Zane, we are just friends, I think. — Aphmau.

Requested by @PepperoniOffThePizza

Aphmau lay sprawled across her bed, the faint hum of her laptop screen illuminating the dim corner of her dorm room. The day had been slow, too slow. Between back-to-back lectures and hours of studying for exams, she was exhausted but restless. She scrolled through her phone mindlessly, occasionally glancing up at the walls adorned with a mix of posters—anime characters, motivational quotes, and a couple of cheesy "college life" pictures that made her laugh but didn't do much to brighten her mood today.

She sighed deeply and checked the clock. It was late afternoon, around 4 PM, and the day felt like it was dragging on forever. With most of her friends in class or busy with their own schedules, she didn't have anyone to talk to. She didn't feel like venting to her mom either, even though her advice was always good. Right now, Aphmau just needed something different. Someone who understood her college struggles without needing to overanalyze everything.

Her thumb hovered over Zane's name in her contacts. Zane. They were complicated. Or at least, they *used* to be complicated. Now, it was pretty clear what they were: friends. With benefits. But it was mostly platonic. He didn't need her to explain anything about her life, and she didn't need to explain everything to him either. It was simple. And in moments like this—when she was tired of the world and didn't want to overthink things—it was exactly what she needed.

**Aphmau:** 
*Hey, you free? I'm bored and could use someone to talk to.*

She hit send before she had a chance to overthink it. She'd learned over time not to second-guess herself when it came to Zane. He'd always been someone who just got it.

Not long after, her phone buzzed.

**Zane:** 
*Sure, what's up?*

Aphmau sat up a bit straighter, feeling the familiar excitement of their easygoing connection. They didn't hang out often unless it was on their terms, but when they did, it was comfortable, like they could slip into a conversation about absolutely anything or nothing at all.

**Aphmau:** 
*I don't know, just... life stuff, y'know? Feels like everything is moving so fast, and I'm just stuck in one place.*

She paused, her fingers hovering over the screen as she debated whether she wanted to elaborate more. But she didn't feel like explaining it all—she just wanted someone to listen.

**Zane:** 
*I get that. Want me to swing by your dorm?*

**Aphmau:** 
*Yeah, please. I could use the company. Come chat about life or whatever.*

After sending the message, she leaned back on her bed, glancing at the empty chair across from her desk. A half-empty coffee cup was sitting there, and she considered whether she should clean up the mess before Zane arrived, but decided against it. He'd been in her dorm enough times that a bit of clutter didn't bother him.

Within a few minutes, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Aphmau called out, her voice light and welcoming.

Zane stepped into the room, looking effortlessly cool as always—black hoodie, ripped jeans, his usual air of nonchalance. He raised an eyebrow as he spotted her on the bed, her legs stretched out with one arm thrown across her forehead in that exaggerated, dramatic way she often did when she was feeling particularly moody.

"Rough day?" he asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed, his posture relaxed.

Aphmau groaned dramatically. "Rough week, actually. Just—everything feels like it's happening so fast. Classes are piling up, my roommate keeps playing *that* music *again*, and I feel like I'm falling behind on everything. And I don't even know what I'm doing half the time."

Zane chuckled, leaning back slightly and crossing his arms. "I mean, I get it. College is like that. Everyone acts like they've got it all figured out, but I swear no one knows what's going on. You're not alone in feeling lost."

Aphmau sighed. "Yeah, I guess... I just want to make it all work. I want to be able to balance everything, do well in school, keep up with my friends, and still find time for *me*—but it's like there's never enough time."

"You know, you don't have to do everything," Zane replied, his tone unusually serious. "Sometimes, it's okay to let go of the pressure. It's not all about keeping up appearances. The more you try to force things, the more frustrated you'll get."

Aphmau looked at him, her expression softening. "I know you're right. It's just hard to not feel like I'm failing when everyone else seems to have it together. Like, *everyone* is out there, excelling, and I'm just... here, barely keeping up."

Zane met her gaze, a hint of something warm in his eyes. "People put on a good show, but trust me, they're probably just as lost as you are. Everyone's trying to figure it out in their own way. Don't beat yourself up about it."

Aphmau sat up slightly, her arms hugging her knees. "I guess. But there's always this pressure, you know? To be successful, to always be doing something. And the harder I try, the more I feel like I'm falling short."

Zane didn't respond immediately, but his eyes softened as he turned slightly to face her, his body language more open now. "You're not falling short, Aphmau. You're figuring things out. College isn't about being perfect; it's about learning, and sometimes that means making mistakes and taking your time. It's okay to slow down, you don't have to have everything figured out right now."

She smiled a little at that, feeling a slight weight lifting from her chest. "Thanks. I guess I needed to hear that. I don't know why I always feel like I need to rush everything. I'm just... trying to keep up, to not fall behind. And then it feels like I'm constantly on edge, trying to catch up with people who seem like they've got it all together."

Zane grinned, leaning back against the wall beside her bed. "Everyone's faking it. Trust me on that. I bet even that one kid in your class who's always answering questions probably spends his weekends with his nose buried in the latest video games."

Aphmau chuckled, feeling a little lighter. "Okay, yeah, that makes me feel better. Maybe it's not *just* me."

"It's definitely not just you," Zane affirmed. "College is a mess, but it's also kind of awesome. And you don't have to figure it all out right away. You just need to be kind to yourself."

Aphmau nodded thoughtfully. The conversation had already helped, and she appreciated the way Zane always seemed to cut through the fog of her thoughts with a simple, clear perspective.

"So, what about you? How are *you* holding up?" she asked, her voice softer now, genuinely curious.

Zane paused for a moment, looking away as if considering the question carefully. "I'm okay. A little tired. College life's a lot of pressure, but honestly, it's not that different from high school. People make a big deal about it, but I don't really have any more answers than I did before. I just try to take things one day at a time."

Aphmau smiled, leaning back on her bed and looking at him. "Yeah, that's probably the healthiest way to do it. One day at a time."

"Exactly," Zane said, finally letting out a little chuckle. "So, now that we've solved all of life's problems, what do you say we just hang out for a bit? No more deep talks for now."

Aphmau grinned, the weight on her chest now completely lifted. "Sounds good. Thanks for coming by. I needed this."

Zane gave her a lazy smile, sitting back comfortably. "Anytime. You know where to find me."

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics—random college quirks, the latest memes circulating on campus, and their mutual annoyance with the dining hall food—the air between them felt natural again. No more overthinking, no more pressure. Just two friends, chatting and passing time.

Sometimes, that was all they really needed.

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