Eran thought back to his high school days as he sat in the high school parking lot, waiting for Riley. For some reason, he felt embarrassed to be there waiting. Perhaps it was because he was amongst mostly parents and chauffeurs. Or maybe it was because he knew that he himself looked young enough to be one of the students.

Hearing a light knocking on glass, Eran turned to find Riley tapping on the passenger's side window. Riley opened the door and sat down. He dropped his book bag onto the back seat that was, surprisingly, mostly tidy.

"Thanks for letting me know you were there normally," Eran thanked Riley for knocking before getting in.

"I did think about just popping up and startling you, but I chose to be mature since we're going to a college campus."

Eran laughed slightly. As the final bell of the day rang, he looked at Riley.

The high schooler smiled and said, "Well, off we go."

Eran smirked, thinking about how mischievous Riley was for having left school early.

After a few moments, Riley asked, "The back seat... did you do it with any girls?"

Didn't he say he decided to be mature? Such a brat. But when he glanced over, he saw Riley staring off into space without a smile. Eran decided to answer honestly. "No." Curious about Riley's reaction, he glanced over again and saw the corner of Riley's mouth twitch upward a few times. Confusing... I have no clue what this kid is thinking.

"I can't picture you with a girlfriend. Do you want one?"

"Not particularly. You're the one who goes scouting every weekend."

"Huhhhhhh?" Riley briefly looked at Eran with widened eyes. "I don't do it because I want to."

"So you do it just because your friends do it?"

"No! I go because most of the time it turns into us just hanging out. I mean, I was already getting tired of it all, even before I met you... Uh— I— um..." Riley began to stutter.

Eran felt glad but also noticed a feeling of sadness when thinking that he might've taken away Riley's former uninhibited autonomy.

"I like that I can still hang out with my friends but also spend time with you without sacrificing anything."

"Ha ha!" Eran squeezed the steering wheel in his fist. He liked that too, but at the same time, he was bothered by the strange mix of emotions he was feeling. Surprisingly, Riley was leaning against the door with his eyes closed. Eran wondered if he was dozing off. So relaxed. And here I am experiencing something mind-bogglingly strange.

As Eran led Riley to the lab, Riley lagged behind, scanning the campus. It was late afternoon, so the campus was becoming less populated as students returned to their cars, bikes, and dorms. Is it really that interesting?

Eran noticed an underclassman nearby struggling with a large anatomical model, organ parts nearly falling off.

"Wait a moment," Eran told Riley before going to the struggling student. Eran pushed a piece nearly falling out back into place. "If you turn it around this way," Eran explained while helping, "the smaller parts can be supported by your body and you can just hold the larger parts in place as you carry it."

"Ah! Thanks." The lowerclassman noticed Eran's laboratory ID badge that indicated his doctoral status. Then his eyes momentarily widened as if he were familiar with Eran, likely having heard rumours.

Ignoring the expression of gratitude, Eran in a monotone said, "It's common sense that if you're carrying a model with removable parts you either wrap it in Pro-tech Sheets or put it in a box."

The student looked a little embarrassed. "Oh, r-right."

Eran looked at the student with a cold expression that would normally contain a hint of contempt, but instead showed a bit of amused sympathy. "And don't be afraid to ask nearby for help," he added before turning around to go back to Riley.

Two girls were talking to him, one seeming to be blabbing the most. She rubbed his jacket lapel and touched the school crest stitching. What's going on over there?

Eran moved closer and said, "I'm done. Let's go." Riley followed then came to walk beside Eran. "What was that about?"

"Those girls came over and started asking questions."

"Questions?"

"What about you?"

"There was a lowerclassmen being reckless—"

"I forgot that you're like that," Riley looked away, "...with everyone."

"I can't help it if there are more stupid people like you out there." Ah, is he feeling un-special? Eran mumbled, "But don't worry. You're the dumbest." Riley didn't respond, so Eran looked over.

Riley was smiling.

Eran felt relieved until remembering. "Those girls, what did they ask you about?"

"My age, university plans, uniform size..."

Why do I feel a bit bothered?... Hm, it must be because he doesn't take anything seriously. Though if it were me, I wouldn't take them seriously either. So nonchalant, with his hands in his pocket. And not intimidated in the least. "You seem like the kind of guy who's popular with girls."

"...What do you mean by that?"

"The 'quiet, mature bad boy' type."

Riley narrowed his eyes. "But you know I'm not like that."

At first, Eran thought Riley was angry, but then he noticed a small pout. Eran smiled and chuckled. "I do." Hearing that statement made him happy, and he wondered why. You only show your cute, stupid side to me, right? Oh... It seems I want to be special too... He wondered who this unfamiliar Eran was.

Right as Eran reached the laboratory door, he saw Max stand up from pulling something out of a lower cabinet. That's why I didn't see anyone from the glass window but... He looked at the schedule posted beside the door.

Noticing Eran had frozen, Riley asked, "What's wrong?" After he noticed Max, he gave a small hum of understanding.

He shouldn't be here. Did the professor or Elias tell him I was coming? Impossible; they know what I think of him. "Just ignore him." Eran glanced up at Riley by tilting his head back. With no hint of a smile or any real emotion, Riley nodded. Good. I'm sure he'll listen.

Eran opened the door and led Riley inside. Riley looked at the shelves, coolers, incubators, cabinets, and jars as he walked along the edge of the room. Eran watched him. In his school uniform, looking at things like he's truly interested. Is he smiling? Eran tried not to smile himself.

"Hey," Riley started. Eran erased any look of happiness when Riley looked at him. "Can you make that purple thing?"

He must mean a violet smear. So grade 8. Eran scoffed quietly. "Childish... Come here." He led Riley to a microscope and told him to wait while he went to get the materials from a cooler across the room.

Eran prepared the sample then turned on the monitor beside the microscope. He sat down and Riley stood over him. "Look at the screen," he instructed as he began to work under the microscope.

After a moment, Eran felt Riley rest his head against his own. Startled, his heart palpitated. I don't know what he's doing... but whatever.

After another moment Riley spoke quietly. "Your hair smells nice."

Eran found himself sighing and chuckling at the same time. "Pay attention." Is he being his weird self or cutely teasing me?

Riley almost touched his own head. "I wonder how mine smells..."

He's just being weird. "It smells fine," Eran replied dismissively as he rolled his eyes. "Pay attention."

He heard Max slam the pencil he'd been using down onto the counter. Riley moved to Eran's opposite side. "Sorry, but I can't keep quiet. Who's the high school student?"

Eran ignored Max and felt Riley glance at him. Just keep ignoring him, he told Riley telepathically and Riley rolled his eyes anxiously. It was the same reaction Riley had back when Eran turned back to the kids in the alley.

"Ah, I get it now," Max continued. "You're boyfriends aren't you?"

Eran froze and noticed Riley had tensed too. Eran turned around to look at Max. "Sorry, but I can't keep quiet. Why are you here?"

"Since my mentor dumped me, I have to work twice as hard. I'm catching up on some work. Oh, don't worry; I didn't know you'd be coming."

Eran tried to stay calm. "What do you want?"

"I said that exact same thing to you as he did. Why is your reaction so different? You're dating this kid, right?"

I didn't even notice he said the same thing. Eran glared. What is his problem? Why does he even care?

"So it was just me you hated. Fine, whatever. But could you please stop flirting?"

Eran's irritation increased.

Eran heard Riley very quietly and gently say, "Eran..." Eran watched as Riley looked at Max and spoke directly and confidently, "Could you please give up on Eran? He's just my tutor. But he takes good care of me, so I hate seeing him upset. You know too, right? Eran looks best when he's smiling."

Riley's words surprised Eran. He felt his heart beat speeding again.

Nonetheless, Max looked like he really understood what Riley was saying.

"Can you two just call a truce? And start over?"

Eran looked at Riley and bit his lip. He makes it sound so simple... He makes it so simple. What's up with this maturity? He looks so innocent but serious.

"Yeah..." was Max's response.

"...Fine." Eran turned back around to the microscope to continue what he and Riley were doing. Riley did the same and Eran looked at him. The teen gave a small, knowing smirk.

This cunning kid... He has me wrapped around his finger. Eran continued to show Riley various interesting things on the monitor while thinking. He's smart... Always doing things that impress me. No... He's wrapped himself around me. But I won't let him change his mind. I won't let him escape.

Eventually, Max finished and went to leave. "See ya."

Eran hesitated, then said, "Yeah."

"Oh. Here's the key. Since you're here, I'll just give it to you?"

"Okay. I'm wearing gloves so give it to Riley."

Riley took the key from Max, who made eye contact for less than a second, then went to drop it into Eran's coat pocket. Max left, closing the door behind him—not gently nor forcefully, but in a normal manner. Maybe things could become normal between him and Max, Eran pondered.

"Let me show you something," Eran said to Riley. "Turn off the lights." Eran pointed to the switch beside the door. "At the left."

Riley turned off the lights. After a minute or two of preparation, Eran showed Riley a spectacular sight. On a background of black was a colony of spinning Volvox moving about in harmony with a single 'snowflake' Micrasterias glowing in green neon. Eran carefully separated the Volvox colony into smaller daughter colonies that surrounded the Micrasterias like a kaleidoscope. They watched silently.

"Cool," Riley finally said. "It's pretty."

Feeling a desire to be with Riley longer, Eran found himself wanting Riley to come to his apartment for the night. "I'm not driving you home." It was a strange method, but Eran just wanted Riley to stay.

Riley grinned his charming, boyish grin. "Okay."