Without Me

Library

Classes felt like such a drag when you get nervous or rushed about getting things over with quickly. Jonathan told Chuck about heading to the library for lunch alone instead, during one of their classes together. Chuck didn't exactly ask him why but just agreed since Ares would be having lunch with him instead. Jonathan wondered if the two got closer somehow. He didn't question them though since he was just glad Chuck wasn't alone. As long as he had company too.

He got directions from Chuck as well before heading down to the library during lunch hours. He started searching the place for a socket while trying to avoid the librarians just in case he got chased out. He finally found one in a rather distant corner thankfully. He hoped it did work and made sure to take a book along with him just in case anyone wondered why he was just sitting around in the library. He plugged his phone in to charge. It worked fortunately. He used his bag to cover it gently and opened the book to read, pretending as if he was just there reading instead of sitting at the table. He could only hope his phone charged fast enough before someone asked him to leave since he felt all the jitters in his hands as he tried to keep the book upright.

Time passed almost way too quickly this time as the bell rang. He silently groaned and quickly kept the charger as well as his phone before any librarian came by. He got up and headed down to class, feeling slightly hungry. He would have checked how many percentage his phone had but he didn't want to risk anything. Not when he might need his phone for emergencies.

Class went by quickly this time and Jonathan took the chance to grab dinner early, scarfing it down since he hadn't eaten lunch. Once he was done, he quickly headed back to the library. There were more students there this time but thankfully, the corner was left unoccupied. He resumed the same thing he had done during lunch, double checking to make sure nobody noticed him either.

"What are you up to, Johnny?" Mark spoke as he suddenly appeared and approached Jonathan who flinched out of surprise. He didn't think the other would find him here but then again, he didn't really know what the other did after dinner time.

"Oh, hey, Mark. I... uh... just reading a book, you know," Jonathan replied, trying not to seem so awkward but was definitely having a hard time doing so. He held the book up to show Mark who took a seat on the floor as well.

"Cool, cool. I didn't know you like reading either," Mark said, not really suspecting anything despite his question earlier.

"Yeah." Jonathan chuckled nervously. "Just a little past time habit. So... uh.. I won't be too bored and such."

"Bored? Don't you hang out with Chuck after dinner? I've been seeing him a lot with the other boy recently. They have quite a lot of classes together too."

Jonathan shook his head. "Not really. I usually just go back to my dorm after dinner. It's... uh... I don't exactly hang out with anyone except for my roommate after dinner."

"Huh. Surprise, surprise. I thought you're always busy after that. Maybe we can hang out then too. You know, here or either of our dorms since nobody would know too," Mark replied and grinned slightly. The thought made Jonathan gulp. He would love to honestly yet a part of him was still sending out warning alarms all over. He kept his cool and shrugged.

"Fine by me. We can meet at your dorm since you don't have a roommate. I doubt my roommate would like it much if I brought someone else in," Jonathan replied, recalling how Shou just left papers of his investigations on the table. Speaking of which, he did have that pile of papers to read through too. He would probably do it later.

"Really? Is he a nice roommate though? Gave you any problems yet?"

Plenty.

But Jonathan just laughed it off and shook his head, gradually acting more natural.

"No. He's a pretty fine fellow. Slightly eccentric at times but we do get along just fine."

"That's good to hear. It'll be cool if we could be roommates instead."

"Well... We could have been but I was assigned to a different room. It's cool. It's not like there are any rules stating that we can't hang out in each other's dorms after a time limit. Or a curfew."

"Maybe you can even sleep over in my dorm once in a while," Mark said jokingly even though Jonathan felt the other was being serious about it partially.

Their conversation went on until Jonathan decided it was about time he head back to his dorm. He asked Mark to go on ahead and the other obliged, giving him the chance to keep his phone and charger without anyone knowing. He stuffed them into his bag this time and started heading back to the dorms with Mark who still waited for him at the library's entrance.

He brought Mark back to his dorm first since it was on the second floor. He bade him farewell before hurrying back to his own dorm. He shut the door and locked it before taking his phone out. He turned it on to check if it was fully charged. It was almost there but Jonathan turned it off again, wanting to preserve the battery as much as he could.

Now to just make sure nobody finds out about it.

Not even Shou, of course. He placed it under his pillow. His go to place before it was safe in his pocket the next day. As long as nobody checked his pillow, it should be out of sight. He went to the bathroom to shower and change.

Shou came back with the same tired look but Jonathan didn't say anything this time. He just sat on his bunk bed and read through the papers that had all the information he needed to catch up with whatever Shou had already found out.