"They think that dark matter exists in the form of sterile neutrinos, and that supernovaes shoot them out in tight streams along their magnetic field lines, and that the blasts kick out the pulsars through the cosmos at thousands of kilometers per second."

So it turned out that Teresa was in the same course as him and she followed Newt out of their astrophysics class to the cafe. She also loved talking about quantum physics as much as he did, and they instantly became fast friends. They were standing in line from the counter and had just stepped up to order their drinks when a familiar face beamed at them over the cash register.

"Teresa, your geek is showing," Thomas said.

"Tommy," Newt looked at him in surprise. "I didn't know you worked here."

"I don't actually, I'm just helping to cover for Brenda," he rubbed the back of his head. "She has an assignment due in this afternoon and she's rushing to finish it."

"Oh, tell her I said hi," Teresa said before ordering a caramel frappuccino.

"And I'll have-"

"A double espresso?" Thomas finished for him.

"Yeah..." Newt gave him a funny look. "How'd you know?"

"Oh, I saw you had it yesterday too and made a guess," the boy explained as he punched in the order. "Kera said she's gonna join you guys again later. Do you always study there everyday?"

"Yeah, without fail," Newt shrugged. "It's kinda our spot."

They stepped away when someone else came to order a drink and Teresa went to use the ladies room. Newt took a sip of his coffee as he waited and Thomas turned to him.

"How long have you known Minho for?" he asked.

"Since we started uni, we share a couple of modules together," Newt replied. "He's a decent guy, you don't have to worry."

"I'm not worried about that," Thomas laughed. "Kera can handle herself. They seem really into each other though."

"Yeah, I've never seen him act this way before," Newt grunted. "She's a nice girl, doesn't seem like a psychopath at all."

"Oh, you have not seen her when she's mad," the boy paused. "So you don't have a girlfriend?"

The blonde shrugged. "Not interested in girls."

"Oh."

He licked his lips as they continued to regard each other in a sudden quiescence. The sun peeking through the glass wall behind him shone on the opposite boy, making his eyes lighten and sparkle with a hint of curiosity. He could feel his heart thump against his throat and he took another sip to swallow it down.

"You're not attached to anyone then?" he asked as well.

Thomas shook his head and opened his mouth to reply when Teresa came back, chattering away about something or other. Newt barely listened as he continued to gaze at Thomas over his drink and he felt a tingling sensation throughout his entire body. They left the cafe and the dark haired boy, heading off for their next class.

Newt offered Teresa to join them at their study spot and she readily accepted. They met Minho and Kera on the way to the library, holding hands and laughing giddily with each other already despite it only being a week since they met.

The group made their way to the benches behind the building, jumping down from the stairs and crossing the empty green field. He'd been so used to his own solitary company here, with Minho coming by only after he finished all his classes, that it felt strange to have that many of them gathered there. But their lively conversations quickly put the thought out of his mind and he laughed along with them.

Books and stationaries were taken out of their bags and arranged around the table as they made an effort to get some work done. Newt opened his text of paradoxes on modern physics when another letter dropped out. Teresa picked it up and turned it over, frowning at the two words on its front.

"What's this?" she asked, blue eyes filled with curiosity as she handed it back to him.

"A love letter from his secret admirer," Minho answered for him. "Dude, how does he do it?"

"I have no idea," Newt muttered as he opened the envelope and read its contents.

Teresa hovered over his right shoulder as she peeked at it nosily and started to frown again. He glanced at her, noticing the confused expression on her face.

"What's with that look?" he asked.

"Nothing... it's just... the handwriting looks familiar," she turned towards Kera who was snacking on a cookie. "Have you seen this?"

"Hm? Yeah, he gets one everyday," the girl replied nonchalantly. "I think they're pretty neat."

"But... did you look at the handwriting? I swear it's..."

Kera kicked her from under the table and she jumped in surprise. "Nope, don't know what you're talking about," she said airily while giving her a pointed look.

Newt hadn't noticed the exchange as a smile slowly crept onto his face, eyes scanning the page from left to right. Minho nudged Kera and smirked as he threw a glance at his blonde friend.

"Enjoying yourself there?" he asked loudly across the table.

Newt cleared his throat and tucked the letter into his bag, then flipped a page on his book. "Yeah, sure," he tried to shrug it off but his heart felt elated. Whoever this secret admirer was, he knew exactly what to write to pique his interest.

"Where's Thomas?" Minho asked, looking around as if the boy were hiding under the table or behind the tree.

"Said he had to cover for Brenda in the cafe," Teresa told him. "He probably won't be able to join us. The shift usually ends around seven."

"Aw, that sucks."

They went back to their usual study routine and entertaining conversations. Kera had brought along her portfolio and showed them her project. She had chosen to do surrealism in space and he adored the chaotic swirling splatters of constellations across the canvas paper. It made him think of Thomas.

When it started to get dark, they packed up their things to head back home. Newt hesitated as he neatly put away his notes and Minho turned to him. "You coming, dude?"

"Hold on, I just remembered I needed to pop by the shop," he said.

"Okay, we'll wait on you," the Engineer student glanced at his watch. "Bus arrives in twenty, better make it quick."

"Sure thing," he replied and quickly walked away in the opposite direction.

He clambered up the low wall of the stairs and jogged towards the cafe. Mercifully, it was almost empty and he spotted the pale boy with his dark eyes instantly. Newt went up and smiled brightly, picking up a tin of mints to place on the countertop.

"Hey," Thomas greeted him. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Yeah," the blonde chuckled almost nervously.

"The usual?" he asked.

"Actually," Newt paused. "Surprise me. I wanna try something new."

"Sure," he beamed widely.

"Don't make it too sweet though."

Thomas turned around and started whipping something up at the back of the counter. Newt spied him sprinkling salt on the top of the foam when he was done. He handed the drink to him without charging it to the register and crossed his arms expectantly.

Newt took a sip, and was surprised at how much he liked it.

"That's good," he commented. "What is it?"

"It's my own recipe," the other boy grinned. "Glad you like it."

"When does the shift end?" Newt asked and Thomas glanced at the clock.

"Now, actually," he pulled the string of his apron behind his back and took it off.

"Great, we can catch the bus together. The others are waiting."

They exited the cafe, turning the collar of their coats up at the draft of cold air. He felt a rush of exhilaration as they walked down the path in the direction of the library, chatting about nothing and everything at the same time. He wanted to know more about the human being beside him, learn the intricate details of his thoughts. There was a sudden drop in his heart when the bus stop came into view and he wished that he could just fabricate more time.