You All Over Me [BxB]

Six

A/N: I guess I should've clarified... Past tense = Flashback 

******

"Jacob..." Theodore hummed without thinking.

"Is he the guy—?" 

Panicked, Theodore instantly interrupted, "W-What are you still doing here?"

Austin hearing the derogatory comments was enough. Jacob was better off not knowing about any of it.

Jacob got up from the bench. "Nothing. I was just checking out the campus. What about you?"

"Oh. We were also... looking around."

Jacob looked at Austin. Another face he couldn't recognize. Theodore was making friends left and right. How apt. "Who's this?"

"Right," Theodore uttered, facing Austin. "Uh, Austin, this is Jacob. He's... a family friend. Jacob, this is Austin. He's my blockmate."

Austin extended a friendly greeting. "Hello! Nice to meet you."

Jacob acknowledged the introduction with a curt nod and inquired, "Which block are you in?"

Tone upbeat, Austin responded, "We're in D. You?"

Jacob perfectly concealed his amusement with another crisp nod. "Same here."

Theodore was unsure about what to say, managing only an unenthusiastic, "Oh."

"Cool!" Austin said, adjusting his backpack straps. "Well, I'll be heading out now. I have to take transit, and it's almost rush hour! See you at dinner, Theodore. Bye, Jacob."

He merrily waved his hand before crossing the road.

"Is his last name Diaz?"

Surprised, Theodore asked, "How did you know?"

Jacob folded his arms against his chest. "So it's really you two."

"Huh?"

"Are you joining Omicron Delta Phi?"

Theodore jerked his head back. "What... you're not supposed to... Hold on. Are you also a pledge? You weren't there. And they—"

He stopped, clamming his mouth shut. Now it made sense. They tried to recruit Jacob, and he said no. And based on how pissed they were, it wasn't a simple: No, thank you.

Jacob sneered, "Hell, no. I'm not a pledge."

Yes, the rejection did not end up pretty.

"Gotcha. You're certainly not a frat guy."

Jacob eyed him.

"So are you."

He wasn't the kind to poke his nose into someone else's decisions, but considering Thedodore's momentary kindness to him, he felt compelled to warn him.

"You shouldn't. It's a waste of time," he added, voice sharp. "They're just a bunch of assholes. Especially Steve and his sidekick."

Theodore lowered his head, Steve's words replaying in his ears. He didn't like Steve. Didn't like any of them. But he had his reasons.

"It's not like I'll be an active member."

Jacob clenched his teeth in frustration. "Then what's the point? You'll be their lackey in your freshman year. And you're going to get beaten up really bad, Theo. Is it worth it?"

Right. The million dollar question.

"Theo," Jacob reiterated firmly.

A warm flush spread across his cheeks as Jacob uttered his name the second time, a feeling he couldn't quite place.