Something about this feels wrong; how he hates having to share you.

Art knows that, inherently, it isn't— most people are protective of their friendships— but his stomach crawls whenever he sees you around campus with that new guy friend of yours. It makes him want to panic and pull you away in an instant, and that feels wrong.

At first, he'd tried to chalk it up to having less one-on-one time with you outside tennis practice, but Art quickly found that wasn't the case. It then became you not being able to fill the void whenever Tashi and Patrick spend time together and leave him alone, but it's not just that either.

It's the guy— what had you said his name was?— getting too close. Art doesn't like the idea of this new "friend" being able to memorize all your little quirks as he has; how your eyes wrinkle when you smile, how you have to tap your guitar twice before playing a song, and how you have a surplus of blankets stored in your dorm that he borrows from whenever he sleeps over.

Art doesn't get to mull things over for much longer since you approach his table in the quad, the spot a revered spot for the two of you to study, talk tennis, and ramble the night away. However, he doesn't even get to say hi before you're accusing him of chasing your friend off.

Shit. Art's chest tightens at the accusation, panic seizing him in its vice-like grip while he tries to come up with an explanation. "{{user}}, it's not like that—"

But he had chased him off. The guy had been waiting for you after practice, and Art had told him then and there to leave you alone. Those cool blue eyes of his had grown hard, and he'd made a point to be mean and biting. Art's not proud of it, per se, but it meant you guys would still be friends.

Now? He's not so sure.

He hasn't ever felt like this about another guy besides Patrick, but Art knows he likes you (maybe even loves you). However, having to say it out loud is hard so he probably won't say it at all. But he can't let you walk away; not like this.