~next day~
I went to class. I felt good today since we cleared up some misunderstandings yesterday. I instinctively looked at my old seat. He was there early again—sitting in my seat like it belonged to him.
I paused for a second, then walked over anyway. "Can I?" I asked, and he stood up immediately. "Yeah, of course." This time, he didn't sit right next to me—he left one seat between us. "Didn't want to assume," he said.
That threw me off a little. "You can sit with me, I don't bite." I said laughing. He relaxed a bit then came and sat next to me. Then he pulled out a chocolate and handed it to me. "You had this yesterday." I blinked. "You noticed that?"
"I notice a lot of things about you." He said casually. I didn't know what to say to that, so I just took it. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
He was different today.
Quieter.
Easier. "Did you get this?"
"Yes, I did"
"Can I see your notes?" I nodded.
He glanced at my notebook and said "Why do you write so neatly?"
I shrugged "It's easier to read this way"
"Are you judging everyone's handwriting?" he added. "Yes," I said. He nodded seriously. "I knew it." I almost smiled.
A few minutes later, he leaned slightly closer. "You always sit like this?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're ready to escape." I frowned.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Stop analyzing me."
"I'm not analyzing, I'm observing."
"That's worse." He smiled. "You're interesting."
I looked back at my notebook. "You're distracting."
"That's also true, or maybe I'm just too handsome to not notice" he said smirking.
"You're so full of yourself" i said smiling while shaking my head, turning my attention back on the board again.
Later, he tapped my pen lightly. "You missed a point."
I looked at him. "No, I didn't."
He pointed at the board. I checked. He was right. I sighed. "Don't get used to this," I said. "Too late," he replied. "I like being right."
"Of course you do."
"You like that I'm right."
"Don't push it." He laughed quietly. "You're cute."
I looked at him startled then blushed "thank you."
After class, we walked out together again. Not too close, not far either.
"Tell me something about you," he said.
I sighed. "My house is loud. My brother talks non-stop, my mom worries about everything, and my dad… he's just there."
He paid full attention this time and didn't joke. "That sounds like something." "It's not," I said quickly. "Your turn."
He nodded. "My house is the opposite. Too quiet. No one talks unless they have to." "That sounds worse." "It is." He kicked a small stone on the ground as we walked.
"Sometimes I stay out longer just to avoid going back."
I glanced at him. "That bad?"
"That empty." I didn't reply to that.
"You can come to my house if you want" i said it without thinking and then realized what i said, oh my god i just invited him to my place.
He chuckled "Sure, I would love to someday."
We reached the gate and slowed down. "You'll text?" he asked.
I looked at him. "You already text."
He smiled slightly. "Yeah, but I want you to." I didn't answer, just gave a small nod and walked toward the bus.
~night~
he texted me. "Did you eat?"
I replied. "Yes i did"
Then he asked "what",
"lasagna"
He replied, "You don't look like someone who eats lasagna."
I frowned at my screen. "what does that even mean?"
"You look like you'd pick something simple." I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway.
"you're weird."
"You like that." I didn't reply to that.
Then—"What are you doing?"
I looked down at my crochet.
"Show me." I hesitated, then sent a picture.
"You made that? "
"yeah."
"It's nice." A pause. Then—"You're nice."
I stared at the message, not replying immediately.
Another text came. "Don't go quiet on me again."
"I'm not, I'm just tired, gotta go, good night Ethan"
"Good night, Pretty"
I looked at the screen a little longer this time.
Because somehow—
between the jokes, the small moments, the way he kept showing up—
it was getting easier to forget why I was trying to be careful in the first place.