Y/n POV

"How does stainless steel even work?" Carter asks.

"Stainless steel contains iron, chromium, manganese, silicon, carbon and, in many cases, significant amounts of nickel and molybdenum. These elements react with oxygen from water and air to form a very thin, stable film that consists of such corrosion products as metal oxides and hydroxides" Elijah speaks as if its the most simplest thing in the world.

"Heh?" Carter raises an eyebrow.

"Never mind" Elijah sighs, running a hand through his hair and flipping a page in his book.

Carter, Elijah, Mia, Jack, and I were all sitting in Carter and Elijah's room. Mia sat in the corner of the room on a giant bean bag with a Rubiks cube in hand. I was sitting on Carters bed, leaning against the headboard with my knees bent in front of me. Carter sat in front of me, legs crossed and back against the wall. Jack was placed on the floor, in between Carter and Elijah's bed, leaning on Carters bed. Elijah sat calmly, reading a book on his bed.

It was Jack's third day here. Five more days till he leaves. I wish there was more time than five days. I can't go another year without seeing him. I need him here more than anyone thinks. He's like my safety blanket. He calms me down, makes me feel safe, keeps me sane. I can't do it without him.

"Who knows something we could do?" Mia asks, getting frustrated with the rubiks cube "I'm bored"

"Me too" I sigh, sliding down on my back, my feet still in the same spot. Carter grabs my feet and pulls me down closer toward him, causing my laughter. My legs lay over Carter's lap, half of my legs hanging off the bed.

"I don't wanna go outside though. Its too hot!" Carter complains.

I groan, sliding down the side of the bed, hanging upside down next to Jack. Jack looks over and meets my eyes and we both erupt into laughter for no reason. I fully slide down, my neck on the floor bent at an uncomfortable angle and the rest of my body on the side of the bed. Jack laughs at my position, Carter joining in. Once we calm down, Mia throws the rubiks cube in anger and groans.

"How do people find those things relaxing?! It raises my stress and anger is all it does!" Mia folds her arms, glaring at the cube across the room.

I slide down on the floor so my neck doesn't feel like its slowly breaking. My feet are still on Carters bed and my back is flat on the floor, my head almost under Elijah's bed.

Jack joins me on the floor, his head next to mine. Carter and Mia fall into their own conversation about things people find stress reducing but doesn't work for them. Elijah is to focused on his book to care what we're doing. Jack turns his head and and smiles. I turn my head to see the brightness of his smile shining my way, causing me to smile back.

"Your friends are amazing" Jack chuckles.

"Aren't they just delightful?" I smile sarcastically.

"They're better than Alex and Brandon" Jack rolls his eyes, staring up at the ceiling.

"What're they like?" I ask, staring at the spikes on the ceiling.

"Brandon" Jack chuckles "He'll do anything you tell him, no matter how long he'll get in jail for. Alex and I have had to get him out multiple times. I mean-he hasn't done anything that bad. The most he's got was a day in prison, which we kept him there. But he is a good friend when he wants to be" Jack smiles.

"Alex" Jack sighs "Alex and I haven't been getting along recently. He's been acting different. I don't know what it is but whenever I have one thing out of place he blows up. Before, he was this caring, funny guy. He never cared what others thought and did what he wanted. You could never go wrong with a day with him" Jack smiles.

"They seem like great people" I smile, my sight tied to one spike on the ceiling.

"They really are. You would really get along with them. You and Mark would love them"

"Maybe we could all meet one day? Me, you, Alex, Brandon, Carter, Mia, Elijah, Mark" I smile at the thought.

"That would be amazing!" Jack smiles widely.

"Do you think you'll make it home for winter this year?" I ask.

"I-" he stops, his smile disappearing quickly.

"I-I don't know, Y/n" Jack sighs.

I nod in return, slightly disappointed. I can't go the rest of my college years without seeing him. I need him. Yeah, we could call but we can barely ever find time to. One of us is always busy when the other isn't.

A sudden warmth blew over my hand. I glance down at my hand by my side to see that mine isn't the only one there. Jacks hand is laying on top of mine. He lifts my hand up and interlocks our fingers, setting them back down to our sides. A small smile grows on my face as well as a blush. Focusing on the ceiling again, a pair of eyes train on the side of my face, preventing my mind from thinking straight.

Turning my head to face the deep blue eyes that are impossible to resist, a toothy grin appears on both our faces. We stare at each other for what seems like hours but were only seconds, or for all I know, minutes. At this point I'm not sure if anyone was speaking to me or calling for me. I was too deep into the bright blue pools to reach the surface before I pass out from lack of air.

I could feel myself losing control of what I did, thought, or anything. My only focus were the two blue lights that brighten my day. All sounds around me drown out as I was pulled deeper into the pools I was never going to escape from. I was slowly leaving consciousness, the world around me fading away. I was unaware of everything happening, unaware of what I was doing.

I was quickly pulled back to reality when I felt my face heat up and another pair of lips on mine. My hand was on the side of Jack's face and the gap that was once between us no longer existed. Anxiety raised as I realized what I did. As soon as it raised, it fell when Jack kissed back.

The room went silent and Mia's quiet squeals were heard.