Scholarly (Yelena X Reader) ON HOLD

Chapter Twenty-Two

"I have a meeting with the other teaching assistants in my department at noon but I was thinking maybe we could meet afterwards for lunch?" Yelena asks as we make our way through campus. We still have twenty minutes to go before class is due to start so we don't rush as we make our way towards the building.

"I'd like that," I reply, my hand itching to reach out and grasp hers but knowing better than to do that where my classmates might see.

"Alright, I'll meet you outside your dorm building around one," she says with a smile and a small wink in my direction. Butterflies riot in my stomach at the small show of fondness and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning like an idiot.

We fall quiet as we approach our destination and I can tell Yelena is mentally preparing herself to teach. She holds the door open for me to enter the building, her eyes darting around a moment before she follows me in.

Before I can reach to open the classroom door her hand stops me, taking hold of my own and pulling me in for the softest kiss. It's over before my brain has even fully processed that it was happening and she steps back with a cocky grin.

"Pay attention in class," she says before disappearing into the classroom. I stand frozen for a moment in the hallway as I gather myself, waiting for the hot blush to fade from my cheeks before going in.

When I do finally enter I see Armin already seated in his usual spot, two coffee cups on the desk before him. I slide into my seat and he immediately pushes one of the cups my way.

"Are you going to let me pay you back for this?" I ask with an exasperated sigh, already knowing the answer.

"Absolutely not," Armin replies with a bright smile. I shake my head but can't keep my own lips from curving upwards as well before I take a long sip from the drink. The warmth spreads through me and I let out a happy little sigh.

"So you stayed at Yelena's last night?" he asks and I immediately choke on the sip I was in the middle of taking. I cough as my lungs try to expel the liquid and Yelena gives me a curious look from where she's seated at the front.

I wave my hand at her as I clear the last of the liquid from my throat and stare wide-eyed at Armin.

"How did you know?" I whisper to him, leaning in close so the handful of other students who arrived early don't overhear.

"I didn't know for sure until you just confirmed it," he says, looking proud of himself. "But I made an informed guess. It looks like you slept in those clothes and you came in right after her. Not hard to put the pieces together knowing the two of you are...whatever you are."

I lean back in my seat and take another sip of coffee, knowing he's right. Anyone that pays close enough attention would easily notice there's something going on. Luckily for us there wouldn't be a reason for anyone to pay that kind of close attention.

"Alright you caught me," I say grudgingly, earning a satisfied smirk from him.

"You know, even though you may not have picked the most appropriate option, I am still happy you're putting yourself out there and spending time with someone in a non-platonic way," he says, his expression softening.

His words are unexpected. Sure I wasn't the most adventurous person when it came to romantic escapades, but I hadn't thought it was something my friends had noticed.

"Yeah we're..." I pause to think of what would be appropriate to say when describing me and Yelena's situation. Friends didn't feel right to say considering a bulk of our time spent together is spent doing things I wouldn't do with just any friend. But we definitely weren't in a relationship either. Her possessiveness seemed to rule out simply being friends with benefits as well.