#junleb

Chapter 1

Caleb jumps awake, the middle of his legs feels awfully wet and uncomfortable. He has yet to look down at the mess he made but he already feels the flush warming his cheeks. He swings his leg over the bed and he groans. Nice going hornball, what are you, fifteen? Caleb mentally berates himself as he awkwardly shuffles to the bathroom, trying not to make more mess as he moves. 

He takes off his lower garments, and yes, he can confirm that he indeed finished in his underwear over another dream of you—only for the nth time of his entire miserable life. A dream of you that he would rather not recall. Instead, he opts to wash his underwear with the running water from the dorm bathroom sink. Well, yeah, okay maybe he isn't as morally upright as he thinks he is, so… maybe he can rub one out right now before his alarm for class rings.

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Caleb stiffens in his seat when you abruptly heave your backpack onto the seat next to his. You haphazardly sprawl yourself on the seat next, and Caleb laughs to himself. He can picture you well enough without even having to look.

"I woke up literally just 15 minutes ago." You announce to Caleb as you try to catch your breath, slumped in your seat.

"I can tell." Caleb laughs, throwing you a once-over. You're in yesterday's sweatpants, a different shirt, with last night's hairdo. "Don't worry, he hasn't taken attendance yet."

"Honestly," You take out your laptop from your bag, "I held on hope that I'd make it to class because he likes talking about his fitness journey for like, the first 10 minutes of it. With the way you're going, I’m pretty sure you can take Mr. Brown’s place any day now."

Caleb shakes his head at you, going back to taking notes. Underneath the table, you stretch your legs as Mr. Brown drones on and on about how his new diet changed his fitness life—blah, blah. You deliberately knock your feet unto Caleb's because just what is he taking notes for?

Caleb jolts, feeling as if electrified and the current had made its way into his head just from that one action alone.

"Jesus," You say laughing. Teasing. "You okay there pal?"

"Yeah," Caleb sounds out of breath, almost choked out and he inwardly cringes. "Yeah." He tries again, "Just... forgot I had legs for a sec."

"You've been off lately," You give him a weird look, a shit eating grin dancing on your lips, "Did you drink coffee first thing in the morning again?"

"Yeah," Lie. "I woke up early because... of a weird dream." Worse.

"You really need to cut your caffeine intake." You open up a document on your laptop, hearing Mr. Brown wrap up his tangent, "But, you sure you're all good, right?"

Caleb shrugs, "I'll be fine, pips." He continues to scribble nonsense in the margins of his notebook, "Nothing more coffee won't fix. Just... need this class to be over with so I can go die peacefully in my room."

You laugh, absent-mindedly slinging your leg on Caleb's. Caleb huffs, and impatiently taps his pen against lips, trying so, so hard not to glance your way as he feels all his dreams come back to him in full swing that he swears he can feel the ghost of your lips trace his jaw and down his neck, your hand tra—You shift in your seat, and he stills. 

Nope. Caleb, what the actual fuck. She's literally right there, buddy. Before Caleb could finish mentally castrating himself, he feels your head, plush against his shoulders as your arm snakes around his.

“What’re we getting for lunch?” You ask, eyes trained on Mr. Brown as he finishes setting up his powerpoint presentation.

“Uh, um. Can’t, actually. I’ve got a… thing.” Caleb feels his skin crawl at the obvious lie. “Group project.” He clears his throat.

You hum, letting it go which he is thankful for. Caleb truly believes he does not have the mental fortitude to juggle in between processing your warmth against him and lying efficiently. The lecture starts, and Caleb pretends to listen as he tries to take down the things he could barely make out in Mr. Brown’s powerpoint. 

An hour passes and eventually, Caleb has gotten hold of a rhythm that actually let him process the lecture while you remained glued to his arm the entire time. During one of the breaks, he finally looks your way—You look checked-out, cheek resting on his shoulder as you mindlessly scroll through your phone.

“You look like you didn't even try today.” Caleb whispers, a smirk forming on his lips in an effort to seem casual. Just… functional.

“I didn’t,” You whisper back, eyes glued to the phone screen. “I’m coasting on charm and vibes. Y’know, as per yush.”

Caleb tries to keep a fond smile from taking up his entire face. He tries even harder to not focus on how your temple is pressed against his arm, threatening to shoot up electric current once again. 

Simone groans from behind you, “Fuck my life. Would you guys date already?”

Caleb realizes he’s been staring, “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Simone.” Nice save.

“Yeah, my lover won’t be joining us for lunch. It’s only fair that we get to do this.” You add in a mock-british accent. Lover, Caleb is going to scream. 

Tara laughs and Simone shakes her head, going back to her notes as Mr. Brown’s voice booms in the lecture hall once again.

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After class, you nudge him. Caleb looks up at you. You were already standing, ready to go with your bag slinging on your shoulder, messy hair now contained in a hat you borrowed from Caleb (well, stole is more fitting.)

“You are okay, right?” You ask Caleb, eyeing him for a second.

“Yeah, I am. Thanks, just really tired.” Caleb sighs, “Just want the group project to be done with. Y’know how it goes.” He’s really milking it now.

“Yeah, yeah. I get it.” You shrug, “But, I’ll see you tonight?”

“Tonight?”

“Y’know, that thing with Gideon and the others… the movie night?”

“Oh, yeah… I totally forgot.” Caleb scratches his neck. How is he supposed to peacefully wallow in misery now?

“So…” Your voice sounds real tiny now, like you’re suddenly so unsure. Like, how could you not be? He’s been so wishy-washy the entire time. “I will see you there, right?”

“‘f course.” Caleb smiles, before he proceeds to tug at your sleeves. “Why do you look like that?”

“Dunno. You’ve been weird.” You fidget and Caleb stands, almost automatically, to offer you a hug.

“It really is nothing, Pips. Just give me a few hours of nap and I’ll be good to go.” Caleb offers you a small smile, “Now go, before Simone rips me a new one for keeping you.”

Tara waves from the hallway and Simone offers Caleb a look of disdain. He swears Simone probably knows more than she lets on.

“Okay,” You laugh, “I’ll see you tonight grandpa.”

Caleb watches as his hat bobbed awkwardly on your head as you make your way to your friends. You don’t look back.

Caleb lingers in his seat after you leave, a pit forming in his stomach. He runs his hand over his face, resisting the urge to rip out his hair then and there. You’re just tired, Caleb tries to convince himself. That’s all. Tired. At that moment, his phone buzzes.

[squeaky toy 🐀]: u promised. movie night. its going to b weird if u dont go :-c 

Caleb doesn’t reply right away, instead he packs his bags and turns to leave the lecture hall. Of course he’d go. He’ll show up. Just like he always does. He just needs to sleep. To shower. And to stop being so fucking obvious.

[me]: Pick u up at 6? :3

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