Pov: Jules
The past day had been a blur of schoolwork, lingering thoughts about Parents' Day, and, of course, Nathan. It was Saturday, and instead of feeling relief, I was glaring at the mess on my desk. Pencils, crumpled papers, and my laptopâeverything was a chaotic representation of my frustration and mind.
"Why the hell can't this just... work?" I muttered, throwing another failed sketch into the trashcan. The stupid project was due Monday, and I was no closer to finishing it than when I started. My knee bounced restlessly, the tension in my chest making it hard to think straight.
The door creaked open, and Nathan strolled in, his black hoodie thrown hastily over a plain black T-shirt, hair still damp from what I assumed was an after-workout shower. He paused mid-step, his gaze sweeping over my disaster of a workspace. His lips quirked up into that maddening smirk.
"What's this?" he asked, tossing his towel onto his bed. "The aftermath of a creative tornado?"
I shot him a glare. "It's called frustration. You should try it sometime."
He chuckled, leaning against the wall. "What's got you so worked up?"
"This stupid project. I've redone it like ten times, and it still looks like something a toddler made in art class."
Nathan crossed the room, grabbed his own desk chair, and plopped down next to me. "Alright, let me see."
I folded my arms. "Since when are you an art critic?"
"I'm a man of many talents," he said, snatching up one of the discarded sketches before I could stop him. He studied it for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Not bad, Jules. But you're overthinking it."
"Overthinking?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes. "What's your brilliant solution, then?"
Nathan grabbed a pencil and started sketching on a blank sheet. His hand moved quickly, effortlessly, and I hated how good he was at it. "There. Keep it simple. You're trying too hard to make it perfect."
Our shoulders brushed as he handed me the paper, and I stiffened for a moment before forcing myself to relax. He smelled like soap and... something warm, something that made it hard to focus.
"Okay," I admitted grudgingly, "that's not terrible."
Nathan leaned back in his chair, smug. "High praise coming from you."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't let it go to your head, Nathan."
"I know." he said with a wink.
I think my stomach just did a backflip.
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A while later, Nathan stretched and leaned back. "You need a break," he declared. "You're going to combust if you keep staring at this."
"I don't have time for a break," I shot back. "Deadlines exist, Nathan."
He grabbed my phone off the end of my bed and tossed it at me. "And so does your sanity. Let's go."
I caught the phone, glaring at him. "Go where?"
"Coffee. Fresh air. Whatever. Trust me, you'll thank me later."
"I'm not going anywhere," I started, but Nathan was already holding the door open, a challenge in his eyes.
With a sigh of defeat, I grabbed my phone, put on my shoes and followed him out.
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We ended up at a small coffee shop off-schoolgrounds, the kind with mismatched furniture and indie music playing softly in the background. I ordered the sweetest thing on the menu, while Nathan opted for tea, which he proceeded to tease me about mercilessly.
"Sugar with a splash of coffee," he said, watching as I stirred my drink. "That can't be good for you."
I rolled my eyes. "At least it's not boiled leaves, Grandpa."
He smirked, taking a sip of his tea. "Touché."
As we sat by the window, the sunlight catching in Nathan's dark hair, I found myself relaxing for the first time all day. He had a way of making everything feel lighter, even when he was being insufferable. I couldn't help but notice the small thingsâthe way he tapped his fingers on the table in time with the music, the way he leaned back in his chair like he owned the place. It was annoying, sure, but it was also... endearing.
"This isn't so bad," I admitted, glancing out at the people passing by.
"Told you," he said, leaning back in his chair. "I'm always right."
"Don't push it," I warned, but I couldn't stop the small smile tugging at my lips.
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On the walk back, a stray cat darted across our path. I paused, watching it disappear into the bushes.
Nathan noticed, his brow furrowing slightly. "You like cats right?"
"Yeah," I said softly. "I have one back home. Juno. He... well, he's kind of my best friend."
Nathan's expression softened, and for a moment, he didn't say anything. "Sounds like a good cat."
"He is," I said, smiling faintly. "My parents never really cared about him, but he's always been there for me."
Nathan nodded, his usual sarcasm replaced by something quieter. "You'll see him again. Cats don't forget their person."
The breeze picked up, "You're shivering," he said simply. Nathan took off his hoodie and slid it over my head before I could protest.
I opened my mouth to argue, but the warmth of the hoodie and the faint scent of him stopped me. It smelled like a mix of clean laundry and something uniquely Nathanâwarm and steady, like him in the moments when he wasn't being insufferable.
"Thanks," I muttered, pulling it tighter around me. The weight of it felt strangely comforting, like a shield against everything that had been bothering me. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, wondering if he knew just how much that small gesture meant to me. Probably not. But for a fleeting second, I let myself think: Why can't more people be like this? Like Nathan.
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Back in the dorm, I felt lighter, more focused. The frustration from earlier seemed like a distant memory. Nathan sprawled on his bed, scrolling through his phone while I finished the project. Every so often, I'd catch him glancing at me, and I tried to ignore the flutter it sent through my chest.
"Not bad, right?" I said, holding up the final product.
Nathan glanced over and nodded. "Masterpiece. Louvre-worthy."
"Don't hurt yourself with the sarcasm, Talon," I said, but I couldn't hide my grin.
"Hey," he said, leaning up on one elbow. "I think you're finally learning to take a compliment."
"Don't hold your breath," I shot back, rolling my eyes.
As I cleaned up my desk, our hands brushed briefly. I pulled back quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up. Nathan didn't say anything, just smirked, and the air between us felt heavier for a moment. He stood, stretching lazily, and grabbed his jacket.
"I'm heading to the store. You want anything?" he asked, his tone casual.
I hesitated for a moment before smiling. "Surprise me."
He nodded, his smirk softening into something almost warm. "You got it."
When he finally left, the room felt quieter, emptier. I sat alone, staring at the finished project. My mind drifted back to the day, to Nathan's teasing, his hoodie, and the way he'd made me laugh when I needed it.
He made me forget about Parents' Day. About my parents. Just for a little while, I felt normal.
I leaned back in my chair, letting the soft hum of the dorm settle around me. A small smile crept across my face, unbidden but not unwelcome. Maybe it was the warmth of his hoodie or the lingering echo of his laughter in my ears, after being on my own for so long, I didn't feel alone.
And maybe... just maybe, I liked being around him more than I wanted to admit.
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A/N
IEHHHHHHHH I'm a Nathan & Jules stan!
I'm sorry but this was so cute XD
besides the point but how was your day guys?
LOVE YOU ALL SM <3