The Last Architects

Chapter Thirty.

 It felt a bit odd hanging out with Heidi and Jane without Ema, and I often found myself waiting for his snarky little comebacks when I spoke only to hear nothing. It was very depressing... but even more so how he let himself wilt in our dorm, hardly eating and only accepting the water I left by his bed.

It was about time I mentioned something to Heidi, but she cut me to the chase by taking me a little ways from Jane, biting her lip as she thought.

"I-" I began just as she did and I quickly gestured for her to continue.

"What did you say to him? He has not been talking to me! Not hanging out! Nothing! I assume he has aI lover, but he will not tell me. I thought when we hung out you were going to kiss him that night?! What has happening?" She took me by the shoulders, shaking me violently, to which I took my glasses so they wouldn't fall.

"... I confessed... but there's someone else, and he isn't doing well so I- don't know what to do." I sighed, cleaning my glasses before putting them back on, which proved to be impossible as she was still shaking me around. "I think... he really needs a friend right now."

"I know you confessed! It is why he was crying all night at the hotel! But I- ughhh, you don't know him well. If he doesn't want me, he gets super closed off, then he won't talk to anyone. I have known him for years- he does not do confessions!" She groaned as she still continued to shake me.

"Why?" I placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her, "please, I'll get a headache." I placed my glasses back on once she withdrew her hands.

"Huh? He didn't say to you when you confessed?" She looked surprised, tucking her hands into her pockets as she eyed me.

"No...? He said what I felt was temporary but if this is temporary it should have faded by now."

"...Awww, babyyy." She sighed, and I almost did as well, her look of defeat directed at me just really digging in the fact I fucked up. "I told you Ema had a bad breakup, yes? Well- even before that... He never... how do I say... Ema does not believe in love. At all. Like, at all."

"..." I paused, tilting my head back slightly. Ema, aesthetics and happiness, didn't believe in love? "How... Can you not believe in that stuff and be him?" My brows furrowed at the thought, "has he just never seen... love?" Lords I sounded like my mother.

"No, never. He doesn't have a father, Skyler. His ex outed him, and the bullying got really bad till both of us switched schools entirely, and, well... He has had relations, but he never dates. He does not do love. And he thinks it isn't real for others as well..."

"... Oh my lord, what a dumbass." I groaned, dragging my hands across my face, "fuck it! I can deal without hearing I love you. I'm getting him out of bed." I turned on my heel, pausing when I remembered he had gone to class today... "Or just make sure he eats."

"Yes! He is very lucky for you! Just be aware that he panics very easily, yeah? He knows you like him, and by my opinion, she really likes you, too. But just- slowly, yeah?" She smiled worriedly and I nodded, giving her a reassuring smile.

"I'll do my best. If he refuses to eat, I will beat him, though." I rolled my eyes, "but with the relationship stuff... I'll do my best."

"I want you two to be happy, Skyler. But he's still a kid, so be patient, okay? I mean, he already said he was looking for reasons not to like you. Even if then he said there was none..." She winked.

"That's- good to know... and- just making sure, dating him now, it isn't a bad age gap, right?" I bit my lip, being raised by a mother victim to one, I was rather sensitive to it.

"Well, you're 20? He turns 18 in just a couple of days, so yeah, don't worry. You both are solid!" She gave a thumbs up, and I gave a relieved smile.

"Thank you, I'll be off then, I have to make some food before he's there to stop me." I lifted my hand in a wave as I paced away.

"Be safe! Sorry if he's an asshole!" She waved back and I shrugged.

"I fell in love with him when he was, that won't change." I fell in love. What a bold statement, but it felt right.

. . .

The portable stove I had bought was easy enough to set up, and once it was, I glanced at the bag of groceries and supplies I had gotten alongside the stove. It was a lot, but I wanted to make sure I made enough to pre-pack him lunch every day. So with a deep breath I began to prepare all the vegetables first.

I wasn't going to press my feelings on him any further, not until he was better, or whenever the time felt right. It was stupid how much I liked those beliefs of the red string and soulmates, but they made sense to me. For all the logic I normally used for other problems, love was the one thing I knew no one could predict or explain. It just was. And I liked it that way, even if it had caused me to fall for someone I used to hate...

Somewhere, in the midst of yelling and beating on each other, that feeling had developed... a feeling I hadn't ever had before with someone I deemed good enough to date, it was as if I now had to prove I was good enough to date him, and I didn't mind that challenge.

Being so lost in thought time ran past, and as I placed the small pot of miso soup on the counter I heard the door open, looking back to see Ema's blonde hair, but when my gaze traveled to his face I froze; his eyes swollen from crying, blood running down his chin from a bite on his lip. shaking as he took off his shoes and his hands trembling so bad he almost couldn't.

Quickly I went over, kneeling down to help him before leaning up, carefully taking his hand. "What happened?" I couldn't be too pushy. I had to remind myself of that, his blank stare at my chest worrying me even more as he swayed.

"...I- I took care of it..." He moved past me, walking to his bed and melting into it, and I followed closely. "...Skyler..?"

"Yes?" I placed a light hand on his head.

Ema jumped under my touch and I paused before he brought his arms around my waist. "...Can you... can you just stay..?"

"... Yeah... of course." I leaned down to kneel before his bed. "But let me get you some new clothes, ok? And some water." I brought my arms around him gently so he didn't feel I was pulling away.

He shook his head, pulling me closer. "I don't care about that... I just want you here.. for once, can- can I- can you just..." His voice broke off softly, his grip on me tightening.

"Yes, yes I can." I gently moved to lay next to him, letting him cuddle into my side, firmly holding him. He just needed a break...