Preston's POV

The rain came down hard, splashing the sidewalk, forming puddles between the cracks. I shoved my free hand into my coat pocket. The umbrella I held in my other hand shielded me from the rain as I looked up at the grey clouds, the cold wind blowing against my face.

"It's cold out today," Flores commented, standing beside me on the sidewalk with his own umbrella, the short strands of his hair dancing with the breeze. We were standing at the bus stop, waiting for the bus to arrive.

"Yeah, it is," I chuckled, adjusting the scarf around my neck, "today out of all days, too."

We were heading to Faith University to see Adrien and Karsten—fucking finally. It's been a month since I've last seen Adrien, and I was eager to see his face in person again after what felt like years. Talking to him over text and video call just wasn't the same as talking to him in person. I couldn't wait to have him in my arms and hug him tight.

When the bus arrived, I closed my umbrella and followed Flores onto the bus. We showed the driver our student IDs before we found two empty seats and sat down.

"This is going to be a long-ass bus ride," I groaned, shaking my head. I set my overnight bag onto the ground between my feet, and leaned back in the seat, "I just want to see Adrien already."

"The bus ride is only an hour and a half," Flores chuckled, smiling at me amusedly, "but yeah, I'm itching to see Karsten again, so I'm a bit impatient myself. It feels weird being apart from him for an extended period of time."

"Yeah, just don't make a lot of noise while we're over there, alright?"

Flores rolled his eyes, and shoved my shoulder, "Oh, shut up."

I laughed and smirked.

The bus ride was long and boring. Flores and I chatted about whatever for most of the ride, before we ended up falling into a comfortable silence while we listened to music together, each of us with an earbud in our ear.

I leaned my head back with my eyes closed, quietly listening to the tunes playing in my left ear. When we reached our stop, I paused the music that was playing on my phone. Flores and I grabbed our stuff and got out of our seats, and thanked the bus driver before we got off the bus. Flores and I opened up our umbrellas again, shielding us from the harsh rain, and I pulled my phone out to text Adrien.

Preston King: we just got off the bus. Where are you guys?

Adrien Aguilera: we'll be there in like five minutes.

Adrien Aguilera: We would have been there already but Kare took forever panicking and getting ready this morning, lol.

I smiled crookedly at the text, shaking my head. I glanced up to look at Flores, and chuckled, "seems like your boyfriend is nervous to see you."

"What?" Flores raised a brow, "why is he nervous?"

"Adrien told me he was panic dressing. Guess he just wants to look good for you," I teased. Flores rolled his eyes.

"He's just insecure sometimes. He could have shown up in pyjamas and I wouldn't care. I just want to see him."

I nodded, smiling at him.

The two of us waited at the bus loop in front of the university centre, umbrellas popped open because it was still raining. From what I could see, Faith University looked nice. The school's architecture was old, right up Adrien's ally. Adrien always admired things that were old and run down, because he says it gives them character. That it portrays the history and a life story.

I continued looking around, one hand shoved into my pocket while the other held my umbrella. It wasn't until I heard hurried footsteps, and when I turned my gaze, I saw Adrien hurrying over to Flore and I, Karsten hurrying alongside him.

A wide smile took over my face, and when Adrien reached me, he jumped into my arms, causing me to drop my umbrella so that I could catch him. Rain instantly dampened my hair, but Adrien held his umbrella over us as he wrapped his legs and arm around me, a laugh slipping from his lips.

"Why hello to you too," I laughed, smiling crookedly.

"Sorry, I just had to," He replied, smiling wide. "It's been too long."

I chuckled and shook my head. I set him back down onto his feet and picked up my umbrella. He was still smiling wide.

"Something on my face?" I teased. Adrien rolled his eyes, a light blush coating his cheeks.

"No, it's just that we haven't seen each other in person for so long, so actually having you stand in front of me is really weird," Adrien said, "Is this really happening or am I just dreaming?"

"Now you're just being dramatic," I grinned.

Adrien shrugged. I shook my head and turned my gaze, seeing Flores and Karsten chatting away. He looked exactly like what I've seen in pictures. There was a fond and loving look in Flores's eyes as he looked down at his boyfriend, and it made a smile tug at my lips. Adrien started walking over to them, and I followed suit.

"Adrien!" Karsten beamed as we walked over, his gaze landing on me, "so, this is the famous best friend I've heard all about, huh?"

"Oh, you know all about me do you?" I smirked. Karsten laughed.

"Of course I do. Adrien talks about you a lot. So much I feel like I know you already."

Adrien rolled his eyes, "I don't talk about him that much."

"Are you kidding? Of course you do!"

I smirked, "yeah? Well, I happen to know all about you too. You're Flores's favourite topic to talk about, you know that?"

Flores smacked my shoulder and gave me a look, and I just laughed. He looked embarrassed that I admitted that, but Karsten laughed as well, and smiled teasingly at his boyfriend.

"Awe, you talk about me? How sweet," He reached up on his tiptoes and kissed Flores's cheek. Flores scoffed.

"Why don't we sign the two of them in, Kare? Then head up to our dorm?" Adrien cut in. Karsten glanced at him and nodded.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan."

With that, Flores and I followed Adrien and Karsten back to their residence building. We walked through campus in the heavy rain chatting, Flores walking next to me while Karsten and Adrien walked ahead of us.

While we walked, I couldn't help but stare at Adrien, watching him smile and laugh as he chatted away with Karsten. It's been so long it felt like since I last saw him in person, so actually having him walk in front of me as we headed back to his dorm was surreal. It was as he mentioned earlier like it was some kind of dream, and that's honestly what it felt like.

He was here, in front of me, and I knew that he was going to be gone again in just a matter of a couple of days.

When we reached their residence building, I briefly looked up at the tall, old-looking building, before the four of us headed inside. Karsten and Adrien got us signed in at the residence desk before we headed up the elevators to their floor.

When we reached their dorm, Adrien pulled out his keys, unlocked the door, and gestured us inside. I stepped in first, followed by Flores, then Karsten and Adrien.

"Wow, this place actually looks nice," I spoke up, shrugging off my coat and shoes as I glanced around the apartment-style dorm. They had the living room decorated with blankets, throw pillows, fairy lights, and of course artworks. It looked cozy and lived in compared to Flores and I'd dorm.

"Doesn't it? We all took part in decorating it. I think it turned out really nice," Karsten commented.

"Yeah, it turned out nice alright," Flores nodded. He leaned down and kissed Karsten's forehead. Karsten smiled up at his boyfriend.

"Wanna know what's nicer though?" Karsten hummed, grinning as he took Flores' hand, "my dorm room."

I snorted. Adrien burst out laughing, as did Flores, and Karsten gave us all looks.

"Oh, get your brains out of the gutter, you weirdos. I just wanna show him it!" Karsten exclaimed. I laughed, shaking my head with a smirk.

"Yeah, right now you wanna show him it..." I stated, "...because that's where you two will be later tonight when everyone's sleeping."

Karsten rolled his eyes at me. He stuck his tongue out at me, before he tugged at Flores' hand, and led him down the short hallway to his dorm room.

I watched them go, and once I heard the door close behind them, I glanced back to Adrien, he was already looking at me. We stared at each other for a moment before we burst out laughing, and shaking our heads.

"Well...In that case, do you wanna see my room?"

"Is that an invitation?" I asked suggestively, a slight smirk on my face. Adrien scoffed.

"Maybe. Maybe not," He replied, smiling as he bit his lip, "I just know you're probably dying to see it."

I hummed and nodded, returning the smile, "of course I am."

"Well in that case," Adrien said, gesturing down the hallway in a joking manner, "this way then."

I laughed. Adrien grinned before he started walking down the hallway to his dorm room, and I followed suit.