"Hey West," Gilbert said with a surprised tone. "Wasn't excepting to hear from you."

"Well um," Ludwig paused for a moment. "I need your advice on something."

"You're asking me for advice!" Gilbert yelled in shock.

"Yes," Ludwig said quietly. He sulked in a bit in his seat. "It's about..."

"Are you sick?!" Gilbert asked as Ludwig spoke. Ludwig rubbed his forehead with his hand and sighed.

"No," Ludwig said very annoyed and firmly. "You're the only person I can think of asking about this."

"Why's that?" Gilbert asked before Ludwig could say anything.

"I'm worried about my relationship with Feliciano," Ludwig responded with a bit of hesitation.

"You're dating him!"

"No!" Ludwig growled. He sighed a moved his hand across his face. "We have nothing in common and I don't even know if that makes being friends with him worth it. But I don't want to stop being friends with him."

Gilbert was silent for a few moments. Something that normally would relieve Ludwig but not at this moment. He sat there trying to keep his breathing slow and quiet. Hoping he wouldn't notice.

"I mean," Gilbert said before pausing for a moment. "I don't see how it's an entirely bad thing. Wouldn't it be boring dating someone who is exactly like you?"

"I'm not asking that we're exactly the same, just that we have a bit more in common. He's all about going out and art stuff. While I'm more interested in books and staying at home. I don't think that would make a very compatible relationship."

"From what I'm hearing it just sounds like an introvert falling for an extrovert. Oh, like my favorite couple on the TV show I like."

"Like that's what I want my relationship to be like," Ludwig thought to himself, rolling his eyes. "But this isn't like a television show, it won't work like that."

"Well, I'm sure there is something you two have in common?"

"All I can think of is an appreciation of nature but I don't think that's enough," Ludwig sighed.

"It could be nerves," Gilbert said after some thought. "Try thinking about stuff that you both like. There you should think of something."

For the rest of his day, Ludwig's mind could not get off his brother's words. He tried to think if they had any truth to them. His mind went to his own friend group. Sure they had their difference, especially him and Alfred. But at least he and Alfred liked some of the same TV shows. He never heard Feliciano talk about any television shows. So that could go either way. But even if Feliciano liked similar shows, something Ludwig found unlikely, would that even last long. Would everything be worth it?

"All I'm saying is if you what to make a move, you better do it soon," Mei said as she and Feliciano walked to a food court table.

"I'm not saying I don't want to make a move," Feliciano said before taking a sip of his boba tea. "It's not the right time for it."

"If you keep postponing it then you'll lose your chance," Mei looked at him worried before taking a bite of her sandwich. "Before you know it, he could end up with a boyfriend."

"If so good for him," Feliciano said with a lot of hesitation. Mei glared at him and raised an eyebrow. Feliciano quickly sipped his tea and looked away.

"So any idea for your art project?" Feliciano asked after a few minutes. Stirring his straw a little.

"Yeah a few," Mei said rolling her eyes but smiling.

The rest of the lunch was rather uneventful. They just bounced off ideas for their representative projects. One of the perks of being an art major was there were fewer tests than other majors. On the other hand, they had a lot more projects. And a decent amount of art viewings. Making it best for them to get started as soon as they could. Many freshmen were quick to learn that waiting until the last minute was never a good idea.

When they were finished with their lunch, they started walking around the mall. Occasionally stopping into stores and poking around. After a bit, they left the mall and walked to the nearby arts and crafts store.

"Okay, I need a canvas of at least 14 in by 17 in," Feliciano said as he and Mei walked into the store. The two walked over to that section. Quickly Feliciano was able to find one of the right size and took it from the shelf. Mei held two in her and started to look them over. Feliciano opened his phone and looked at his list.

"I think I'm going to use watercolor for this assignment," Feliciano said looking it over.

"But you hate watercolor," Mei said in confusion.

"So that doesn't mean I can't use it if I want to," Feliciano said moving the canvas under his arm. "Now I just got to find some."

"When was the last time you even did a watercolor?" Mei asked started to follow him.

"I did one for my still life class last year," Feliciano said as he started looking over watercolor pallets.

"What made you chose to do one?" Mei asked.

"A lot of people were doing acrylic and oil-based paint and I wanted to stand out."

"Ah right, you have Johanson," Mei said as the realization hit her.

"Yeah," Feliciano said as he looked over the watercolor pallets. "You've done watercolor before. What do you recommend for pallets?"

Mei looked over the pallets. She occasionally took one out to look it over. After a bit, she pulled one out. "Here try this one. It's decently high quality without being too expensive."

"Thanks," Feliciano said taking the pallet in his hands. He looked it over. It had eighteen different colors. And even came with a small brush. He smiled at it and held it in one of his hands.

Shortly after, Feliciano and Mei went up and paid for their stuff. That went by fast and before they knew it they were in Mei's car. Placing their supplies in the back seats. Mei put on her K-pop music as they started to drive off. As she did, Feliciano leaned on the window. Glancing at Mei a few times. She didn't seem to notice. Too caught up in her music, dancing as the songs went on. After a bit, Feliciano glanced at the steering wheel. Imagining himself driving. How he begged his parents to let him drive. Still they rarely ever let him do so. Often having Lovino go out instead. Whether it be to grab a jug of milk or even drive Marcello to places. They never asked him too. And he had theories why.

"Is the music bugging you?" Mei asked as she pulled into a stop. She looked at Feliciano with a concerned look.

"Nah I just got a lot on my mind right now," Feliciano said as he sat up.

"Okay," Mei said with a bit of concern in her voice. "That's been happening a lot lately."

"Yeah, I guess it has."