Chapter 3

Messiah was dead tired coming out of his 8am business class. He'd been up late doing this stupid group project - working with random people was already bad enough, but these niggas ain't do shit except argue in the group chat all night. Rolling his neck, he headed to the campus cafe to grab something before his next class.

His arm was still kind of tender from the tattoo. He'd been following all them instructions Javier gave him, making sure to keep it clean and moisturized. Even caught himself checking it in the mirror more times than he wanted to admit.

The cafe was packed as usual, everybody trying to get their morning fix. Messiah got in line, pulling out his phone to check the soccer team group chat. Coach had moved practice earlier today and half the team was crying about it.

"Damn they got you up this early too?"

Messiah looked up to see Javier in line ahead of him, looking tired as hell but still dressed decent in some black cargos and a white tee.

"Yeah," Messiah said, not trying to be rude since dude did just hook his tattoo up. "These 8ams be killing me."

"Facts. I got class at 9 but had to come in early to finish some designs." Javier yawned, running a hand through his hair. "How's the tat healing?"

"It's straight." Messiah shifted his weight, moving up as the line did. "Been doing everything you said."

"Let me see," Javier said, turning to face him better.

Messiah hesitated for a second but then pulled his sleeve up, turning his arm so Javier could check it. The skin was still raised but the redness had gone down.

"Looking good," Javier said, studying it with that same focused look he had when he was working. "You taking care of it better than most people do."

"Trying to." Messiah pulled his sleeve back down, noticing how some girl was staring at them instead of moving up in line. "You good?" he said to her, not aggressive but enough to make her turn around real quick.

Javier laughed under his breath. "You always this friendly in the morning?"

"Man whatever," Messiah said, but it came out less cold than he meant it to. "The line's moving."

Javier turned back around, stepping up to order. While he was waiting for his drink, he glanced back at Messiah. "You still coming by the shop next week for that check up?"

"Yeah probably." Messiah was looking at his phone but he could feel Javier's eyes on him.

"Bet. Tuesday same time work?"

"That's cool."

The barista called Javier's name and he grabbed his drink. "Ight well try not to mean mug too many people before then," he said with a grin, heading for the door.

Messiah just shook his head, stepping up to order his own drink. He wasn't trying to admit it, but Javier's energy was different from most people - like he saw past all Messiah's attitude but didn't try to call him out on it or force him to be different.

His phone buzzed - Dom in his messages again.

"Yo you coming to that party Friday?"

"Nah"

"Bro you never wanna do shit"

"I got practice early Saturday"

"Cap you just don't wanna be around people"

Messiah left him on read. Dom wasn't wrong but he ain't need to hear all that right now. He grabbed his drink when they called his name, heading to his next class. His arm was itching a little under his hoodie and he had to fight the urge to scratch it, remembering how Javier said that would mess it up.

Walking across campus, he caught himself thinking about next Tuesday's appointment. Probably just cause he wanted to make sure the tattoo was healing right. That's all it was.