Preston's POV 

"You need more marshmallows, Blaire," Flores said, his mouth full. He slouched back against the couch, a near-empty bag of large marshmallows in his hand.

Blaire scoffed. "It's because you're eating all of them, dumbass."

"Yeah, which is why you need more." He smirked. Flores swallowed his mouthful of marshmallows, and Blaire rolled her eyes at him.

"You want marshmallows? Go buy them yourself."

Blaire flopped down in the chair adjacent to the couch, wrapping a blanket around herself. Flores groaned and hit the back of his head against the couch in defeat. I laughed from beside him, a grin tugging my lips as I brought my glass of lemonade to my lips, and took a long sip.

After my final class ended at around six, I drove over to Blaire and Prim's place to hang out. We were supposed to be practicing for our upcoming concert gig in a few weeks, but instead, the five of us were sprawled around in their living room, blasting music on their speakers. Their roommates were out for the evening, so we had the place to ourselves.

"You heard the woman—go buy more marshmallows." I nudged Flores with my elbow.

Flores huffed, flashing me an unimpressed stare. He was pouting, but he didn't make any move to get up from the couch. Instead, he finished off the remaining marshmallows in the bag and reached for the bag of chips on the coffee table.

I chuckled softly and shook my head. Blaire and Flores continued to banter back and forth, their conversation extending beyond marshmallow talk. Meanwhile, I quietly listened in and leaned back, taking occasional sips of my lemonade.

I let my mind wander to Adrien. I couldn't help but think about earlier, when he told me how tired he's been—it's been on my mind for most of the day and it was going to keep plaguing my mind. After having lunch with me, he went right back to sleep on the couch and when I left for my final class, he was still sleeping. I wouldn't be surprised if he was still sleeping by the time I got home later that evening.

I was worried about him, to say the least. I already knew how exhausted he was without him having to tell me. I could see it on his face the last few weeks—the tiredness around his eyes and the constant naps and sleeping in.

I've also noticed the slight changes in his mood, along with his change in sleeping habits. His mood's been a little up and down, and while I was maybe just overthinking things, it still made me worried for him. It's been about a month and a half now since he's been officially off his antidepressants and I was hoping that these slight mood changes were not him deteriorating.

It pained me whenever he got depressed. It wasn't often anymore, thank fucking god, but it still pained me nonetheless, and I didn't want him to relapse.

"Maybe we should go downstairs and actually get some practicing done. The concert's only a few weeks away," Elijah spoke up from the floor, where he was playing a game of cards with Prim, their half-finished glasses of lemonade on the coffee table next to them. He put down his cards and glanced over to Blaire, Flores and I expectantly.

"But this chair is so comfy. I don't wanna get up." Blaire whined, slouching back further on the chair, bringing her knees up to her chest.

"You guys all decided to put me in charge of the band, didn't you?" Elijah raised a brow. "So when I say we should practice, it's not a suggestion—it's a demand. I'm telling you. So come on, get your butt off the chair and let's go practice."

"Ooooh, who knew Elijah could be so bossy?" Blaire whistled, fanning herself. "I like it, it's hot. Do you boss Luka around like that?"

Elijah shrugged, an amused smile cracking on his face as he got up from the floor. "Mostly when he's being annoying and I have to put him in his place."

"Damn, no wonder why he's so head over heels in love with you. Bossy Elijah is sexy." Blaire smirked and got up, the blanket still wrapped around herself. "I'd be in love too."

Elijah laughed. I remained seated on the couch, sipping the last of my lemonade, eyes beginning to gloss over from staring at the same white wall for too long.

"Preston?"

"Hm?" I blinked and glanced over. The four of them were all standing up now, their curious gazes on me.

"You didn't hear me?" Elijah said. "We need to go practice."

"Oh, right. Yeah, sorry." I set my empty glass on the coffee table and stood up from the couch. Elijah frowned.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I flashed him a smile, but as always, the four of them saw right through me. I could never hide anything from them anymore, not that I really ever wanted to.

"Don't even start with that crap—we know when you're not fine. You get that weird look on your face and you space out." Blaire scoffed. "Come on, just tell us what it is."

My smile morphed into an apologetic one. I bit my lip, hesitating before I spoke. "I'm just...I'm worried about Adrien. He's been exhausted lately, sleeping a lot more. He's not quite himself, and I'm not sure why."

"Could it be stress?" Blaire asked. "We all have a lot on our plates with it being our final school year, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's stressed out because of it."

"No...I don't think it's that. Classes only just started up again and he's been feeling tired before that. I don't know..." I shook my head and released a heavy sigh. "My gut tells me something is going on, but maybe I'm just overthinking things again..."

"I'm sure he's alright, Preston," Primrose reassured. "I don't think it could be anything serious. You guys only moved into your new place a month ago and he works too, right? He's probably just tired from all the excitement. But just keep an eye on him anyway, yeah?"

"Mm...you're right. Sorry, you guys know how I am—getting all worked up over small things."

"Oh, stop apologizing. It's only natural you'd worry. You're like so fucking in love with him you have hearts sparkling in your eyes all the time," Blaire smirked. "You and Luka both. You guys have it down bad."

I laughed. "Come on, you know Adrien. He's too cute not to love. And so is Elijah, look at this face—"

I walked up behind Elijah and reached around him, pinching both his cheeks. Elijah scoffed and pushed my hands away from his face.

"Between you and Luka, you guys certainly love to annoy me."

"Aweee, don't be like that." I wrapped my arms around his shoulders from behind, squeezing him against me. Elijah rolled his eyes, huffing out a breath. "You know how much I love and care for you, therefore I have to annoy you."

"Since when?"

"It's in the friendship contract you signed the moment you decided to be friends with me," I said. "I don't make the rules."

"I don't recall signing this contract."

"Well, you did. And you can't back out now—we're besties forever."

Elijah shook his head and laughed, pushing me off him. "Come on, we have to practice. Let's go."

"Yes, mom."

Elijah squinted his eyes at me, silently challenging me to say it again. I only smiled innocently at him, and after a minute of his incessant, suspenseful staring, he turned around and followed Blaire and Prim into the hallway and to the basement stairs.

"Soo...can we get more marshmallows after practice?" Flores broke the brief silence as we started down the stairs. We all stopped and turned to look up at him, where he stood at the top stair. Blaire groaned and glared at him, folding her arms over her chest.

"Fine." She breathed out. "We'll get more marshmallows."

"Fuck yes," Flores cheered, fist-bumping the air. We all laughed at him.