The campus dorm rooms were, for many, their home away from home. Finding comfort in a strange place, far from their family, was hard. Although, with time, they got used to it, to their new friends and routines. Not Giovanni, though.

His goal was to not lose his scholarship. He had worked hard for it, knowing his family didn't believe he could do it. Now he needed to keep it, to prove them all wrong. He was the first of his family to go to university, and he wouldn't jeopardise that.

At night, as his roommate slept quietly, he sat by the window, watching the courageous ones walk into the dark. They looked happy. Screaming and laughing as they left to wherever their adventure would take them. Sometimes he wished he was one of them. Someone without a care in the world.

Now he realised maybe his wishes weren't so rational. He was out of his comfort zone, glancing at Alice every five seconds. She was sitting on Jaime's bed, tapping her pencil against her pursed lips as she stared at some exercise she was trying to solve.

"You know, it's hardly a study date if you're not studying," she noted, her eyes locking with his. Her hair was falling off her bun, which made her look messier.

Blood rushed to his cheeks, and his eyes went back to the textbook on his lap. It was the first time he had a girl in his room, the first time he had made a friend besides Jaime. Technically, Alice had been the one to invite him for friendly activities, but he liked to think he could have befriended her even if she hadn't.

The silence was bothering him. He knew it was a study date, but he just couldn't concentrate. She was just a few steps away, leaning against the wall, at ease. It was foreign to him how she was so relaxed when he was aware of everything around him. Jaime's sweater falling from a chair, his noisy breathing, the ray of sunshine piercing through the window against her face, and so on.

His friendship with Alice had been purely selfish. He wanted her to make him step outside and force him to live the life of the ones on the other side of the window. Yet he was still inside, and he was already uncomfortable.

"S-So, did you solve your issues with the waitress?" He needed to break the silence, and he didn't know what else to ask.

Alice sighed, realising she wouldn't study after all. She didn't mind it, as she only wanted to hang out with him, yet she was realising he was very nervous. It wasn't her intention, but she couldn't deny how cute he was like that.

"I haven't talked to Nicole in a while. She's been busy," she said. "But we're good now. I was hurt, but I realised I can't lose a friendship because of a boy."

A boy who has zero chances with her, she thought. Nicole didn't date since her heart had been broken. Yet, men seemed blind to it.

Giovanni's lips parted. He didn't know what had happened between them, so that information made little sense. "A boy? Witty?"

Alice frowned. "Who's Witty? I'm talking about Andrew. He's always at The Bookmark. You must have seen him." Giovanni knew who she was talking about, but he was confused about the name change. "You know, tall guy, dark hair, green eyes? Always wear black and white?"

He nodded slowly, far from comprehending the nickname situation. Andrew had been the guy annoying Aisha the whole afternoon until she exploded on Giovanni. The young girl who stole his bouquet told him Andrew and Nicole were in a relationship, so maybe that was the problem. Maybe both Alice and Nicole were in love with him.

"Yes, I saw him once. He seems very-"

"Cold?" she stopped him, "Detached? Nonchalant?"

He was going to say handsome. He knew nothing about his personality, as they had never talked. Perhaps his theory wasn't correct after all. If Alice liked him, she wouldn't be saying all those things.

"Well-" he started, but a loud rumble coming from his belly filled the silence. His cheeks went pink again, and he smiled timidly. "Do you want to go eat?"

She got up with a smile on her face. "Oh, yes! I know just the place." She reached for him to grab her hands and pulled him up as soon as he grabbed her.

Books discarded, she led him outside. It was hard to contain his smile as he noticed he was going to hang out with a friend outside of his room. Jaime would be so proud of him.

"Are you going to The Bookmark?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Somewhere closer. I can't be there for long, though. It's almost time for my pottery lesson."

The said place was truly close as they only had to cross the street from the dorms. Giovanni recognised it as the cafe Jaime and his boyfriend usually were on. His roommate always brought him the most delicious pastries when he came back.

"Pottery lessons?" he inquired.

"Yeah. Didn't I tell you?" she answered. "Oh, I have an amazing idea! You should come with me!"

He laughed, shaking his head. Alice led them to a table near the window and they stayed there. A waiter would soon come to take their order.

"I'm too clumsy. I would make a mess."

"No, no, no! It would be great. I used to be terrible when I began, but you can learn."

The first time Dr Vera had suggested it, Alice hadn't liked the idea. She refused to acknowledge she needed something to relax just as she denied everything Dr Vera explained to her. Everything sounded like nonsense and she hated that the blame would fall onto her dad.

A waiter with an unreadable name tag took their order, interrupting their conversation. Giovanni watched as he joined the others behind the counter and started mechanically doing his order. Cheap paintings covered all the walls of the small place, making it look more colourful.

"I don't know. I'm not good with most things."

"Of course you are!" she exclaimed. "You just need practice. I'll be your teacher."

His eyes met hers, and suddenly he was thankful for having her. She would force him into the world. He just needed to take a deep breath and face it. He was about to become one of the courageous.

"Fine. I'd love to."

The brightest smile opened on her face, and he had no other option but to smile, too. Alice was too energetic for him, but that didn't make him falter. It made him want to keep up, to match her.

"You won't regret it!"

🖤🤍🖤

Nicole lay on the cafe's sofa reading a book. From time to time she would glance at the door to see if there were incomings, and every time she heard the bell she jumped to her feet to look at the client before sulking down again.

It was just her and Jenny that day. Their shift was about to end and they were relaxing during the calm hours. The rush was long gone, and each of them had found a different way to entertain themselves.

Jenny stepped on her cigarette and walked in through the glass doors, making the bell ring. Nicole was up in a second, smoothing her apron, but rolling her eyes when she saw it was just her friend.

"Wow, could you be more disappointed to see me?" Jenny mocked. "He's not coming."

"Who isn't?" Nicole laid back on the sofa with her book.

Jenny sat opposite her and put her feet on the small table. Nicole was ready to complain about clients eating there, but kept quiet since the next waiter had the habit of cleaning everything again once they left.

"He's probably just doing what you said. Having dinner with Laila."

Nicole snapped the book close. "You were listening?"

She shrugged. "I was just going to check on you. I heard a little."

"It doesn't matter." Nicole sighed and picked up her book again. She didn't want to talk about Andrew. She knew she had been rude, and she regretted it, but she couldn't go back now.

Letting herself become so attached to him was a mistake she needed to correct. Having him away was good, or at least she wanted to believe it. Their friendship had always been a temporary thing, and she needed to remember that.

"Nicole, you know he is not Tomás, right? If you like him, you can go for it."

She almost laughed. Jenny didn't know half of what Tomás ever did. There were a few things that were common knowledge, but the truth was between her, her ex, and Miguel. She knew they weren't the same, but that didn't matter.

"I don't like him. I just found it weird that he wasn't here. He always is."

"And you like it when he is here."

"Jenny-"

"Do whatever you want," Jenny cut her off, "but he took it seriously yesterday, so unless you want to lose your chance, I suggest you stop playing with his feelings. Just because he fucked up with Ali doesn't mean he'll fuck up with you."

He didn't fuck up with Ali. Ali fucked up with him.

Jenny laid back on the sofa and started playing on her phone. Nicole realised the conversation was over and went back to her book. What Jenny thought was irrelevant, and she would not let her mess with her head.

I'm back! And no, I have no updating schedule defined but let's say it's still Monday. My exams went well, thank you for asking.

I hated this chapter, idk how it feels for you. So here is an Alice chapter to the ones who missed her. Nexts chapters will be more Ali and Miguel.

Is anyone else hating Nicole and Andrew right now or is it just me? Someone once told me Nicole seemed to have it together and Andrew didn't, I didn't want to correct that person back then, but I think it's starting to show they weren't entirely right.

Please vote and comment :)