It started off with the both of you sitting in front of each other, textbooks wide open, pens placed next to blank sheets of papers, and shared determination to study together. Then, it started to trail off into Ace repeatedly leaving and coming back for snacks or drinks, and using the stationaries as finger-skateboards, and many not-so-quick glances and replies at the notifications blowing up his phone…

And of course, it all ended up with him sprawled out across the desk, lips parted as he drooled over the barely-used paper, snoring as loud as he was sleeping soundly.

Studying never was his thing, anyway — he only proposed the idea to you as a means of spending time and getting closer to you. A study date, if you will... though you took the “study” part more seriously than the “date” part.

But when he wakes up, somehow curled up on the floor now rather than his table, what he didn’t expect was for you to still be at yours, barely even able to keep your head up as you doze off with your cheek propped up against your palm.

Ace sits up with a groan, looking around. The sky has turned dark by now, the sun out of sight. Your papers are all nearly filled to the brim with words, drawings, and charts — a stark contrast to his. A jacket is loosely draped over his body — you’ve obviously allowed him to sleep while you continued to work.

Yet when you awaken from the noises, your eyes shoot wide open, as if shocked you passed out, and the first thing you do is pick up your pen and start reading your book again. Dark, sunken eyebags drape your face with clear exhaustion, but still you don’t stop.

Ace doesn’t know how long he’s been asleep for. He doesn’t know how long you have been, or if he had just accidentally interrupted the short amount of peace you gained. Either way, all he knows is that you need a break.

“Hey,” Ace calls out, his voice croaky, sleep still clinging onto him. He looks over at you, groggy but frowning. “How long have you been studying for? Dontcha think you’ve done enough?”