What Hands Are For- 2a/?
anonymous
September 9 2013, 22:01:30 UTC
They met when they were both twenty years old at a tennis match between various colleges between Oxford and Cambridge. It wasn't an official tournament, but one done for charity.
The last match of the day had David against Nick, and they were very evenly matched so it was certainly challenging and great entertainment. Finally, David managed to squeak by with a win, dancing and shouting in excitement and a little bit of disbelief.
David hadn't expected to see the boy he'd beaten at his favourite local pub later that evening.
"Hey, I know you!" David laughed merrily, walking up to the boy siting alone at the bar and staring angrily at his lager. "Sorry about all the commotion earlier. I swear it's been like three weeks since I've won anything- it was like a miracle!"
The boy looked over at David and scrunched his nose and forehead, "Yeah, I think that made me feel worse. I lost to the bloke who always loses."
"Hey now," David chuckled, too happy still to let the boy's sour mood bring him down, "I don't always lose. Just lately for some reason. I don't know... had a slump I suppose. I'm David, by the way."
The boy studied David for a second before finally deciding to take the hand David was offering and shake it, "Nick."
"What are you doing tonight, Nick?" David asked, looking around to see if anyone seemed to be looking for Nick.
"Drinking," Nick pointed at his glass. He sighed, "I have friends, you know. I'm not completely alone here. They wanted to go to a party, though."
David smiled, "You didn't?"
"Not up for it tonight," Nick shrugged, turning away like he thought that would be the end of the conversation.
David patted him on the back lightly, not wanting to invade his space and get on his bad side, "Come on, cheer up, grumpy! Why don't you come with me? A few mates and I are going to have a jam session. It'll just be us, so it'll be quiet apart from the music. Besides, we have beer!"
Nick looked startled, "You play? Like... an instrument?"
David snorted, "I'm not just a dumb jock, you know. I'm projected to get a first and I can both play the piano and have a lovely voice- thank you very much."
"I didn't mean to insult you," Nick joked. "I was just... I play guitar. Only thing I love doing more than tennis. Well and reading..."
The last match of the day had David against Nick, and they were very evenly matched so it was certainly challenging and great entertainment. Finally, David managed to squeak by with a win, dancing and shouting in excitement and a little bit of disbelief.
David hadn't expected to see the boy he'd beaten at his favourite local pub later that evening.
"Hey, I know you!" David laughed merrily, walking up to the boy siting alone at the bar and staring angrily at his lager. "Sorry about all the commotion earlier. I swear it's been like three weeks since I've won anything- it was like a miracle!"
The boy looked over at David and scrunched his nose and forehead, "Yeah, I think that made me feel worse. I lost to the bloke who always loses."
"Hey now," David chuckled, too happy still to let the boy's sour mood bring him down, "I don't always lose. Just lately for some reason. I don't know... had a slump I suppose. I'm David, by the way."
The boy studied David for a second before finally deciding to take the hand David was offering and shake it, "Nick."
"What are you doing tonight, Nick?" David asked, looking around to see if anyone seemed to be looking for Nick.
"Drinking," Nick pointed at his glass. He sighed, "I have friends, you know. I'm not completely alone here. They wanted to go to a party, though."
David smiled, "You didn't?"
"Not up for it tonight," Nick shrugged, turning away like he thought that would be the end of the conversation.
David patted him on the back lightly, not wanting to invade his space and get on his bad side, "Come on, cheer up, grumpy! Why don't you come with me? A few mates and I are going to have a jam session. It'll just be us, so it'll be quiet apart from the music. Besides, we have beer!"
Nick looked startled, "You play? Like... an instrument?"
David snorted, "I'm not just a dumb jock, you know. I'm projected to get a first and I can both play the piano and have a lovely voice- thank you very much."
"I didn't mean to insult you," Nick joked. "I was just... I play guitar. Only thing I love doing more than tennis. Well and reading..."
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