like one. It was his casual way of speaking, like he already knew she was beneath him.
Tasha's face flushed. "They're perfectly useful, thank you very much! Unlike some people, I actually try to learn."
Liam's lips curved slightly, not quite a smile. "Right. Well, try not to block the walkway on your way out this time. Some of us actually have other places to be." He then turned and walked away, disappearing into the stream of students leaving the hall.
Tasha watched him go, her jaw tight. She couldn't believe his nerve. He was unbelievable! Her "forced familiarity" with Liam was starting to feel less like a connection and more like a never-ending annoyance. She pulled out her phone, her fingers flying across the screen. She needed to tell Sabrina everything.