Chapter 22 - Without Realizing

It didn't happen all at once.

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Jackson didn't wake up one day and decide anything.

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There was no moment.

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No realization.

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Just… small changes.

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At first, it was nothing.

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Just coincidence.

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He happened to walk into the cafeteria

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and his eyes moved

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not to his usual group

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but somewhere else.

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A corner.

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Christopher.

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Sitting the same way he always did. —

Quiet.

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Unbothered.

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Jackson paused for half a second.

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Then walked over.

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Like it was normal.

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Like it had always been.

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"Hey."

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Christopher looked up.

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There was that same slight pause

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like he was adjusting to being spoken to

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and then

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"…Hi."

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Jackson sat down.

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Closer than before.

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Not enough to be noticed.

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But enough.

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"You're here early."

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Christopher nodded.

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"I didn't have anything after class."

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Jackson hummed.

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He hadn't either.

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But he hadn't planned to come here.

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Not really.

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"…You always sit at this table?" he asked again.

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"Yeah."

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Jackson leaned back slightly.

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His gaze drifting

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not away

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but around.

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Like he was checking something.

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Or maybe confirming it.

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"Good spot."

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Christopher didn't reply.

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But he didn't look uncomfortable either.

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That was becoming… familiar.

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 A few days later

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Jackson noticed something strange.

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Christopher wasn't there.

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Same time.

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Same place.

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Empty seat.

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Jackson stood there for a moment longer than he should have.

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"…Weird."

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He didn't think much of it.

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He just… sat somewhere else.

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But lunch felt longer.

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Louder.

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And for some reason

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he left earlier than usual.

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The next day

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Christopher was back.

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Jackson didn't hesitate this time.

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"You weren't here yesterday."

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The words came out too easily.

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Christopher blinked.

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"…I had something to do."

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Jackson nodded.

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That should have been enough.

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It was enough.

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So why did it feel like it wasn't?

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"…Oh."

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A pause.

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Then

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"Don't disappear like that."

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Christopher looked at him.

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Really looked this time.

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"…Okay."

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Jackson didn't realize what he had just said.

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Or how it sounded.

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He just leaned back again

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like always.

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Like nothing had changed.

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Later that week

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they walked out of class together.

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Not planned.

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It just… happened.

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Christopher walked a little slower.

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Jackson noticed.

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And without thinking

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he matched his pace.

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"…You're always this slow?" he asked.

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Christopher glanced at him.

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"…You're always this fast?"

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Jackson huffed out a quiet breath.

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"…Fair."

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They kept walking.

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Side by side.

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Not touching.

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But not far either.

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That night

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Jackson checked his phone.

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Nothing.

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He stared at the screen for a second longer than necessary.

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Then

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without thinking

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he typed.

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Did you finish the assignment?

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Sent.

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A minute passed.

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Then two.

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Then

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Yeah.

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Short.

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Simple.

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Jackson stared at it.

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Then typed again.

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Good.

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… He didn't send anything else.

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But he didn't put his phone down either.

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Somewhere between those moments

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between the empty seat

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the slowed steps

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the unnecessary message

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something had started.

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Quiet.

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Unnoticed.

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But real.

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And the worst part

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Jackson still thought it was nothing.