richpez for mae

27

It was the end of January and Lauren and Joey had started to message more frequently, sending each other texts, anecdotes, funny jokes, cute dogs etc. Knowing that they were both still there for each other was extremely comforting. Lauren knew she could text Joey for anything and vice versa, and they already had the bond to know what each other liked and disliked. There were still a few awkward moments while still trying to establish their unwritten and unspoken boundaries, but both really wanted to give this second chance their all and worked around any silences or differences that they had.

Classes had just started back after winter break, most students who didn't go back to campus for New Year finally arriving and signing up for classes. The campus looked full of life again after only a handful of students were around previously, and everyone was settling in for the long semester ahead.

As Joey's lectures had begun again, he was sat in M110, listening to his professor analyse a piece of text on the whiteboard. Joey was taking notes, not knowing most people in his new class so not having an excuse to not pay attention. He looked up to read at the board, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure that had entered the dimly lit room and was walking towards his professors desk. Joey almost gave himself whiplash having to do a double take when he realised who the person was in the room. He forgot how much of an affect she had on him, so seeing her again took all the air from his lungs.

Lauren didn't seem to notice him at first, walking in and placing some sheets of paper on his professors desk in front of her. His professor looked towards Lauren and offered her a small smile, mouthing her a thank you as he continued to speak. She smiled back, turning to leave the room as fast as she entered it.

Joeys eyes never left her so when Lauren turned but looked up towards the auditorium and their eyes met, he felt the adrenaline rush around his body, not daring to even blink. Lauren smiled and waved up at him as she continued walking, and Joey smiled back. But all too soon she was gone and Joey exhaled, sinking into his seat.

He had seen Lauren around campus before that lecture, crossing paths multiple times and engaging in brief conversation, but seeing her unexpectedly, especially in his lectures, was something he had forgotten he enjoyed so much. The feeling of seeing her as if it was the first time sent a wave of nostalgia over his body, thinking back to the first time that it had happened all those months ago.

All hope of concentration had been lost as he slumped further into the chair, already thinking about the next time he might be able to see her again.

Luckily for Joey, it wasn't long.

After his lecture came to a close, Joey figured it would be best for him to go to the library to study and stay on top of his schoolwork. Stopping at the cafeteria for a drink, he trudged his way through the wet and windy campus and into the library, immediately delayering from his scarf, coat and jumper.

The library was big, and for the first time since he had started, pretty quiet. He could see mostly free tables as he walked down the aisle and strolled into the seated area, choosing a desk towards the outskirts of the room to sit. But as he reached the table that he was going to use, he looked to his right and again, had to do a double take when he saw Lauren sat with her head down at a table a few feet away. She was sat with earphones in, a laptop on one side with her books on the other and she was making notes intensely. He was thankful that she hadn't noticed him and that he hadn't noticed her earlier.

He slumped down, pulling his belongings out of his bag and setting them on the table, ready to study, and began to look through the legible notes he had taken, trying to make sense of it all again on his own without his professor.