THE LIGHT OF HER lamp burned Gabriela's eyes as she leaned forward over her notes. Sahar had transferred back to Gaia this week and Jay had gone along, something which had made Mateo complain for days. She didn't know why - he texted almost every day with him still. Now he was back with his father Jay didn't go out as much, but neither did she.

Midterms were starting tomorrow and she had spent the past few weeks pouring her heart and soul into them. Keeping up her grades wasn't easy and she had been too distracted with other stuff this semester, so she had no idea how she would do. Mateo left her favorite study snack by the windowsill every day, but didn't come in, knowing that she couldn't afford getting distracted.

He was as carefree as ever about the exams, even in the morning when he woke her up. After revising and drinking two cups of coffee she felt a bit more alive, but that still didn't keep her from almost falling asleep against Mateo's back on his motorcycle. She poured her mind on the papers and when she exited the exams at the end of the day, she felt the tiredness settle in her bones.

"How did it go?" Mateo beamed, waiting for her by the gate.

Chase was standing next to him, looking like he just exited a funeral, and Amelia pulled him in a consoling hug. They had been getting closer and closer lately and she could see the way Chase's face lit up around her. Gabriela didn't say anything about it though, mostly because it wasn't her business. Besides, she was too busy with her own matters anyway to meddle into someone else's.

Penelope and Imani were walking by her side and the both of them spoke at once, voices overlapping.

"Horrible," Penelope said.

"Good," Imani said.

Penelope looked at her girlfriend, eyes wide and filled with betrayal. "I thought we were in this together?"

"Babe," Imani said," you know my GPA, there was no way we were in this together."

"You look happy," Gabriela assessed as she neared Mateo. "Did you finally study?"

"Oh no," Mateo grinned," I couldn't get anything in my head and only knew the bare minimum, but I'm just glad that I can spend time with you now."

He opened his arms for her, waiting with that summer smile of his. She didn't even bother protesting, instead leaning her head against his chest and closing her eyes. It felt like everything was happening all at once and she had had the worst headache because of it ever since she started studying, but as Mateo closed his arms around her she could slowly feel the tension seep away.

"Jesus, I thought you all were supposed to be dumb here! How the hell did I still not know anything on a St Joseph test?"

"You idiot, you think they give different levels of exams at each school? Do you even know how a grading system works?"

Gabriela didn't need to look up to know Luca and Milo had arrived, their usual bickering continuing on. They had stayed to her surprise, but she supposed not many schools were willing to take whatever reckless combination of stupidity and violence the two carried. She had to admit they had grown on her though, especially Milo, with whom she had planned study sessions in the future already.

Mateo still was holding her, his chin resting on the top of her head as he hummed Spanish words. She finished the song, her accent slightly different than his but the words pronounced just as elegantly. In response he hugged her tighter, before finally letting her go as she tapped his arms.

"You two are so cute," Chase grinned.

"So are you two," Mateo said, gesturing between Chase and Amelia.

"What?" Chase blinked, voice a little too loud and cheeks a little too red," we aren't together."

"Really?" Mateo said, fake surprise coloring his voice," I would never have guessed."

He turned his head away from Amelia, winking at Chase so only he could see from that angle. His friend just looked like he wanted to die. Amelia however chuckled, her mind the inside of a cathedral at sunrise, words soaked in the colors of stained glass and prayers made on her eyes.

"I do enjoy your company, Chase," she said," you haven't made me feel the need to smack a window in in quite a while."

"I see why she's close friends with Alina now," Milo murmured.

"If you ever were up for it, know that I would join you anytime," Chase said enthusiastically.

"You know what they say," Mateo smirked," a couple who commits crimes together -"

"Goes to prison together," Gabriela finished for him," and no, I am still not going to start a cult with you."

"Why not?" Mateo sulked," I just want people to worship me, is that too much to ask?"

He gave her a very pointed look, which made it clear he wanted her to answer that she was ready to worship him. Instead of doing so she rolled her eyes and ruffled a hand through his hair, the tousled mess it became adorable on him. He didn't even do anything and sure enough she fixed it a second later, if only because despite her tendency to create chaos she also couldn't stand things not being in order.

Before Mateo could discuss his plan of starting a cult any further, Chase thankfully started talking again, distracting them all. His cheeks were fiery red now and his eyes trained on the floor, before flicking up to Amelia's eyes. Beside each other they looked like so gently soft. For a moment a halo appeared around them, but that just turned out to be Mateo trying to film them with the flash on. Gabriela stopped him before he could ruin the moment, Milo making a peace sign right behind the duo. Luca however stared dead in the camera without any emotions.

"Amelia," Chase stuttered," would you perhaps like to go on a date with me? Like, today? It's of course okay if you can't but there's this movie in the cinema and, well, obviously there is a movie in the cinema but this one I'd like to see, you know, with you -"

"Yes, of course," Amelia smiled.

"Thank God she cut him off," Luca whispered.

"That was torture to watch," Milo nodded.

"Shut up, they're cute," Mateo said.

"You're all nosy," Gabriela said.

"And I'm proud of it," Mateo smiled, before cheering as Chase turned towards them.

"I swear to God, Teo," he said," I love you, but otherwise I'd have killed you."

"We both know that's false," Mateo drawled, before hurriedly adding," the killing me part, I mean. You better really love me."

"There are so many confessions in this place," Milo said, amazed," it's like Love Island."

"Chase and I better be voted best couple then," Mateo said," I will risk it all for this man."

"I will not participate in any love triangle," Gabriela said.

Without hesitating Mateo grabbed her by the waist, pulling her closer and giving Chase an apologetic smile. His friend parted his lips, gesturing at him.

"I thought you were willing to risk it all for me?" he exclaimed.

"I was," Mateo replied," but my wife said no."

"That's so cute," Amelia smiled," if anyone's going to grow old together, I just know it's you two." She placed her arms around Chase's neck, voice teasing. "However, Chase is mine, so you will be risking a fight if you go for him."

"Is this what heaven looks like?" Chase blinked.

Their conversations resumed to casual chatter then and just when Mateo was telling her he thought the answer to one of their math questions was Australia his phone went off. He immediately glanced at it, even though before this he never used the thing at all. When his whole expression lit up she knew who the message was from and she raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to tell her what the plan was he had just made in his head.

"Jay and Sahar are free today," he said," they asked if we wanted to do something, let's double date."

"That actually sounds fun," she said.

"Why are you surprised?" Mateo frowned.

"You are never up too much good with that look on your face," she said with a shake of her head," I know better than to trust you, out with it."

"First of all, rude," Mateo said, holding up a finger," second of all, I was planning to spy on Chase's date today while we were double dating." His smile turned wicked then as he tilted his head, hand extended towards her. "Well, Nena, are you up for it?"

Gabriela shrugged, taking his hand in hers.

"Sure."