i'm here.. (quackityxmalereader)

ch. 8 where'd all the time go

     I've been laying on my bed for the past day letting my fever die down. Alex asked me if i was free and wanted to play some games with him since i can't get up, but fumbling with a keyboard or even controller proves to be difficult. I can't even fall asleep without burning up. The most i can do is listen to my playlist on shuffle while i wait.

[timeskip]

     The fever's almost completely gone now, enough to where i can go to school and not get anyone else sick. This entire time i almost forgot i had classes to attend. I packed my books and overdue assignments in my bag and got in my car.

     I arrived in my college parking lot and started making my way to my first class, a lecture about some great philosopher. The chilled winter morning on my skin made me feel like i was freezing. I hurried inside the lecture hall, where id have to sit for the next two hours, sat around the middle, and started arranging my work to drop off at my teacher's offices after class.

     As more and more people started filling in the hall, i began regretting not sitting in the back. The lecture wasn't even relevant to my major but was still required by my professor and, from what it looks like, many other's professors as well. About five minutes before the lecture about "Plato's philosophy on love and it's almost pandemic traits", a familiar boy calls my name.

"(y/n) ?"

     I quickly turned my head upward from my laptop and notebook to see a familiar beanie and smile looking down at me.

     "Alex, nice seeing you here! Nice seeing you at all actually, i didn't know you went here ?" I asked curiously. "Yeah, well, it's a big university so i'll let it pass," he said happily. The lecturer soon began her presentation and allowed the hall to become almost silent. The air was so still, one could hear the clicking of a pen from the opposite side of the room.

     About an hour or so had passed since we started the presentation, with minimal conversation with Alex, as to not disturb the lecture. I peaked over to my side to see him somewhat struggling with this portion of notes, seeing him clearly anxious and almost beginning to sweat. I decide to take a yellow sticky note out of my pack and write a little message to check on him.

     "You good ?" i write leaving my pen next to it so he doesn't have to dig in his bag. He writes a small chunk of words and passes it back semi-calmly.

     "If good means seriously behind then yes, absolutely, definitely :')" His handwriting wasn't perfect but god damn was it close.

     "I can send you my copy of the notes once we finish if you need them"

     Alex takes the note in both hands, smiles, and begins folding it into a small swan, placing it next to my laptop. He makes a gesture asking if i have more so i take out the little stack i have to which he starts folding. It wasn't long until most of our workplace were filled with small animals, causing us to both forget about our notes entirely, and making us only focus on each other. "You two, in the middle, with the paper cranes. Please stand up for me," a strong voice said to Alex and me.

     I looked up hesitantly to the lecturer, fearing what she might do to me and Alex. As i wobbled up after Alex, she began staring at us silently. I turned to see if he was doing any better than me and saw the twitch streamer beaming through the hall towards the teacher. He turned his head to me and whispered, "you good ?" to which i gave no reply.

     All of the nerves in my body were in self-defense mode, forcing all of my senses into overdrive. I could feel the stares of the other students in the hall, the tiny whispers of gossip about Alex and me, and the collective holding of breaths throughout the air. Alex grabs my hand and looks into my eyes when i turn my head up to him, "it's going to be ok, i'm right here," i stare deeply into his eyes as he holds mine like a caring dog protecting a scarred cat. I fix my posture, take a large gulp, and look at the lecturer, holding on to Alex's hand for dear life.

     "This right here my students is a prime example of human nature. We always make the effort to protect those we love, whether it's conscientious or instinctive. If you recall Plato's quote 'love is a serious mental disease,' you can see its apparent effects right here. Love causes us as people to make reckless decisions, displayed with these two and their folding of birds. Another example of this would be the obvious holding of hands between the two." Alex and i looked at our grasped hands and quickly let them go. I looked away blushing and turned to see his face strawberry red. "Thank you, my good men, please sit back down and resume paying attention, at least more than you were a minute ago," she said allowing us to sit back in our seats.

     Alex and i sat back down and didn't make eye contact for the rest of the lecture. The most interaction between us was the flicking of a yellow crane repetitively back and forth between our shared space. Did i mess something up ? That wouldn't be so far-fetched, would it ? im always messing things up, aren't i ? why the hell would he even want to talk to me after today, i just got him called out by the teacher. this would've been better if i was gone. everything would be better if i was g-

     "(y/n) ? The lecture ended a few minutes ago, why are you still sitting here ?" Alex asked, wondering what was going through my head. I quickly realized my head was hanging over my closed notebook with a few tears hitting the cover. "O-oh, sorry, i guess i missed the ending haha," i said, not making eye contact. The last thing i wanted was him seeing me like this. "Hey, (y/n), is everything ok ? Do you need me to get you something ?" "Everything's fine Alex, i just.. nothing," i said timidly. I felt Alex give me a caring, pondering look before speaking again.

     "Is it... Was it me ? Did i do something wrong..?" Alex stayed quiet for a few more seconds. I could feel his now pale hand trembling on the desk. "I'll leave if that's what you wa-" "No, please, stay here with me. I need to be with someone right about now," I say smiling at Alex with a tear-stained face. Alex looked back at me on the brink of tears and mustered up a genuine smile. Alex sat back down with me and helped pack the rest of my things back in my bag.

[small timeskip]

     "I think we should really go now, we've been here a while," Alex spoke. It had been about half an hour since the lecture ended and ever since then we've been sitting in the hall alone joking around. "It'd be kinda weird if we were in here while a janitor started cleaning," he continued. It was still day, but the hall wasn't in use until tomorrow, so it wouldn't be too outlandish if they cleaned early. "Yeah, your right, i have papers to drop off anyway."

     Alex and i walked out of the hall and started walking towards my professor's office to turn in my late assignments. "Hey," i started, "thanks for sticking with me after all that just happened. Means a lot." "Of course dude, i mean, i stayed cause i like talking and hanging out with you," he said smiling. That smile. That beautiful smile. What i would give to keep him always smiling with me. He's so-

BONK

     I felt myself crash into the door, distracted by Alex, and got knocked back almost flat on my back. Alex began laughing at my idiocracy and struggled to help me back up. We shared a thorough moment of shared laughter and smiles before continuing to my professor's office.

timestamp. 1/21/2021 11:12 pm