(no subject)
So, I'm working my way through my lightning round fics from help_haiti and I figured I'd post up the first three! There's still a lot of awesome being offered over in the comm, so if you haven't checked it out yet, you definitely should!
First off, J2 college AU for the lovely enablelove!
College is not nearly as scary as Jared thought it would be.
Everyone talks about it like it's this big, huge change, and it is, but his roommate, Milo, is a pretty chill guy, the rest of the people on his floor are nice, and his classes take up less time than his high school ones did. It's surprisingly relaxing.
Then he gets his first paper in, and the panic begins.
"I don't know what to dooooooo," he moans, flopping down on Misha's bed. Misha, his RA, is very understanding. And possibly always high, but Milo claims it's a natural high. Milo might be fucking with him.
"About what?" asks Misha.
"I mean, this is college! I can't just write bullshit like I did all through high school."
"Why not?" Misha asks mildly. "I do."
"Coll. Edge," says Jared firmly. "It's a big deal!"
"I thought you were all zen and the art of being an awesome college student."
"Yeah, but--" Jared sighs. "It's my first college paper. I know it's probably gonna turn out fine, but it's not over yet."
"Someday you'll look back on this and laugh," Misha agrees, nodding like Jared has said something very wise. "Okay, Padalecki. Here's what you can do. Check out the writing center. My friends Jensen and Danneel work there, and they're surprisingly literate."
"That's not exactly a ringing endorsement," says Jared.
"I've never gone there before," says Misha. "So I can't really say much about it. But they seem to enjoy it." He fixes Jared with a look. "Besides, it can't make you feel worse, can it?"
"They might tell me it's awful and I should just drop out now."
"I don't think they ever say that."
"Well, maybe they should," says Jared darkly.
"I don't understand," says Misha. "Do you or do you not want to be told you're a failure?"
"I just want to forget this paper ever happened," says Jared.
"Ah. In that case, I have marijuana."
"Right," says Jared after a minute. "I'm going to the writing center."
"Wise choice," says Misha.
*
The writing center is just a few blocks away, and there's no line when Jared gets there. A pretty red-haired girl smiles at him when he comes in, and he gives her a broad grin back. "Hi, I'm Jared, I wanted some help with a paper? My RA recommended you."
"That's what we're here for," says the girl. She sizes him up. "Jensen's been bitching about how bored he is, so you can go see him. Just right through there."
Jared knocks on the door indicated, hoping that Jensen isn't as high or as crazy as being a friend of Misha's would suggest.
"Come in," he calls, and when Jared opens the door he nearly falls over. He has no idea if Jensen is high or wasted or crazy--all he knows is that Jensen is hot, in a ridiculous, TV kind of way. He looks like he should be on one of those teen shows where everyone is unrealistically beautiful and having affairs with teachers. He looks like a fantasy come to life. "Hi," says Jensen, before Jared has had a chance to finish gaping. He smiles as Jared continues to fail to come in. "Have a seat, I don't bite. Did Danneel tell you I was being grouchy? Because I'm not."
"No," he manages, and goes in to sit across from Jensen. "She said you were bored."
"True story," says Jensen, sighing. "So, what's the damage?"
"It's my first paper for college and I'm kind of nervous."
Jensen raises his eyebrows. "You're a little tall for a freshman. Got a copy of the paper?"
Jared pulls it out. "It's just the introduction. It's not due for a few more days, I'm just--I'm thinking everything I know about writing papers is wrong. Or something."
Jensen grins. "You're not entirely wrong. The high school papers? With the thesis statement right at the end and the three supporting paragraphs? A lot of the time, that's not really the best format for a lot of the stuff you'll be writing in college. So let's just forget about the intro and you can tell me what it is you're supposed to be writing about, and what you're thinking of doing."
Jared swallows and manages to smile back at Jensen. "Okay. I can do that."
Half an hour later, he and Jensen have a pretty solid paper outlined, and Jared feels relaxed and zen and half in love already.
"You're really good at this," he says, giving Jensen a wide grin.
"Thanks," says Jensen, ducking his head adorably. "I've been doing it for three years, hopefully something sank in."
"Well, I really appreciate it."
"No problem. Come back any time."
"I just might do that."
Jensen smiles, almost shyly. "I hope so."
Jared thinks clicking his heels together in joy would be a little much, so he settles for saying, "See you, Jensen."
"See you."
*********************
Sam and Dean and muppets for pinkfinity!
Dean has inexplicable and confusing aversions to all sorts of seemingly normal things, so Sam never really dwelt on his hatred of the Macy's Day parade. Dean just happens to hate things. It's the way of the world.
But Jess used to love the parade, and after the whole apocalypse thing, and the Lucifer thing, and, really, the last one to four years of his life, if he's honest, Sam needs something that will make him feel better.
"You don't have to watch," he tells Dean.
Dean glares. "You don't think it's weird?"
"Think what's weird?"
"Giant balloons! They're creepy!"
"How are they creepy?"
"Dead, lifeless eyes, weird, puffy bodies--do I have to go on?"
Dean is looking at the Kermit the Frog balloon with a kind of wary hatred Sam thought was reserved for Ruby.
"Oh my God, Dean, are you afraid of muppets?"
"No," Dean snaps, way too quickly.
Sam starts laughing like he hasn't laughed in years, nearly crying with it. Because, holy shit, Dean is afraid of Kermit.
"Shut up!" says Dean. "Dude, you're fucking afraid of clowns."
"They're puppets, Dean. Puppets."
"They're creepy," says Dean. "They're, like--shut up!"
"Do you want to go salt and burn the Count?" Sam asks. "Will that help?"
"Dude, I will beat your ass."
"I'd like to see you try."
They scuffled good-naturedly, which is pretty much a Thanksgiving tradition, and Sam lets Dean win, because he's a nice brother.
Plus, he's got big plans.
*
The next morning, when Dean wakes up, the TV is already on, and Sesame Street is playing.
Sam might have also figured out how to use the parental controls to keep Dean from changing the channel. Sam always thought Big Bird was pretty much harmless, but the hole Dean leaves in the TV where the muppet's head was tells a different tale.
"We're gonna have to pay for that."
"You're gonna have to pay for that."
"We share money," Sam points out.
Dean glares at him. "You're a fucking jerk, Sammy."
"I thought I was a bitch," says Sam innocently.
Dean gives him the finger.
*
"Cookie does start with c," Castiel agrees. "Doesn't Dean know that?"
"Yeah," says Sam. "I mean, he does, but I think he'd like it if we told him that."
"In song."
"Yeah!"
"And if we do this, we'll have cookies? As the song says?"
"Yes," says Sam. "If you sing a duet with me, I will get you a cookie."
Castiel considers. "With macadamia nuts?"
"As many as you want."
Castiel nods. "Then I accept."
"Great. You're just gonna need to wear this hat?"
"Why?" asks Castiel, cocking his head at it.
"So you can get a cookie."
Miraculously, that seems to work.
*
Dean looks wary. Sam gives him the most innocent smile he can muster. "What?"
"You hate Christmas."
"You like it," says Sam, shrugging. "And I figured--least I can do, right?"
Dean grins, rips the paper off expectantly, and stares down in mute horror at the Tickle-Me-Elmo in his lap.
"Dude," he finally manages. "I hate you so much, Sammy."
"Merry Christmas, Dean," says Sam, with a shit-eating grin.
"I'm hiring a fucking army of clowns for your next birthday," he mutters.
"Promises, promises," says Sam. But he feels a little bad, so he tosses Dean his other present, a new pair of boots, which makes Dean almost forgive him.
At least, until he hides the Tickle-Me-Elmo under the pillow that night.
**********************
Aldis/Danneel first date for bekkis!
"Stop pacing," says Chris. "It's pathetic."
"I'm not pacing," says Aldis. "I'm thinking on my feet."
Jensen groans. "Look, I'm just going to tell you this because you're pathetic and depressing me. Danneel likes you."
"I know that," says Aldis. "I know that because she agreed to go on a date with me."
"Probably thought you weren't a total crazy," says Chris. "I should film this and send it to her, prove her wrong."
"I'm not crazy. She probably likes that I'm into her."
"You changed your shirt more times than Jensen ever has, and Jensen's gay."
"That doesn't mean I change my shirt a lot," Jensen points out. "It just means I like guys."
"I'm leaving," says Aldis. "I don't need this."
"I thought it was too early," says Chris.
"I'm gonna go somewhere and pace in peace."
"Think on your feet," Jensen corrects.
Aldis hates his roommates.
*
Danneel Harris is pretty much the most amazing girl he's ever met. She only drinks cosmopolitans, knows more swear words than he does, beat him at arm wrestling the first time he met her, and wears heels that he thinks he'd break his neck walking in.
Also, she's brutally hot, but she has a lot more going on than that.
And, for some reason, she agreed to go out with Aldis.
Which is awesome.
*
Danneel's roommate is a very pretty girl named Beth, who gives him a sunny smile.
"Aldis, right?"
"Hey, yeah. I'm here for Danneel."
"Yeah, she's just getting ready. Have a seat." He does, and Beth gives him a smile that's all teeth. "So, what makes you think you're good enough for my roommate?"
"Uh," says Aldis. "I don't know?"
"Not a good answer," says Beth.
"Beth, please don't scare my date away before I get a chance to," says Danneel. She's wearing a short skirt and a white blouse and she looks really amazing. "Hey, Aldis."
"Hey," he says, standing up and wiping his hands on his jeans even though they're not even sweaty yet. "You look good."
Danneel smiles. "Thanks. You too."
"Have her home by eleven," says Beth sternly.
Danneel winks. "I'm barely going to have started with him by eleven."
*
"So, before I tell you what we're doing," says Aldis, as they're walking downtown, "dinner and a movie--cliche or classic?"
She laughs. "Wow, Hodge. You're smooth."
"Like butter," says Aldis. "So, what do you think?"
"Depends on the movie."
"See, I like to talk about that over dinner. It's no fun if the guy picks a crappy movie no one wants to see, right?"
"So if I wanted to see, say, A Walk to Remember, you'd be open to that?"
"I think Mandy Moore is an amazing thespian," says Aldis solemnly. "But I think we'd have trouble finding anywhere playing it."
Danneel laughs, flashing a smile she has to know makes her look gorgeous. Not that she isn't always, but she's flirty and showing herself off to her best, and Aldis has another moment of thinking he's the luckiest guy in the history of the world.
"I've been wanting to see Sherlock Holmes," she says. "How about that?"
"Great," says Aldis. "Except now we got nothing to talk about at dinner."
She laughs again, just as pretty, but less self-conscious about it. "I'm sure we'll think of something."
*
He takes her to the Italian place Jared works at, since Jared has been making noise about how Danneel cannot be that hot. They talk about classes (she hates her Irish lit course and Aldis kicks ass at English, and they make a tentative second date for him to help her out), and about Danneel's roommate's boyfriend drama, and about how Chris and Jensen are totally douchebags. Jared gives him a discreet thumbs-up after he sees Danneel, and Aldis can't stop grinning.
"You know," he says, about halfway through their entrees, without really meaning to, "I thought you were gonna shoot me down?"
"Yeah?" she asks, eyes sparkling. "Why'd you think that?"
"Because there is no way in hell I'm this lucky."
She laughs. "You're a real sweet-talker, Hodge."
"Yeah," he agrees. "But I mean it."
"Well," she says, looking down at her plate and biting her lip, "I thought I was pretty lucky too, you know."
Aldis beams. "I am awesome."
"You are awesome."
*
The problem Aldis has with movie dates is that he's still not great at the whole PDA in a theater thing. Not that he expects Danneel to get down on her knees and suck him off on the first date or anything, but even just hand-holding and arms around shoulders, he's not sure about.
He gets popcorn and they eat it together, and his fingers brush hers in the bowl and he flushes and feels himself grin as she squeezes his pinky with hers.
He feels bright and happy, apprehensively excited like he hasn't been since high school, when everything was shiny and new.
Once the popcorn's done, he keeps her hand in his, even though their hands are slick with fake butter. They speak rarely (because Aldis isn't that dick who talks in the theater), but every time Danneel pipes up, Aldis ends up snickering.
It's fun and easy, with the thrill of something new and potentially awesome dwelling under his skin, making everything seem brighter.
"So, that was fun," she says, a smile playing around her lips as they go out of the theater into the cool evening air. He hasn't dropped her hand.
"Yeah, Jude Law's a badass," says Aldis.
"I meant the date," she says. "But Jude Law's also pretty cool."
"Oh, yeah," says Aldis. "The date was pretty awesome."
Her dorm isn't far from the theater, and they amble back slowly, not talking too much. Aldis kind of likes the quiet at the end of the date, when he can get it. He went out with this girl once who chattered at the end of every date, way too much, and he couldn't help feeling like she was trying to convince herself she was relaxed and into him. And given that they were over after three dates, he thinks he was probably right.
"So yeah," he says when they get to her door. "Fun."
"Fun," Danneel agrees.
He leans in and gives her a kiss, short and sweet, the kind of kiss that's supposed to go at the end of a perfect first date.
"So, I'll call you?" he asks.
"Mm," she says. "Yeah." And then she pulls him back down and kisses him again, a little longer and dirtier, and he thinks that's a pretty good way to end a first date too. "You better call."
"Oh, I'm gonna call. It's gonna be really soon, too. You're gonna be embarrassed for me. I'm gonna suck at playing it cool."
She laughs. "I won't mind."
"Yeah?" he grins. "Good. Night, Danneel."
"Night, Aldis."
He keeps grinning all the way home.
First off, J2 college AU for the lovely enablelove!
College is not nearly as scary as Jared thought it would be.
Everyone talks about it like it's this big, huge change, and it is, but his roommate, Milo, is a pretty chill guy, the rest of the people on his floor are nice, and his classes take up less time than his high school ones did. It's surprisingly relaxing.
Then he gets his first paper in, and the panic begins.
"I don't know what to dooooooo," he moans, flopping down on Misha's bed. Misha, his RA, is very understanding. And possibly always high, but Milo claims it's a natural high. Milo might be fucking with him.
"About what?" asks Misha.
"I mean, this is college! I can't just write bullshit like I did all through high school."
"Why not?" Misha asks mildly. "I do."
"Coll. Edge," says Jared firmly. "It's a big deal!"
"I thought you were all zen and the art of being an awesome college student."
"Yeah, but--" Jared sighs. "It's my first college paper. I know it's probably gonna turn out fine, but it's not over yet."
"Someday you'll look back on this and laugh," Misha agrees, nodding like Jared has said something very wise. "Okay, Padalecki. Here's what you can do. Check out the writing center. My friends Jensen and Danneel work there, and they're surprisingly literate."
"That's not exactly a ringing endorsement," says Jared.
"I've never gone there before," says Misha. "So I can't really say much about it. But they seem to enjoy it." He fixes Jared with a look. "Besides, it can't make you feel worse, can it?"
"They might tell me it's awful and I should just drop out now."
"I don't think they ever say that."
"Well, maybe they should," says Jared darkly.
"I don't understand," says Misha. "Do you or do you not want to be told you're a failure?"
"I just want to forget this paper ever happened," says Jared.
"Ah. In that case, I have marijuana."
"Right," says Jared after a minute. "I'm going to the writing center."
"Wise choice," says Misha.
*
The writing center is just a few blocks away, and there's no line when Jared gets there. A pretty red-haired girl smiles at him when he comes in, and he gives her a broad grin back. "Hi, I'm Jared, I wanted some help with a paper? My RA recommended you."
"That's what we're here for," says the girl. She sizes him up. "Jensen's been bitching about how bored he is, so you can go see him. Just right through there."
Jared knocks on the door indicated, hoping that Jensen isn't as high or as crazy as being a friend of Misha's would suggest.
"Come in," he calls, and when Jared opens the door he nearly falls over. He has no idea if Jensen is high or wasted or crazy--all he knows is that Jensen is hot, in a ridiculous, TV kind of way. He looks like he should be on one of those teen shows where everyone is unrealistically beautiful and having affairs with teachers. He looks like a fantasy come to life. "Hi," says Jensen, before Jared has had a chance to finish gaping. He smiles as Jared continues to fail to come in. "Have a seat, I don't bite. Did Danneel tell you I was being grouchy? Because I'm not."
"No," he manages, and goes in to sit across from Jensen. "She said you were bored."
"True story," says Jensen, sighing. "So, what's the damage?"
"It's my first paper for college and I'm kind of nervous."
Jensen raises his eyebrows. "You're a little tall for a freshman. Got a copy of the paper?"
Jared pulls it out. "It's just the introduction. It's not due for a few more days, I'm just--I'm thinking everything I know about writing papers is wrong. Or something."
Jensen grins. "You're not entirely wrong. The high school papers? With the thesis statement right at the end and the three supporting paragraphs? A lot of the time, that's not really the best format for a lot of the stuff you'll be writing in college. So let's just forget about the intro and you can tell me what it is you're supposed to be writing about, and what you're thinking of doing."
Jared swallows and manages to smile back at Jensen. "Okay. I can do that."
Half an hour later, he and Jensen have a pretty solid paper outlined, and Jared feels relaxed and zen and half in love already.
"You're really good at this," he says, giving Jensen a wide grin.
"Thanks," says Jensen, ducking his head adorably. "I've been doing it for three years, hopefully something sank in."
"Well, I really appreciate it."
"No problem. Come back any time."
"I just might do that."
Jensen smiles, almost shyly. "I hope so."
Jared thinks clicking his heels together in joy would be a little much, so he settles for saying, "See you, Jensen."
"See you."
*********************
Sam and Dean and muppets for pinkfinity!
Dean has inexplicable and confusing aversions to all sorts of seemingly normal things, so Sam never really dwelt on his hatred of the Macy's Day parade. Dean just happens to hate things. It's the way of the world.
But Jess used to love the parade, and after the whole apocalypse thing, and the Lucifer thing, and, really, the last one to four years of his life, if he's honest, Sam needs something that will make him feel better.
"You don't have to watch," he tells Dean.
Dean glares. "You don't think it's weird?"
"Think what's weird?"
"Giant balloons! They're creepy!"
"How are they creepy?"
"Dead, lifeless eyes, weird, puffy bodies--do I have to go on?"
Dean is looking at the Kermit the Frog balloon with a kind of wary hatred Sam thought was reserved for Ruby.
"Oh my God, Dean, are you afraid of muppets?"
"No," Dean snaps, way too quickly.
Sam starts laughing like he hasn't laughed in years, nearly crying with it. Because, holy shit, Dean is afraid of Kermit.
"Shut up!" says Dean. "Dude, you're fucking afraid of clowns."
"They're puppets, Dean. Puppets."
"They're creepy," says Dean. "They're, like--shut up!"
"Do you want to go salt and burn the Count?" Sam asks. "Will that help?"
"Dude, I will beat your ass."
"I'd like to see you try."
They scuffled good-naturedly, which is pretty much a Thanksgiving tradition, and Sam lets Dean win, because he's a nice brother.
Plus, he's got big plans.
*
The next morning, when Dean wakes up, the TV is already on, and Sesame Street is playing.
Sam might have also figured out how to use the parental controls to keep Dean from changing the channel. Sam always thought Big Bird was pretty much harmless, but the hole Dean leaves in the TV where the muppet's head was tells a different tale.
"We're gonna have to pay for that."
"You're gonna have to pay for that."
"We share money," Sam points out.
Dean glares at him. "You're a fucking jerk, Sammy."
"I thought I was a bitch," says Sam innocently.
Dean gives him the finger.
*
"Cookie does start with c," Castiel agrees. "Doesn't Dean know that?"
"Yeah," says Sam. "I mean, he does, but I think he'd like it if we told him that."
"In song."
"Yeah!"
"And if we do this, we'll have cookies? As the song says?"
"Yes," says Sam. "If you sing a duet with me, I will get you a cookie."
Castiel considers. "With macadamia nuts?"
"As many as you want."
Castiel nods. "Then I accept."
"Great. You're just gonna need to wear this hat?"
"Why?" asks Castiel, cocking his head at it.
"So you can get a cookie."
Miraculously, that seems to work.
*
Dean looks wary. Sam gives him the most innocent smile he can muster. "What?"
"You hate Christmas."
"You like it," says Sam, shrugging. "And I figured--least I can do, right?"
Dean grins, rips the paper off expectantly, and stares down in mute horror at the Tickle-Me-Elmo in his lap.
"Dude," he finally manages. "I hate you so much, Sammy."
"Merry Christmas, Dean," says Sam, with a shit-eating grin.
"I'm hiring a fucking army of clowns for your next birthday," he mutters.
"Promises, promises," says Sam. But he feels a little bad, so he tosses Dean his other present, a new pair of boots, which makes Dean almost forgive him.
At least, until he hides the Tickle-Me-Elmo under the pillow that night.
**********************
Aldis/Danneel first date for bekkis!
"Stop pacing," says Chris. "It's pathetic."
"I'm not pacing," says Aldis. "I'm thinking on my feet."
Jensen groans. "Look, I'm just going to tell you this because you're pathetic and depressing me. Danneel likes you."
"I know that," says Aldis. "I know that because she agreed to go on a date with me."
"Probably thought you weren't a total crazy," says Chris. "I should film this and send it to her, prove her wrong."
"I'm not crazy. She probably likes that I'm into her."
"You changed your shirt more times than Jensen ever has, and Jensen's gay."
"That doesn't mean I change my shirt a lot," Jensen points out. "It just means I like guys."
"I'm leaving," says Aldis. "I don't need this."
"I thought it was too early," says Chris.
"I'm gonna go somewhere and pace in peace."
"Think on your feet," Jensen corrects.
Aldis hates his roommates.
*
Danneel Harris is pretty much the most amazing girl he's ever met. She only drinks cosmopolitans, knows more swear words than he does, beat him at arm wrestling the first time he met her, and wears heels that he thinks he'd break his neck walking in.
Also, she's brutally hot, but she has a lot more going on than that.
And, for some reason, she agreed to go out with Aldis.
Which is awesome.
*
Danneel's roommate is a very pretty girl named Beth, who gives him a sunny smile.
"Aldis, right?"
"Hey, yeah. I'm here for Danneel."
"Yeah, she's just getting ready. Have a seat." He does, and Beth gives him a smile that's all teeth. "So, what makes you think you're good enough for my roommate?"
"Uh," says Aldis. "I don't know?"
"Not a good answer," says Beth.
"Beth, please don't scare my date away before I get a chance to," says Danneel. She's wearing a short skirt and a white blouse and she looks really amazing. "Hey, Aldis."
"Hey," he says, standing up and wiping his hands on his jeans even though they're not even sweaty yet. "You look good."
Danneel smiles. "Thanks. You too."
"Have her home by eleven," says Beth sternly.
Danneel winks. "I'm barely going to have started with him by eleven."
*
"So, before I tell you what we're doing," says Aldis, as they're walking downtown, "dinner and a movie--cliche or classic?"
She laughs. "Wow, Hodge. You're smooth."
"Like butter," says Aldis. "So, what do you think?"
"Depends on the movie."
"See, I like to talk about that over dinner. It's no fun if the guy picks a crappy movie no one wants to see, right?"
"So if I wanted to see, say, A Walk to Remember, you'd be open to that?"
"I think Mandy Moore is an amazing thespian," says Aldis solemnly. "But I think we'd have trouble finding anywhere playing it."
Danneel laughs, flashing a smile she has to know makes her look gorgeous. Not that she isn't always, but she's flirty and showing herself off to her best, and Aldis has another moment of thinking he's the luckiest guy in the history of the world.
"I've been wanting to see Sherlock Holmes," she says. "How about that?"
"Great," says Aldis. "Except now we got nothing to talk about at dinner."
She laughs again, just as pretty, but less self-conscious about it. "I'm sure we'll think of something."
*
He takes her to the Italian place Jared works at, since Jared has been making noise about how Danneel cannot be that hot. They talk about classes (she hates her Irish lit course and Aldis kicks ass at English, and they make a tentative second date for him to help her out), and about Danneel's roommate's boyfriend drama, and about how Chris and Jensen are totally douchebags. Jared gives him a discreet thumbs-up after he sees Danneel, and Aldis can't stop grinning.
"You know," he says, about halfway through their entrees, without really meaning to, "I thought you were gonna shoot me down?"
"Yeah?" she asks, eyes sparkling. "Why'd you think that?"
"Because there is no way in hell I'm this lucky."
She laughs. "You're a real sweet-talker, Hodge."
"Yeah," he agrees. "But I mean it."
"Well," she says, looking down at her plate and biting her lip, "I thought I was pretty lucky too, you know."
Aldis beams. "I am awesome."
"You are awesome."
*
The problem Aldis has with movie dates is that he's still not great at the whole PDA in a theater thing. Not that he expects Danneel to get down on her knees and suck him off on the first date or anything, but even just hand-holding and arms around shoulders, he's not sure about.
He gets popcorn and they eat it together, and his fingers brush hers in the bowl and he flushes and feels himself grin as she squeezes his pinky with hers.
He feels bright and happy, apprehensively excited like he hasn't been since high school, when everything was shiny and new.
Once the popcorn's done, he keeps her hand in his, even though their hands are slick with fake butter. They speak rarely (because Aldis isn't that dick who talks in the theater), but every time Danneel pipes up, Aldis ends up snickering.
It's fun and easy, with the thrill of something new and potentially awesome dwelling under his skin, making everything seem brighter.
"So, that was fun," she says, a smile playing around her lips as they go out of the theater into the cool evening air. He hasn't dropped her hand.
"Yeah, Jude Law's a badass," says Aldis.
"I meant the date," she says. "But Jude Law's also pretty cool."
"Oh, yeah," says Aldis. "The date was pretty awesome."
Her dorm isn't far from the theater, and they amble back slowly, not talking too much. Aldis kind of likes the quiet at the end of the date, when he can get it. He went out with this girl once who chattered at the end of every date, way too much, and he couldn't help feeling like she was trying to convince herself she was relaxed and into him. And given that they were over after three dates, he thinks he was probably right.
"So yeah," he says when they get to her door. "Fun."
"Fun," Danneel agrees.
He leans in and gives her a kiss, short and sweet, the kind of kiss that's supposed to go at the end of a perfect first date.
"So, I'll call you?" he asks.
"Mm," she says. "Yeah." And then she pulls him back down and kisses him again, a little longer and dirtier, and he thinks that's a pretty good way to end a first date too. "You better call."
"Oh, I'm gonna call. It's gonna be really soon, too. You're gonna be embarrassed for me. I'm gonna suck at playing it cool."
She laughs. "I won't mind."
"Yeah?" he grins. "Good. Night, Danneel."
"Night, Aldis."
He keeps grinning all the way home.