Eran halted his steps. Uh... what am I supposed to tell him? That I was watching his back as he walked? Eran walked to Riley's side quietly and glanced up at him. Following his speed, Riley walked beside him.

"Are you still irritated?"

"Oh." Eran had forgotten that he was irritated from the party when he met up with Riley. "No." He leaned towards Riley, his shoulder softly bumping into Riley's arm. "Not anymore."

"Could it be... You're a little drunk?" Riley smiled teasingly.

I wonder what might happen if I were to pretend to be drunk. Though, Eran decided, perhaps he was a tiny bit tipsy. He decided to respond with only a shrug.

"How much did you drink? What happened at the party that made you," he placed his index and middle finger on the inner ends of Eran's eyebrows and pinched them together, "irritated?"

Eran rubbed the spots Riley's fingers had been in, though it hadn't hurt. The young man's fingertips were strangely warm. Eran sighed loudly and leaned into Riley's arm again. "Hmm... From the beginning..." Eran began to recall the worst parts of his night...

As soon as Eran came through the door of 300Z, he noticed that only half of the department was there, and the only people missing from the microbio. section were him, Elias, and his female mentee, Mya.

"Eran, I saved a seat for you," one of the department's few girls patted the chair beside her.

Eran smiled. "Thanks, Sienna, but you didn't need to, there are empty seats everywhere." He looked away and instead sat in the nearest chair.

Elias sat down across from Eran. "You know that's not what she meant."

Eran looked at Elias with an emotionless face. "Huh? Did you say something?" he replied in his robotic tone. While in undergrad, he'd dated anyone who asked, Sienna had never asked though it was obvious she liked him. He didn't dislike her, just the fact that she was never straightforward about anything. She'd spent six years trying to get close to him yet couldn't even say three words.

Elias sighed.

"Hey," Eran said quickly. "Sit beside me. In case Max comes over."

"What, did you say something?" Elias mocked, eyes focused on the drink menu.

Shit. I feel eyes on me. He looked at Elias pleadingly. Just as Elias sighed and stood up to move, the chair next to Eran clattered.

"Hey, Max," Elias greeted, sitting back down.

Max looked at Elias and said nothing. He then turned towards Eran. "I haven't seen you in a while. You changed the schedules, didn't you?"

Eran silently flipped through the drink menu.

"I'm sorry. I joked too much." Eran looked up to see Max smiling. Max suddenly pouted and leaned towards Eran who naturally leaned away. "Elias is lame. You're faster and smarter and... other things. Be my mentor again." He wiggled from side to side like a pleading child.

Elias interrupted, "What drink are you ordering, Eran?" He sounded pissed off (something very rare for someone who usually sounds like nothing), likely from Max's insults.

Eran pointed at a beer. He honestly wasn't picky; the menu was just a way to distract himself from Max.

Max volunteered eagerly, "I'll get it!"

Eran and Elias looked at him and in unison responded with a firm, "NO."

"I'll go get both of ours." Elias stood and walked away before Eran could utter any objections or give a meaningful look. Don't just leave. I'm not the one who said those things about you.

Max laughed bitterly. "Do you guys think I'm gonna put drugs in your drink?" he asked in a skeptical tone. His facial expression seemed to say, 'Yeah, right.'

"The fact that you even said that makes me want to punch you."

Max looked hurt just as Elias returned with drinks.

I'll barely drink anything; otherwise, I risk being molested. Fortunately, Eran drank moderately and responsibly. Unfortunately, Elias—who was supposed to be helping protect Eran from Max—became intoxicated enough to chat with Max, then say it all seemed okay so staying alone with Max should be fine, and leave to plant himself in the midst of Ecological Sciences.

Max would leave, then return, leave again, then return again.

I wonder what Riley is doing. Is he really looking for a girlfriend? He shouldn't waste his time with high school girls. But without a girlfriend does that mean he's sleeping around? No, no way. But he is attractive, so girls are probably... but he said they don't. Or did he just say that he didn't like them? He should be studying, not worrying about girls.

Mya came to the table and started talking with Max about Eran's good mentoring.

That message I sent was so stupid. Why didn't I just say, "Sure?" Such a crappy excuse. What's wrong with me? I want to see him. I mean... it must be because I'm hungry? But I can eat here... Damn, I don't know.

Sienna came to the table, maybe out of jealousy, and began to talk about working with Eran "as an equal."

But the fact that he wants to come over means that he doesn't plan on going to a hotel or home with anyone. But he could still be making out with someone. He could be touching some girl's hair or her thighs. A girl with long hair and pink lips. And he could be touching her. If I find out he's done something like that, I'll kill him.

"Hey, ladies," Max said pointedly, scooting closer to Eran and wrapping his arm around the back of Eran's chair. "He's mine."

Eran grabbed Max's arm and put him in a painful hold.

"Ow ow ow ow," Max whined. Other people at the party stopped to look in their direction.

Elias made his way over and tried to stop Eran.

One of the girls was saying, "Oh my god! You're going to break him!"

Elias pulled Eran away.

"I meant my mentor! My mentor!" Max claimed.

Eran narrowed his eyes and tilted his head in disbelief, "Bull fu—"

"Okay!" Elias said in false enthusiasm while pulling back Eran who had taken threatening steps towards Max again. "Ha-ha. Eran, let's go over here into this hallway." Fake tone and smile still applied, Elias dragged Eran by the arm into the farthest hallway. Once there, they both sighed.

For a moment, people could be heard mumbling about how anyone who dared to provoke Eran was crazy, or how Max had it coming. Then, things gradually turned to back to normal.

Eran looked at his phone. "I'm just going to leave."

"Leave? Look, I'll make sure Max—"

"I've been here long enough, Elias. Weren't you also someone who didn't want to come in the first place?"

"Yeah, but as long as I stay on the EcoSci side, the atmosphere isn't so bad."

"Have fun, Elias." Eran walked towards the exit.

"Get home safely."

Eran sent a message to Riley: 'Starbucks in 10.'

Riley is mischievous too but in a... more charming way. No, not charming... cute? That word doesn't seem to fit either. But I really don't mind it. For whatever reason, I like having him around. Eran felt a rush of warmth that made him shiver. "It's cold," he mumbled.

"I'm home."

"Who are you talking to?"

"The apartment."

'Home' he says. He said that earlier too. Eran thought home was indicative of a second safe house of sorts. He didn't mind it. If he calls it home, does that mean he plans to come here often? That got Eran to start wondering, How long is he even going to stay with me? Just the thought that one day Riley might disappear without warning made Eran feel sick. He impulsively grabbed onto the end of Riley's sleeve.

Riley turned to look at him. "W-what?"

"Ah." Realizing what he was doing, Eran looked down at the floor and let go. He tried to think of some explanation or lie that might make his action seem less weird. After deciding to say 'You can sit down. I'll go get mugs,' Eran lifted his eyes to Riley's face.

Riley looked back, his arm and hand raised as if he were going to touch Eran somewhere, but had frozen upon Eran's gaze. Eran thought he saw a hint of red on Riley's ears and wondered if it was from the cold or something else.

As he turned and walked away, Riley said, "I'll go get the cups."

Sitting down on the floor at the coffee table, Eran couldn't shake off the feeling of insecurity. When Riley came back with two mugs of hot chocolate, Eran looked away, avoiding the his eyes. He heard Riley place one mug on the table.

Riley hummed thoughtfully. "This Max guy... is he stupid?"

Eran turned his eyes to Riley. The young man was sitting beside him, holding the mug lazily atop his bent knee.

"Ah, let me rephrase that. Is he good in the lab?"

Eran thought for a moment. "He hasn't spread any diseases..."

Riley leaned towards Eran with a slight air of excitement. "He pisses you off, but you like doing research, right?"

Eran nodded and made a sound of affirmation.

Riley leaned back upright but kept his eyes on Eran. "You're too kind," he said calmly.

Eran was first surprised by Riley's statement then curious as to why he would say that.

"The reason you won't report him is because you know he likes it too. Right?"

How does he...

Riley turned away and continued, "He couldn't research if he got kicked out, huh." He released a small laugh.

He can see right through me.

Riley put his cup down and then lay perpendicular to Eran, his head by Eran's leg. He laughed again. "They all probably think it's 'cause a male harassing another male is embarrassing, or worse, 'impossible'."

Eran looked down at Riley who, even with all his confident statements, surprisingly averted his eyes. "What makes you think all of that?"

"Because I know people... Because I know you."

Cocky.

Riley smiled goofily. "Well enough."

Stupid.

"Aah!" Riley sat up abruptly. "The hot chocolate!"

Cute.

"It's warm." Riley smiled apologetically as if it was his fault. "Oh! If he takes it too far, report him, seriously, okay?"

"Shot." Eran grabbed his mug and looked at the surprised Riley daringly.

Riley scoffed and took a hold of his. "Too easy."

"Three... Two...—"

A strange noise came from Riley. He was grinning with his lips pursed. Suddenly Riley dropped his torso to the floor and started laughing freely.

"Why are you laughing?" Eran frowned but couldn't hide a smile. He felt refreshed seeing Riley laugh shamelessly. It was the first time he had heard Riley do something more than chuckle shortly or giggle mischievously for a few seconds.

Riley's laughter began to die down as he explained, "It's the first time I've seen you so serious." He sat up and put his head on the table. "It was really cu—" he turned his head away, "funny."

There was a moment of awkward silence.

"Hey..." Eran's voice was calm and Riley turned to face him. Riley smiled sheepishly before being flicked mercilessly on the forehead. Pouting, he touched the reddening spot. "Did you just call someone six years older than you, 'cute'?"

"It's five years and a few months," Riley corrected. "And anyone can be 'cute.' Old ladies can be cute," Riley insisted. "Old men too."

S-still, what is he talking about, 'cute?' He's the one who's young and cute.

"Okay, I'm ready." Riley took hold of his cup again.

Eran started to stand up. "...I don't want to. You laughed a—"

Riley pulled Eran back by grabbing his knee before he even got off the floor. "Noooo," Riley whined. "I didn't mean—"

Eran shifted back into place, inwardly smiling at Riley's reaction to his teasing. "Fine." He grabbed the cup and raised the fingers of his other hand. 'Three...' 'Two...'