By the end of the week, things had started to settle.
—
Classes felt familiar.
The campus less overwhelming.
—
Christopher had found a rhythm.
—
Not perfect.
—
But manageable.
—
—
Lunch was quieter.
—
It always was.
—
People gathered in groups.
Talking easily.
Laughing like they had known each other longer than they actually had.
—
Christopher sat alone.
—
Not far from others.
—
But not close enough to be part of anything.
—
—
It didn't bother him.
—
Not really.
—
—
He unwrapped his food slowly, his attention drifting between the table and the movement around him.
—
Voices blurred together.
—
Comfortable.
—
Distant.
—
—
He didn't notice him at first.
—
—
Only when the chair beside him moved slightly
—
—
not too close.
—
but not far either
—
—
did Christopher look up.
—
—
"…Hey."
—
—
Jackson.
—
—
Christopher blinked once.
—
Then nodded.
—
"…Hi."
—
—
There was no hesitation in the way Jackson sat down.
—
No awkwardness.
—
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
—
—
Christopher wasn't sure why
—
—
but that stood out.
—
—
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
—
—
It wasn't uncomfortable.
—
—
Just… quiet.
—
—
"What are you eating?" Jackson asked finally.
—
Christopher glanced down.
—
"…Just something simple."
—
"Looks decent."
—
A small pause.
—
"…You always sit here?"
—
Christopher nodded.
—
"Yeah."
—
—
Jackson leaned back slightly in his chair.
—
Not invading space.
—
Not pulling away either.
—
—
"Mind if I stay?"
—
—
The question caught him off guard.
—
Not because of what it meant
—
—
but because it was asked.
—
—
Most people didn't ask.
—
—
Christopher shook his head.
—
"No."
—
—
Another pause.
—
—
Jackson didn't rush to fill it.
—
—
That was… new.
—
—
"So," Jackson said after a moment, "you're always this quiet?"
—
—
Christopher thought about it.
—
"…I guess."
—
—
"Doesn't it get boring?"
—
—
He looked at him then.
—
"…No."
—
—
Jackson smiled slightly.
—
Not mocking.
—
Not amused.
—
—
Just… interested.
—
—
"That's kind of impressive."
—
—
Christopher didn't know how to respond to that.
—
—
So he didn't.
—
—
They sat like that for a while.
—
Talking a little.
—
Not much.
—
—
Small things.
—
Classes.
People.
Nothing important.
—
—
And somehow
—
—
it didn't feel forced.
—
—
At one point, Jackson reached over
—
—
not close enough to startle
—
—
and took a piece of food from Christopher's tray.
—
—
Christopher paused.
—
Looked at him.
—
—
"…You didn't ask."
—
—
Jackson shrugged lightly.
—
"Would you have said yes?"
—
—
Christopher thought about it.
—
"…Probably."
—
—
"Then it works out."
—
—
A small silence followed.
—
—
Then
—
—
unexpectedly
—
—
Christopher let out a quiet breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
—
—
It surprised him.
—
—
More than that
—
—
it stayed.
—
—
When lunch ended, Jackson stood first.
—
—
"Same time tomorrow?" he asked casually.
—
—
Christopher hesitated.
—
Just for a second.
—
—
"…Okay."
—
—
Jackson nodded once.
—
Then left.
—
—
Just like that.
—
—
Christopher sat there a moment longer.
—
—
The space beside him felt different now.
—
—
Not empty.
—
—
Just… noticed.
—
—
As he gathered his things, he realized something
—
—
something small.
—
—
Lunch hadn't felt as quiet.
—
—
And for the first time
—
—
being alone didn't feel the same as before.
—
—
Not worse.
—
—
Just…
—
less.