21

Tyler's message was still bugging me early that afternoon. I felt like there was something that he wasn't telling me.

He'd agreed to meet me at The Roasted Bean at two so we could study together. We didn't have any classes together other than History but it was nice to just have him near while I was doing homework.

At 1:45, I got in line. It hadn't been a long walk, and I probably could have waited at the dorm for him. But, I didn't know how busy The Roasted Bean would be. Good thing I did because the line was eight people deep.

Me: I'm here, and drinks are buy one get one half off. What do you want?

Nothing. I waited for a few minutes.

Me: There's 4 people in front of me

Still nothing.

I sent him a picture of the menu and could see that he had looked at it. As well as my messages from earlier.

Why aren't you texting me back?

Me: There's 2 people in front of me now. I can see you reading these messages.

Me: I'm going to get you this one if you don't pick before I get to the front of the line.

I sent him a zoomed in picture of the Strawberry Shortcake Iced Latte. It looked exactly like its name and I had been thinking about getting it for a while.

After I sent it, I immediately regretted it. Maybe it was too much? But, I saw the bouncing dots that told me he was typing.

Tyler: Just get whatever you normally get

I don't normally get anything. I'm not even halfway through the menu yet.

Me: Hot or cold?

Tyler: Whatever you normally get

This is so incredibly unhelpful.

I was next in line and had to scramble to think of something that was more normal than my strawberry shortcake drink. I sent him a thumbs up emoji and added a coffee cup before I sent it. I was feeling a little daring, so I sent him another message.

Me: Are you sure you're okay?

Tyler: Fine

I couldn't think of anything to say that would help the situation, so I didn't reply. I ordered the strawberry shortcake drink for me, and a hot caramel latte for him.

I grabbed the drinks from the barista and looked around the lobby of the coffee shop. Tyler was nowhere to be found. I put the drinks on a table and set my backpack on one of the chairs. I reached for my phone but stopped myself.

Relax, Alexia. Give him a few minutes. He'll be here.

I sat down and started mindlessly scrolling on Instagram.

Five minutes later, I got a text.

Tyler: Be there soon

I waited for more, but nothing else came. Something was definitely going on.

Me: Okay

I saw him before he saw me. His face was downcast and his eyes were looking everywhere but at me. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets and he was slouching as he walked toward me.

There was certainly more going on than he was telling me. I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

I stood as he reached the table, and his eyes immediately went to my strawberry shortcake drink that was sitting on the table. His face fell more than it was already. I quickly reached for it, took a sip, and held the other out to him.

He didn't take it. He kept looking around like he was uncomfortable and trying really hard not to cry. I frantically thought for a second about what to do.

After putting the drinks down, I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. He just stood there, obviously unsure of what to do.

"Tyler, This is for you, not for me," I whispered.

After a few seconds, he hugged me back. He took a shaky breath and squeezed a little tighter.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

After a second of hesitation, he shook his head.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Another shake.

"Do you want to go back to Florentine?"

He nodded and pulled away.

Without thinking, I reached up and brushed a tear off his cheek with my thumb. He stepped away, grabbed both drinks, and waited for me to pick up my backpack before heading back to the dorms.

***

I sat down at my desk and opened the document for our Cleopatra paper. I had the formatting completely done, and the introduction and conclusion mostly done, I just needed the rest of the research he'd done and I could start actually writing the paper.

As if he read my mind, Tyler handed me a folder with several packets of paper. They were all highlighted and had citations written on the top, like all the rest had been.

"You really are amazing," I smiled at him.

He gave me a half-smile and went back to his Animal Nutrition textbook.