Xavier

102

As finals week dawned on the university, you could see the change in the vibe of the campus. While there were usually all kinds of events happening or students outside hanging out, this week it looked like a ghost town. It was raining pretty much everyday, so everybody studied inside. The library was packed.

I found myself making my way to the lounge down the hall from Xavier's office. When I arrived, Mason was there sitting on one of the couches by the windows. 

I got a little excited when I saw him because i hadn't spoken to him in a few weeks. Whenever I saw him it was in passing and he didn't see me. When he noticed me coming in he smiled and offered me a wave. I waved back and found myself sitting where we usually sat. I hate to admit it but I did miss the little shit. He was funny. 

After a little while of sitting there I noticed a petite Asian girl with a bright smile and a grunge style come into the lounge. She was super giddy as she approached Mason. He smiled up at her before standing to hug her. This must be the girl he was telling me about before. She was so pretty and the way he looked when he saw her was adorable.

I wonder if he formally asked her out yet. Last time we were together he was telling me about this grand gesture he was trying to make to get her to go out with him. Shortly after another guy and girl joined them. That must've been the roommates I'd heard so much about. It was nice to see him hanging out with them. Id eventually text him to check in, but for now I had to focus on finals. 

I didn't see Mason again until our final came for the class we shared. He was late and tripped on his way in. I held my laughter in and watched as he sat down at the end of my row. "I didn't miss anything important right?" He whispered to me.

"Nope, they're just about to pass out the exam." I replied. "Good luck."

"You too."

The exam went well, Surprisingly. Afterwards, I met up with Aria day at the mall to help her get Xavier a birthday gift. She was shockingly trying to find something way in advance. His birthday isn't until next week. "He's so hard to shop for. He literally has everything." She grumbled.

"I know. I struggled finding something to get him."

"What'd you get him?"

"A signed first edition of Martian Manhunter." I replied. "I don't even know what that is." She whined.

"You'll be fine, Aria. Just try to think of some things that he likes."

She stared at me blankly. "Come on, I know you can think of something." I exclaimed. 

"I mean he likes...oh don't make me struggle. Help me out here!"

"He likes sports, reading, comic books, sometimes baking, traveling, cars, and museums, oh and he once told me he wanted to try pottery." I listed. Aria blinked a few times and furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at me. "I mean I just....noticed those things." I shrugged and scratched my neck.

"Right. Well I can't get him a car. Maybe I can get him tickets to see his favorite sports team. What sports are on right now?" She asked. "Uh baseball?"

"God what am I gonna do?" She groaned. "We'll find something. Maybe you can get him a new coffee maker to make up for what happened to the last one." I shrugged.

"How do you know about that?" She asked. "He brings it up every chance he gets." I replied nervously.

"That's not a bad idea. Maybe I'll get them and get some summer outfits."

"That's good. He'll love that!" I encouraged. "How did you come up with your idea for your gift?"

"He's a comic book snob. It's the only one he doesn't have out of the entire series because he's been trying to get a signed copy. I've been on a virtual waitlist to get it for a little while now. Finally got it and I can pick it up later today." I smiled. "That's so nice of you."

I planned on getting him a pair of sneakers and dragging him with me to the beach next Sunday too. But I didn't tell her that. "Maybe you can make  him a Gift basket."

She seemed to like that idea and went along with it. We went around the mall gathering some things for his gift basket. We stopped into Sephora for cologne and picked up all kinds of other little things that I know he likes to use. Afterwards Aria went with me to pick up the comic book.

We drove back together with  the radio playing lowly. Aria looked through the many bags of gifts and I tried to focus on the road. "You know Luna, I can see why Xavier likes you so much. You're really thoughtful and you listen to him." She said.

"Oh thank you. I try my best." I smiled. 

"But there's more to it than that, isn't there?" She pressed.

"What do you mean?"

"You care about him."

"I mean, yeah. He's been a great role model and he's helped me out a lot—" I started but she cut me off with the raise of her hand. "Im stupid, but Im not dumb. Its more than that, you have feelings for him. Don't you?" I was more caught off guard by the beginning of her sentence than the end if I'm being honest. 

"I..."

"It's okay to admit it. I don't know how I didn't see it sooner. Have you two been seeing each other all this time? I mean it makes sense now that I think about it. He acts so differently around you. Just the way he looks at you should've given it away."

"Aria, I don't want to—"

"Are you dating him?" She asked. I gripped the steering wheel a little harder. Her expression was unreadable. She didn't sound like she wanted to be right. "Luna it's okay. I mean you're amazing, so I'm just happy he's getting to be with someone like you. "

I remained silent just from sheer shock. I couldn't believe that we were having this conversation. I was hoping that when I got the chance to talk to her about it, it would be differently.

"Please don't tell me it's just casual. Cause that's the last thing he needs." She sighed. "It's...it's not. He and I, it's serious."

"Seriously?!" She squealed. Her reaction caught me by surprise. I thought that she'd be upset. "How long have you been together?"

"Just a little while now."

"Oh my god! It all makes sense now. I thought y'all were acting a little weird last week. Paris thought it was cause he has a crush on you and was jealous hearing about your boyfriend. But he's actually your boyfriend?! And you were talking about him the whole time! This tea right here, is hot. Let me get Paris on the phone!"

My eyes widened and I quickly shook my head. "You don't have to do that. Xavier and I are waiting before we tell everybody."

"Fine." She huffed. "This is crazy. My intuition is never usually this good. I will admit though this is a little weird because you're young and hot and he's eleven years older than you. How do y'all work around that?"

"We don't really think about it as much as you'd think. It's not like he's a creeper who sought me out you know? When I'm with him...he makes me forget about stuff like that." I shrugged.

"This is so cute it's disgusting." She grinned. "So have y'all been together all this time?"

"Kind of. He and I decided to you know take a step back until he's finished at the university." I replied. "Oh my god. That's literally tomorrow. He signs the resignation papers after his last final."

"I know." I smiled. "What are y'all gonna do?"

"Not sure yet. I don't think I'm gonna be able to see him until the party. I have to go back home tomorrow for my brothers art show and then I'll be coming back."

"Well that sucks. I hope it all works out though. Gosh I can't believe this. I can't even gossip about this yet." She was basically bouncing up and down in her seat from excitement. It wasn't how I expected our day to go. But I couldn't be upset.

All I could do was hope and pray that when we tell everyone else they'll be just as excited.