* / right here !

          –   𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢   𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐   𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝   𝚝𝚘   𝚝𝚑𝚎   𝚔𝚒𝚍   ,   nic   offers   them   a   genuine   smile   before   looking   up   at   the   sky   with   them.   he   nods   ,   being   simply   amazed   by   the   simpler   things   in   life.   people   definitely   took   it   for   granted.                  ‘   it   really   is,   ’   he   replies.               ‘   not   a   cloud   in   sight   ,   just   beautiful   ,   blue   sky.   could   you   imagine   living   without   it   ?   isn’t   it   dangerous   for   humans   to   be   without   the   sky   or   something   ?   ’

          –   𝚑𝚎   𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝   𝚍𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚔   𝚢𝚎𝚝   ,   or   high   enough   to   stand   the   pumping   of   the   bass   from   the   house   –   but   the   night   was   young   and   it   wasn’t   really   a   party   without   nic   doing   something   stupid.   stereotypical   red   solo   cup   in   hand   ,   he   takes   a   sip   of   the   typical   cheap   beer   before   seeing   tadge   offer   him   a   lit   joint.               ‘   thank   god   ,   that’s   more   like   it.   ’   he   takes   the   joint   and   takes   a   brief   hit   ,   breathing   out   and   feeling   almost   instantly   less   sober   –   placebo   effect   ,   probably.               ‘   it’s   been   a   minute   tadge   ,   how   are   things   ?   ’

         –   𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐   𝚝𝚑𝚎   𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚏   𝚘𝚗   𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎'𝚜   𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎   makes   it   all   worth   it   –   he   doesn’t   even   mind   that   he   got   lost   in   the   small   goodwill   and   had   to   take   a   rest   in   one   of   the   clothing   aisles.   he   spreads   his   arms   in   a   lopsided   shrug   before   offering   oliver   the   pup.   the   other   one   has   always   been   kind   to   him   ,   even   when   he   was   failing   biology   freshman   year   –   no   ,   especially   when   he   was   failing   biology.   he   owed   him   his   life   for   helping   him   pass.               ‘   we   got   that   connection   –   what   is   it   ?   telepathetic   connection   ?   telephonetic   ?   ’   he   laughs   lazily.               ‘   nah   ,   man   ,   i   just   knew   ,   you   know   ?   also   i   was   dared   to   do   two   shots   earlier   so   my   drunk   powers   helped   me   out   too.   ’

          –   𝚊𝚝   𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝   𝚜𝚑𝚎'𝚜   𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎   ,   nic   doesn’t   even   know   how   he   feels   around   her.               ‘   uh   ,   sure.   i   can   get   you   the   good   water   too,   ’   he   jokes   weakly.               ‘   you   know   ,   the   smart   water   –   with   the   electrolytes   or   whatever.   ’

          –   𝚑𝚒𝚜   𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑   𝚒𝚜   𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐   𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢   𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍   𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖   his   room   and   he   shuts   the   door   as   she   walks   in.   he   tosses   the   dirty   clothes   into   an   overfilled   hamper   by   the   closet   and   jumps   onto   his   comfortable   bed.               ‘   aw   ,   babe   –   you’re   so   sweet.   ’   he   holds   a   hand   over   his   chest   ,   teasing   her   as   much   as   he   can   before   the   little   spitfire   actually   does   hurt   him.               ‘   kidding   ,   of   course.   saying   it   feels   weird   but   you’re   the   one   that   asked   for   this.   ’   he   shrugs   ,   patting   the   space   next   to   him   on   the   bed.   it   isn’t   her   first   time   on   his   bed   ,   but   it’s   her   first   time   as   his   ‘   girlfriend   ’   –   he   holds   back   a   shudder   ,   thinking   about   referring   to   her   as   that.   his   features   contort   into   confusion   at   her   final   question   and   he   inhales   slowly.         ‘   uh   ,   i   don’t   know.   maybe   when   you’ve   broken   up   with   him   for   real   ?   or   when   you’re   about   to   ,   you   know   –   so   we   don’t   look   too   sus.   ’

           –   𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐   𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎   𝚗𝚒𝚌   𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚛   𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗   𝚑𝚒𝚜   𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜   ,   and   it   was   always   a   plus   if   they   were   happy.   he   couldn’t   help   the   smile   that   spread   on   his   lips   as   blaire   approached   him   ,   taking   his   earbuds   out   the   instant   he   heard   her   voice   through   the   silence.   he   took   the   soccer   ball   ,   tossing   it   up   before   catching   it   and   examining   it.   it   was   cool   ,   she   was   right.               ‘   jeez   ,   blaire   –   this   is   sick.   ’   he   was   impressed  and  he   handed   it   back   to   her.                  ‘   i’m   gonna   have   to   one-up   you   now,   but   yeah   –   i’m   always   down   for   lunch.   the   nutritionist   said   i   need   for   carbs   ,   whatever   that   is.   ’

          –    𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜   𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐   𝚑𝚎𝚛   ,   𝚗𝚒𝚌'𝚜   𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜   𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔   𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘   a   characteristic   smile   ,   friendly   and   genuine   as   he   looks   down   to   her.               ‘   it’s   not   a   problem.   at   least   you   didn’t   tackle   me   the   way   my   teammates   do   when   they’re   after   me.   ’   a   weak   attempt   at   a   joke   ,   but   he   laughs   at   his   own   joke   anyway.   he   tries   to   look   down   at   her   phone   ,   but   he’s   too   doozy   to   focus   and   see   anything.               ‘   what’s   the   rush   ?   special   someone   you’re   running   off   to   meet   ?   ’

          –   𝚜𝚘   𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎   𝚑𝚒𝚜   𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝   𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕   𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝   𝚊   𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎   ,   he   wasn’t   going   to   admit   it   to   her   –   or   anyone   ,   really.   he   stands   over   her   ,   eyes   running   over   her   features   before   shaking   his   head   at   her.               ‘   no   ,   just   wondering   if   you’re   okay,   ’   he   says   genuinely   ,   offering   her   a   hand   to   help   her   up.               ‘   we’re   close   to   the   athletic   center   ,   if   you   need   some   water.   ’

          –   𝚑𝚒𝚜   𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖   𝚒𝚜   𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢   𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚢   ,   which   makes   him   all   types   of   insecure.   he   knows   he’s   not   the   brightest   bulb   in   the   box   ,   but   at   least   he   can   have   a   clean   room   ,   yeah   ?   bending   down   to   pick   up   his   latest   practice   gear   ,   he   sends   his   old   friend   a   sheepish   smile.               ‘   sorry   for   the   mess,   ’   he   pauses   ,   his   sheepish   smile   transforming   into   a   mischievous   smirk.   ‘   babe.   ’   it’s   been   a   week   since   they   made   the   deal   and   he   doesn’t   feel   great   about   it   ,   since   she’s   technically   not   single   (   yet   )   but   she’s   one   of   his   oldest   friends   ,   it’s   the   least   he   can   do   for   her.               ‘   what’re   our   plans   for   the   week   ?   ’

          –    𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚎   𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐   𝚊   𝚍𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗   𝚘𝚗𝚎   𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎   with   fast   reflexes   ,   kat’s   hand   slamming   on   the   table   makes   nic   jump   almost   ten   feet   in   the   air.   her   words   are   going   in   one   ear   and   out   the   other   ,   unfortunately.   nic   wonders   if   she   knows   exactly   who   she’s   talking   to   ,   since   nic   doesn’t   know   what   or   who   jeff   bezos   is.   he   opens   his   mouth   ,   almost   like   an   agape   fish   ,   but   closes   it   without   anything   to   respond   with.   he   thinks   for   a   beat   ,   his   mind   almost   throbbing   at   how   hard   he   focused   on   the   words   ‘   anime   girlfriend   ’   before   he   looks   at   kat.               ‘   uh-huh,   ’   he   says   ,   trying   to   at   least   sound   intelligent.

          –    𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛   𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐   𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜   𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍   ,   one   would   think   nic   would   know   better   than   to   be   day   drunk   within   his   first   week   on   campus.   technically   ,   he’s   not   drunk   drunk   ,   tipsy   would   be   the   better   word   to   describe   his   condition.   a   common   ,   goofy   smile   is   plastered   on   his   lips   as   he   walks   through   campus   ,   hands   clutching   a   second-hand   bought   stuffed   animal.   it’s   a   golden   retriever   ,   one   he   found   on   the   floor   at   goodwill   and   decided   would   be   good   enough.   he   greeted   almost   everyone   he   passed   ,   even   the   people   he   didn’t   know   before   –   quite   literally   –   stumbling   into   exactly   who   he   was   looking   for.               ‘   oliver   mccray.   ’   he   attempts   to   sound   authoritative   ,   breaking   his   smile   to   put   on   a   serious   face.   two   seconds   later   ,   his   usual   grin   breaks   out   again.               ‘   i   got   you   a   present.   ’

ROMANTIC ☆ compassion. short writings on scraps of paper. blushed cheeks. a bouquet of roses. reading collections of poetry late at night. loose hair. carpeted floors. attending operas. faint music playing in the background. staying under the covers until midday. the night sky. streetlights. picking flowers. dancing around in silk dresses. scented candles.