and i showed no

“You probably have things more figured out. Remember when you barked at us for having fun? You’re on a high-speed rail to an Ivy, I thought.” John looks mischievous, which is daunting as it is enticing. Electricity sparks in Dirk’s fingertips, chemistry found after a long drought of lonesome.“Certainly not an Ivy.” Dirk holds John’s gaze, though he’s behind shades and it’s unnecessary. It feels important to do so, like John is challenging him on a rooftop.“Why not?”Dirk is more perplexed, this conversation seems like a very roundabout bit, yet he’s having fun as if he’s in on it this time. John isn’t making fun of him the way other people do, they’re being lackadaisical together. How interesting.“I’m terrible at math. I can write essays, lab reports, code, build a robot from scratch, but math equations beyond Precalculus have never made sense to me.” Dirk admits.“What level are you in?”Risking a grin, Dirk answers: “Calculus.”