Page 12 of Worth the Risk

I’ve just made it back onto campus where it feels more safe to play music through my headphones. I look down at my phone to change the music and set the tone for the walk across campus, pressing play on the Folklore album by Taylor Swift. Before I have a chance to tuck my phone back into my pocket I walk into something rock hard, a hand catches my elbow steadying me before I have the chance to fall onto my ass.

Chapter 8

Liam

As an athletic training major I spend most of my time in the athletic building, so between classes and baseball I don’t spend a lot of time in other areas of the campus. This semester my internship is with the volleyball team. Most other seniors in my major wanted to work with a higher profile team like our football, hockey, or soccer teams but between my classes and baseball practices working with the volleyball team was the best fit for me. This is the first semester where we really get to work with other students, assessing them and assisting in providing treatment when necessary.

When I chose my major freshman year, I chose it thinking it would help me if I ever got injured when I made it to the major leagues. However, over the course of the last three years I’ve actually found that I’m passionate about the field, about helping other athletes.

I sit on the sidelines with the head athletic trainer, we’re there to assess and watch the players who have reported problems. The volleyball team completes their first match, winning by a landslide. After the win, I help wrap a girl's wrist that she broke last semester and is still trying to regain full strength in. By the time the match is over and I’m done with my duties, the head athletic trainer, our internship supervisor, releases me for the night.

Walking out of the building and towards my car, I pause on the sidewalk to text Ryan and let him know I’m headed home, even though he’ll still be at practice for a bit. Right before I hit send on the text, a small figure runs into me. I jut my hand out to keep this person from falling down slightly annoyed that they weren’t watching where they were going. That is, until I look down and see a familiar hoodie, I trace my eyes up further and see the strawberry hues I’ve been dreaming about all summer.

“Emilia?” I’m shocked to see her. I hoped I’d see her eventually of course but I hadn’t imagined it would be on the first day of school. Finally the girl looks up, her bright blue eyes staring into mine, widening.

“Liam. Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I should’ve been watching where I was going.” She shakes her head at herself.

“Hey, it’s okay.” I smile at her, unable to believe the girl I can’t stop thinking about was placed right into my lap. Forget being annoyed, I’m beyond excited right now.

“Oh, here!” She pulls back slightly, my arm falling from her elbow. Removing her backpack, she grabs the hoodie by the bottom to pull over her head. I stop her, tugging it back down.

“No, you can keep it. It’s chilly out.” It’s really not that cold, she’d be fine in a t-shirt but seeing my clothes on her just feels right.

“Are you sure? I’ve already had it all summer. Oh and your sweatpants. I can get it all back to you.” Am I sure? Of course I’m sure, the only thing better than seeing her again is seeing her in my hoodie with my name and number on the back. That’s a dream come true right there.

“Emilia, it's fine. Please keep it.”

“Are-”

“Do not ask me if I'm sure again.” I cut her off, earning a shy smile from her. “Where are you headed anyway? It's dark out.”

“Oh, I just got done with work. So I’m just headed back to my apartment.”

“Where do you work?”

“Well, I have two jobs, but the one I just got off is at Nico’s, the Italian restaurant down the street.” She hikes her thumb back over her shoulder pointing in the direction of Nico’s.

“Can you not park there? Is your car in this lot?” I ask thoroughly confused, why wouldn’t they let her park there? It would be so much safer than having her walk down the road back to campus.

“Oh,” she giggles awkwardly, “um, no. No car, I’m walking.”

“You’re walking alone? It’s getting dark.”

“The rest of the walk is on campus, it’ll be fine.” She shrugs. Fine? I don’t think so. What if she runs into a creepy guy just like she did at my party. The thought alone has my blood boiling.

“Let me drive you.” I blurt out.

“You don’t need to do that.”

“I want to.”

“Are you sure?” This girl, does she always feel like she’s an inconvenience?

“Yes, I’m sure.” I grab her backpack off the ground but don’t hand it to her.

“You don’t need to carry that.”

“I know.” I try to hide the sides of my mouth turning up.

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