Chapter Text
Carlos usually didn't do parties. They were loud, hectic, and lacked an adequate amount of science. He would usually stand in the corner with a plastic cup full of beer and trick the occasional listener with some lame basic physics trick he'd thought everyone had learned in high school. Gravity worked the same on every object, therefore a dollar bill would fall just as quickly as an empty bottle of beer and so on. For some reason that always surprised everyone.
Whenever he was dragged to these sorts of things, it was usually by Dana. The girl was great. Really. But she was a fluttering socialite and Carlos couldn't dare keep up with her. Every time he saw the girl, she was with a new group of people, chatting and laughing over something Carlos only assumed to be frivolous.
The young man stayed alone in the corner for a while, filling his cup every now and then, avoiding the awkward stares from frat boys who probably thought he didn't belong there. And he really didn't.
Eventually Dana returned, though she came with company. A pale, platinum haired, lanky little man was being dragged behind her, almost spilling his drink due to the girl's haste.
"Carlos! Hey!" she said with a smile, grabbing the science major's shoulder. "I wanted to introduce you to a friend- Cecil. Cecil, this is Carlos."
The two of them exchanged awkward smiles and Cecil gave Carlos a small wave.
"Cecil has journalism with me. He wants to get into communications. This is his first year here," she explained, grinning wholeheartedly at Cecil.
Why was she doing this? Carlos couldn't make conversation. And besides, all he wanted to do was go home.
And then everything made sense.
"He's gay."
Dana was trying to set him up. If the guy wasn't there in front of them, he would have let out a loud groan and glared at Dana for a good ten minutes. But he just nodded at the blond, who shifted nervously. Cecil was cute, he couldn't deny that. He had little freckles scattered across his nose and cheeks, and thick framed glasses. There were a few earrings in his ears, and a hoop in his eyebrow and lip. He couldn't have been older than 19.
"Was that necessary to add?" the blond asked, nudging Dana gently in the arm.
His voice didn't match his face. The little skinny man had a deep, smooth voice. Yeah, he could definitely make it in communications.
Carlos smiled before Dana could answer, holding his hand out for Cecil to shake. Did people still do that? He was pretty sure. Maybe not at a party, but... What else was he supposed to do? Just start kissing him?
"This is my third year. I'm studying neuroscience and physics," he said, retracting his hand after the pale man gently shook it.
Dana stared at him pointedly for a moment, until he sighed and cleared his throat, "And I'm bi."
The young woman seemed satisfied enough with that and gave them both excited grins.
"With that said, I'm going to go check on Earl. Last I saw him, he was threatening to break one of his frat brother's arms. So, I should probably make sure he doesn't do that.”
"Earl is here?" came that calm voice again, "Tell him I said hi."
"Will do," nodded Dana, before patting Carlos on the butt. "Alright, play nice, boys."
And now what was he supposed to do?
"So, Earl Harlan, right?" he cleared his throat, trying to make conversation. "How do you know him?"
The man smiled, taking a sip of whatever was in his cup. It looked like soda. The guy was probably too young to drink, though that usually never stopped people. Hell, it didn't stop Carlos.
"We're from the same town. We had boy scouts together, and we were pretty close for a while," the man explained, gesturing with his hands as he spoke.
"Ah. Yeah, that's cool. I had a few freshmen classes with him. We don't really get along, but he seems like a decent enough guy."
No. Earl Harlan was a total asshole. Carlos hated him probably more than he hated reading scientifically impossible science fiction novels. But to keep things polite, he'd reserve himself from expressing that sentiment.
"Yeah, he can be a little standoffish sometimes, but deep down he's a real sweetheart...”
After that there was a humiliating four whole seconds of silence, and the blond rubbed the nape of his neck awkwardly.
"Dana dragged me over here because she said we were mutually single and lonely, and she said you were a really sweet guy. I've not really been to one of these parties, so it's a little intimidating. Also, you are a little intimidating. I think you're really handsome, but my head kind of hurts and it's loud in here," he rambled, cheeks glowing pink. The poor guy was struggling, Carlos could tell.
But if this was one of those, 'it's too loud here so come to my dorm and have bad sex with me' tricks, Carlos wasn't falling for it. He'd already done that once this semester.
"So, to keep this relatively short, I'm going to go to bed, and maybe give you my number if you want it," he said softly, looking up at Carlos with weird-ass blue eyes.
Weird-ass blue eyes. They were pretty, but almost purple..? It looked like the man was wearing contacts, but maybe it was just a genetic rarity. Carlos liked those.
He was glad the younger student didn't try anything else, and he was assured, just by that, that the right thing to do was indeed give the blond his number.
"Sure," Carlos said, giving him an understanding smile. After a moment of digging through his jacket pocket, Carlos dug his phone out and handed it to the guy in front of him. Cecil took it and started to awkwardly type on the keyboard he was not used to.
After what seemed like hours, he handed the phone back and grinned. "Okay, well... It was nice meeting you, Carlos. Sorry to be leaving so early, bu-"
"I completely understand," he interrupted. "I hate these things too. I'll text you tomorrow, okay, cutie?"
Oh god, why the hell did he say that? Carlos didn't say stuff like that. Ever. His flirting usually was limited to badly timed puns and sarcastic laughter. Not pet names.
The blond seemed pleased enough, blushing again, and grinning. "Yeah. Neat! I'll talk to you tomorrow!"
And saying that, he gave Carlos one last little wave and made his merry way out of the party. Lucky bastard.
Carlos had eventually escaped the crowd and found Dana by a set of stairs, talking to a rather wobbly looking Earl Harlan. Carlos sighed, the asshole was drunk.
"Dana," the scientist approached, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder to receive her attention. The music was loud, and there was a couple heatedly making out a few steps above them. That could be potentially dangerous, Carlos noted.
Dana turned from Earl, looking quite frustrated. "Carlos, hey. That was quick. I'm assuming things didn't go well with Cecil?"
Carlos opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the redhead leaning haphazardly against the railing. "What are you doing with Cecil? Huh?" he slurred, pointing a finger at the scientist's chest.
Carlos had to admit, the man was quite scary when drunk. Or just... Really, any time. He stood at about 6'2, and had the vilest glare. God, he was such an ass.
"Just talking," Carlos responded, before turning to talk to Dana again, more quietly. "He said he was tired and going to go to his dorm to sleep. I got his number, but... Why? I mean, he's hot, but you know I don't date. Usually."
Dana sighed and gave him a small, weary smile. "Trust me. You'll like him. I pointed you out, and he said you were one of the most gorgeous guys he'd ever seen. Now, that's a new concept, huh?" she snorted.
Earl stepped ahead of Dana, poking Carlos in the chest. "What are you doing with Cecil?"
"Absolutely nothing," Carlos groaned, stepping down the stairs.
"He's asking Cecil if he wants to get coffee tomorrow at three," Dana piped in, grinning at the scientist.
Earl did not look like he liked that very much. Though it never looked like he liked anything. He just had a constant look of displeasure.
"I am?" Carlos asked, "I guess I am... Well, I need to get some beauty sleep before the date then. See yah, Dana. Hope your hangover is terrible, Earl!" he laughed as he parted ways, heading out of the loud frat house, and towards his small, quiet dorm.