Cameron doesn’t know when the stinging in his eyes became overwhelming, but now he has to turn away to fight back tears. To his relief, the ginger just watches him quietly as he works through the sudden emotion.

“That’s very kind of you to say,” he tries to get out calmly, but wobbles at the end.

“It’s not kind. Just respect.”

Nodding absently, he can’t help but let out a quiet laugh at the correction. “Thank you regardless.”

“Of course.”

Trying to ground himself, Cameron relaxes, sinking into the comforter with a sigh. One foot on the bed, the other above the floor, he takes a few breaths, still not ready to face her. 

“I can handle modeling as long as you let me see whatever you draw,” he said in a shy voice. “I-I liked seeing me through your eyes.” 

Cameron can’t help but glance at the vanity, where Monday’s sketch was tucked away safely until he found a frame. The little smile growing on his lips freezes as he looks at her again, Jazmine grimacing in an apologetic manner. 

“I don’t think we should do the modeling session. You do realize I meant live-modeling, right?”

Cameron’s cheeks warmed immediately, his lips parting in surprise. 

“I-I didn’t think you’d need all that,” he can only whisper as he squeezes his arms around his legs to…brace himself? To hold the excitement? To calm down? The sophomore doesn’t know exactly which, but prays that if she catches his trembling, she won’t mistake it as trepidation. That couldn’t be further from the truth. 

“You’re right, I don’t. It’s a personal preference and vanity project to buy me more time…but your time is valuable.”

“But it’s not like I have any real plans yet. I-I just got here.”

“So why tie yourself up for my personal request. You know, this story and its characters are so strange that I couldn’t use human references for almost all of my characters. and for the ones that did need some, I have enough photos and previous live-modeling drawings that I should be able to—“

“That’s besides the point. Do you still want me to model for you?” the sophomore interrupts before she couldn’t finish, and any chance of alone time or anytime with her disappears. 

It can’t just end now. Before I even… Cameron didn’t really know what he wanted exactly, but he wanted whatever this was to continue so badly. He unconsciously held his breath as she shook her head again. 

“Cameron, it’s not about whether I—“

“It’s a yes or no question, Jazmine.”

Jazmine seems to finally notice his resolve, her entire body stilling as she scans his face.

“…Yeah. I, yes, I do want you to be the model. But…” 

Cameron lifts a hand up, thankful the gesture makes her pause in what he knew would be a disappointing line of conversation. Although he wishes his heart would stop galloping under the weight of her full attention. The undeniable patience she has as his mouth opens and closes for a few seconds while he scrapes up the last bit of his courage. 

“I-if it’ll make you feel better about me understanding everything, you could write up an agreement. I’ll gladly read and sign it.”

“I guess. But you aren’t worried about anything?” 

“No. I’m just…a template.” Jazmine’s snort at this immediately makes him waver slightly. “So it's not like the character will look exactly like me.”

“Yeah. Lakan will have his own notes and requests after the first mockups.”

Lakan’s notes? Would she only change the drawings because of their input? Cameron's mind can’t help but latch on to idea. With a shake of his head, he quickly buries the thought before it could blossom any further. The ginger focuses on the lingering tightness around her lip as she holds back a…frown. Gotta seal the deal.

“Right. So, I don’t have anything to worry about. And you’ll be able to meet your deadline if we get this over with soon.”

Instead of responding immediately, Jazmine surprises him with a smile that wrinkles her nose. 

“Damn. You’re a sweet guy, Cam. You really don’t have to do this.“

“Who said I’m doing this because I’m sweet?” He’d been hoping his voice would be playful, maybe even flirtatious, but it fell flat to his own ears. 

“Oh. What do you want? There is definitely compensation and—“

“I meant me being vain. How many people get to say they’re inspo for a comic character?”

Softly chuckling, Jazmine eases down to the bed as well, her body turning into an L as she turns toward him. It was an amusing sight. Part of the junior’s butt and half of her legs were slightly hanging over the edge. 

If he didn’t know any better, Cameron had half a mind to think she’d contorted herself in this position to not crowd him completely in the corner despite her obvious need to stretch out. Her feet are literally over the edge of the bed frame.Debating whether to address it and offer to move back to the vanity, Cameron nearly misses Jazmine continuing the conversation.

“..ue. Although I’m beginning to think you’re quite the character yourself.”

“I don’t know. You’re pretty intriguing. I kinda want to ask you a bunch of questions,” the ginger confesses.

“Go for it.”

“Then tell me more about your work with Lakan. Amari told me you two made a few comics already.”

Jazmine sighs, her whole body sagging back into the bed. “It’s a long story.”

“I got time if you do,” Cameron shrugs.

He doesn’t flinch as her gaze searches his. Rather, the ginger faces her full on, even with his neck beginning to hurt from the odd angle. “I mean it, Jazz. I want to get to know you.”

“Fine. It all started when I stumbled across Lakan’s Instagram…”

They both don’t realize how much time has passed until Jazmine’s phone starts to buzz repeatedly. 

“Uh, is an emergency happening, or-“

“No. It’s just my roommates blowing up my phone.”

“Ahh,” Cameron nods sympathetically. “You leave a mess in the kitchen?”

“As if,” Jazmine snorts. Texting quickly, even as more messages come, she shakes her head. “They're wondering where I am.”

“It’s not like it’s even…” Tapping his own phone, Cameron is just as shocked by it, reading 12:04. They had left the coffee shop well before nine. “Oh my goodness, I didn’t mean to keep you here so late. I’m so sorry—“

“No. I had fun. But I gotta go before my roommates get in a tizzy,” Jazmine says with an apologetic smile. 

“Yeah, mine should be coming back soon.”

The junior climbs off the bed to his dismay. Not knowing what to do as she puts her sweatshirt on, he digs for his own hoodie to fend off the chilly mountain air.

“Thanks for hanging out with me,” he stammers as she slides her sneakers on. Jazmine couldn’t help but chuckle. 

“I think I should be saying that. You invited me into your space. Quite the honor you’ve bestowed upon me. I didn’t let anyone in my room the first week—mainly because it looked like shit. But you…it’s a dream dorm set up.”

It doesn’t escape her attention how his face lights up briefly before he makes his way to the door. 

“I’ll walk you downstairs,” he mutters while grabbing his keychain off the bedpost. Courtesy told her to decline it—say something along the lines of ‘you don’t have to’ and ‘I know my way around all the dorms’, but Jazmine refrains. She waits for him to open the door, her brain latching onto the fact that he automatically holds the door for her. 

“Why, thank you, kind sir.” 

Testing the waters, the artist winks as she passes. Jazmine internally pats herself on the back as she manages not to comment on the tip of his ears turning red. Maybe I have been reading the room right? 

Jazmine sees the elevators, but automatically goes for the stairs. Excuses fly through her head. ‘I was stagnant for several hours.’ ‘I need more steps in.’ And ‘Walking down is faster than the dorm elevators.' But she knew the truth. She just wanted a little more time with the ginger at her side. Cameron didn’t seem to mind either, a tiny smile on his pink, freckled lips.

“So, where are you taking me tomorrow?” he asks as they get through the first flight. His velvet voice was just a little gravelly after the hours they’d spent talking, but pleasant nonetheless. 

“Are you up for a house party?” Jazmine finds herself asking without much thought. 

Cameron's brows nearly disappear into his hairline.