Kieran's PoV

Simon was a fast learner. He got caught up to where we were in just a few days. With all the time we got to spend together, I learned so much about him. I got to know his favorite food, favorite color, favorite band, favorite subject, everything I possibly could. We got along amazingly, perfectly even. A cynic would be skeptical about how perfect it all was but I pushed the voice in my head that was saying just that away. We worked so well together. Anything one of us didn't understand, the other did and knew exactly how to explain it.

Of course, as we grew closer, my crush grew as well. "Hey, Grey." He joked as he sat down, handing me a cookie.

"Sup, Si?" I chuckled. "Thanks." He smiled.

"No problem." He stretched as much as his desk would allow, his college hoodie raising with his arms, and his abdomen becomes exposed. Oh god, those abs... I looked back at the paper on my desk until he finished stretching. I blushed. "Hey, you alright?" He asked. He felt my forehead. "You're really warm. Do you want to head back to the room and lay down? I can get the work for you. You really shouldn't be out and about if you aren't feeling well." He commented worriedly.

"I'm fine, Si. It's just kinda warm in here." I reassured him.

"Well, if you're too warm then you should probably take your sweatshirt off, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I guess," I replied, doing just that. I forgot I was wearing a tank top underneath. Nothing to see, really, so honestly, can it be that big of a deal? Once my sweatshirt is off and I can see again, I noticed Simon was staring at my paper. "Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah." He said after a short moment. He looked back to me, face slightly red. "Just got lost in thought." He excused. I nodded, shrugging it off. This was the closest he's been to seeing me shirtless so that could be it. Even though we live together, we've never changed in front of each other. He's either not been in the room or I've just fallen asleep in my clothes.

I took a bite of my cookie and finally looked at my worksheet, instantly confused. "Hold on, hold on. How..?" I started, looking at him.

He smiled. "Here, look." He leaned over and showed me his paper, slowly working through the first problem. His scent filled my nostrils and I'm enveloped in the scent of nature. A strong, forest aroma emanated from him and was impossibly able to soothe me effortlessly. "See?" He asked.

I nod, entranced with his fragrance. He started to move away but I stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Could you.. help me with this next one just to make sure I got it?" I stammered, surprised by my own daring. He nodded. We worked through the next one together and I actually focused on what he was saying instead of how nicely he smelled. "Okay, thank you," I said, finally forcing myself to give up and let him back away. He seemed to hesitate.

"You know, if you want, we can go get coffee later and I can explain what we'll be moving to next. I've been reading ahead." He offered.

We haven't really hung out outside of the school and our dorm. This would be a good chance to get closer to him... "I think I have time for a quick study date. I'm still hoping Markell will cancel class."

"Markell? Isn't that the physics teacher? Why do you want him to cancel class today?"

"Yeah, he is. And I thought I told you about my psychology research essay." I knew I'd at least mentioned it. He paused for a moment, brows furrowing as he thought.

"Oh, yeah! Your prejudice and discrimination one, right?" I smiled at him and was rewarded with a smile back.

"Yeah! But anyway, I'm up for coffee later." I finished off my cookie and went back to my paper. I could feel him glancing at me. I would kill to know what he's thinking right now. I thought with a short sigh, focusing on the third problem. Oh, wait! Instead of going through all that, what if I just...