Ria
I stare at my phone for a moment before typing the message. My fingers hover over the screen, unsure if I'm being too forward or not forward enough. It's just… hard to read him sometimes. I mean, Lachlan's this quiet, intense guy—always so focused, always so hard on himself. And after last night's fight, I can tell he's still in his head about it. He might've won, but the guy doesn't seem to think it was enough. That's part of what I like about him, though. That drive. That hunger.
I think I've spent more time watching him than I probably should admit. The way his jaw clenches when he's thinking, the way his eyes narrow when he's working on something, even the way he breathes when he's tired—he doesn't even realize how captivating it is. But I can't let him know that. Not yet, anyway.
I type the message, then delete it. Too casual.
I try again. "Hey, you wanna hang out today? You know, get your mind off the fight and everything?" That sounds okay, right? Casual, but… kind of friendly? I want to see him outside the cage. To see him for who he really is.
But then I think, Maybe that's too much. So I erase the message again. I can't come on too strong. I can't be the girl who just throws herself at him.
Finally, I settle on something simple. "Hey, I was thinking it'd be cool to hang out today. You free?"
I hit send and put my phone down, biting my lip as I lean back against the couch. I try to distract myself with something, but all I can think about is what he'll say. Will he think it's weird? Will he think I'm trying to get too close? I've seen how he is with other people—he doesn't exactly open up easily. But that's what makes him interesting. He's not like everyone else.
A few minutes later, my phone buzzes.
Lachlan: "Yeah, sure. I'm free."
My heart skips a beat. He said yes. Simple. To the point.
I can't help but smile. "Great! I know a place we could grab some food. I can pick you up if you want?"
I bite my lip, pressing send before I overthink it again. I want to keep it light, not make it seem like I'm too eager. I'm not looking for anything crazy—just some time with him. Some space to see him outside the gym. I think we'd have fun.
The reply comes quick.
Lachlan: "Yeah, sure. You can pick me up."
I try to play it cool, but inside, I'm doing a little happy dance.
I throw my phone on the couch and stand up, pacing. Okay. Keep it chill. Don't get ahead of yourself. Don't freak him out.
But as I get dressed, I can't help but think about him. Think about how close we'll be when I pick him up. The ride over to the restaurant. The small talk. His voice. His smile. God, his smile.
I shake my head, trying to stay grounded. I can't let myself get too carried away. It's just a hangout. Nothing more.
But still… I catch myself hoping it'll be more. A lot more.
I pull up to the gym and park, my fingers drumming on the steering wheel. I'm nervous—more nervous than I thought I would be. The last time we were together, it was in a cage, and we weren't talking about… anything else. This is different.
I check my makeup in the rearview mirror, and just as I'm about to adjust my shirt for the fifth time, he steps outside, looking exactly like he does in my head—worn, but still somehow perfect. His hair's messier than usual, and his T-shirt clings to his chest in a way that makes my stomach flip. He looks tired, but he still walks with that quiet intensity, like he's always got something he's working toward.
He gets into the car and gives me a short nod. "Hey. Didn't know you had a car."
I smile, trying to keep my voice light. "Hey, yeah its my mom's, she's letting me borrow it, how you feeling?"
He shrugs, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Better. Still a little sore, but... I'll live."
I watch him for a moment, his jaw tightening as he shifts in his seat. He's still in that zone, still replaying everything in his head. But that's okay. I'll get him to relax. I'll make him forget about everything for a while.
"Good," I say, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. "I'm glad. I was thinking maybe we could go to that record shop. You know, the one with pinball? It's a nice vibe. Really chill."
He glances at me for a second, his expression unreadable. "Yeah. Sounds good."
I smile a little wider, feeling that familiar thrill of being close to him. He said it sounded good. That's a win, right?
We drive in silence for a few minutes, and I can feel the tension in the air, but I don't want to push it. I just want him to know that he can be himself around me.
I sneak a glance at him again, wondering if he's going to make the first move—say something more, or even make a joke. But Lachlan's just… quiet. It's not uncomfortable, though. It's kind of peaceful in a way.
"I don't know," I say after a while, trying to break the silence, "I think you'd be a lot of fun if you just let go a little more. You know? You work hard, but you need to live too."
He raises an eyebrow, and for a second, I think I've said something wrong, but then he just nods. "Yeah. I guess you're right."
I can't help but feel a little hopeful. He didn't not get the hint, right? There's still a chance.
But I don't push it. Not yet. He'll come around. I just need to be patient.
After all, what's the rush? I've got all the time in the world with him.
The drive is smooth, and the city slowly fades behind us as we head toward the pier. I can feel the tension between us, but it's different now. It's not uncomfortable; it's just… there. I keep stealing glances at Lachlan, but he doesn't seem to notice, or maybe he's just used to me by now. I can't decide if I want to push for something more or if I should just let him be.
He's not the type to open up easily, and maybe that's part of the appeal. He doesn't need anyone to try and fix him, to fill the silence with empty words. He's got his own way of processing everything, and I respect that. But still… I wonder if, maybe, I could be the one person he lets in.
I don't say anything for a while, just focusing on the road and letting the soft hum of the engine fill the gaps. My heart's still beating a little faster than usual. I'm not used to feeling this way around someone, not like this. I've dated guys before, but with Lachlan—with him—it's different. He's not the type to play games.
We pull into a parking spot a little down from the shop, and I can see the neon lights just a little ways down, the lights twinkling against the darkening sky. The sound of the people laughing echoes in the distance. I park the car and turn off the engine, finally breaking the silence.
"So, uh, this place is nice," I say, my voice light but still with that undercurrent of nervous energy. "I thought it might be good for today. A bit of a change of scenery, you know?"
Lachlan glances around, For a second, I think maybe he's not into it, but then he just nods. "Yeah. Looks pretty chill."
I smile, relieved. The last thing I want is to make him feel out of place. I slide out of the car, and as I round the front, I catch him looking at me for a second longer than usual. My heart skips, and I force myself to act casual. Just keep it cool, Ria. Just keep it cool.
We walk into the record shop, and it's just as cozy as I remember—soft lighting, wooden tables, and the scent of vinyl filling the air. We start looking through the rows, and I let Lachlan take the lead in the conversation, letting him decide how much he wants to say.
"So, how's training going?" I ask, casually leaning back in my chair, trying to keep it light. But inside, I'm aching for more. For him to talk, for him to let me in just a little bit more.
"It's... it's fine," he replies, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just a lot to work on."
I can tell he's holding something back, but it's like a wall he's put up, and no matter how much I want to knock it down, I don't push. Not yet.
We continue looking, and for a while, it's just the two of us standing there, comfortable in our own little bubble. But every so often, I catch him glancing at me—his eyes lingering a little longer than they should, as if he's debating something, wondering if he should say something more. Come on, Lachlan. Just open up.
The owner asks if theres anything we are looking for. We both shake our heads and continue to rummage through the records. I continue looking, trying to appear casual, when I see him staring at me for a moment, almost like he's trying to figure me out.
"So," he starts, his voice quieter than usual, "Why did you want to hang out today?"
I flinch, caught off guard by the question. It's so simple, yet it makes my heart skip a beat. He's asking, but not really. He's probing, just enough to see if I'll give him an opening.
I lean in slightly, my voice playful but careful, not wanting to scare him off. "I thought it'd be nice. You know, to get to know each other outside the gym. It's... different."
He looks at me for a moment, and then a tiny smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah. It's different."
The way he says it makes my heart flutter. He's intrigued.
"Different can be good," I add, keeping my tone light, but with just a hint of something else. I want him to know it's not just about the records, not just about the hangout. It's more than that. I'm not just here as his friend. But I won't say it outright. Not yet.
He nods, his fingers moving lightly through the records. "Yeah, I guess."
For a moment, I think I've pushed too hard, but then, as if on cue, the conversation shifts. He asks me about my day, about what I've been up to, and I answer, but there's something unspoken between us now. Something simmering just under the surface.
I'm careful not to read too much into the small glances, the way his lips curl slightly when he looks at me, the way his gaze softens when he talks. He's not giving me any big signs—nothing obvious—but there's something there. Something more than just two people hanging out.
It's subtle, but it's there. And maybe that's enough for now. I don't want to rush it. I don't want to scare him away with something too forward, too soon.
But as we finish up and walk outside into the cool night air, I can't help but feel that this could be the start of something. Something real. Something he'll come to realize on his own.
Lachlan looks at me,"Alice in Chains?" He shows a little smile, I hadn't even thought to ask about his music taste.
"Oh, yeah, my dad loves them, he's super into the "Grunge genre." I say smiling back at him hoping he doesn't notice my red face.
He laughs, "I like them too, although I like most music, I'm not too picky. Does your dad also work at the shelter?"
"No, he lost his citizenship a few years ago when President Sterling took away birthright citizenship." I say choking up a little
"Oh, I'm sorry." Lachlan responds by giving me a half hug.
I blush, thrown off by the action, "What's your favorite band or artist?"
"Peep." He responds to me, he seems to be hiding his face a little.
"Peep? Like the marshmallow bunnies?" I say laughing out loud. "I'll have to listen to them."
"Him, it's just one guy." Lachlan says with a small smile. "He passed away though."
I don't know how to respond, I just let the silence linger. It feels right though, He doesn't seem sad. It seems like he's enjoying our time together. Somehow, I feel that I'll get some insight into Lachlan if I listen to this Peep guy.