"Soooo?"

As much as the night was fun, they had to call it a night at some point. 

When Chris noticed Rachel kept checking the time on her phone, he remembered she lived in a dorm with a curfew, just like him. It was still hard to get used to these things, but he had to adjust somehow. Wasn't all this part of growing up? 

"Guys, it was nice hanging with you. But we'll have to go." Chris announced as he stood up while Rachel did the same, placing her phone inside her mini bag. 

"Oh... where are you two going?" Henry asked with a suggestive grin, sounding drunk, which was a given since the three friends had been drinking since they returned to the table. 

"To our dorms," Chris answered and just nodded at the two other guys, who were simply staring at them. 

"So, Ray... we'll meet again, right?" Noel asked with a smile as he stood up and offered Rachel a handshake. He also sounded drunk. 

"I hope so," Rachel replied and shook hands with him before looking down at Chris. As soon as their eyes locked, he looked away and got busy scrolling through his phone. 

Noel seemed to have resumed his unending handshake again until Chris and Henry had to break them apart, and the two left the pub. 

As soon as they got outside, the chill hit them. Chris turned and noticed Rachel smiling and staring at him. 

"What?" He asked curiously.

"Thank you." She beamed. 

"For what?" Still curious. 

"For bringing me here. I don't know... you don't owe me anything, but thinking of calling me here tonight makes me feel like you are truly a friend. And I'm happy you came here. It's nice to have someone I can hang out with and just be myself." 

Chris looked at her awkwardly. She sounded so earnest that he wasn't sure how to respond. 

"It's fine... I guess?" 

"So are you happy chatting with Sky tonight?" He asked, changing the topic. He was never good at handling emotional stuff or appreciation. 

She nodded. "Seeing him up close like this feels surreal. But for some reason..."

"What?" 

"The thought of shipping you two together is beginning to take root in my head. Your banter was so cute. Argh! I'm so confused." She said dramatically, making him roll his eyes. 

"You can't be serious." 

"The funny part is that I am! But that doesn't make sense. How can I ship the guy I have been crushing on for a long time with another guy?" She paused and suddenly stood in front of him. 

"You know what? I am going to stick to my crush! So don't you dare snatch him away from me."

Chris scoffed. "If you want to threaten me, you should at least be sincere about it. You look like a chicken." He mocked.

"Hey!" She ran around him and tried to jump on him, but he kept pushing her away and laughing. 

"Calm down. You are still pretty." He assured her amidst laughter. 

"The most beautiful girl in the world?" She asked while blinking at him adorably.

He cringed but had to satisfy her, so he nodded. "The most beautiful girl in the world." 

Rachel laughed out loudly and linked her arms with his, but before they could continue playing around, someone loudly clearing their throat caught their attention, and they looked back at Sky, who was staring at them with a bored look. 

"Are you two dating?" He asked drunkenly. 

"No-"

"Why do you ask?" Chris asked, cutting Rachel off. 

"Because... I want to know?" He drawled. 

"You shouldn't worry yourself with things like that," Chris said with a smile before facing Rachel.

"Do you want me to see you off?" 

She shook her head. "No. You should be heading to your dorm now. It's almost curfew time." 

"But—"

"We will be locked out." Sky interrupted and covered his mouth with a hand as he yawned while also blinking. 

"We?" Chris asked him. 

"Yeah. I'm going too. So we should leave." Sky informed him. 

"I thought you said you were staying out?" Or had he heard wrongly? Nah. He had clearly heard Sky say he was staying out. 

"Yeah. So?" Sky asked. 

"So??"

"Sooo?" Sky dragged. 

Rachel watched the two, amused. 

Chris just rolled his eyes. Was this guy's punishment from God?

"Can you walk looking like that?" Chris asked him. 

He shook his head. "Let's use a cab. Don't worry, I'll pay for it. You should save your money while big brother handles it all."

Chris glared at Sky. The boy was really testing his patience. 

Rachel almost let out a laugh this time but quickly suppressed it with a smile. 

Chris stopped a cab for Rachel so she could get to her dorm faster, and after she left, he stopped one for himself and Sky, who looked like he was using his last will to keep himself from passing out. 

Chris opened the door to the back seat of the cab and patiently waited for Sky to get in before he followed and joined him inside, both sitting at the ends of each side. After giving instructions to the cab driver, he relaxed on the seat, enjoying the warmth of the car.