[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/gAnfKAO.png?1[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/0pUZdPC.png?1[/img] [sub] [@spooner] & [@icy hot] collab[/sub] [/center] [indent][indent][indent][color=silver] Atop the student community building was a large greenhouse that had free access 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the students of MU. The greenhouse was expansive and often a quiescent meeting spot for singles and small groups. With the news of the class-wide probation and an unpleasant conversation with his coach hanging over him, the mostly vacant greenhouse was a welcomed change of pace for Cassian. Who currently paced, in an almost trance-like manner back and forth in front of the bench, thinking through everything he should, could and would say to the girl that he was finally able to admit he liked. That girl just happened to walk through the glass door leading into the greenhouse with her signature scowl on her face. The cryptic message that Cassian had sent her had only fueled Mac’s annoyance with him which was already pretty high. But since she had promised Lottie and herself that she would give him a chance Mac had made her way over to where he wanted to meet up. [color=7ab085]“Did you have to pick a spot that was on top of a building with no stairs?”[/color] she huffed out of breath as she reached him sitting down on the bench where he was pacing. [color=7ab085]“What did you want anyway?”[/color] she directed her scowl towards him. Cassian almost smiled, but the nerves took over and he controlled his features. He was half expecting her to not show up, and he would have completely understood if she had made that choice. But here she was, sitting before him, with the usual scowl she wore when speaking to him on her lips and the slight tinge of exertion shading her cheeks. [b][color=00000D]“Sorry.”[/color][/b] His voice was low but intertwined with a sincerity he rarely exposed to anyone outside of his immediate circle. There were no haughty undertones, no arrogance quirking at his lips, and no seduction rolling off his tongue, just Cassian and his apology. With the smooth control of an athlete, he was crouching down in front of her, slightly below eye level, and left enough room between them to not be imposing. Mac started to rummage through her big purse not really paying attention to the towering man in front of her. [color=7ab085]“It’s fine…”[/color] she sighed exasperated, still shuffling her stuff around until she found what she was looking for: her pack of bubblegum. From which she took out a piece popping it in her mouth before turning back. The girl was a little shocked to find Cassian so close and also on her level. [b][color=00000D]“I’m sorry for being inconsiderate, and perhaps even intolerable. I don’t want to offer excuses for how I’ve been acting, I just hope that you’d give me the opportunity to make up for it all. I don’t know why it’s taken me nearly three years to figure it out, but I like you, Mac. I like how your nose wrinkles when I’ve said something that annoys you, or how you brush your pen against your lips when you're in deep thought. You’re inspiring because you’re so authentically you, and I guess I’ve always admired and been envious of the comfort you have in yourself.”[/color][/b] Cassian reaches out a tentative hand to hold hers gently, his thumb rubbing over the back of her hand, [b][color=00000D]”I don’t expect anything from you in terms of returning these feelings… I figured I’d just be honest with you now instead of when it’s entirely too late.”[/color][/b] The dark-haired girl was stumped, she hadn’t thought this was going to be the outcome of this conversation [color=7ab085]“You-u“[/color] she stuttered. Her eyes fell on her hand in his, Mac’s first instinct was to pull it away. But the more she thought about it the more it felt really nice. But she was still skeptical about it all. [color=7ab085]“So… you’ve been stalking me have you?”[/color] She raised an eyebrow and finally pulled her hand away crossing her arms in front of her, not taking her eyes off Cassian. Her chewing became more frantic as time went on. [color=7ab085]“What now? Why are you telling me this?”[/color] Cassian’s first instinct was to pull back and slide those walls up as fast as possible, being out of his comfort zone made him feel like a fish out of water. [i] And boy did he love that water.[/i] But he had steeled himself on going down this path, he always went hard chasing after all the things he wanted in his life... Why should this be any different? So instead of shutting down he quipped a small smirk and let out a relaxed chuckle, this was [i]fine[/i], at least Mac wasn’t punching him and running off. [b][color=00000D]“Yeah, I’ve been stalking you, since freshman year.”[/color][/b] The tone of his voice was that of amusement, he leaned back, and stood up with a small groan, [b][color=00000D]”I guess I’ve decided to temporarily turn in my asshole card… at least with you anyways. For now, we could go get some Boba, or ice cream, as long as you promise not to tell my coach I’m eating junk food?”[/color][/b] The scowl on Mac’s face was still present as she listened to Cassian talk. However smooth he was talking to her, she was still skeptical.[color=7ab085]”Fuck off!”[/color] she scolded pushing his shoulder to get some distance from him “And how many others where on that list huh?” she snarked. [color=7ab085]“Boba you say?”[/color] she let down her guard a little. [color=7ab085]“I guess you can treat me to one.”[/color] she stood up brushing off the back of her skirt as she passed Cass. [color=7ab085]“Let’s go stalker!”[/color] she called out as she slid the glass door open. 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