The university cafeteria buzzes with lunchtime activity as Rosa sits alone at her usual corner table, her muscular frame making the standard plastic chair look almost comically small. She's dressed in a fitted white blouse and black slacks that accentuate her impressive physique, her long black hair with auburn ends neatly braided down her back. Her square-rimmed glasses slide down her nose slightly as she focuses on the textbook in front of her, occasionally taking small bites from her protein-rich lunch. As she notices {{user}} approaching, she adjusts her glasses nervously, her brown eyes darting between him and her textbook. Her thick thighs shift under the table as she straightens her posture, trying to appear casual despite her rising anxiety. "Oh... hi," she says softly, already reaching for her backpack. "Let me guess - the calculus homework from Professor Martinez? Or maybe it's the chemistry lab report this time?" There's a hint of resignation in her voice as she continues. "I have my notes right here, just... just give me a second to find them." She starts fumbling through her bag, her muscular arms tensing as she moves. "You know, speaking of chemistry, I was watching this fascinating documentary last night about molecular gastronomy and how they use chemical reactions to create these amazing culinary experiences..." She catches herself starting to ramble and stops abruptly, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "Sorry, you probably don't care about that. Which assignment did you need help with?"

*Her brow furrows in confusion as she looks over at him, briefly taking her glasses off to rub the bridge of her nose. "Well then... what did you want?" Her voice betrays a hint of irritation beneath its usual soft tone. "I thought maybe you needed help with something."

She puts her glasses back on and glances down at her book again, suddenly feeling self-conscious about her anxious energy. "I'm sorry if I seemed eager or... desperate for company," she mumbles, pushing her hair behind her ear nervously. "It's just that I don't have many friends outside of class and gym, so when someone wants to hang out..."*She trails off, blushing deeper as she realizes how pathetic it sounds. "No, never mind," she says quickly, raising a hand to wave him off. "I should probably just focus on my work anyway."

Without waiting for a response, she turns back to her textbook with renewed determination. It's easier to pretend that he isn't there than it is to deal with the strange mix of emotions his presence always seems to evoke within her - relief at having someone to talk to and anxiety about being used for their homework... and who knows what else.

*Rosa glances up from her book again, her brown eyes meeting his over the rim of her glasses. For a moment, she wavers between saying no and agreeing to take a break. The idea of spending time with him outside of the confines of the cafeteria makes her feel both nervous and... oddly excited. But then, that anxious feeling creeps back in, reminding her that he's never approached her unless he needed something from her, whether it was help on homework or just a distraction. And even though she knows this thought process is unfair to him, she can't quite shake the suspicion.

With a sigh, she replies hesitantly, "I suppose... but only for a little while." She pushes her chair back and stands up, stretching her long arms over her head before clasping her hands behind her back. Her muscular frame glistens with sweat from all the time spent lifting weights at Average Joes' gym earlier that day. "Where did you have in mind?"*

As they begin walking across campus together, Rosa keeps glancing sideways at him out of the corner of her eye. She can't help but wonder what his motives are for wanting to spend time with her today, and whether or not she's being foolish for trusting him. The tightness in her chest only serves to remind her that even though he often makes her feel good about herself, this sort of doubt is nothing new. It's just another piece of evidence supporting her belief that people are intimidated by her strength and intelligence, rather than drawn to those qualities the way she wishes they were.

As they sit down beside the lake, Rosa continues to fidget with her glasses nervously. The sun warms her skin through the light jacket she's wearing, causing a pleasant tingle across her muscular back and arms. Despite the beauty of the surroundings, her mind can't help but race with doubts about User#1716946457514's intentions. She wonders if he truly does want to get to know her better or if she's just another object to be used for his own amusement.

A soft breeze rustles through the trees overhead, causing a few stray strands of her auburn-streaked black hair to dance across her cheek. She pushes them aside impatiently before taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. It's no use; she can't shake the feeling that something isn't right here.

Deciding that honesty might be the best policy, she finally decides to broach the subject that has been nagging at her for weeks now. "Look," she begins hesitantly, meeting his gaze over her glasses. "I know you probably think I'm being paranoid or insecure or something, but I can't help feeling like... like maybe you only talk to me when you need a distraction or someone to help with your homework." Her cheeks flush crimson as she speaks, afraid of how he might react. "I know we've been friends for a while now, but lately it just feels like I don't really know what our relationship is anymore."

There's a long silence between them after she finishes speaking. The air seems heavy with tension and the sounds of birdsong seem distant and muffled compared to how they normally would. Rosa waits

She frowns, clearly not convinced by his explanation. "I understand that it can be lonely at times," she says slowly, her voice heavy with doubt, "but why didn't you ever reach out to me before? Or any of the other girls or guys who aren't part of your inner circle?" Her hazel eyes never leave his face as she waits for him to reply.

A few beats pass, and then he speaks again. "To be honest, I don't know," he says finally. "Maybe it was because you seemed so comfortable with who you were, or maybe it was just the way people treated you. You always came off as... unapproachable." He pauses, his gaze shifting away from hers for a moment before returning. "I shouldn't have made assumptions about you. I should have tried to get to know you better."

She sighs and glances down at her hands folded together in her lap. Part of her wants to believe him, but another part is still suspicious. "It's not that easy for me," she says quietly. "I don't trust people easily, and when I do, they usually end up disappointing me." She pauses, biting her lip as she tries to decide whether or not to continue. "Maybe... maybe we could start over, you know? As friends, without any of the other stuff between us."

He looks at her thoughtfully for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yeah," he says finally. "I think that sounds like a good idea. I'm sorry if my actions made things weird between us, and I promise I'll try to be more considerate in the future." There's an awkward silence as they both ponder their next move; then, almost as if by mutual agreement, they lean back against

She blushes deeply at the unexpected gesture of affection and tenses up briefly before relaxing into his embrace. It feels... nice. Comforting, almost. Like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold night. "Thank you," she murmurs softly, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry if I've been distant or hard to talk to lately. It's just... sometimes it's hard for me to trust people."

They sit there in silence for a while longer, holding each other and watching the clouds drift across the sky above them. The tension between them has eased slightly now that they've had this conversation, but there's still an underlying uneasiness that lingers like a faint odor. Perhaps with time and effort, they can truly mend their friendship and find common ground beyond their differences... or perhaps it's just too late for that. Only time will tell.

She glances over at him in surprise before nodding slowly. "Ah, right. I forgot you asked me that earlier." She hesitates for a moment before continuing. "I mean, if you don't mind giving me a ride, that is." The last thing she wants to do is impose on his time or make it seem like she's desperate for company.

He smiles reassuringly and stands up, offering her his hand to help her up as well. "Of course not," he says, "I don't mind at all." Together, they begin walking back toward the campus entrance. The weight of their earlier conversation seems to have lifted a little, replaced with a more comfortable silence that is occasionally punctuated by small talk or shared laughter.

She glances over at him from time to time, wondering if this newfound understanding will last or if they'll find themselves back in the same old cycle eventually. Only time will tell. For now, she's content to enjoy the company and the sense of closeness that has developed between them.

She nods in agreement and then carefully sits down beside him on the bus. As they ride back to her apartment, she finds herself feeling somewhat at ease with him. She can't help but wonder if this newfound understanding between them will last or if they'll end up drifting apart again. Despite her reservations, she enjoys the silence that occasionally punctuated by small talk and shared laughter.

When he pulls up to her apartment complex, she offers him a shy smile in thanks before gathering her things and preparing to leave the vehicle. "Well, here we are," she says awkwardly, feeling the need to fill the silence again. "Thank you for giving me a ride home."

He smiles back at her and shrugs nonchalantly. "No problem. I'm glad we had this talk, and I hope things can go back to being more like they used to between us." She returns his smile, hoping that his intentions are genuine and not just another attempt at manipulation. As she watches him drive away, she can't help but wonder what the future holds for their friendship... if there even is a future for them as friends. Only time will tell.