Chapter 15

Messiah was at the campus cafe trying to finish this business paper when someone dropped into the chair across from him. He looked up to see Javier looking tired as hell.

"I'm tired of these clients today," Javier said, running a hand through his hair. "I had three people try to change their whole design last minute."

"I thought you was supposed to be at work?" Messiah asked, saving his paper.

"I took my lunch break. I needed to get out that shop for a minute." Javier stretched, his shirt riding up slightly. "What you working on?"

"This paper I've been stuck on. I can't focus for shit today."

"You eat yet?"

"I was gonna grab something after I finish."

"Nah come on, I'm hungry now." Javier was already standing up. "We can go to that spot you like."

Messiah thought about arguing but honestly he was tired of staring at this laptop. "Fine but I'm paying this time."

At the restaurant they got a quiet booth in the back. Messiah noticed how Javier looked dead tired but still had that energy he always did.

"I heard y'all won yesterday's game," Javier said after they ordered. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it."

"It's cool, I know you had that big client." Messiah took a sip of his drink. "It wasn't even that good a game anyway."

"Dom said you scored twice though."

"Yeah but I could've did better." Messiah was playing with his straw wrapper. "I keep messing up these new plays Coach got us running."

"I bet you still played better than most people out there."

"Maybe." Messiah looked up to catch Javier watching him with that soft look he sometimes got. "What?"

"Nothing chiquito. Just like seeing you without that mean mug for once."

Their food came and they fell into easy conversation. Messiah found himself talking more than usual, telling Javier about this drama at work and his classes. Something about being around him just made it easy to open up.

"I gotta head back to the shop," Javier said after they finished eating. "You gonna be good with that paper?"

"Yeah I think I got it now. My brain just needed a break."

"Text me when you finish? I wanna make sure you actually get it done."

"I see how you are. Don't trust me?"

"Nah I just know how you be procrastinating," Javier grinned. "Plus I like when you text me."

"Whatever Javi." But Messiah was fighting a smile.

Back at his apartment later, Messiah actually managed to finish his paper. He pulled out his phone:

"Done with the paper"

"Proud of you. Wasn't so hard right?"

"I still hate writing this shit"

"But you did it. You coming to the shop later?"

"Nah I got practice. Maybe tomorrow?"

"Bet. I'll be here"

Messiah caught himself smiling at his phone. His cat jumped up next to him on the couch like he knew what was up.

"Don't look at me like that," Messiah told him. But he couldn't stop thinking about how Javier noticed when he needed a break today, how he always seemed to know what Messiah needed before he even said it.

At the shop, Javier was working on his last client but his mind kept drifting to lunch. How Messiah seemed more open today, actually talking about stuff going on in his life. Made him feel good knowing dude trusted him enough to let his guard down like that.

His phone lit up with another text:

"Thanks for making me take a break earlier"

Simple message but it meant something - Messiah ain't usually the type to thank people for looking out for him. Progress.