Leo slid his keycard and pushed open the door at the end of the hall.
Yeah. Definitely not a dorm.
Leo dropped his bag on the couch and took his shoes off, he loosened his tie, tossed it somewhere, and grabbed the remote.
Scrolling through the channels got boring quick, so he flipped over to the console hooked under the screen.
He picked a game without thinking, and sank into the couch, controller in hand.
The minutes turned into an hour, maybe more.
His focus was tunneled in on the screen, his fingers moving on autopilot, the sound of gunfire and victory chimes filling the room.
Eventually, his phone buzzed against the glass coffee table.
Leo glanced at it once, let it vibrate again and then finally leaned forward to pick it up.
Felix Kessler: Oi, where'd you end up?
A second text followed almost instantly.
Felix Kessler: Shoot me your room number, I'll come bug you before dinner.
Leo stared at the screen for a second, then dropped the phone back on the couch without replying.
He picked up his controller to continue his game.
A knock cut through it.
Leo frowned but ignored it, his thumb tapping over the controls.
The knock again. Louder.
With a sigh, Leo put down the controller and stood up. He walked to the door and pulled it open, and there was Felix leaning against the door frame like he had all the time in the world, grinning.
"You didn't text me back," Felix said casually, brushing past him into the room like it was his own. "So, I asked around.
Turns out we're neighbors. Same floor. Can you believe it?"
Leo raised a brow as he closed the door. "Or maybe you just can't take a hint".
"It's called persistence", Felix corrected with a lazy grin. His gaze drifting to the TV. "You game?"
Leo raised a brow. "You don't?"
"Fair point" Felix dropped onto the couch like he lived there, grabbing a controller from the table. "Scoot over, Ashford. Let me show you how it's done".
Leo sat back down, thumb gliding over the buttons with ease. "You sure you about this?"
"Please," Felix scoffed, selecting his character. "I was basically born with a controller in my hand. You're about to witness art."
Two minutes later, his character was face down in the dirt.
Felix's jaw dropped. "What the- no. That doesn't count. I was warming up."
Leo's mouth curved, barely noticeable. "Sure."
"Don't do that smug thing," Felix said, pointing at him. "I can see it. That little smirk? Yeah, I caught it."
The next round started. Felix leaned forward this time, eyes narrowed, tongue poking out in concentration. He smashed the buttons like his life depended on it.
The result? Another brutal loss.
Felix threw his head back dramatically. "Unbelievable. You're cheating. Admit it."
"Or maybe," Leo replied calmly, "You're just bad".
"Excuse me? Excuse me?" Felix clutched his chest like he'd been personally attacked.
"That's rich, coming from a guy who probably hasn't touched a controller in years".
Leo gave a low hum, as if considering whether to confirm or deny it. "I played… occasionally".
"Occasionally, he says," Felix muttered. "Yeah, sure. Next you'll tell me you 'dabble' in piano and then casually play Beethoven blindfolded".
Leo didn't answer, which only made Felix groan louder.
For the next hour, the room was filled with Felix's curses, Leo's calm button-clicking, and a streak of one sided victories.
At one point, Felix literally stood up, controller raised like he was summoning divine help, only to get flattened by Leo again.
When he lost the ninth straight game, Felix collapsed dramatically onto the couch, controller sliding to the floor. "Alright, Fine. I surrender. You're not human."
Leo leaned back, setting his controller on the table. "Took you long enough."
"You're enjoying this way too much." Felix shot him a side glance, then grinned. "I've cracked the code. That's your thing, isn't it? Sitting there all cool, barely talking, just… letting people embarrass themselves around you. You're evil, Ashford."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "And yet you're still here".
Felix snorted. "Touché"
Felix glanced out the window and then at the clock. "It's getting late. You heading down for dinner?"
"No, not hungry''
Felix sat up, eyes wide like Leo had just confessed to murder. "Not hungry? After you annihilated me nine times? Bro, you've got to replenish your villain energy somehow".
"I'm pretty sure I wouldn't die from skipping a meal".
Felix studied him for a beat, then smirked . "Alright then. Guess I'm cooking".
He hopped of the couch and headed for the kitchen, opening the cupboards and the fridge, skimming through the ingredients like it was his place.
Leo raised a brow, while following him into the kitchen. "You cook?"
"Only when I don't feel like dealing with people", Felix said, tossing a pan on the stove.
"Which, if you can't tell, is pretty often".
The butter hit the pan with a loud sizzle. The smell spread quickly.
Felix stirred with easy rhythm before shooting Leo a glance. "So what's your story, Ashford?"
Leo, leaning against the counter, gave him a look. "Story?"
"Yeah, you know…who you were before making everyone whisper your name like you're some kind of ghost legend".
Felix smirked. "You don't get to just casually be the Leo Ashford and then expect me not to ask."
For a moment, Leo didn't answer. Just the sound of steak searing filled the silence.
Finally, he spoke.
"My mother died when I was three", he said flatly "Car accident".
Felix paused mid-stir. He definitely wasn't expecting that. "Shit… sorry man".
Leo expression remained unchanged. "After that, my father sent me abroad, probably didn't want to deal with a little kid. Boarding schools, tutors and whatnot. He visited a couple times. Every three years, maybe. I didn't see him after I turned fourteen though.. until recently of course".
Felix studied him, but Leo didn't give anything else away.
"So", Felix said slowly, trying to ease the heaviness, "You've basically been living in out of suitcases your whole life".
Leo's shoulders lifted in a half shrug. "More or less."
"And now you're back here, living in a literal penthouse dorm, destroying me at video games, pretending you're not hungry while secretly waiting for me to feed you. Got it"
The corner of Leo's mouth twitched, almost a smile, but not quite. "You talk too much".
"Someone's gotta fill the silence," Felix shot back.
He flipped the steak, then pointed the spatula at him. "But hey, for the record you're not as unreadable as you think. You drop details without realizing it".
Leo's eyes flickered toward him, cool and unreadable again. "That so?"
"Yeah," Felix said with a grin. "And don't worry, I'm not going to turn it into gossip. I like having my face intact".
Leo exhaled through his nose, and this time it almost sounded like amusement.
Felix grinned wider. "See? Progress."
Felix put another pan on the fire and dumped pasta into it. "So what about school?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder.
"Don't tell me you spent all those years hiding in gyms and beating up punching bags".
Leo sat on a stool by the counter, his arms resting loosely on the surface. "Close enough".
Felix smirked. "Knew it. You look like the type that treats P.E like church".
"I played basketball", Leo said.
Felix's brow shot up. "Oh? Starter?"
"Captain", Leo replied simply.
Felix let out a low whistle. "Well damn. Ashbourne's team is already stacked, but with you around, I guess I should probably start pretending I know the rules from now on".
He gave the pasta a stir, then tossed in some herbs. "So, what was it like? Back at your old school."
Leo leaned back a little. "It was… different, I guess, in a good way. I mostly just kept to myself anyways. Just played, studied and repeated the whole cycle".
Felix tilted his head, studying him. "Why leave, then? Sounds like you had you had your groove".
Leo's jaw flexed slightly before he answered. "My father decided so."
Felix didn't push right away. He plated the pasta and steak, sliding a plate across the counter to Leo. "So basically… he yanked you out, dropped you here, and said 'good luck'. Classic parent move".
Leo picked up his fork, twirling it slowly. "Something like that".
Felix dug in, pointing his fork mid bite. "For what it's worth, you don't give off 'new kid energy'. Half the school looks like they'd sell their kidneys just to shake your hand, and you walk around like they don't exist".
Leo took a bite, chewed, and finally said, "Maybe it's because they don't".
Felix blinked, then broke into a laugh. "Man, you're brutal. I like it".
For a while they just ate. The food was surprisingly good, Felix clearly wasn't bluffing when he said he cooked often.
Finally, Felix leaned back in his chair stretching. "So let me get this straight. You're a boarding school export, ex-basketball captain, son of the richest guy alive, and now the mysterious transfer at Ashbourne. Did I miss anything?"
Leo sipped his water. "That's plenty".
Felix grinned. "Yeah, fair. If I were you, I'd milk mystery too. Girls eat that up, by the way".
Leo shot him a flat look.
Felix just laughed harder, shaking his head. "Relax, man. I'm just saying. You're already got the stares, now you've got the tragic backstory. You're basically a walking novel".
Leo didn't bother responding. He just kept eating.
Felix leaned back, spinning his fork between his fingers.
"Man, you've really got that whole mysterious vibe going".
He gave Leo a sly glance. "And what was up with you and Rivers today?"
Leo didn't look up from his plate. "...Her blazer was ruined. Everyone else just sat there and I was walking by anyway".
Felix raised a brow, smirking. "Uh-huh. Just a coincidence, right? Totally not a knight-in-shining-armor move".
Leo finally glanced at him, his expression unreadable "It was just a jacket".
Felix chuckled, shaking his head. "Bro, you make it sound like a math problem. But trust me people are gonna spin it as a love story".
Felix leaned back his hands up in the air. "You give a girl your jacket, and suddenly it's Romeo and Juliet 2.0"
Felix didn't leave after dinner.
In fact, he made himself way too comfortable. He sprawled on Leo's couch with a controller in hand, feet kicked up on the coffee table, commentating every match like he was some washed up pro streamer.
"Okay, no way you pulled that off", Felix said after Leo landed a perfect combo, nearly dropping his controller. "You've definitely rigged this thing".
Leo smirked, his eyes still on the screen. "I told you… you're just terrible".
Felix clutched his chest in mock pain. "Harsh. You wound me".
Hours bled away like that; back and forth jabs, rounds of trash talk, Felix occasionally raiding Leo's fridge without asking.
At one point, he got a bag of chips and declared it "fuel for champions" which is odd considering he lost.
By the time the clock on the wall hit past eleven, Felix showed no signs of moving.
Leo finally sighed, pausing the game. "Don't you have your own dorm?"
"Yeah, but yours is better," Felix said easily, leaning back and stretching. "Bigger TV, nicer couch…plus, you don't kick me out when I steal your snacks. Yet"
Leo arched a brow. "Keyword: yet"
Felix just grinned, unfazed.
Midnight ticked closer, Leo finally stood, crossed the room and flicked the lights off without warning.
Felix squeaked "Hey! What is this, lights out? Are we five?".
Leo walked over to the door, holding it open with a pointed look. "Out".
Felix stayed seated for another beat, like he was trying to test how serious Leo was, before finally dragging himself with exaggerated slowness.
"You're cruel, Ashford. Heartless. This is why people write ballads about tragic friendships".
He stepped into the hallway, still talking. "Don't worry, I'll forgive you, tom…"
Leo shut the door on whatever else he was saying.
...
Author's note
Hey everyone 👋, it's Nyra again. Thank you so much for reading, please drop your reviews and comments I'll see you in the next one✌️💙