Learning Curves ✔ (bxb)

Chapter 5

Michael ^^

Theo's POV

Have I ever said I hate mornings? Because I do.

I need to get up at 7:00 in order to leave at 7:45 to get to my 8:00 class early so I can get a good seat.

Yeah yeah, for some people 7 am isn't even early, but it is for me okay?

Groggily turning off my alarm, I sigh and sit up on my bed. I'm seriously contemplating just going back to sleep, but I really can't afford to skip class if I want a good GPA. After getting ready, I trudge down to the kitchen for breakfast. Liam's already up and cooking something. Honestly, how that boy functions so normally in the morning is beyond me. Ethan lumbers in a few minutes later, still in pajamas, hair a mess, still half asleep.

I feel you Ethan, I feel you.

Apparently we all have early classes on Friday, which I don't know if it's good or bad that we all get to suffer together. (Except Liam, who actually seems to be a morning person??)

"You guys okay with sandwiches for breakfast?" Liam asks from next to the kitchen counter where he's assembling sandwiches.

"Whatever's fine. Thanks Li." Ethan mutters tiredly, and I sleepily echo what he said.

"You two are terrible to live with in the morning." Liam chuckles when he places our breakfast in front of us and neither of us move, too tired to process anything properly.

"What time did you sleep?" Liam asks.

"Umm... like 12 maybe." I mutter. I don't even know why I'm so tired. 7 hours of sleep seem adequate enough for me. My body is not so keen on the idea.

"3" Ethan grumbles, his head dropping to rest on the table.

"What were you doing?" Liam sighs at Ethan.

"Errrr... Planning and practicing a routine, and maybe some games...." He trails off sheepishly. If you didn't know, Ethan loves piano and dance. He has a keyboard in his room and regularly goes to dance club where they do routines and performances.

Liam rolls his eyes and starts eating his sandwich. Ethan and I start doing the same.

Ethan leaves first, mumbling his goodbyes to us, Liam and I leave at the same time, and part a few meters from my first class building.

General Psychology is pretty fun, I find it really intriguing how the brain works and why everyone is different.

After class I see if any of my friends are free for lunch in an hour. They're not. Liam's got 2 classes back to back and literally has 5 minutes to grab a lunch on the way if he didn't pack one, and Ethan has dance practice with some of his club friends.

I'm too lazy to go back to the dorm and make actual food, so I head over to the bakery/cafe I work at and see what snacks I can munch on that's sufficient for lunch. It's more packed today, with students popping in for a quick lunch and drink and heading off to their next class, and others stopping to work on assignments or study during their lunch time.

I find it really amusing how far people will go to avoid human contact. There's always a pretty sizable gap between people on the couches of the cafe, or one person has a couch to themselves because no one wants to be awkward and sit with a stranger.

As I order a sandwich and a tea, and sit down at a table which some guy just left, I see a couple giggling to themselves and feeding each other parts of a cake. It's disgustingly cute.

I suddenly have a longing to feel the bliss they're in. To be so deeply infatuated with one other person that your mind is willing to completely discard the environment because you're solely focused on how perfect someone can be. To seek comfort in one specific person, and to have them know exactly what you need and how to make you feel better.

To know someone so well that you don't necessarily have to communicate with words to understand them, you can completely let yourself go and be yourself around them with no judgement. One person who will stay with you no matter how you change on the outside, because despite any modifications, you're still the same person as when you first met. Still the same person that led them to care for you so much.

No matter how drastically the environment changes, your feelings and their feelings never fade, but only grow stronger.

Damn, when did I become so poetic?

But in all honestly, that sappy couple made me feel pretty lonely.

Finishing up my sandwich, I clean up my garbage and leftover crumbs. Since I only have to work at the cafe until 6 today, I head behind the counter and start baking pastries. Danishes, cookies, scones, you name it, I've probably baked it.

Okay, well, half of what you name. Sabrina would be making the other half.

At 5, Michael comes in again. He grins at me as he approaches. I smile back.

"Hey." He greets.

"Hello. Welcome, what can I get you today?" I reply.

"Hmm, what did you make today?" Michael asks, leaning on the counter and looking at me. His eyes are a really pretty blue.

"Uhh, pies. Apple pies." I manage to answer under his intense gaze.

"Alright then. One apple pie, one corned beef sandwich, and one caramel macchiato please." He orders.

"Coming soon." I tell him with a smile, sending the order to one of my co-workers who start making it.

"Do you go to the university nearby?" Michael asks curiously.

"Yeah. Psychology major. What about you?"

"I'm in my masters. Studying to become a doctor."

"Impressive."

"Thanks. So, why psychology?" He inquires, absently brushing his thumb against the marble counter repeatedly.

"Not sure. Found it interesting I guess." I shrug, taking in his state of dress. Casual leather jacket (not exactly the bad boy leather jacket, but a nicer version) with dark gray T-shirt and blue jeans.

"Compliments to your baking again, by the way. Do you plan to do anything further with that skill?"

"I mean, I'm using it now, but no, not really. It's more of a hobby."

"Oh? Your dorm mates must love your baking. Er... that is, if you live in a dorm." He ends awkwardly, eyes glancing away in embarrassment.

"Yes, I live in a dorm, but nah. My dorm mates are all pretty good cooks themselves." I chuckle. He clears his throat.

"My apologies, didn't want to assume." He grimaces, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets now instead of leaning them against the counter.

"It's alright, truly," I respond just as his order is finished. Grabbing it, I hand him his food and drink. He takes it and gives me an awkward smile before shuffling to a table. I let out a small chuckle when he's out of earshot. Good to know he's human too, and not just some perfect hot guy.