Sulky

As the day got closer, Sebastian was feeling more and more strange. That feeling of nostalgia overwhelmed him too much, making it difficult for him to have his mind on something without thinking again about what was bothering him in recent days. It was something like an impulse that happened every five minutes and that changed his mood drastically.

There were no questions from anyone, which he appreciated. He didn't want to tell the story over and over. He didn't want to think about it either, so it was better to leave things as they were and enjoy his little moments where he was stable. Where he could feel relaxed without fear of being in the discomfort of his life again.

And those little quiet moments were very dear to Sebastian. Those few seconds where his mind was blank and therefore negative emotions disappeared. Where he could only pay attention to the rhythm of his breathing and the slight sounds that surrounded him, such as the wood grinding under his slim body, the gentle drumming he made with the pens on the desk, his clothes rubbing with whatever movement he could do... It was like going to another dimension, even if his body did not move from that place.

Of course, he was always interrupted just when he felt like he could stay in that state a little longer. His classmates entered his concentration when they had a doubt or only to share a few words, being forced to raise their voices to be able to be heard by the teacher. And Nathaniel was the first to ruin those moments. The minor always dropped the pens and, when trying to pick them up, he would throw even more things, causing a great scandal that destroyed the serenity of the raven. Although he didn't seem at all annoyed, for Sebastian, who was sitting to the side, it was really frustrating having to hear the knocks of things falling and being forced to lift everything the other threw so that the cycle that was generated with lifting and falling again will finally cease.

But he was grateful that that was only in class because, now that he didn't have to spend lunch with him, he wasn't forced to listen to him talk about a thousand scientific things that didn't interest him. Perhaps that change had favored him in that regard.

Also, that gave him time to realize that he actually liked spending time with Jack and Jade. It was probably because they met at a young age and because they spent a large part of their life together, or simply because they were the only ones he could hang out with after his argument with Hirsch; But if he was sure of one thing, it was that he enjoyed listening to them talk about trivial things.

However, he came to think that, perhaps, he was selfish in asking to be kept company, since each one had their own friends and, although they told him that being with him was a pleasure, Sebastian felt that it was the opposite. It felt like it was an obligation for the pair of friends.

And in the afternoon, after several hours of boring classes, with Nathaniel he would go home to study the topics of the day. These moments were used mainly to relax, without paying too much attention to his partner. He was betting that Nathaniel was probably aware of it; however, he said nothing about it. The silver-haired guy only explained the sessions they saw at school, without intruding so much on their personal situations.

In those hours when only the two of them were together, he almost completely forgot that he disliked this boy at all. The silence that was generated when the guest turned the page was calming, almost satisfying: he could hear the calm rhythm of his breathing, the breeze when he pulled the curtains that decorated the window and the rub his body made when he settled into his bed.

In those moments, it was simply about Sebastian and Nathaniel, without any prejudice.

"You can get to the result easily, but that depends on the way you understand it and feel confident about answering," Nathaniel commented, handing a pencil to the older one so that he could begin to solve the problem he had written down in the notebook.

Sebastian sighed before taking the pencil and starting to hit his forehead with it. The problem was not entirely complicated, but it was true that he was very lazy to think about the possible answer to the exercise, since he was content to listen to the contrary speak. He vaguely read the problem over and over again, hoping to find the result between the lines, knowing full well that it would take much more effort to decipher the answer.

It didn't take long for him to focus his attention on his thoughts, letting that operation be clouded by his vision and forgetting that he was in the middle of his counseling. The written words that surrounded the problem became illegible, losing the meaning that seconds before they had.

The tests of the month were getting closer by the day, and due to his inattention in most classes, he understood that he would have to try twice as hard to understand those topics that would surely be on his exam. Now he could say that he really needed the help of the guy to support him with those issues that, being distracted, he had lost. He couldn't afford to get a "bad" grade again, and eventually he found something of use out of these consultancies.

"Sebas?"

The silvery-haired voice made him react and return to the problem that had arisen.

"Yeah?" he asked, looking up a little to see his partner sitting by the desk.

"Are you okay?"

Again, that question that everyone asked him. He preferred not to answer and ignore him, just like he always did. He decided to concentrate on what he had to do and thus, perhaps, rid himself of Nathaniel's silly questions. However, he could feel the boy's gaze on him, making him uncomfortable and causing a chill to invade his spine.

Of one thing he was sure: he was once again being analyzed by the minor. Even if he hadn't asked again, he knew Nathaniel was looking for the answer in another way. Probably in the position he was in or in his drumming with the pencil. And that was something that made him even more nervous because, if he had learned something, it was that the boy always found the result of everything.

"You're tired," the silver-haired guy said after a while, making the older one glance at him sideways.

"The tests are in a few days, it is normal that I'm i tired because I'm studying to pass," he excused himself, trying to divert that conversation.

"I don't think it's precisely because of the tests."

"I don't think it is something of your interest if I'm tired or not," he replied, emphasizing the word "you", making it clear to not bothered him again.

Nathaniel didn't comment on anything else and went back to his book, leaving Sebastian with the words in his mouth, which often made him angry. He sat up until he was sitting on his bed, stretching his arms a little to relax them after having been in the same position for several minutes. He nuzzled the bridge of his nose and mentally counted to ten, trying to calm himself down.