live life (as the walls keep tumbling down)

Chapter Three

Kai thought back to that time years ago Lloyd had made him a sign that said "I only hyperfocus on my homework between the hours of midnight and 3 in the morning". Kai kind of wished he had that sign now, because it was an accurate description of how his school year was going. (For the record, of course he did his homework at hours that weren't the middle of the night. He just... happened to be best at actually focusing on it and getting it done at midnight.)

"I'm sorry if I'm keeping you up, I've never been good at focusing on my homework at a reasonable time." Kai muttered to Zane as he downed his third coffee. It was a Sunday morning, and people who went to church were going to church. Kai was not, and Zane wasn't either, so they were sitting outside a small cafe and spending some bonding time together. Kai would have kicked himself if he never became friends with his roommate.

"You think you're the only one that regularly goes to sleep that late? Kai, please." Zane snorted. "I haven't gone to sleep before one a.m. since summer. I'm dead inside."

"I'll drink to that," Kai said, considering if he needed another coffee. Nya hated his coffee habit- she called it an obsession, and said that coffee was gross bean water. Kai usually shot back that he needed his gross bean water to function, and he wasn't drinking it for the taste. "Wait, what are you staying up doing? There's absolutely no way your homework takes you that long, you're a machine."

"Working on a project of my own. If you want, I can show you the blue prints. I'm building a robot hunting falcon."

"Really? Dude, that's awesome." Kai offered him a fist bump, and Zane rolled his eyes slightly before humoring him.

"The best years of our lives." Zane gestured around. "Have you checked out the library? They set up a couple of puzzles on one of the tables and students are encouraged to put in a few pieces when they have free time, or as they're studying to prevent burnout."

"I'm so terrible at puzzles," Kai said. "They're more of Nya's thing. I get frustrated after three minutes and go to the corner to frustratedly vent about how terrible puzzles are. One time I spent an hour trying to put together a puzzle I thought was a boat. It was Starry Night."

"Wow." Was all Zane commented.

"I don't even think I've ever been the the library?" Kai shrugged. "Maybe once or twice, but I'm not really a books kind of person, and there was something about actually studying in a library that seemed... off. It's hard to explain, sorry. I just don't like libraries. Too many things."

"That's fine. We do have a new librarian, though, so it's all set up differently."

"What?" Kai frowned. "Ms. Mistaké left? I liked her, she was bitter and sarcastic."

"Like you?"

"We shared a sense of humor, even if I only went by every few months." Kai shrugged. "Whatever, I'll end up there during finals week crying. I always do."

"Apparently if you cry in the library, the new librarian gives you chocolate."

"You're kidding."

"Nope. Cole told me. He loves her."

"That's actually amazing, oh my God." Kai's phone buzzed, and he got it out.

"Is it your brother?" Zane asked.

"Nah, he probably got dragged to his boyfriend's church for Mass." Kai said absently. "It's my sister, Nya."

Nya: Kai, you loser, where are you

Kai: A, why do you need to know

Kai: B, insulting me isnt the best way to get information