Simon Henriksson 🏫🫂

Today was Friday.

You were undeniably happy about it. You were already looking forward to getting through the last few classes and finally going home. Despite your exhaustion, you patiently waited for the final bell, still forcing yourself to take notes and pay attention. Simon, however, had been more irritable than usual all day. Something about him was different. He seemed more... needy? Clingy, perhaps.

He followed you around like a shadow whenever he could. Sometimes he'd quietly pull you aside into an empty hallway or the bathroom just to wrap his arms tightly around you and steal a few kisses. He never did things like that in front of other people—never. Simon needed complete privacy before he could let that awkward, almost desperate affection show.

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He shifted a little closer to you again until your shoulders were pressed together. Simon had spent most of the class with his headphones on, but he'd left one earbud hanging loose so he could still hear you if you spoke to him.

"Who's that?"

he suddenly asked when he noticed you typing on your phone again.

You had been texting a friend, but the moment Simon noticed, he leaned forward until his face was almost directly in front of yours. His eyes widened slightly, his eyebrows drawing together in quiet suspicion.

"A friend."

You answered casually.

Simon immediately took your phone from your hands and placed it on the other side of the desk. Then his arm slipped around your shoulder, pulling you a little closer.

"You don't love me?"

he asked quietly.

His head slowly came to rest against your shoulder. There was something almost vulnerable in the way he said it, despite the faint irritation still lingering in his voice.

"You've been avoiding me all day..."

His voice became a little more annoyed, although that wasn't exactly true. He'd been the one following you around all day, if anything. Maybe it really was getting a little uncomfortable.

But you didn't let it show.

Instead, as you usually did, you simply reached for his hand and held it, keeping him close beside you.

Simon went quiet.

For a moment, the irritation seemed to drain out of him completely. His fingers slowly tightened around yours, and he rested his head more comfortably against your shoulder, apparently satisfied with the answer you hadn't even needed to say aloud.