NEIGHBORS.MARK

five

Ava <3: Do you want to get lunch today?

Justmark: yeah sure
Justmark: where should I meet you?

Ava <3: L building?
Ava <3: By the water fountain?

Justmark: okayyyy

————

"Sooooo how's your first day of university?" Ava asked condescendingly.

"Good, yours?" Mark asked before sipping the smoothie he got.

"Goooood."

"Why are you so happy?" Mark questioned.

Ava shrugged, "Beats the hell outta me."

Mark laughed as she changed the topic, "When's your last class?"

"4:00-6:00."

"Do you mind walking me back to the apartments? I don't really want to walk alone." Ava asked as Mark nodded.

"Where's your last class?"

"Oh no, I finish at 3:30. But I can always go wait for you at the library." Ava explained.

"For 2 and a half hours?" Mark asked in disbelief of her patience.

"It'll give me some time to study or read a book!" She laughed as they continued to eat.

Mark nodded his head and sipped his smoothie, "How many classes do you have a day?"

"Three to four. Depends on what day of the week it is. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday I have 3. Tuesday and Friday I have 4."

"I have three everyday." Mark explained.

"I'd rather have all four but whatever." Ava mentioned as she ate.

"You're a hard worker, huh?"

Ava looked down for a second then proceeded to give herself a small smile, "I'd like to think so."

|

Mark walked out of his last class and began walking to the library to pick up Ava. Because of the time change, the sky was dark, even though it was just 6:00. He hadn't realized it, but ever since she had told him about her love for celestial topics, he started noticing the stars a bit more.

Not the stars- or the romanticized parts of stars.

He began to notice the scientific part.

He noticed the colors of the stars and when he had asked Ava, she explained the temperature of the star determined the color. Red signified a cooler temperature, while blue was hot.

When Mark questioned the distance of the stars from their positions to earth, Ava articulated that's the nearest star is 4 and a half light years away. Nearly 70,000 years away on the fastest space craft.

Mark was fascinated by the concepts of astronomy. He was fascinated how simple it all seemed and how no one- other than those that study it- know much about it.

He was also fascinated by the complexity of the universe and how the brain was able to comprehend such matter.

Mark was fascinated by her, too.

He was fascinated that she had such an immense interest in the topic and that she lit up whenever she thought about it. He was living in awe of her, but he didn't know it yet.

Once he entered the library, he saw her in a far corner, looking at her laptop and writing in a notebook.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"What are you up to?"

"Just taking some notes on a book I started reading." Ava responded as she began to close her notebook and put her annotation tools away.

"What book?" Mark asked as Ava picked it up.

"It's a book about quantum physics." She explained as Mark nodded his head, his eyes wide.

"I don't know how you can fit all that information in your head." He lightly joked as she chuckled, "Ready?"

She nodded her head and the two walked out of the library and began their route to the row of apartment buildings that surrounded the university. The two walked quietly but the space felt free and comfortable. They continued on, waiting at stoplights and crossing streets.

"Have you been to Korea before moving here?" Mark asked Ava.

"Several times, over summer break. I stayed with the family I have here and really fell in love with the culture. It's just different from back home." Ava explained as they got closer to their apartments.

Mark smiled, "I feel the same way. I'd visit family but I fell in love with how life in Korea is."

Ava smiled, "I'd only move if I moved to Italy."

"Italy?"

"It's one of the most beautiful countries in the world." Ava exclaimed as they neared the front of her apartment complex.

"I've never really thought about going to Italy." Mark stated as he held the door open for her.

"Good night, Mark." She smiled as she went inside.

"Bye, Ava - Neighbor."

"Oh, Mark!" Ava exclaimed as she stuck her head out of the elevator, "No peeking tonight."

She quickly put her head in and the elevator doors closed. Mark gave a small chuckle and rolled his eyes.

She's perfect.

————

Do you guys like this story?

I just want feedback!!

-Mames

Y'ALL SHOULD READ PLUM
It's really good