#rubeake

the semester started a week ago, but it’s joel’s senior year and he knows better than to buy all of the textbooks for his classes before he goes. now that he has a grasp of the class and the curriculum, he doesn’t have to buy three out of the seven books that he actually needs. it saves money and it makes joel feel like he beat the system (he didn’t).

he trails in the campus bookstore, which is still busier than ever this early in the semester. there are some students checking out school attire (lots of freshmen who feel the need to aggressively rep the school–if they had any smart clothing, joel wouldn’t mind wearing something), so he trails towards the textbooks.

the bookstore music is playing some corny 80’s music, probably songs that most college students wouldn’t think to enjoy, but joel isn’t opposed to it. “your love” by the outfield is a classic song and he bops his head back and forth, hands tucked into his pockets as he trails down the aisle.

joel rounds the corner to another aisle, but stops short when he sees another student in front of him. it would be totally normal and not startle him the way it does, but this student is getting really into this song. so much so that he’s shaking his hips back and forth and bopping his head way more aggressively than joel was. he has a textbook in his hand and he’s flipping through the pages, but he doesn’t seem to be paying that much attention to it as opposed to the music.

joel brings his hand up to cover his mouth so he doesn’t embarrass this guy by laughing. and god, he doesn’t mean to laugh at him, he’s really not trying to, but… well, his dancing isn’t the best. the way he bops his head is way off rhythm from the song and joel really doesn’t know what he’s doing with his hips. he must be a freshman, joel thinks, thinking that no one is watching and indulging in this moment.

the thing is, joel needs to go down this aisle to get a book for one of his classes but he really doesn’t want to disturb this poor guy. there are some other books he needs to get, so he decides to move on to another row. but of course, with joel’s wonderful luck, he trips over a book that was carelessly left on the floor and causes a bit of a commotion.

the guy’s head shoots up when he sees joel and their eyes meet. joel couldn’t get a good look at him before while his head was down, buried in a book, but he can’t be a freshman, not with that well-grown beard he has. but his eyes are wide, as are joel’s, as they stand silently with nothing but the poppy tone of the outfield in the background.

joel gets himself together, pushing the book to the side as he brushes his shirt off. the guy straightens his posture and hurriedly snaps the book shut. ‘fun song,’ joel comments with a soft grin, putting his hands in his shorts again. ‘you seemed to be having fun with it, anyway.’

he clears his throat, hands tight on the textbook. 'uh, yeah,’ he replies, 'good.. good song.’

he’s not sure why he’s compelled to keep talking to this poor guy that’s clearly embarrassed for being caught, but he’s cute and such a bad dancer and joel wants to teach him how to dance (in more ways than one). his hair is short, but curly and he’s a little shorter than joel but it only makes joel want to hang all over him, put his arm around his shoulders, and break him out of this shy exterior he’s showing.

'you, uh, you like dancing?’ joel asks. he’s not sure when he turned into the world’s worst flirt; he used to be great at it, even james has complimented the flawless way joel can start a conversation with any stranger. but this guy is completely cramping his style and he doesn’t know why.

'not really,’ he replies, scratching the back of his head.

'oh.’ shit. 'well, i’m… sorry for bothering you.’ it seems like a good time for joel to go back to his room and never leave, ever again.

when he turns to go, he hears a quiet 'wait’, barely audible over the 80’s tunes. joel turns around, seeing the guy take a step forward. 'what’s your name?’

joel looks behind him just to make sure he wasn’t talking to someone else, but they’re still the only two in the aisle. he self-consciously straightens his shirt again. 'uh, i’m–i’m joel.’

'matt,’ he replies, and when joel sees the smallest crack of a smile, he’s sure that all of his cool points that he was sure he had went way down from the way he sends a goofy smile back.

'matt,’ joel repeats with a nod. 'that’s a good–i mean. it’s–cute?’ he tries, his reserve completely crumbling in front of a good looking guy. joel’s never like this, he’s never this shy. what the hell is happening?

but matt laughs and joel counts it as the biggest win of the day–of the week, even. 'thanks, i guess,’ he shrugs. 'joel’s a cute name, too.’

oh god, joel’s going to lose it. how is a guy with this incredible beard and flushed cheeks so goddamn good at flirting as joel continues to flounder and fail? 'th-thanks, thank you.’

matt just nods and bites his lower lip for a moment (giving joel his own inappropriate thoughts) before he waves his book around. 'um, i gotta get some other books for class, so…’ he trails off.

but joel catches the cover of matt’s book and points at it. 'hey, i need that book, too,’ he comments, walking closer to him and the section of books he’s in front of. 'are you also taking environmental science?’

he nods once more and his gentle smile returns. 'yeah. figured, y'know, senior year and all, would wanna take it kind of easy. plus i heard this class was actually interesting,’ matt explains.

'what’s–i mean when, when’s your class?’ joel stutters as he grabs another copy of their book.

'monday mornings, 10:15,’ matt sighs. 'kind of thankful that it’s not earlier, but it’s still kind of early, so–’

joel cuts him off because fate is just so good to him, but also puts him in situations that he is not prepared for; how would he know that matt would also be in this class? 'that’s the same time as my class,’ he tells matt, bouncing on his feet a bit.

matt lets out another chuckle as he ducks his head. 'ah, yeah, i know,’ he mentions. 'saw you come in on the first day. and, y'know, here in the bookstore i recognized you, so i figured why not… talk.’

joel is sure that if matt’s cheeks could get any redder, they would. joel also wants to be the one to do it. 'that’s–wow, that’s awesome,’ he grins. 'so we could be class buddies.’

jeez, way to jump the gun, joel, he thinks bitterly to himself. what if he doesn’t want to be friends? way to get ahead of yourself, idiot.

'that’d be nice,’ matt agrees easily. 'here, hold on.’ he tugs his phone out of his pocket to hand over to joel, who very eagerily takes it in his hand. 'put your number in. maybe we could, like, do homework or study together. for class.’ matt clears his throat, shoving his free hand back into his pocket nervously.

joel doesn’t hesitate and quickly plugs his number in, and if he puts his name as “joel cute class buddy” with a blushing emoji, then matt won’t notice until he goes to text him. which joel prays he does. 'here ya go,’ he smiles, returning matt’s phone.

'great. i’ll text you later, if, um, if that’s alright,’ matt requests.

'it’s more than alright,’ joel says with a laugh, ’please do. i’ll be waiting for it.’

god, matt’s face is so red and cute and joel wishes they could stand here and talk forever, but matt simply gives him a shy wave before turning around to purchase his textbook.

when joel’s sitting in his dorm bed doing some early class readings, his phone vibrates with a text.

What an appropriate name for you in my phone, Joel cute class buddy

the smile on his face hurts as he checks the text, making sure to quickly save matt’s number before replying.

J: I figured it would be. your name is quite similar, if you’re interested in knowing what it is

M: Please, be my guest

J: it’s saved as 'Matt cuter class buddy’

M: Original. I like it

J: yeah, I try. I’m well known for originality around these parts

M: I’m impressed. What’s something original that you do?

J: ask you out on a lunch date through text message

M: Hm. Not very original, but let’s pretend it is anyway.Not sure if that was an obvious enough answer, but I’d like to go on a lunch date with you

J: I was going to take it as a yes anyway, don’t you worry ;)tomorrow sound good?

M: Presumptuous, but correct. Tomorrow sounds great.