Alex was walking down the crowded hallway of Silverleaf University, her muscular frame cutting through the sea of students. She had just finished her morning classes and was making her way to the cafeteria for lunch, her empty stomach gurgling with hunger. As she rounded a corner, Alex had bumped into another, causing them to fall back due to her stronger frame. {{user}} falls back, flat on their butt making a loud thud. "Ah..sorry. You alright?" with a flat tone, Alex reaches out to {{user}} and kneels. "My bad, it's hard to see you up from up here."

Alex let out a soft grunt before helping User#1730070822591 to their feet. They nodded at the other's apology and dusted themselves off, looking up into those unnervingly red eyes. Alex had never thought she looked intimidating until then... Maybe it was time to lighten her image a little bit. She grinned slightly, revealing her teeth as if catching herself unaware of her own expression, and shrugged. "Anyway, you alright? We should probably get going to the cafeteria soon."

"Hey, no worries about that," Lex said with an understanding nod, "We've all been there. Sometimes it's easy to forget what time it is when you get lost in your thoughts." A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she looked at them sidelong; maybe they'd warm up to her a bit more if she tried to be less... intimidating. "So, what's your name?" she asked conversationally.

"Nice to meet you, Wes," Lex replied with another small smile. "I'm Alex... Lexi, if you want." Her smile didn't waver, even as she glanced at their darker clothes and wondered if they were into sports or something similar; it wasn't uncommon for athletes to gravitate towards wearing black all the time. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of hope that this conversation could lead somewhere, maybe even becoming friends. "So, are you a student here as well?"

That was... interesting. She wouldn't have expected them to be studying culinary arts; they didn't seem like the type who would enjoy making food and stuff. But then again, everyone had their own interests and passions, right? "Oh, that's cool," Lex said with a nod before glancing around them once more, noticing how close they were to the cafeteria now. "So... uh, want some company while you eat?" She knew she was probably being pushy by asking so quickly, but she couldn't help it; something about Wes intrigued her enough that she wanted to get to know them better.

"Oh yeah," Lex chuckled softly, feeling a small surge of pride in her chest as she nodded. "I used to be pretty decent back in high school, but I don't do it competitively anymore. Just for fun and exercise mostly." She smiled again before looking at them expectantly; was there something else they wanted to know about her boxing past?

That gave Lex pause; she hadn't really thought anyone paid attention to her boxing matches back in high school. Then again, maybe they had just seen a news article about it or something. "I-I mean," she stuttered for a moment before finding her voice again, "if you want to try it out sometime, I wouldn't mind teaching you some stuff. It can be fun." She paused again, studying Wes's face for any signs of uncertainty or reluctance; they didn't seem too nervous about the offer, which made Alex feel a little better about herself. Maybe she was more approachable than she thought.

Lex nodded with a small smile as they walked towards the cafeteria together. "Alright then," she said cheerfully, "consider it a date." As they made their way through the line and found an empty table to sit at, Alex couldn't help but feel hopeful about this new friendship--or maybe even something more. Only time would tell.

Lex chuckled softly at the joke and sat down across from Wes, already feeling more comfortable around them than she had expected. As they began to eat, a newfound sense of camaraderie filled her heart; it seemed like they really did have something in common after all. Maybe this was the beginning of something great.

"So," she said between bites of her sandwich, trying not to sound too eager but also genuinely interested, "what got you into culinary arts? And what are your plans for the future?"

"That's amazing, Wes!" Lex exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm. "I don't know much about Chinese food, but if it's anything like what I had today, then your restaurant is going to be incredible." She paused for a moment, her expression becoming pensive as she took in their determination and drive. "You know," she said softly, "I think you can do it. With that dedication and talent of yours... I mean, nothing's impossible."

She glanced down at her empty plate before looking back up at Wes, a small smile playing on her lips. "Anyway, enough about me. Tell me more about your plans and what inspired you to start down this path in the first place."

Wes's passion and dedication to their craft left an impression on Lex; it was rare to find someone so invested in something they had initially struggled with. She couldn't help but feel inspired by their story, her mind already spinning with ideas of how she could support them along the way. "That's incredible," she murmured, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she remembered her own journey into boxing and how it had shaped her life.

"You know," Lex continued thoughtfully, "I think I might be able to help you out with that... Michelin star thing." Her voice was soft but confident; even though she didn't know much about the restaurant business, she trusted Wes's abilities and knew they could achieve great things. "Maybe we could work together on some promotional stuff or something. I mean, you never know where it might lead, right?"

Alex chuckled softly at their words, shaking her head. "Money shouldn't be the only thing stopping you," she pointed out gently. "I mean, look at all the support you have here already." She gestured between them with a small smile before continuing. "If I can help in any way possible, whether it's through advice or just lending a hand where needed... Well, consider me your personal cheerleader, okay?"

Her expression grew more serious as she leaned in slightly. "You have the talent and dedication to make this happen; you just need someone to believe in you as much as I do." There was a certain intensity to her voice that made it clear she meant every word.

At their comment, Lex felt herself blush slightly before clearing her throat and returning to a more neutral tone. "Oh, well," she replied with a shrug, "I'm studying healthcare management. Not nearly as exciting as culinary arts, but it's still something I'm passionate about." She smiled warmly at Wes, glad that they seemed interested in her life as well.

"Who knows?" she mused thoughtfully, taking another bite of her sandwich. "Maybe someday our paths will cross again and we can work together to help people in different ways... That'd be pretty awesome, don't you think?" There was an infectious enthusiasm in her voice as she spoke; it was hard not to get caught up in her excitement.

Lex chuckled softly at their comment, tilting her head slightly in amusement. "Really?" she asked with raised eyebrows, taking another bite of her sandwich before continuing. "I've always been pretty kuudore, so I guess that can come across as intimidating to some people... But it's good to know I don't seem too scary." A small smile played on her lips as she studied Wes, taking in their reassuring presence and kind words.

"Hey," she said, suddenly feeling a bit more comfortable with the idea of sharing something personal, "if you ever need someone to talk to or just want to hang out... I mean, not that I'm fun or anything, but..." Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right words before shrugging and deciding to leave it at that. Maybe they would understand what she meant anyway.

Lex blushed slightly at their words before smiling shyly back. "Thanks," she murmured, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. It was nice to know that there were people out there who saw her as more than just some scary-looking boxer girl. Maybe this new friendship could be something truly special.

They finished up their lunch and threw away their trash before heading back over to the cafeteria entrance, preparing to go their separate ways. As they stopped in front of each other, Alex hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Hey, Wes?" she began awkwardly, her cheeks flushing even deeper now, "if you ever want to... uh... hang out again, or like, practice your cooking skills or something... just let me know, okay? I mean, it's no big deal or anything..."

Her voice trailed off as she looked up at

Lex's heart skipped a beat at their words. "R-really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as disbelief and happiness warred within her chest. She didn't know what to say or do; she hadn't expected this moment to happen anytime soon, if ever. A small smile spread across her face as reality set in, and she realized that maybe there was hope for them after all. Maybe they could be more than just friends... maybe they could even become something more. "Yeah," she said slowly, trying not to sound too eager but also unable to hide the excitement in her voice. "I'd like that." Her smile grew wider as she looked at Wes, feeling a new sense of connection and warmth swell within her chest. It was then that she realized how truly lucky she was; to have found someone like this person who seemed to understand her, see past

the superficial exterior and accept her for who she really was...it was amazing. With a renewed sense of hope, she stepped forward and wrapped Wes in a tight hug, not caring that they were in the middle of the cafeteria or how others might perceive their display of affection. For now, all that mattered was this moment, right here and right now, with the person who had somehow managed to creep their way into her heart without even realizing it.

"Thank you," she murmured against their ear, not letting go of the embrace as tears began to sting the corners of her eyes. "For everything." She pulled back just enough so that they could look her in the eye and smiled warmly, a tear slipping down her cheek before landing on their shirt. "I'm really glad we met today."

As she stepped back once more, Alex felt a new sense of strength

Lex's heart fluttered as they hugged her once again, their warmth enveloping her in a reassuring embrace that made her feel safe and loved. She buried her face in the crook of their neck, breathing in their unique scent - a mixture of Sichuan spices and soap from the morning shower. It was intoxicating, addictive.

When they finally pulled back again, she looked up at them with shining eyes, lips curved into a grateful smile. "I'm really looking forward to everything we'll do together," she said softly, reaching up to brush away the tear that had escaped before it could fall any further. "You make me believe in second chances."

That was an unexpected question, but she supposed it wasn't entirely surprising considering everything they had shared so far. She thought about her living situation - small and cozy apartment with only enough room for herself and her kitten, Jacobi; it might be a bit of a squeeze, especially since they didn't really know each other that well yet... Still, she wanted to make them feel welcome. "Of course not," she replied, smiling warmly. "My place isn't much, but you're always welcome there."

Her heart gave a strange flutter at the thought of having Wes over; it was both exciting and terrifying all at once. But she couldn't deny that she wanted to see more of them, get to know them better in the comfort of her own space. Perhaps this was fate's way of making up for lost time.