Chapter Text
It was late and Isak wasn’t getting nearly as drunk as he wanted to be. He wasn’t really sure how Eva convinced him to go to a gay club with her, but there they were.
Eva was dancing with a girl in the middle of the dance floor. Isak was pretty sure they were making out periodically throughout the night, but he wasn’t entirely sure.
He was spying around the room, looking for a guy that was appetizing enough, and near his age. He wasn’t really into big age gaps, although he did have a thing for being the younger between himself and a partner.
His eyes glided across the drunk people with nameless faces. Deciding that nobody there stood out, Isak was coming up blank, he sighed, turning back to the bar. He took a seat, slouching against the counter, ordering a beer over the loud music.
This fucking sucks.
Isak took a drink of his cold beer, just as Eva came up to him, knocking into his shoulder, “Isak! You’d never guess.”
“What wouldn’t I guess, Eva?” His voice was somewhat bored, but he tried to push down the boredom for his friend. They weren’t angsty teenagers anymore. They were twenty one year old adults, with jobs, and their own apartment. Which was reason enough to be mature, and keep from getting annoyed at small things.
“Vilde just called me!”
Isak almost choked on his drink, “What?”
“Ja! And she said she wanted to see me.”
Two of their friends, Vilde and Magnus, had dated each other through their second and some of their third years of high school. They ended up not really working out though. Vilde had come out at lesbian after they had broken up, which encouraged Eva to come out as bisexual.
Vilde and Eva hooked up a few times at parties, but it wasn't anything serious… until it was.
Vilde was going to the states for college, and just before she left, Eva told Vilde that she had feelings for her. Vilde was a mess. She got angry and kind of froze Eva out. She wouldn't talk to her at all.
The night before she was to board her plane, she went and saw Eva and they hooked up again, but Vilde said she didn't want to pursue anything with Eva while she was away. And that was that. They were over before they started.
Eva and Isak then moved in together. They had just turned nineteen, but they managed to get help from their parents to move into their own apartment. It wasn't anything special. Two bedrooms, and one bathroom. But it was more than enough for them.
They started university and life became busy. Isak worked as a paid intern at a pediatrics clinic not far from their apartment building and Eva worked at a flower shop by the university.
Together, they brought in enough money to live off of, and then some.
“Is she back home?”
Eva shook her head, “Nei, but she's coming to visit. She's out of school for a week and half in March.”
“What else did she say?”
“Not much. I told her I'd call her tomorrow, when it wasn't so late here.”
“Fuck.”
Eva nodded, “For real. And now I've just abandoned this hot girl on the dance floor because I'm not over Vilde. Isak, am I crazy for having feelings for my best friend? It's been years.”
Isak laughed, “Eva, trust me. It isn't a farfetched idea. I used to have the biggest crush on Jonas. The biggest crush on him.”
“How'd you deal with it?”
Sending Eva a broken, tight smile, “I told Jonas that you cheated on him with Christopher.”
Eva deflated, slouching against Isak’s shoulder, “Oh, yeah.”
“Sorry.”
“It's okay. It was a long time again.”
“I was so unsure of myself back then. I wasn't ready to admit that I was gay, but once I met Eskild, he helped me know that it was okay.”
“Did you ever… with Eskild?”
Isak almost fell off his chair with the shock the question brought. Laughter spilled from him, as he viciously shook his head, “Nei! Never!”
“Did you ever think about it?”
“Nei, I never had any desire to do anything with Eskild.”
Eva nodded, propping her chin on her hand, looking straight into emerald eyes, “Did you ever tell Jonas you liked him?”
Isak shrugged, “We were high a lot during our first year at Nissen. That was the peak of my liking for him, and I wouldn't be surprised if it slipped out a few times when we were high. Like really high. But after Nissen, I did end up telling him. It's kind of a joke, now.”
“I'm sorry you two never happened.”
“I'm not. We definitely aren't right for each other. We’re great as friends, but I don't know that we could ever make each other happy in the way we would need to. Also, I'm not sure I'd have it in me to sleep with my best friend.”
Eva laughed, “Maybe you should try it, I think it's pretty great.”
“What, sleeping with Jonas or sleeping with my best friend?”
Laughing, Eva shrugged, “I was saying best friend, but both, I guess. Jonas is really good and he just happens to be your best friend.”
Isak broke into a grin, “I’m not sleeping with Jonas.”
“It'd be fun, though. Sleeping with your best friend is a crazy experience. It's like they just know what you need.”
Isak shot her an amused look, “Yeah? See where that got you with Vilde?”
Eva laughed, winking, “It was still good.”
“You think you and Vilde are going to try something while she's here?”
“I don't know. I think we just have a lot of talking to do, mostly.”
“Makes sense. You two have been apart for a long time.”
“Ja, it'll be different, and I'm prepared for that, I just hope things aren't too different.”
Eva picked up Isak’s beer and took a long sip, before sliding it back over to her friend.
“I think I'm ready to go home. You coming?”
Isak shook his head, “Nei, I’m gonna hang out a bit longer.”
“Okay, I'll text you when I'm home.”
Nodding, Isak gave Eva a hug and watched her head toward the exit.
It was probably ten minutes after Eva left that Isak got her text and his peacefulness was interrupted, further by a voice.
“Hey there, hottie.”
Scrunching his eyebrows, Isak turned to a mystery guy he had never seen before, “Umm, hi?”
“How’re you doing tonight, baby? Can I get you a drink?”
Isak cleared his throat, looking into dark hazel eyes, and gestured to his beer, “As smooth as that was, I, uh, already have a drink.”
“Well, damn, I was hoping to woo you, or something,” the guy laughed, touching Isak’s arm.
“Yeah, sorry, I guess I'm not that easy.” Isak tried to not focus on his hand. He hated when people freely touched him without permission. Especially when they didn't know him. On top of that, Isak was anything but interested in this guy.
“Ouch,” the guy laughed, and Isak cringed. “You sure are feisty. I wonder what you're like in bed.”
Okay. That's enough.
Isak shrugged his hand off his arm, feeling very uncomfortable in the moment, coming up with an easy, reliable lie, “I have a boyfriend.”
“Oh, yeah? Where is he?”
“He’s, uh,” Isak stuttered, struggling to find an excuse.
“Are you making up a boyfriend to get rid of me? You're just offending me more and more, sweetheart.”
“I'm not lying. I really do have a boyfriend.”
“Then why isn't he here?”
Before Isak was able to answer, an arm snaked around his back, gently holding his waist, “Hey, baby.”
Isak looked up, meeting a pair of glassy blue eyes. He's pretty sure he’s never seen a more attractive guy in his life. The guy was tall. He was handsome and sharp. His structure was chiseled and those eyes were captivating and soothing. His hair stood in a tall sweep backward, and the smile that graced his lips, was utterly breathtaking.
The blue eyes urged Isak to go with the flow. They comforted him.
His head tipped closer to Isak, asking for him to put on a more convincing show. Leaning into this new guy, Isak pecked him on the mouth, and tried not to think into the jitters he was feeling.
“Uh, hei,” Isak grinned, trying to look convincing.
“Who's your friend?”
Isak bit his lip, trying not to lean into this new blue eyed mystery beside him.
The man with the hazel eyes spoke, “I'm Jared, who are you?”
The beautiful, vibrant boy beside Isak tightened his hold around his waist, “I'm Even. His boyfriend.”
Even.
Isak got chills from hearing the name. His voice was liquidy and smooth, and sent unexplainable rivers down his spine.
“Looks like you weren't lying.”
Isak smirked, shrugging, “Sorry to disappoint.”
Even chuckled, “Well, babe, are you ready to go?”
Isak looked at Jared’s grumpy form, before turning back to Even and his pretty face, “Umm, yeah, I think so.”
Isak slipped off the barstool, staying tucked in Even’s arm as they retreated from Jared and the awkward atmosphere that dwelled with him. Isak even wrapped his arm around Even’s waist, feeling more comfortable with this stranger than he had the entirety of the evening.
“Thank you,” Isak mumbled, as they made their way through the people.
Even smiled, before looking back at Jared, “Shit, kiss me, again. I don't think he's entirely sold, yet.”
Blue and green met, before Isak stepped closer into Even’s hold, and connected their lips, much more domestically than he had the first time. With grins and multiple pecks, Isak sighed into Even’s arms, laying his head on his shoulder as they got outside.
Once free of the club, Isak lifted his head to look at Even.
“I overheard that dick trying to get with you. I couldn't leave you there when you were clearly struggling.” Even’s deep voice was teasing, and it sent shivers down Isak's spine.
Isak snorted, moving out of the embrace, “I wasn't struggling. I'm smoother than anyone in there. I'm the best at talking myself in and out of situations.”
Even laughed, “Obviously.”
Isak stuck his hand out in between them.
“I'm Isak.”
“Even,” their hands met, and Isak blushed.
“It's nice to meet you, Even.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
As their hands dropped, Isak scuffed the sole of his shoe on the concrete, “Thank you, again. I’m not sure how I would’ve gotten out of that if you didn’t come and save me.”
“No problem, I swear.”
Isak sighed, meeting Even’s shining blue eyes, “Well, still… Takk.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Isak. Although, I could go for some coffee. Sober up a bit. Join me?”
Laughing, Isak shook his head, “Where on earth are you going to find coffee at 2:00?”
Even smirked, tossing his arm over Isak’s shoulders, “I know a place.”
Isak agreed, “Okay, but only if you let me pay for you.”
“Sure, you can pay for me. You are my boyfriend, after all.”
“Oh, shut up,” Isak loudly laughed, pushing Even off of him.
On their walk to a 24 hour breakfast cafe, Even and Isak teased and joked. It wasn’t until they were sat across from each other that they began talking about life topics.
“Do you go to uni?”
Isak nodded, “Yeah, I do. I’m a first year at UiO. Do you?”
“I’m a second year.”
“Major?”
“Film.”
“Really? That's fucking cool. Are you any good?”
“I try,” Even shrugged, “It’s a lot of fun, though. I’ve always wanted to film and direct movies, so it's cool finally being able to live my dreams.”
Isak smiled, sipping his own coffee, “That's really cool, Even.”
“Thanks,” Even started, as he smiled at his cup, “So, what're you studying?”
“I'm studying Biomedicine.”
“Wow, really?”
Isak nodded, blushing at his coffee, “Yeah, I’m kind of a science nerd.”
“I think that's amazing.”
“Thanks.”
A comfortable silence surrounded them for a moment as Isak pulled himself together and got his blush under control.
“So, did you grow up around here?”
“I did, yeah,” Even started, “Did you? Are you from here?”
“Yeah, actually. I went to Nissen.”
“Nissen, huh? I was at Elvebakken.”
“Bakka? Really?”
Even nodded, “Yeah, I almost transferred to Nissen my third year, actually.”
“No way? What for?”
Clearing his throat, Even paused, thinking about the right words for his answer, “Change.”
Isak didn't exactly know what that meant, but he didn't ask about it. Instead, he asked Even what movies he liked.
An hour later, mostly sober, the two men left the cafe, and stood out in front of it, face to face.
“Do you think you can find your way home? I can walk you, if you want.”
“I’m good. I've got it.”
“Okay, maybe I'll see you around?”
Smiling, Isak shrugged, looking up to see Even’s bright smile in the dim light from the cafe, “Yeah, maybe. Oh, and thanks again, Even. For earlier, and for tonight. I had a lot of fun with you.”
“You're welcome,” Even stepped closer, and kissed Isak’s cheek. He started walking backwards, away from Isak, and saluted him, “Have a good night, Isak.”
“And you, as well.” He sent Even a salute back, before turning for home. He smiled to himself the whole way there.
º º º
Isak couldn't stop thinking of the blue eyed boy from the previous night. Even minorly hungover, his head ached with thoughts of Even. He wanted to see him again. He wanted to get to know him, but he didn't know anything about him.
He didn't even have a last name for the beautiful Even.
Isak hopelessly stared at the ceiling, wishing he could do something more. There was a knock on his bedroom door, but he didn't look away from the ceiling.
“Come in.”
Eva, sleepy and warm, trudged into Isak’s room, crawling onto his bed beside him.
“How was your night? I didn’t see anyone doing the walk of shame, so I’m guessing you didn’t find anyone?”
Isak shook his head, as Eva snuggled close into his side, with her head on his chest. Isak sighed, cradling her head and staring out the window, “This one guy tried picking me up, but I don’t know, he was just really fucking creepy.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing, he was just making me feel really uncomfortable, so I told him I had a boyfriend.”
Eva laughed, “You didn’t.”
“I did, but when he started asking about my boyfriend, I came up blank.”
“Typical, Isak.”
Isak chuckled, pinching Eva, and withdrawing a playful squeal from her, “Fuck you.”
In his mind, he was debating if he should tell Eva about Even. He could easily never see him again, and it probably meant nothing.
It’s safe to tell her.
“Anyway, while my head was fucking me over, this guy came up and pretended to be my boyfriend. I’d never seen him before, and he didn’t know me, either.”
Eva sat up, looking down at Isak with a frame of hair around her face and a shocked, dropped jaw, “You’re kidding!”
“Nei. He walked me out of the club and then we went and got coffee.”
“What's his name?”
“Even.”
“Even?...”
“I don't know his last name. We didn't talk much about ourselves.”
Eva sighed in disappointment, “Well, what do you know about him?”
“Goes to uni with us. He's a film major. Went to Bakka and he lives at home with his parents.”
Eva nodded, laying back down into Isak’s side, “He seems nice.”
“He was.”
“You said he's a film student?”
Isak nodded, meeting Eva’s pretty eyes.
“We could see if Noora has met him, or knows who he is. She's a journalism major, so she’s in the media rooms all the time.”
Chuckling, Isak shook his head, “She doesn't have to, Eva. I can't say it meant much, it was just a stranger being nice, and I repaid him with coffee.”
Glaring into green eyes, Eva groaned, “What the fuck ever, Isak. You don't know what this guy could be for you. He could be a pivotal person in your life and you're just letting him… pass by?”
“I'm not letting him pass by, Eva. It happened like ten hours ago, give me a break.”
“I'll stop bugging you about him, if you let Noora look into it.”
Isak rolled his eyes, sitting up in his bed, “I’m not sure I have much of a choice, seeing as you'd do it anyway.”
A proud looking Eva hopped up from the bed, patted a head of curls, and left the room.
° ° °
Isak sat in his room with Jonas that night. Jonas was over doing biology homework. He knew that if he didn't know the answer to something, Isak would. While Jonas was reading about the properties and purposes of cortisol, Isak was doing some social media hunting.
Starting with Instagram, Isak typed ‘Even’ into the search bar. A few profiles came up, but none to match the beautiful boy he met the previous night.
Next, he moved to Facebook.
Nothing.
If I only knew his last name.
Isak sighed, looking over at Jonas. His dark curls, and lean body were attention getters. But, when close enough, his eyes were the real prize. Light blue, with playfulness and logic dancing in them.
“Did it ever bother you that I had a crush on you when we were at Nissen?”
Jonas looked up from his bio textbook, “Um, nei?”
“Never?”
“Nei, Isak. If anything, I was… flattered, I guess?”
Isak looked directly into Jonas’ eyes, wanting to open up, “Is it weird if I talk about guys to you?”
Smirking, Jonas sat up, closing his textbook, “Did you meet someone?”
Isak shrugged as laughter bubbled out of him, “Probably not, but I hope I see him again.”
“What do you mean?”
“I met him at a club. I don’t know much of anything about him, but he goes to UiO, and Eva is dead set on finding him?”
“What’s his name?”
Isak sighed, letting the name fall easily from his mouth, “Even.”
“Even? Like Even Bech Næsheim?”
Sitting up straighter, Isak rubbed at his eyes, “I don’t know.”
“Hmm, I’ve never met him, but I think I’ve met his friend, Mikael. He's talked about an Even.”
“Oh.”
“I'll look into it for you.”
“Eva’s having Noora look into it, too,” Isak rolled his eyes. “She said something about him potentially being a pivotal person in my life.”
“You never know, man. Eva could be right. Maybe this Even guy is just what you need.”
Isak sighed, “Okay, whatever.”
º º º
Three days after Isak talked to Jonas about Even, he got two texts.
They were about fifteen minutes apart.
One was from Jonas.
And the other was from Noora.
He opened Jonas’ text first.
………
Jonas Noah
JN:
I got you a pic of Even ;)
This him?
UH.
Faen. How?
IT’S HIM???
Ja, Jonas. It’s him. Hva faen.
What am I supposed to do now?
Go after him?
I can’t.
I don’t even know how I’d get a hold of him.
I’ll just ask Mikael for his number.
NEI! Jonas, please, no.
He works at the record store
across the street from Eva’s work.
Pop in for a visit, ja?
Ugh.
I’ll figure it out.
But only if you stay out of it!
- __ -
Okay, okay. You have my word, bro.
………
Isak jumped over to his conversation with Noora.
He already knew it was going to be about Even, but he opened the text anyway.
………
Noora Sætre
NS:
Heard you been looking into this Even guy? Haha
Even Bech Næsheim, film major.
He’s a sweetheart, you should text him.
I’ll send his number.
Uh, oh, haha. Takk, Noora.
No worries, Isak. Enjoy yourself with him.
………
Isak almost screamed at the numbers displayed on his screen.
Should he text Even?
Fuck it.
………
New Contact:
Even Bech Næsheim
Hei, is this Even?
Ja, who is this?
This is Isak.
We met at the club the other night.
Oh! Ja, Isak!
How are you?
Bra, takk. You?
Good, I'm doing well.
How'd you get my number, though?;)
Uh, haha, my friend gave it to me.
She's a journalism major.
Her name?
Noora? Noora Sætre?
I think I know her. She's pretty.
Yeah, I agree.
Nice girl.
But um, I was hoping we could maybe
go out sometime for lunch?
I'd love that:)
Ja? How's lørdag?
Faen. I moving that day.
Maybe once I'm settled in my new place?
Ja. Ja, no problem.
Fett. :)
:)
………