#rubbercommander

It’s late, but Suzy lets herself in. Holly’s place- and Suzy still has a tendency to think of it as Holly’s place despite their recent decision to move in together- smells like flowers and bird seed and remains perpetually cluttered but Suzy loves it here. It’s all so very Holly, right down to the bookshelf dedicated almost entirely to birds and the dragon statuette above the mantle, though signs of Suzy have started to creep in. Next to the dragon statuette is a skull, and there are in-progress theater props leaning against the far wall. It’s strange, seeing evidence of how their lives have slowly merged, but it’s a good kind of strange, and Suzy can’t help but smile when she notices.

Suzy finds Holly where she usually does, sitting at her desk in front of the window, one knee pulled up to her chin while she works. Though in this case Suzy isn’t sure it can be called working, since Holly appears to be doodling on a post-it note.

“Hi, Hols,” Suzy sing-songs. She ducks down to give Holly a quick kiss on the cheek, which Holly leans almost imperceptibly into. “I brought donuts for in the morning. So we don’t have to stop on the way in.”

“Mm,” Holly says. She sounds distracted. “Thanks, Suze. Just put ‘em on the counter.”

Suzy does so. She has to clear away a stack of magazines to set the box down. “You alright?” she asks, frowning at the back of Holly’s head. “What’s got you upset, babe?”

Here’s my GG Big Bang contribution.

There’s almost never anyone at the school on a Saturday. Holly intends to zip in, grab her field guide, and zip out before she heads to the chosen meeting point for the Tweethearts. The zipping in goes off without a hitch, but on her way out she notices the door to Ross’ office is ajar. It’s so unlike him to leave it unlocked that she actually pokes her head in, curious and quietly hoping he happens to be there.

Her wish comes true. She finds Ross asleep at his desk, head pillowed on his folded arms. There are papers scattered everywhere, most of them covered in red ink and post-it’s, and a pen is still clutched loosely in his fingers. He looks sweet in his sleep, long lashes fanned out over his cheeks. Holly lingers in the doorway for a moment. She reaches out, to tap him on the shoulder, then thinks better of it. Then she reaches out again because she can’t just leave him here, slumped uncomfortably in an office chair that’s already uncomfortable to begin with, as she knows from experience.

“Ross,” she says, softly, shaking him gently awake. He’s still wearing yesterday’s clothes but he’s shed his tie and rolled up the sleeves on his button-up, which is now insanely wrinkled. “Ross, wake up.”

He comes awake slowly at first, blinks his big blue eyes at her. He crinkles his nose in confusion. “Holly?” he asks, voice sleep rough. “What are you-?” But as he’s saying it he seems to realize where he is, and why, and he sits up so abruptly that a couple of papers and the pen he’d been holding go flying. “Oh, shit. What time is it?” He drags a hand through his hair but there’s no saving it. It’s a mess, sticking out in several directions at once.

Holly can’t help but giggle at him. She reaches out, plucks an errant post-it from his cheek. This one just says ‘why’ in all caps. It’s underlined three times. “Well, it’s Saturday, for starters,” she sweetly informs him. Then she clucks her tongue. “Ross, we’ve only been back a week. Don’t start overworking yourself just yet.”

Ross groans. It could just be the morning light but Holly is pretty sure he’s blushing. She likes making him blush, though she’d never admit it. “I didn’t mean to,” he pouts. “I just had all these papers to grade, and-“

“You could try assigning less papers,” she teases.

Ross frowns at her. A tiny crease appears between his eyebrows. She almost reaches out to smooth it away. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he scoffs.

“There’s my Ross.” She pats him on the shoulder and straightens up. He starts to scoop his things into his messenger bag while she lingers by his side, shifting from foot to foot as she debates whether or not to invite him over for dinner.

What decides it is the way he looks up at her, smiles as he asks, “Got a thing with the Tweethearts today?”

She clutches the field guide to her chest. She wants Ross to smile at her like that all the time. She wants him to smile at her like that over dinner, as he compliments her cooking. “Um, yeah. A nature hike. Hey, listen- Suzy and Barry are coming over tonight. To hang out, eat some food. I think we’re gonna watch Jurassic Park? I was wondering if-“

“Oh, that sounds fun,” Ross interrupts, distracted as he tidies up his desk. “I told Arin I’d go out with him and Dan tonight. I think Arin’s supposed to be showing him around the town or something?”

Holly’s heart sinks to her feet. She clutches the book tighter. “I- oh. That’s- That sounds fun, too. Dan’s pretty nice, huh?”

Ross definitely starts to blush now. “Yeah, I guess,” he mumbles, noncommittal. He doesn’t quite look at her, which is a tell in and of itself.

Holly hovers awkwardly for a moment before she can’t take it anymore and spins around on her heel. “I better get going,” she says. She can’t help the way her voice pitches up every so slightly. She’s aware that it makes her sound frantic and a little distressed, which only increases her distress. It’s a vicious cycle. “Have fun, okay? Don’t sleep at your desk! See you Monday!”

“Uh, bye,” Ross calls after her, confusion at her hasty retreat evident.