Fragment of Us

posed to be their

rtment near campus, their own space, and a fresh start in the bustling he

everything

thur would wake up to the sound of Nick's alarm, groaning as Nick playfully ruffled his hair before getting ready. Even on the busiest days,

hey wouldn't let un

ler entered

bout art in a way that Arthur admired. They clicked almost instantly, bond

been social, always made friends easily. But

ojects, grabbing coffee after class, exchanging messages about up

fingers when passing supplies. The way Arthur's phone buzzed constantly with Tyler's messages. Th

himself a jealous person.

find Arthur and Tyler sitting on the couch, hea

tomach c

," Arthur said, b

do," Nick replied,

mile. "Hey, Nick. Arthur was just showi

't miss the way Tyler's hand lingered

mpany," Nick added, his to

nsing something in his voice

"Yeah, I should head out.

al pat on the shoulder before leaving. T

," he said, trying to s

thering his pencils. "Wh

e tight. "It's like he's try

ands. "Don't be ridiculous,

h? Because it does

"What is that su

t to come off as paranoid, but every instinct in him screamed

way he looks at y

're just classmates. He's h

rustrated sigh.

eyes. "Why are you

the way the thought of losing Arthur made his chest tighten, the way he

trust him," Ni

ck, not everyone is trying

r bedroom, his jaw clenched. That night, he lay awake staring

e in years, he we

eeks only made

would come home later, exhausted from studio sessions, and crash onto the couch instead of curling up with

hat

heir tiny dining table eating

n today," he said, trying

up. "I told you,

jaw. "You always h

not ignoring you. I just

at him. "A

frustration flickering in his

ay, appetite gone. "The

don't understand why you're making this suc

who always seems to need you. A friend who's

htened. "You're

hair scraping against the flo

sighed.

" Nick muttered,

ur could stop him, his ch

as he walked. He didn't know where he was going-he just knew he couldn't

iverside, leaning against the railing

ke he was losing something he

hone

Where

ssage for a long mome

k:

later, another

: Come

fingers tightening

sense of everything. But a bigger part of him-one that would always

sighed and turned

ugh the door, Arthur was sitt

where you were going," Arthur s

think you'd care. You

Nick, stop making

his jaw. "It

It's about us. About the f

ly. "I trust you.

for a long moment bef

"I just-" He hesitated, voice quie

stood and crossed the room, stopp

from his shoulders. Arthur reac

se," Art

g for reassurance. And slowly, Arthur pu

, it wa

ck knew this was