Chapter Text
As the weather grows cold and the leaves on the trees begin to turn golden and orange, the fall semester trudges along. The changing of the seasons, especially to fall, always puts Fig in a good mood. As she runs hot, the shift to cooler temperatures puts her at ease. Fig also continues to attend Ayda’s office hours, trying to work up the courage to ask Ayda for her number. She doesn’t want to seem like a creep by asking Adaine for it– even though she knows she has it– so she just has to keep trying to get the words on the tip of her tongue to enter the conversation.
“So, how did you and Adaine become friends? I know you’re in the same lab, but how’d you get close?” Fig asks, twirling her pencil with her fingers, eager to distract Ayda from whatever problem they were working on. It’s 8:23 PM in the cold, gray classroom that Ayda uses for office hours, and Fig is already getting antsy, sitting with her legs impossibly cross-legged on a regular desk chair. She thinks it’s really cute how Ayda tries to be so professional during office hours, but is simultaneously easily distracted by Fig’s incessant questions. She’d noticed this after going to office hours pretty consistently, and now that Fig was beginning to understand what Dr. O’Brien was saying in class (when she chose to listen, of course), she felt a little more comfortable pestering Ayda about her personal life.
Ayda pauses writing notes on Fig’s problem sheet, setting her own pencil down neatly next to the page. “We met over the summer, when Adaine got accepted into her internship in the lab.” Fig nods, remembering Adaine’s excitement over the acceptance email, the internship allowing her to stay on campus over the summer instead of going home to her awful parents. “Primarily, we bonded over our mutual neurodivergence. I have never had someone that understood me in that way before. Adaine is also a brilliant student and was very helpful in aiding with my experiments.” Fig smiles, fighting down the nasty sting of jealousy that she feels in her chest. They’re just friends, Fig reminds herself. Adaine would have told me if she liked her.
“I can’t believe that we could’ve been friends sooner, and not because my dumb ass failed a midterm.” Fig sighs, resting her cheek on one arm as she leans down on the desk, half-working on a problem.
“You’re not dumb, Fig. You understand all of these problems when I explain them to you.” Ayda firmly states, and her face scrunches up in a really cute way. Fig feels her heart skip a beat at Ayda’s words.
“Well, you’re just really good at explaining things. You make me think of things from a new perspective, and I think that’s really cool.” She looks up at Ayda, and watches as her dark skin flushes, and feels a small sense of pride at making Ayda blush.
“Thank you. That is– very kind of you.” Ayda gets back to working on a problem for a bit, before she looks back up at Fig. “Why did you choose to take astronomy for your science requirement? You are a music major, I assume.”
“It just seemed like the most interesting science I could take this semester.” Fig shrugs, sitting up once again to look at Ayda properly. “How did you know I was a music major? Did Adaine tell you?”
At this, Ayda hunched over a bit, outlining words she already wrote in dark lines of pencil. “I know you’re in a band, and I have listened to your music before. I apologize for breaching your privacy.” Fig can tell Ayda is distressed by this. Even if she doesn’t admit this to herself, Fig cares deeply about the people around her, the ones she calls friends. And even though yes, this is technically a breach of her privacy and her ears turn red at the thought of Ayda– brilliant Ayda– listening to her work, she is also a bit delighted.
“You’ve listened to my music?” She repeats, a small smile growing on her face. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s brilliant. You’re brilliant.” Ayda blurts out, firm and true. “There is a fascinating philosophical conundrum posed by ‘My Van is a Boat, My Boat is a Van.’” At this, Fig laughs.
“Yeah, my friend Gorgug came up with that one. He’s an engineering major but he’s also a really good drummer. I think you’d like him.” Fig remarks. Ayda nods in affirmation.
“It is very interesting that your friend is talented in different areas. You are similar in that way. Just because you are not naturally gifted at astronomy doesn’t mean you are not gifted in other ways, which you clearly are.” Ayda states, like complimenting Fig is the easiest thing in the world.
It’s not easy for Fig to accept compliments. At least, not anymore. After everything that happened with her family her freshman year– realizing her dad wasn’t actually her biological dad right before leaving for college, and having her trust with her mom shattered– it changed everything about Fig. It’s hard to feel confident about yourself when you don’t even know who you are anymore.
But something about the way that Ayda compliments her makes her want to accept it, not shove the warm feeling that grows in her chest down into a dark box where the rest of her unexplored feelings go. Maybe it’s Ayda’s candor, her unapologetic and analytical personality that makes it feel like maybe she’s telling the truth.
So Fig smiles, lets that warm feeling grow in her chest and feel the butterflies in her stomach.
—
“Alright everyone, I know it’s Halloween, so be safe this weekend. Don’t do anything I would do.” Dr. O’Brien winks at the class as they close their lecture notes, students rushing out of the class to get a head start on their Halloween plans. Fig weaves between them to talk to Ayda, who sits in the front towards the left, making occasional notes during lectures on things that may have been confusing or need extra explanation during office hours. Seeing as Fig is still the only person attending office hours– seriously, is everyone in this class a genius or something?– it makes her feel special to know that Ayda is basically only taking notes for her.
“Hey Ayda, how’s it going?” She greets her with her signature grin, leaning over the desk. Today Ayda is wearing a snazzy black turtleneck and white pants with squiggly black lines of paint covering them– very cool. Ayda looks up from her computer, meeting Fig’s eyes.
“I am well, thank you Fig.” She quickly finishes up her notes and closes her laptop. “Did you need something from me?”
“No, no nothing like that.” Just your number please! Fig thinks to herself. “I just wanted to invite you to our Halloween party this weekend.” At Ayda’s surprised expression, Fig’s heart drops.
“I know you’re my TA and all but it’s also Adaine’s party, and she’ll be there! I’m also performing some new stuff, and I know you’ve liked my other stuff, so. Uh, no pressure though!” She cuts herself off, and fiddles with the end of her braid.
“I’ve never been invited to a party before.” Ayda manages, a grateful smile appearing on her face. Fig feels a wave of protectiveness wash over her, cursing everyone who ever chose not to invite this wonderful woman to a party before.
“Well, the parties that me and my friends throw are kind of crazy– in a fun way! Here, I’ll give you my number so I can text you the address and other stuff.” Fig rips a piece of paper out of her notebook, and writes her number down along with some stars and smiley faces. Please take it, I cannot handle the rejection right now, she thinks to herself. But Ayda takes the paper with both hands, as if it is something precious and easily breakable.
“Thank you very much.” Ayda responds gratefully, immediately inputting Fig’s number into her phone. Fig wrings her hand a little bit in excitement– nice going Faeth, you finally gave the hot TA your number. She feels a buzz in her pocket, as she pulls out her own phone to see that Ayda has texted her, giving Fig her number as well.
“It is only fair that since you have given me your phone number, that I give you mine as well.” Fig looks up, and sees that Ayda has started to put away her things into a well-worn leather satchel.
“Well, thank you. But I have to warn you, I might not stop texting you now that I have your number.” She winks, and sees Ayda flush a little bit.
“There is nothing I would like more.” Ayda affirms, and Fig’s heart stops a little bit in her chest.
“Well, I have to head to rehearsal, but I’ll text you the party info when I get home!” Fig smiles at Ayda as she leaves, grabbing her skateboard to ride home. Behind her, Ayda holds her phone and the paper Fig gave her tight in her hands, as if it were a lifeline.
–
Figeuroth Faeth
hey ayda! here’s the address for the party. it’ll be saturday @ 8, but if u wanna come early so i can show you around the house u can come around 7! also it’s a costume party :)
Sent 5:42 PM
ayda !!!! :)
Thank you for the information. I will be there at seven.
Sent 6:07PM
I have realized that I do not have a costume. Is this required to attend the event? Should I purchase one?
Sent 6:11PM
Figeuroth Faeth
noo you don’t have to do that! honestly me or adaine or kristen probably have something lying around so you can pick something out before the party actually starts :)
Sent 6:12PM
ayda !!!! :)
That is a very generous offer. Are you sure that they (or you) won’t mind?
Sent 6:13PM
Figeuroth Faeth
of course not! u gotta have a costume for a costume party!!
Sent 6:14PM
plus if we’re going by the transitive best friend rule we’re all best friends and best friends share
Sent 6:14 PM
ayda !!!! :)
In terms of friendship, I must be the wealthiest person alive.
Sent 6:16PM
:)
Sent 6:17PM