I planned to make dinner tonight, by the time Jordan got home I was still in the prep phase.
"You seem different, less restless." She plopped down at the counter across from me.
"I, uh. I hung out with Theo today." She spits her water out.
"I'm sorry, what?!" I threw the vegetables into the pan.
"It's not a big deal," I said casually.
"Devin, you're hanging out with Theo Axel, it is a big deal." I barked a laugh.
"He's not as cool as you'd think, kind of whiney." Jordan laughed so hard it almost sounded forced.
"Theo Axel is not whiney."
"Okay, maybe not but ya know what!" I pointed the spatula at her. "He could be."
"He could not, It's Theo Axel." I rolled my eyes. "How did you even end up hanging out with him anyway?"
"He forces me to hang out with him. He just won't leave me alone until I cave. Like today! He was so annoying until I caved and he stopped. It's like a switch! He followed me around the book store, then I kicked his ass at laser tag. Then he bought me lunch. Dinner. Linner?" Jordan slowly blinked twice before she answered me.
"You're telling me, you kicked his ass at laser tag and he bought you lunch-dinner?"
"Yes."
"But he likes ignores you in school?" I nodded.
"Greatly appreciated too." My stomach settled lopsided. I thought I was answering honestly. Now that I said it out loud, I wasn't so sure.

At the table, I shooed away any conversations of Theo Axel. He couldn't be the only thing we had to talk about.
"Oh come, just give me some more!" Jordan begged.
"No, it isn't all that you think it is. It's just spontaneous. I promise." Her brows arched at me. I heaved a sigh. "I don't know why I do it but I do. I have some kind of fun I suppose but really it's nothing." I assure her. Jordan doesn't seem to buy it but I don't mind. Who was she to judge me? It was purely platonic. I don't even think I'd classify us as friends yet.
"Fine." She finally huffed. "You ready to go back to class tomorrow?" I groaned.
"No. I loathe Mondays." She laughed.
"Who doesn't?" I smiled.

Jordan cleaned up dinner and I cleaned up the living room since she insisted I didn't help. When I was anxious I always had to find something to do. Nothing wasn't an option, I'd just fidget uncomfortably then.

Like every Sunday night, I readied myself for Monday. That was the only day that needed prep. My entire self seemed to lag on Monday. I climbed into bed and grabbed the pink book. The first poem was 'In You The Earth', I began to read.

Eventually, my eyes were too heavy to keep reading. It was almost one in the morning and I'm going to hate myself for this tomorrow. I will never admit this to him but the book actually quite good. I put the book on my nightstand and plugged my phone in.

My alarm went off and I feel like dead weight. As per usual, I was tired. My feet felt like thousand-pound bricks. My eyelids were dry and scratchy like sandpaper. I wanted to die or go back to bed; either one would work for me. I knew that neither were options right now, so I continued getting ready for school.

The smell of coffee wafted through the apartment. Jordan had made some, what a blessing. Coffee had the effect of changing out the batteries in the tv remote; making it work like brand new.

I had picked out a pair of black yoga pants and an old shirt from high school. I was in no way trying to impress anyone. Jordan was the one who cared about her appearance and what people thought of her. I knew better, students didn't pay attention to people me.

Lunch with our midday savior. Classes seemed to drag on with torture. I know I'm paying to be here but lord did they have to be so rough? The homework alone sometimes was enough to make a buoy sink.

Jordan sat across from me at the table. A blurred blob of Theo and his friends could be seen over her shoulder. She was quietly eating her lunch which was abnormal for her. I reached my arms up in a stretch, my already shorter shirt crept up my stomach. Her eyes traveled across the table to examine me for a second, I dropped my arms and repositioned my shirt.
"I still can't believe you wear that belly ring." Jordan smiled. I ran my thumb over the old ring. I had gotten so many cooler and prettier ones, but I loved this one. Jordan got it for me as a joke when I first got it pierced. It was a silver ring with a small bejeweled cow. She got it because I love cows and I also said 'I hope this doesn't make me look like a cow'.
"What? I love it." I laughed a little. She rolled her eyes.
"Just like, I'm sure, Theo loved that show." My cheeks grew warms as my eyes flicked to the group over her shoulder. His eyes were fixed on me while his friends talked to him. My eyes remet hers.
"He should have to pay for that." Jordan threw her head back in laugher. I bit my lower lip and dropped my head to the side. Jordan was always good at laughing at my jokes, even when not funny.

Jordan and I joked around for the rest of the lunch. She threw her food wrappers at me I threw mine at her. Once lunch neared the end, we got up and threw away our garbage and started making our way to class.

I hated that we didn't have any classes together. I know we live together and see each other every daily, but it was nice having her around. Secretly, I'm a clingy best friend. When someone makes me feel good about myself, I hold them close. Jordan was one of those kinds of people. She always accepted me for who I was and never tried to change me. It's nice.

In Mrs. Swans' class, I settled into my seat and stared blankly ahead. The grogginess of Monday still gripped my eyes. My mind was as blank as the board ahead of me. How could my thoughts be this quiet? Lazily, I turned my attention to the window. The outside showed no remorse for the sleep that still clung to my eyes. It was bright and beckoning. Movement a little higher up caught my attention. It was Theo. He sat down in his desk and was staring right at me. The corner of his mouth turned up in a small smirk. I swallowed and looked away.

Todays class, to my misfortune, was drowned out by my thoughts. Questions of Theo popped in my head like popcorn. I tried to suppress them with thoughts of this class or quite frankly, anything else. No matter what, he weaseled his way in. I kept taking glances outside, which also allowed my glances at Theo. His eyes seemed to be trained on me.

After Mrs. Swans' dismissal, I slowly packed my things. I was in no hurry to nowhere. Just as I was about packed, a figure towered over me casting a shadow on my desk. I knew who it was but it still surprised me when our eyes met.
"Hello." He said simply.
"What do you want Theo?"
"I don't even get a hello back?" He frowned, I sighed.
"Hello." A smile reappeared on his lips. Instinctively, looking at his, I licked mine. "Now, what do you want?" My words weren't harsh, just dull.
"Let's hang out."
"I have things to do." I swung my bag over my shoulder.
"Well you can work and I'll hang out at the coffee shop." We started up the stairs.
"I don't work tonight."
"Great, so we can hang out."
"I have things to do." I reminded him. I was still curious why he wanted to hang out with me so much but I thought it better not to ask again.
"Well can I come along?" I stopped just outside the doors and looked at him. Why was he pushing so hard? He batted his eyes at me. I laced my brows together in confusion. "Please!" He stuck his lip out in a pout and his eyes grew big and sappy. Theo had the cutest puppy dog face I'd ever seen.