Know Me (College AU)

9. Joe

Zach was sitting in the computer lab, writers block making him purse his lips at the screen. A few days ago he had a solid idea of where this story was going, but now he was lost. His tiny black notebook beside him provided him zero help as he puzzled over the next word, the next sentence, the next paragraph.

He was lucky enough that his teacher knew he was gifted and allowed him lots of alone time to complete his story. Too many times in his life had he been seen as lesser and forced to repeat things he already knew how to do, instead of using his real talent.

Zach tipped his head back, rubbing his eyes because they were strained from the computer screen. A voice at his side made him jump when it spoke.

"Having trouble with ideas?" The guy asked. Zach glanced over, eyes wide. The guy was quite handsome, with dimpled cheeks and droopy hair, and teardrop shaped eyes that fit perfectly with the rest of his face.

"Yeah." Zach placed his hands behind his head, sighing. "Writer's block, I think."

"Me too." Zach glanced over at his computer, seeing that he wasn't working on a story, but what looked to be a coding project that took up the space on two desktops. "Can't seem to figure this out."

"You're a tech student?"

"Yup."

"Cool." Zach moved his hands from his head, putting them back on his keyboard. He reached one out, offering it to the guy. "I'm Zach."

"Joe." Joe reached out his hand, and they shook them together. "Writing major?"

Zach nodded. "Clearly not writing well currently." He smiled. Suddenly, his phone lit up with a text message. He immediately jumped to it, picking it up, hoping it was Fandy.

Fandy: change of plans 4 tonite.

Zach: oh?

Those four words scared him. What did Fandy want to do? And what prompted him to text Zach and adjust plans they had made only an hour ago?

Fandy: yeah. play tryouts are tonight. was wondering if you wanted to come and watch and then come home with me

Zach raised one eyebrow. Play tryouts meant he would get to watch Fandy act, and coming home with him meant another night in the same bed.

Joe leaned over, glancing at his phone. "Girlfriend?" He asked, and Zach looked over, laughing.

"Not exactly." Zach said, then found the confidence to correct him. "Soon to be boyfriend."

"Damn!" Joe exclaimed, his eyes opening in surprise. But, to Zach's excitement, it wasn't disgusted surprised. "I would never thought you were gay. You look like the kind of guy to get all the ladies."

"Thank you." Zach said, relived Joe didn't wrinkle his nose and move away from him. He was used to straight men immediately shying away from him when he told them he was also into men. He was glad this wasn't the case with Joe.

"Yeah, no problem." Joe turned back to his work, but continued talking. "My girlfriend has a weird thing with gay guys. Makes me watch all her dramas with her and stuff." He shook his head disapprovingly, but the bright look in his eyes said the things he didn't. "If I didn't love her so much I would be annoyed."

Zach burst into a grin.

"We should go on a double date sometime." Zach decided to suggest. He wondered what Fandy would think about a date with this guy and his girlfriend. He would definitely like it, Zach decided.

He could imagine something cheesy and classic, like dinner and a movie, where he could hold Fandy's hand and flirt aimlessly with him the whole time, while Joe and his girlfriend did the same. Then, he thought of bidding the other's goodbye, then leaving to either of their dorms for a long night of... not sleeping.

"That would be so fun." Joe nodded, then took his phone out of his pocket, still eyeing the screen. "Here, put your number in so we can plan that sometime."

"Of course." Zach did as he was asked, then turned back to his screen, texting Fandy a reply.

Zach: I'm definitely okay with that. where are the tryouts?

Fandy: concert hall.

Zach: cool. see you there around?

Fandy: 7?

Zach: you got it.

His phone buzzed a moment later. Beside Fandy's name was only a winky face, made with a bracket and semi colon. His heart skipped a beat.

Zach heard Joe groan beside him, and he looked over. "Another class where I didn't get my work done." He logged out of the computer, then picked his bag up from the chair. "I'll text you sometime."

"Yeah, definitely." Zach watched as he left, then turned back to his computer.

"I've got an idea." Zach muttered to himself, beginning to type. "How didn't I think of adding a straight couple before?"

•••

Fandy waited outside the concert hall, deathly nervous for his tryout. His professor said he was guaranteed the part unless he did really bad, but what if he did really bad? What if he completely bombed this and the professor thought another guy was better fit for the role?

His leg was bouncing up and down when the door down the hallway opened, in stepping Zach. He was holding something in his hand, something that looked like a rose, deep red and fairly fresh.

"Hey." He grinned when he saw Fandy, but the giddy-ness of his expression disappeared when he saw the frown on Fandy's face. "What's up?"

Zach sat next to him, forcing Fandy to glance at him for a second. "Nothing." He mumbled, then looked at Zach for longer. He didn't deserve an attitude. "I'm just nervous."

A warm hand snaked across his back, pulling him in to a muscular side. "Hey, don't worry you'll do great."

They were now much closer, and when Fandy faced Zach they were only inches apart. "You think so?"

"I know so." He leaned in, kissing Fandy's cheek.

"Is that rose for me?" Fandy asked, motioning to the flower in Zach's hand. He was twisting and turning the stem between his forefinger and thumb.

"For you when you ace this tryout, like I know you will." He ruffled Fandy's hair affectionately.

A man popped out of the door beside the couple. "Fandy, you're up in five."

He looked at Zach. "I gotta go."

"You got this." Zach said, unhooking his arm. "You'll do awesome."

Fandy ducked his head out from the door.

"Thanks!"