"What, afraid we won't like you or somethin'?" Billy playfully mocked, but you could tell he was definitely somewhat confused by your coldhearted comment.

"No, that's really not what I meant..." You sighed unhappily, trying not to be more hostile than you already had been.

"So then mind filling us in? On the problem, I mean?" Stu quizzed with a curious expression, crossing his arms and tilting his head to the side a little bit.

"Well, there's no problem per-se..." You avoided said subject while biting your lip, glancing away due to having no idea how to explain your stressful situation.

"Overprotective boyfriend?" Billy theorised out of nowhere, his casual suggestion causing shock to spread across your face like wildfire.

"W-What on Earth would make you think that-!?" You wildly panicked, praying that these guys didn't know anything about your secret relationship status.

"Oh, no reason, really." He replied with a mischievous smile, "I just find it hard to believe that a pretty girl like you is single, that's all. And besides, an overprotective boyfriend would explain the whole "no-male-friends" thing."

Thinking fast, you decided to lie; wanting nothing more than the truth to be kept hidden. "Yes!" You agreed with Billy hastily, faking a smile of your own and trying to act normal. "My boyfriend is just really, REALLY, protective over me. It can almost be a little...annoying sometimes, y'know?"

"Damn, it sounds it." Stu spoke sympathetically, genuine concern flowing from his voice as he flashed you an unhappy look. "Those relationships can be rather toxic though, so if you need any support—"

"It's-It's fine!" You hurriedly reassured the other teenage boy, patting his shoulder before moving back. "I'm fine. But thank you. I...I appreciate it."

"Would you at least like our numbers?" Billy offered kindly, wanting to help in any way that he could. "You know, just so you have someone to talk to?"

"I don't know..." You hesitated, wondering whether or not to take him up on his polite proposal. After all, the two of them seemed rather harmless.

"C'mon. You can even block us any time you want." He pointed out with a dark grin, his devilish remark making you laugh out loud.

"But I have also just met you." You retaliated dryly, your mood brightening up due to the lighthearted conversation you three were engaging in. "You could be anybody."

"She's got a point, dude." Stu responded in amusement, nudging Billy's shoulder whilst both of them grinned and didn't take your rejection personally.

"Okay, okay, I get it." Rolling his eyes at Stu's taunting nudge, Billy shot you another warm smile before pushing his friend ever-so-slightly. "You can lay off now, bro."

"Well, thanks for the offer." You thanked them again gratefully - the bell ringing as you did so, "Maybe in the future or something."

"Oh, absolutely." Billy pleasantly agreed, his behaviour being non-suspicious whatsoever while he grasped the strap of his backpack a tad bit tighter.

"You're taking the psychology course." Stu brought up out of nowhere, his strange question causing your eyes to narrow.

"Yeah, right across the building. How'd you know?" You questioned suspiciously, puzzled by his private information about you. Okay, well maybe it wasn't that private, but your friends certainly wouldn't have told them about your courses and classes that quickly.

Stu fell silent - almost as if contemplating something - and so you narrowed your eyes, the tension in the air thickening whilst you forgot about your class completely. "It was just a guess." Billy answered smoothly, acting as though Stu's so-called "guess" was utterly normal. "Because before the other students didn't...speak to us as much, they told us about some of the other students that studied here."

"Aka, they trash-talked a shit-load of people." Stu joked as he joined in without any sign of suspicion or scepticism whatsoever.

"I didn't think that many of the students here did trash-talk..." You uneasily trailed off.

"Maybe you're just too empathetic towards them." Billy complimented with a teasing tone, attempting to cheer you up and stop your mood from dropping out of nowhere.

"Or maybe you two should just learn how to communicate with people better." You sarcastically shot back, hugging your next class's book close to your chest and rolling your eyes.

"We'll keep that in mind." Billy grinned again, raising his hands in defence and taking a devious step back. "For now, we should probably get to our classes."

"We're taking cinematography." Stu informed breezily, giving you a heads-up and wanting to calm things down.

"Oh? I've heard that course has been receiving some really good reviews recently." You commented with a good-natured smile, trying to act nice in return before going to turn around towards the stairs.

"Well, we also love movies." Billy added, reminding you of how much the three of you had in common. "So that helps."

"Especially horror movies." Stu's grin returned - but this time it was different, his grin dark and strangely disturbing for some reason. It made you feel a bit...what was the word...unsafe...?

"Well, I'm glad it's working out for you two so far." You ended the conversation quickly, deciding to wrap things up and say goodbye. "Thanks for hanging out with my friends and I at lunch, and coming to cheer me up. That really was kind of you two."

"Hey, don't sweat it." Billy's warm expression was less intimidating than Stu's, but still, there was something unnerving about these new transfer students. "We'll always have your back. Right, Stu?"

"Absolutely. We l—" Stu reply fell weirdly short after sharing a look with Billy, the male plainly forcing him to not spill something secret between them. "We...like you."

"Aww, thank you." Your heart warmed at their affectionate comment, pushing aside Billy and Stu's unusual behaviour for now and placing it just on new-student nerves. "I like you guys too! Do you guys want to sit together at lunch with us tomorrow...?"

"Sounds great." Billy agreed at once, sounding extremely excited by your kind offer. "Thanks, (Y/n)."

"Yeah, that's really nice of you. It'll be nice not having to talk to Billy's sorry ass all the time." Stu jeered tauntingly, shoving him in the side and sticking his tongue out at his friend to annoy him.

"I...see." You laughed like before and glanced up at the hallway's clock, seeing that you were late to your last lesson. Crap! "Sorry guys, but I'm gonna have to go. But thanks again for cheering me up and chatting! See you later!"

Before they could respond or say goodbye, you waved at them and then raced up the university's stairs; hurrying towards your classroom that was on the opposite side of the building. By this point you'd already built up a reputation of being that one student who was "always late", so the slight scolding you received from the professor didn't really bother you that much. Of course you were still a tad bit embarrassed; so you sat down and flipped open your textbook, trying your best to focus and pay attention. But even now, you were curious about it. How did Billy and Stu know that you were studying Psychology? Their reply seemed more like an alibi than a proper answer. It was just so...so strange.

"(Y/n)? (Y/n)! Are you even listening?" Rose whispered from in front of you, noticing how you weren't focusing on teacher's words and trying to help you not get told off again.

"Sorry Rose." You sheepishly smiled, feeling bad on her behalf due to your constant need for her help. "Sooo...?"

"The different types of bullying. Whether it be physical bullying or cyber-bullying. Right now she's talking about cyber-bullying - like the effects and impact it can have on the specific victim." Rose rolled her eyes before she explained today's lesson to you - knowing what you were going to ask.

"Thanks Rose. You're the real MVP." You hugged her from behind and flicked to that particular part of the textbook, thankful for the other girl's assistance.

"I know I am." Rose wryly remarked, turning back towards her own work. "I know I am."