The Cosmos

VIII

Elena was humming a song underneath her breath, and it was wonderful.

They never got to meet up for the second time, because Elena was tied up with some work and the times she were free, Nathan was preoccupied. It was an unfortunate turn of events, but Nathan didn't mind because he still got to talk to her often. And he didn't need the tuitions anyways. But he didn't tell that to Elena because she was hell-bent on 'making it up' to him and Nathan was all the more willing.

This was two weeks ago, and they had only gotten closer.

Exhibit A is right now. Nathan and Elena had come around to that stage when they sat at the same table in the cafeteria. The group of people that he sat with before didn't seem to care much, considering how they just shrugged when Nathan went away.

Adrien, however, was now sitting with them. Everyday.

Nathan got used to it. After the first week, at least, wherein he wanted to strangle Adrien. Elena, on the other hand, was elated. And how could Nathan refute that?

Elena's shifted in her seat from time to time, in tune with the melody she hummed. It was strangely familiar to Nathan, but he was much too entranced with the way she would do a mini dance while eating her burger.

"Stop being a Nathan, Nathan. It's rude to stare during meals." Adrien admonished him, pursing his lips to conceal the obvious grin.

Nathan scowled at him. "I was not staring." Lie.

"Hush, my boy. I know I am all too beautiful to not gawk at."

"I will stab you."

"Kinky." Adrien winked and Nathan flipped him off.

Adrien very subtly dragged his chair closer to Nathan's. So inconspicuously that the group from two tables over, turned to look at the screeching noise. Elena momentarily looked up before going back to her food.

"Do you know Maya?"

Nathan squinted his eyes slightly and tried to remember. "I don't think I do."

Adrien grinned. "Aw. She fancies you, you know."

Nathan's eyes comically widened, and his eyebrows raised.

"M-me?" he sputtered, but Adrien nodded, stifling his laughter.

Nathan was quite shocked, but he shook his head adamantly. "There is no way."

"He's not lying." Said a voice he least expected to hear. His eyes almost bugged out of their sockets, and Nathan could only gape.

"You too, Elena?!"

Elena dusted her hands on her jeans, ridding them of any leftover crumbs. She regarded him with an impassive look.

"It's true. I'm surprised you don't know of it, almost everyone does."

Nathan searched her face for anything – a slight crack, a hint of emotion. He found none, and his heart hurt a little. He had hoped she would care.

Someone challenged Adrien to eat a bucket-worth of chips. He made his exit from their table known with a small pat on Nathan's back.

"That's nice to hear but I...didn't notice." He mumbled, quite dejected now. Elena didn't care that someone else is interested in Nathan romantically. Why would she?

His self-wallowing was cut off by a scoff. Nathan raised an eyebrow at her.

She lifted one shoulder, "Nothing, it's just that – that's such a you thing to say. I'm not even surprised."