Two days, it took, for Elias to message Ryan again. When Ryan long laid in bed, watching a gaming stream of one of the hero shooters he enjoyed, the messages disrupted his peace. 

[20:42: Elias: These notes aren’t making any sense.]

Ryan sat up in his bed, hearing the voices of his roommates right outside in the kitchen, but even though he usually joined in on their conversations, he cared little this time. 

[20:44: Ryan: what do you mean?]

[20:44: Elias: Your joke of a cheat sheet. It isn’t helping at all.]

[20:44: Ryan: It’s not?]

[20:45: Elias: What did I just say?]

Ryan rubbed his neck, feeling attacked even through these messages. Elias truly was hostile, but Ryan only wondered why, and it didn’t bother him all that much, even though it probably should have. 

[20:47: Ryan: im just surprised. It helped me a lot when I was taking the class last year]

[20:55: Elias: Maybe for a nerd like you, it makes perfect sense. For me, it doesn’t work.]

[20:55: Elias: My exam is tomorrow, and I wasted my time trying to understand your hieroglyphs. Thanks a lot.]

“No fair,” Ryan pouted. “I was trying to help!” His fingers continued on typing all the faster now. 

[20:57: Ryan: Should we have a call, and I’ll try and help you?]

Ryan himself wasn’t sure why he was so adamant on helping someone that didn’t want to be helped, with Elias pushing him away and belittling him, but Ryan just couldn’t help it. He thought of Elias, and wanted to help, no matter what — whatever the reason for that was, Ryan cared little. 

[20:58: Ryan: Or we could meet up, and cram?]

[20:58: Elias: The library closes at 9.]

[20:58: Ryan: You could have asked me for help earlier …]

[20:58: Elias: Why should I? It’s been nothing but a bother.]

“Mean,” Ryan sighed. 

[20:59: Ryan: lets meet elsewhere, then? It can’t be my place, since I’ve got roommates]

[20:59: Elias: I’m not letting a weirdo like you into my house.]

Ryan was completely at a loss for words, and had no idea how to proceed with someone so stubborn. Elias refused anything Ryan offered, and already, it seemed like it would be an endless back-and-forth.

All that, even though Ryan simply tried to help and to please Elias; all that, when Ryan had been more than forthcoming, even after Elias wasted an hour of Ryan’s day by not letting him know he’d be late. 

Dropping his phone onto his bed, Ryan stared at the ceiling, and cleared his throat. Before he could process anything and think of a better solution, another message reached him, Elias’ displeased tone poking right through the letters.

[21:05: Elias: Fine. Help me, and I’ll pay for your dinner.]

[21:05: Elias: Then, we’re even.]

In the third and last message, Elias send a location Ryan’s way, showing him exactly which restaurant to show up at. Checking it on the map, it seemed to be a Korean restaurant, already exciting Ryan since he’d never tried it before, and he loved spicy foods. 

But there was something about Elias’ tone that gave Ryan an eternal pout. The way he texted, in that cold tone. 

Fine. 

“As if I’m forcing you,” Ryan grumbled, already slipping into his shoes. “You texted me out your own free will, and now?” Does he want my help, or not? 

If Elias truly wanted tutoring help, and if he needed it this desperately, why was he being so combative about it? He could have easily said no, Ryan thought, easily could have never even called Ryan if he wasn’t interested in his help. 

And yet, he’d called, messaged, and still pretended as if it was all Ryan’s doing, an inconvenience forced upon him. 

His actions and his words didn’t match at all, and perhaps that was exactly what lured Ryan right into the bear’s den. 

Ryan hopped into his car, and let the directions guide him to the restaurant, sun long setting into the dark, moon already out, and there he stood.

Elias. 

Ryan’s car slowed further and further, coming to a full stop right in front of Elias. And Ryan, with his eyes glaring, was completely struck with awe once again. 

Elias, despite the words that fell out of his mouth, carried himself so elegantly. And the way he stood there, turtleneck, loose pants, and a wool coat draped over his body, ranging all the way down his knees … His black hair reflected the street lights around him, one hand in his pocket and with the other, he held a vape up to his mouth, his surroundings turning to thick clouds every now and then. 

Ryan cleared his throat as it felt tighter with every passing moment. And before he could react like a normal person, Elias’ eyes had flickered up and noticed the car, and their eyes met through Ryan’s car windows for just a second, making him flinch and wave as a greeting.

Instantly, Elias rolled his eyes, and just as Ryan stepped out of his old car, Elias tucked his vape away, but the smoke and scent still lingered around in that extreme fake fruity flavor. 

“You shouldn’t vape,” Ryan mumbled as he approached. “It’s really bad for you.” 

Elias’ glare could have killed him right then and there, and he stuttered, grasping for words and apologies. “But—I guess—It’s none of my business, right! Carry on, Elias!” 

“Seeing your face is what’s bad for me,” Elias hissed. “It better be the last time.” 

Ryan could only chuckle a self-degrading laugh, though he hoped Elias didn’t mean it, and he himself thought his face wasn’t all that bad. 

“It’s blue this time.”

“H-Huh?”

“Your ugly flannel, Liam.” Ryan’s fingers reached for his own shirt.

“My—My name’s Ryan.” 

“Whatever. I can’t believe you’ve got more than one of those.”

“They’re really comfy…” Silence followed, with Elias simply shaking his head in disbelief. 

“Well, um, anyways … Should we eat or study first? I’ll make sure you pass your exam!” 

“Explain your stupid cheat sheet to me while we eat.” 

Oh. He really wanted to get this over with as fast as possible, and Ryan had never felt so unwanted nearby, even though he’d been invited by yours truly himself. 

Sulking, he followed Elias into the restaurant, where he greeted the owners as if he was a frequent visitor, and already ordered for himself, while Ryan had to reach for the menu and scour through it himself, only to decide on some spicy stir-fried pork in the end. 

“… Spicy?” Eli whispered, staring at Ryan’s finger pointed at the meal option, and the picture right beside it.

“I love spicy!” Ryan announced loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear, and Eli flinched and gazed away, hiding his reaction from Ryan, and the surprise that followed.

“So … you come here often?” Ryan asked rather cluelessly, trying to break through the silence that dominated the space between them.

Elias stared, exasperated all through his body and soul. “Your cheat sheet.” He definitely did not want any small talk, or anything besides the topic at hand: passing his dreaded calculus exam. 

On a free chair beside them, Elias’ backpack resided, and a sketchbook and pencil laid beside them on their table, together with Ryan’s cheat sheet, and a paper where attempts at calculus had been made. Following the sheets rules, Elias had tried to understand it by himself, all while sitting here at the restaurant? 

Given the pencil residue on the side of his hand, he must have given up and went to sketch, instead, while waiting for Ryan’s arrival. 

A timid smile tickled Ryan’s face, and he cleared his throat multiple times before sliding the cheat sheet closer to himself. “C-Can I?” he asked in a stutter, reaching for Elias’ perfectly sharpened pencil. 

All Elias did was grunt and flick it over with his fingers, and Ryan had to catch it just before it fell onto his lap. Ryan let out a nervous chuckle, the air around them once more so hostile, he wondered whether he was even tolerated nearby, and then he gulped, and readied himself to explain the steps on his calculus cheat sheet.