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I slumped against the wall by the science building. (Friend) and I had an hour break before class so we normally ate together, but today (his/her) class was cancelled so (he/she) went home. Without the conversation, I had managed to finish off my lunch in minutes.

Loud voices carried from somewhere on campus, shouting and laughing about something or other. After my exam last period, all I really wanted was silence. My head dully pounded as I felt a migraine coming on the louder the voices became. Perhaps my next class would be open or at the least have a quieter environment.

There wasn’t much else to do but walk so I stood up, trying to get rid of the pinprick feeling in my legs. I took a step forward and that awkward numb feeling nearly made me stumble. My feet were asleep and moving them at all caused an awkward pain to spike. With an agitated groan I leaned back against the wall once more. I wasn’t going to try walking down the stairs.

As I waited for the feeling to fade I looked out onto the campus. I wasn’t looking for something in particular, but the noisy group drew my attention. Blankly, I realized there were several people clustered together not too far away. That would explain why it was so loud.

I curled my toes and rolled my ankle, trying to hasten being able to walk properly once more. After an experimental step, I realized I could. As I started to look away, I caught sight of a pair of sunglasses.

Of course it had to be Dave Strider.

I hesitated briefly before stepping back into my original position. I watched the group more carefully, they seemed fairly close despite how many there were. The wheels started turning when I thought back to the paper with his schedule. This wasn’t one of the times and places he had written down. He really wouldn’t have any idea I was here.

Instantly I rummaged through my bag. I had over half an hour kill and I could see the entire group effortlessly. If I was quick, hopefully they would all be none the wiser. Unless, of course, one of them happened to look up but they seemed too immersed in themselves.

I braced my elbows and adjusted the camera in front of me. The noise wasn’t so annoying when I focused my attention onto a task. Other than switching the settings every so often, I didn’t think about the mechanics as much as I normally would. Every few seconds I would take another picture.

There were maybe seven others. I recognized one as the other dj from the other night. Another I recognized was Rose, a short haired blonde that was a girl in my group for psychology class.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying but I focused on the interactions of the people closest to Dave. He seemed to be shifting his attention between a black haired boy with glasses and male troll with red eyes and short horns. The one with glasses was leaning forward and laughing while the other looked agitated. I couldn’t hear what they said but I could see a smirk grow on Dave’s face.

Dave leaned against the troll, saying something that upset him even more. Instantly he shoved Dave away, but there didn’t seem like any real malice in the action. The troll seemed angry yet at the same time he was keeping an eye on Dave, making sure he didn’t trip over the mountain of backpacks.

Behind Dave a girl with long brown hair and glasses snuck up behind him. The two he was talking to saw her, but they kept silent. Suddenly she shot forward, throwing her arms around his shoulders and completely knocking him off balance. He staggered before falling into the boy with glasses who flailed and grabbed onto the short troll.

Eventually they all collapsed onto the grass. Rose and the female troll beside her leaned over them, their shoulders lightly shaking as everyone laughed or in one case glared and ground their teeth. I couldn’t help but laugh and smile myself. Quickly I took several pictures in succession, hoping that one would turn out right when I checked later.

I was jolted out of my thoughts as my phone vibrated in my pocket, warning me that i should start heading to class. I shut off the camera and put it back in its case and then into my backpack. Carefully I walked down the steps, fingers brushing the railing to make sure I wouldn’t fall.

It wasn’t until I got to the ground floor that I realized I would be walking past Dave as I went to class. For a split second, I wondered how many times I’d passed him and his group without so much as a proper glance. (Friend) and I sat here every day at lunch and I always walked the same way to class. People tended to stay in the same area out of habit so there was a good chance they might have been there all semester too.

The voices became clearer the closer I got until I could hear practically word for word. I debated whether to stop and say hello to Dave or Rose, but as I got near I noticed they were gathering their things and probably heading to class like I was. Rose was walking away in the opposite direction and Dave seemed focused on his conversation so I figured I would keep walking.

I got a few feet past the few people lingering together before a hand caught my shoulder. I had a pretty good idea who it was before I tilted my head behind me so I was unsurprised to find Dave. He raised an eyebrow questioningly as he let go and gave me a bit of space.

“(Name)? Are you really not gonna bother saying hi?”

I blinked a bit caught off guard about actually being called out on it. I tightened my grip on the strap of my backpack as I fought down a blush. I managed to keep eye contact, or a semblance of eye contact, with him. “Oh hey Dave. Sorry, it would have been kinda rude don’t you think? You were in the middle of a conversation though.”

“Are you heading to class?”

“Yeah, science with (Professor) at two. You?”

“English with (Professor) same time. It’s on the way, I’ll walk with you.” Despite what he said he looked fairly disinterested as he walked forward easily keeping pace with me. I generally walked quickly across campus, but I noticed I was slowing down as I talked with Dave. The conversation was light but none the less interesting.

We parted ways in front of my class. As I settled down in my seat I thought back for a moment and realized the English building was across campus. I glanced up at the clock and there was probably three minutes until class started.