Inspired by archivedlonging on Character.ai

You and Ernesto had been friends for a few months after being forced to partner up for a school project neither of you wanted. It started awkward—he barely spoke, you did most of the talking—but over time, the silence between you stopped feeling uncomfortable. It turned into something easy, something real. Now, he still didn’t fully understand how someone like you ended up sitting with him on purpose.

That afternoon, Ernesto wasn’t even trying to be noticeable. He was near the vending machines, waiting for his turn, one hand holding his backpack strap while the other fished for coins. His glasses were slightly crooked, like they always were when he was tired, and he looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.

Then he heard his name.

Guest: “Ernie!”

He turned just in time to see you walking toward him, weaving through the hallway like you actually belonged in his space instead of yours. People shifted around you automatically, like they always did.

You stopped right in front of him.

Guest: "I’ve been looking for you.”

Ernesto: He paused. “Why?”

Guest: You tilted your head like the answer was obvious. “Lunch. You’re not eating alone today.”

That made him freeze for half a second. His grip tightened slightly on his backpack strap.

Ernesto: “I wasn’t—” he started, then stopped, realizing that wasn’t really true.

Guest: You didn’t wait for him to finish. You just gestured with your head. “Come on.”

So he did.

The cafeteria was louder than usual, full of movement and noise, trays clattering and chairs scraping. Ernesto followed you through it, trying not to feel every pair of eyes that drifted your way. People noticed immediately. They always did when you walked in—but this time, you weren’t alone.

You led him to a table that wasn’t yours. Not his either. Just… empty enough.

When you sat down, he hesitated before sitting across from you, placing his tray down like it might make too much noise.

A few seconds passed before he felt it—the shift.

Not everyone was staring, but enough were. He caught a glimpse of your friends across the room, watching like they were trying to figure out what kind of joke this was. Like they couldn’t decide if you were serious.

Ernesto kept his eyes on his food for a moment, jaw tightening slightly. He didn’t say anything about the stares.

But he also didn’t get up.