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"shit, guys, you gotta help me," eugene says in a panic.

"what's up, buttercup?" shane asks, slouching in his lunchroom seat.

"keith's meeting got out way early—"

"surprising in this corporate world," shane throws in, earning him a look from ryan.

"—and he's switched to our lunch just for today."

"what do you want us to do?" ryan asks.

"i d'know, just make sure i don't make a fool of myself? maybe throw in a good word here and there?" eugene replies.

"well, we can't guarantee you won't look stupid," shane cuts in.

"good one," eugene says listlessly. he unconsciously plays with his fingers out of anxiety, keeping his eyes on the door for any sign of keith. his heart is pounding, and he mentally curses himself. it's just one of his best friends—who he's had a growing crush on for almost a month now. ugh, he can't even believe how cliché that sou—

his thoughts are broken by the best friend himself walking through the doors, sending a little shock down his spine. the tingling spiking through his body only increases when keith spots him at the table and waves eagerly, flashing him an award-winning (and heart-melting) smile.

"ooh, he grinned at you," shane says, poking eugene's arm.

"c'mon, dude, smiles happen all the time," eugene shoots back, even as a stupid beaming one spread across his face as he saw keith finish getting his food and head over to the table.

"hi, eugene!" greeted keith. "hi, grossest couple at buzzfeed!"

"how could you say such a thing?" ryan says, putting on an offended air.

"facts, my friend."

eugene moves his stuff off the remaining empty seat. "you can sit here," he says, his cheeks flushing slightly. christ, get it together, he tells himself.

"well, i hope so, 'cause otherwise i'd have to sit in your lap," keith grins, making eugene's cheeks practically glow with embarrassment.

"yeah—"

"i'm only kidding," the taller man says. "scootch over a bit." when he sits down, his long legs don't fit all the way under the table, and they're situated in such a way that his thigh is brushing eugene's. eugene begins to feel a slight discomfort in his pants, but throws up a mental block and begins to talk as if making up for those thoughts.

the lunch goes surprisingly without accident—although eugene does spill a tiny bit of kombucha on his shirt—until the end.

"well, i'm gonna take my stuff up," keith says. "wanna come with, yang?"

heart overflowing at the sound of his name, eugene can only nod. he gets up to follow keith, and it all goes well until he takes a few steps and is suddenly tripped by shane's goddamn foot.

he feels himself falling forward as if in slow motion. keith turns around at the apparent cry that has been loosed from his lips, and eugene bowls him over, knocking them both to the ground. they land with hands touching and faces inches apart, eugene on top of keith. he freezes, unable to process, until keith says with a smirk,

"gee, 'gene, if you were falling for me you coulda done it more gracefully."

"uh, sorry, i tripped—i mean, i was tripped, and then—"

"it's cool," keith says, eyes crinkling in laughter as they shift to get up. ryan rushes to their aid, while shane sits smugly in his seat. "i'm glad we could have this emotional bonding experience."

eugene definitely doesn't notice when the other man's fingers brush against his collarbone as he accepts ryan's hand up.

as they begin to head out the door, eugene pauses. "hang on a minute, i wanna talk to shane for a sec." keith nods his understanding and pulls out his phone to wait.

he stomps back to the table, furious. "have i got some words for you, buddy," he says, fighting the urge to poke shane in the chest.

"and what would those be?" the taller man blinks innocently.

"what the hell was that?"

"i just figured i'd help you two along. that's what you wanted, wasn't it?"

"not like that!" eugene cries, before lowering his voice as he realizes his volume is much higher than it should be. "i can't believe you."

"you'll thank me later," shane smirks. "now go on, he's waiting." eugene turns his head to see that keith is indeed watching their exchange with a raised eyebrow.

"okay, but i'm still mad at you," he says, before walking away.

he can't help but wonder if this has ruined everything.

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