"I figured as much," Cicada laughed a little as she looked at the night sky. She looked back down to Phoenix smiling, "But I'm not exactly against the nickname, but it has some, um, bad memories associated with it. I don't really mind it though."
"If you do, just tell me. I don't want to hurt you, if possible." Phoenix insisted with her, not even bothering to ask. He knew she wasn't willing to talk about it, so he wasn't going to waste any time discussing the matter. She'd tell him when she was ready.
Cicada nodded and her smile turned soft. It was really nice that he wasn't pushing her and letting her take her time. At least she figured that was what she thought he was doing by not asking her, "Yeah I can do that. Thanks."
Nodding lightly, he let a smile pull up on his lips. His gaze trailed back down to her to let her see the warm smile. "Of course, I'm just trying to keep you happy." Phoenix nodded, his hold on her hand loosening.
Cicada let his hold loosen, but she didn't let go of his hand. She liked holding onto it and she continued to smile at him. She didn't mind how safe she felt with him, probably the safest she had felt in a long time. There was no jumpy feeling, no feeling that if things went sour she would need to hurt him, nothing like that at all, "I, thanks again."
"Seriously, there's no need to thank me. That's what friends are for. Don't even think about it." Phoenix waved her off, catching sight of the library down the block. If Phoenix was being honest with himself, he missed this feeling. The feeling of actually be genuinely liked was rare, from outsiders. The only people who actually cared was his own family, and they didn't really count.
"I'll try not to," Cicada let out a little laugh as she spotted the library. They were close to his car now and she was going to half to head back to her dorm to do homework… She wasn't looking forward to that much. But this had been really nice, she hoped that they could do this again sometime soon.
Chuckling, he started to jog along as they made it closer to the library. "What are your plans for the rest of the night? Anything special?" Phoenix asked with a raised brow, pulling his keys from his pocket. He unlocked his car to light it up so he could see it better through the darkness of the poorly lit parking lot.
"Just homework," Cicada responded with a slight shrug. She kept up with him with an easy pace and saw his car light up in the dark of the night, "What about you? Got any other people your going to go on late-night adventures with?"
Phoenix shook his head in response, coming around to the passenger side of the car. "Nope, me, myself, and my roommates are the only other people I'll be seeing tonight. Regretfully." He sighed, yanking the door open for her.
"Thank you," Cicada said as he opened up the door for her. She smiled at him and slipped in still looking up at him, "Why regretfully? If your rooming with them don't you like them or at least enjoy being around them?"
"You would think, though I didn't exactly want roommates. I let someone else convince me otherwise, when next semester comes around I'll probably move back in with my parents." Phoenix hummed, leaning on the door.
"Oh," Cicada responded as she thought through what he said. She nodded along, "Well at least your probably getting out of there soon. Is that someone else your sister?"
"This time, no actually." Phoenix laughed, running his fingers through his hair slowly. "My dad said so, but I don't actually care for people often. So living with two others, that I barely know kinda sucks."
"That does sound like it sucks. Kind of glad I have a dorm to myself," Cicada laughed a little to herself. She had a smile on looking at him, "Also if your dad got you to room with someone else, are you sure they would let you come back home?"
"I did tell you mom loves me, right?" He asked her, a slight smile creeping up on his lips. "She honestly would probably much prefer I was home anyways. And my dad wouldn't be mad, he left the opinion up to me… after of course guilting me to try it anyways."
"Aw yes, we love parents guilting their children into doing things," Cicada snorted just a little bit. She was smiling with him as well, "Of course your mom prefers it. Having her little baby boy not at home is probably killing her right now."
Phoenix felt his face turn pink again, but laughed again. "Positive. If I called her, it would probably take less than two rings for her to answer." He chirped, shutting her door before walking around to his side and getting in. "Honestly, I'd love to just get to live alone…"
"It's pretty nice, except you have to do everything for yourself," Cicada responded looking over to him in the drivers seat. She had a smiled on and leaned back in the seat, "Also i don't doubt you, your mom sounds like someone who would do that."
"I wouldn't mind… it would be alright. Though I could move in with someone who didn't mind being alone sometimes." Phoenix shrugged, starting the car with a sigh. "Though the funny thing is, if you ever saw her you wouldn't have a clue. It's so strange."
"Huh, that makes sense though. It takes more than just a look to really get to know a person," Cicada responded with a thoughtful sigh. She knew the same could easily be applied to herself: looks innocent, could probably kill you in actuality.
Phoenix laughed softly, pulling out of the parking space he was in. “Yeah, that’s true…” He took a quick glance at her, before taking off down the streets. “I know a few people, excluding my mother, who are just like that.”
"I think everyone does," Cicada responded going to look out the window. She let out a sigh as she kept smiling, "Like you. Look a bit like a nerd, but you're not really that nerdy. Yet."
"You're joking, right?" Phoenix asked with an amused smile. "I'm probably one of the nerdiest guys you'll meet. Even when I try not to be, it shows through anyways." Shrugging, he watched the road carefully as he drove.
"I've met nerdier," Cicada responded with a slight smile. She let out a little laugh, "So yes, you aren't that nerdy to me. Actually, you haven't really shown much of that nerdy side this entire trip."