(Jayden)

After the first round of us working on our projects together, I felt I had slightly broken his shell. Markus did say he'd see me Thursday, and that made my stomach churn.

"So, how often do you zone out?" I heard Markus's deep voice echo through what sounded like water, and I jumped.

"I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to space out!" I apologized quickly seeing a smile tug at his lips.

"No, No, it's fine, your fine." He said softly.

"Alright." I said clearing my throat.

I sighed looking at the time. "5:30pm" I thought in my head. "Already." I mumbled to myself.

This causing a faint hum of "hm?" To come from Markus as I looked at Instagram seeing the same as always.

I took a deep breath and sighed looking back at Markus, who didn't seem to have taken a single eye off him.

"Markus, where do you go for lunch? Like where do eat?" I asked curiously tilting my head to the left.

"O-Oh I usually get food from the cafeteria and eat in my truck, mainly because I'm not a fan of eating in front of people I don't know." Markus explained making me a little confused.

I then realized that the days had flew by, I didn't even remember heading to the library or being dropped off by Skyler. I guess time flys by when your around a friend that is, interesting.

"Not to pry, but why is that?" I asked, causing stiffness.

"I'd rather not talk about it." He said silently as he kept his eyes down on the project no longer looking my way.

"You should come have lunch with me and Skyler sometimes." I suggested.

He looked up at me raising an eyebrow. "Is this Skyler person your girlfriend or-"

"No! Not at all! I'm not even her type, she likes girls, and that would be so awkward too seeing as me and her are best friends." I rambled out and I cut him off.

"So she's you best friend?" Markus asked.

"Yeah basically, though I don't tell her every little thing. Either way, you should come sit with us sometime!" I said excitedly.

"Maybe." He hummed softly making me smile.

After 30 more minutes sitting in complete silence, finishing our slides up the study day ended. Markus got up grabbing his things slower than he normally did, and I assumed that meant he was in no rush today.

"So, do you live, on or off campus?" I asked as we both headed outside together.

"On campus, I live in the dorms, and so does my sister." He explained.

"Oh you have a sister?" I asked as we opened the doors to the sunset.

"Yeah." He mumbled looking down.

"Wow, I have a sister too, but she is close to being 3 this year. So with that big of a gap I guess you could say, I'm more of an only child." I explained, and saw him nod.

That's when the car honk rolled around. "Hey Jayden! Hi Markus!" Skyler said happily, and I saw Markus looked slightly confused.

"I told her your name, I hope you don't mind." I explained rubbing the back of my neck as he nodded.  I sighed and hopped in the car. "Did you have to say his name?" I asked in a whisper and she laughed as we started drive off.

________________________________

(Markus)

A few weeks or so later, after finishing our slides we were working on our art. We were both supposed to draw something inspired the artist we picked, and by the end of the week I was the only one close to done. I looked over at Jayden's piece which was nothing but the sketch, and then I saw him on his phone not paying a bit of attention. I checked the time seeing it was 5:30 again.

"Jayden may I ask you something?" I asked hesitantly making him look up from his phone.

"Yeah totally!" Jayden said happily.

"Every time we work together, I noticed, you are always checking your phone at the same times. Recently you seem to be checking it more frequently. Is there a reason?" I asked watching him look back at his phone and back at me.

"Well I have been waiting for a reply to something, from a old friend and well this week is the week I met them, and well I was hoping there would be more of a chance of them answering." He explained making me nodded letting out a light hum.

"I see, well, I understand this person must be important to you, but I do think it would be best to check the phone a bit later so you can get this project done." I said kindly watching him sigh softly.

"You are correct." He mumbled a sad ton in his voice.

I smiled and sighed. "If we finish this project on time, I will sit with you and Skyler at lunch more often." I stated making him perk and nodded.

"Well now I got motivation!" He said with a laugh, and I chuckled too.

This feeling of seeing him everyday was so warm, and comforting. I know with it being nice it was sure to end the quickest, but I was willing to have that warmth leave as long as I get to hold on to it for now.