“mister bo burnham. imagine if you went by bob.”

“i’d rather be dead.”

“bob burnham.” she laughed. “might start calling you that.”

bo groaned, a hand going to cover his eyes. the two were at dinner, a friendly.. best friend dinner. he kept his eyes covered as he took a bit of his food. lemon chicken..? he wasn’t sure, actually. he had panicked and ordered the first thing he saw off the menu.

“please don’t, n/n. i’d rather be called ‘subaru boy’ for the rest of my life than.. than bob!” he chuckled, finally removing his hand away.

subaru boy came from the first time they met. or hung out, really. the two had met through a mutual friend, became a trio, and now a duo. they met at a bar and hit it off that night. and bo offered her a ride home.

[ two years earlier ]

“hey, i can give you a ride if you want.” bo spoke as he watched their friend walk out with someone else. he had caught on that they were her ride once a grimaced expression crossed her face. watching their friend leave out the door.

“uh, yeah. that would be great, thank you.” she smiled. the two quickly stood up, bo handing the bar tender a quick twenty.

they walked to his car in a quiet manner to be quite honest. the only words between the two were a quick ‘this way’ from bo.

he soon pressed the unlock button on his key, making the headlights flash.

a subaru forester, lovely.

“subaru!” she exclaimed.

bo furrowed his eyebrows, a confused smile crossing his face. “what? you gotta thing for subaru’s or somethin’?”

she rolled her eyes. “oh, yeah. big turn on.” she nodded her head. bo laughed and opened the car door for her.

he crossed to the drivers side, and hopped in. he could see her teeth chattering so he cranked up the heat.

“thank you, it’s fucking freezing.”

the drive was filled with excited talking. learning about the other, her telling him her address, laughter, him getting her number, and setting up a day to hang out again.

finally, he pulled up to her apartment. her smile faltered a bit, as did bo’s.

“well, this is me. uhm, again thank you so much.” she spoke as she opened the door.

he smiled and gave a short wave. “see you soon?”

“you got it, subaru boy.”

[ present ]

she laughed, her hand covering her mouth. “i’m only friends with you cause of that car.”

bo shook his head, “not for my good looks?” he joked taking a sip of his drink. a twenty five year old drinking lemonade. cute.

“oh yeah that too. it was your messy hair, big ass round glasses and subaru that made me fall for you.”

bo looked down, feeling a heat on his cheeks and ears. ‘fall for you’, he likes that.

“fall for me, huh?” bo asked, still looking down with a small smile.

y/n looked up and stopped smiling. her heart sank with embarrassment.

“what?”

“you said all that is what made you ‘fall for me’… that’s- that’s nice.”

“i didn’t mean it like that, though—.”

“you didn’t?” bo cut her off.

her eyes widened the slightest bit as her mouth fell ajar. she tried to think of words as an awkward laugh slipped past her lips.

she looked down at her plate, as he looked up at her. he knew— without a doubt— his cheeks were slightly more colored than usual.

she laughed a little. “do you want me to mean it that way?”

bo shrugged, “perhaps. i think you’re cool.” he said a little timidly.

she laughed and bo cursed himself mentally. nice job at along it weird bo. you deserve to be called bob, just so your miserable everyday.

“i think your cool too, bo.”

okay, reel it back. maybe you don’t.

“should i just come right out and ask it?” he asked clasping his hands on the table in front of him.

she leaned forward, “ask what?”

“do you wanna be my girlfriend?”

“okay.. yeah. yes, of course.” she smiled.

bo let out a breath, he leaned over the table and pressed a short kiss against her lips.

“back to mine?” she says as the two stood up. bo was quick to grab her and lean down to press a longer and a little more harsh of a kiss to her. his smile seeped through.

“a bit quick don’t ya think? let me take you on a real date before you have your way with me, ohh!” bo replied, with an over the top flirty tone.

“shut up, subaru boy.”

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13923776/1/Before-the-Act