Xavier

12

The rest of my day was boring and uneventful. I spent most of it wondering why Professor Nixon seemed to have completely brushed me off. I probably shouldn't care, but he didn't seem like the type to just ignore a gesture.

"So I was going to have Erin over for dinner tonight and I was wondering if you could....not be here, maybe." Nadia said as she came into the living room.

I furrowed my eyebrow and frowned. "Now Just kick me out." I joked.

"I'm sorry I know that probably sounded rude. I didn't know how else to put it. But seriously, can you like, be out of the house for a few hours?"

"Yeah. I was thinking of going home for the weekend anyway." I shrugged. I began to stand and she immediately said, "you don't have to go now!"

"It's cool. I'm gonna study a bit and then head home."

I grabbed my overnight essentials bag that I kept packed in my closet and prepared myself to leave. I made sure I had my book bag with my laptop and iPad so I could do some studying before going to my parents house.

Once I was all set, I casually walked out of my room and to the front door. "You really don't have to leave now."

"It's all good. I'll see you Sunday." I heard her say okay as I walked out of the door and shut it behind me.

I threw my stuff in the trunk and pulled off toward campus with the plan of studying in the student center. I usually hated it because there were always so many people but considering how it's Friday night and almost 6, I think the crowd is dying mostly.

I made it there in like 20 minutes but it took me damn near 15 to find a place to park.

The first thing I did when I got inside was get a Frappuccino and a muffin. I managed to find a mostly vacant area to sit and study but there were still a few people around. It was a really good spot considering that I could still see people coming and going. I popped in my AirPods and opened up my laptop so I could finish my essay. I played my study playlist at full volume and got in a groove.

I was flying through paragraphs like it was nothing. I so badly wanted to take a break but I knew that If I did I wouldn't be nearly as productive when I came back to the essay. So despite the ache in my butt and my fingers I kept typing anyway.

When I finished I went through the essay again to make edits. When I looked up to get a break from staring at the screen I looked around at all the people here. If there was one thing I loved to do it was people watch. It was just so fun to see people accidentally trip and know that they were praying no one saw. Usually no one else did and I tried to keep my expression neutral so when they look around they don't suspect that I saw them.

I looked over towards the Starbucks line and gazed at the girl who opened and closed her bank app three times and the guy who kept pulling down his shirt. A few feet away stood the non-binary person from my religious studies class who looked to have died their hair again. I smiled at that little fact and my eyes wondered over to someone else.

It was ridiculous how much fun it was to observe people, in a non creepy way though.

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair to push it away from my face. As I did so I caught sight of someone joining the line from my peripheral. I subtly looked in their direction but quickly looked away when I realized it was Xavier. I didn't worry if anyone else saw that I was looking but I couldn't be caught dead staring at that man.

I looked back down at my laptop and continued editing my essay. I couldn't get myself to focus much on it for more than fifteen seconds before I was shifting my gaze to the line again. He's just so fine how can I not look his way?

I let out a soft giggle at that thought. I looked back at my laptop and by the time I looked back up he was at the register paying. I was distracted from my staring by a FaceTime call from my mom. I quickly answered and smiled into the camera. "Hi, mommy." I greeted.

"Hey baby. When are you gonna be here?" She asked. "I'm finishing up the last of my essay but I should be there in maybe two hours, what's up?"

"I'm making dinner, I wanted to see if you could bring home some ice."

"Yeah for sure. I'll try to get this done quicker and I'll let you know when I'm on my way."

"Alright, I love you."

"I love you too."

After hanging up I heaved out a quiet sigh and rolled my shoulders. Alright I need to hurry up and get this done. I finished up the last of my edits in under five minutes and submitted it before closing my laptop.

"I thought that was you over here." I looked up with my eyes to meet the gaze of Xavier as he stood before me. "I-I hi?" I greeted.

He let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. "Late study session?" He asked.

It was only 8pm, so not that late. "Not really. Just finished the essay for your class."

"Oh good, I can't wait to read it." He smiled. "Are you heading out?"

"Yeah, it's time for me to go."

"Can I walk you out?" He asked. He didn't look like he'd meant to say it but he just rolled with it anyway. I nodded with a soft smile and stood to put on my book bag.

I led the way towards the doors quietly trying to keep a good amount of space between us. I didn't want to make him bump into me if I had to stop walking for some reason. "How is the semester going for you so far?"

"Pretty good, it's going by really fast though."

"I know, pretty soon it'll be over. After midterms time is just going to fly."

"I don't doubt it. Hopefully I'll be able to get a work study before it ends." I shared. "If you're interested in doing peer tutoring, I know a good work study you could apply for."

"Really?!" I asked with an excited smile. "Yeah, I can email you the link for the details."

"Cool, thanks. I really appreciate it."

"Oh yeah it's no problem." He shrugged. "I know another one that deals more with like being an assistant, I'll add that in the email too."

"Thank you." I smiled. "Don't worry about it."

It was silent between us for a moment as we made it outside. "Are you driving?" He asked.

"Yeah my cars that way a few blocks down." I shrugged. "A few blocks?" He questioned with a surprised look.

"Yeah it's really not that far. I think it took me like five or six minutes to walk here from there."

"Well it's cold and dark, do you want a ride to your car?"

"Well if you—I mean su-sure." I stuttered accidentally. "My car is just over there."

He point across the street by a tree that made the area look secluded. I nodded and let him lead the way.