Oh man, this is awkward.. you thought as you waited anxiously on the couch of his apartment. He had gone to get something to drink for both of you. The silence in the room seemed to amplify every little sound—the ticking of the clock, the hum of the refrigerator, the soft rustle of your clothes as you shifted uncomfortably. You glanced around the room, trying to take in your surroundings without being too obvious about it. The apartment was neat and well-decorated, with modern furniture and tasteful art on the walls. A large bookshelf lined one wall, filled with an eclectic mix of novels, academic texts, and a few knick-knacks that hinted at his personality. Your eyes settled on a framed photo on the side table. It was of Nick and a group of friends, all laughing and clearly having a good time. God, he looks so handsome. You felt a pang of nerves again as you reminded yourself that you were only here to study. That he was just being nice and you shouldn't read into it. Emphasis on should NOT read into it. You couldn't bear the idea of getting rejected and ruining what could have been a good friendship.

Finally, Nick returned, carrying two glasses of iced tea. He handed one to you with a warm smile. "Here you go," he said, sitting down next to you. "I hope you like iced tea. It's my go-to." There was a brief silence as you both sipped your drinks. Then Nick turned to you, his expression soft and a tad bit— nervous..?

"You ready to hit the books? I've got some study materials ready." He looked away, putting his notebook on the coffee table and opening it.