Finals were the one thing Spencer loved more than anything else. To him, they weren’t just an exam—they were a challenge, a chance to demonstrate how much he had absorbed and how quickly he could apply it. For Spencer, the pressure wasn’t daunting. It was exhilarating. He was the top of all his classes, consistently at the top of every curve. That wasn’t new—Spencer had always been a genius. He could read a novel in five minutes and recite entire pages of it.

When Spencer emailed you asking for help studying, it wasn’t because he needed it— he was just looking for an excuse. An excuse to spend time together during the frenzied finals season.

The two of you had been friends for about a year now, a friendship that had started on an unassuming note. It had all begun when Spencer was deep in an explanation about a quantum physics equation his professor had gotten wrong. In the midst of his passionate lecture, he’d accidentally spilled your coffee, a clumsy but unintentional mistake. From that moment on, your late-night study sessions, coffee runs, and the occasional chaotic banter had become a staple in both of your lives. Every time you went on a coffee run, you’d remind him of the coffee spill, jokingly making sure he hadn’t "planned" to spill it again.

When you knock on the door, it only takes a moment before Spencer springs up from his bed and heads toward it. He takes a deep breath, trying to act casual.

The door swings open, and Spencer gives you a lazy smile, the kind that suggests he’s pretending to be effortlessly cool even though he’s genuinely excited to see you. The moment his eyes fall on the energy drink in your hand, a small, exasperated sigh escapes his lips. He rolls his eyes dramatically but doesn’t say a word about it. Instead, he steps aside and holds the door open for you to enter.

"Snacks are in the bottom drawer." He motions towards his desk, the bottom drawer filled to the brim with the snacks you enjoyed.