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Finals week.
The worst week of Johnny’s life and it hadn’t even started yet.
Johnny’s eyes were stinging with exhaustion. He’s been cramming for his exams for a week now.
Damn, zoology shouldn’t be such a hard major.
Johnny felt blindly around his table for his coffee cop. He grimaced at the taste. The coffee’s cold already.
He’d roll up to the counter and order another after he reviewed this chapter.
Studying at the local cafe had its benefits. One being a near limitless supply of caffeine. The other being the white noise. The library was too quiet for Johnny. He found his mind wandering to fill the emptiness. Studying at his dorm room would be a disaster as well. Then there would be too much noise and distractions.
The cafe was a nice compromise. The hustle and bustle of people ordering and moving around prevented Johnny’s mind from drifting but the conversations were too boring to distract Johnny from studying.
Puppies lose their baby teeth around 4 months...or was it five? Shit.
Johnny flips through his textbook once more before the jingle of the cafe door opening makes him look up.
The guy who came in held his attention.
That guy looks like a total ass.
He was wearing black out shades, indoors, skinny jeans with the knees ripped out, a flowy shawl, a loose sleeveless shirt and a dumb hat with holes cut into one side and what looked to be an earring through the front. The guy walked in as confident as a model on the catwalk, holding his backpack with one hand like it was a fashion statement.
Johnny couldn’t stop himself from groaning.
The guy paused for a moment still blocking the doorway as he took off his huge sunglasses.
Johnny’s heart jumped to his throat.
Oh no. He’s hot!
The guy had really good features under that smarmy grin. Especially those eyes. Fuck, it wasn’t fair for anyone to have nice long lashes like that.
Johnny forces himself to look down at his textbook but the words were incomprehensible.
What was I looking for? Shit, shit.
Johnny looks up to see the guy ordering coffee. He was leaned against the counter practically demanding all of the barista’s attention as he ordered. Johnny bit his lip, trying to will away the jealousy he felt looking at the bored barista.
The guy finished his order and went to the side, picking up various packets of milk and sugar. His eyes scanned the cafe boredly and landed right on Johnny.
Johnny froze up.
The guy smiled at him.
Fuck he saw me staring.
Johnny looks down to his notebook, skimming over the same line. He taps the page a few times so it seems he’s really reading and not just waiting for the guy to leave.
The chair in front of Johnny creaks.
Johnny looks up to the see the guy looking down at him with that flashy golden grin.
“This seat taken, amico?” The guy asks.
Johnny likes the way this guy talks. Maybe likes it a little too much.
“You can have it.” Johnny mumbles, looking down to his book again.
The guy takes a seat. Johnny can see his fingers tapping against his cup from the edge of his vision.
“Joe-knee?”
“W-what?” Johnny looks up at the sudden question.
“On your cup. Your name is joe-knee?”
“Oh, yeah. Johnny. Close enough.”
The guy beams at him and flashes the name on his own cup. “I’m Gyro.”
“Okay.”
“What’s with all the books?” Gyro picks up Johnny’s textbook. “Dogs?”
“Hey I need that.” Johnny holds his hand out. “I’m studying.”
Gyro looks down to Johnny’s open hand. He picks up Johnny’s cup and puts it in Johnny’s hand.
“Why are you studying dogs?” Gyro asks, flipping through the textbook.
“It’s not just dogs. It’s basic zoology.” Johnny sighs.
“Oh. Undergraduate?”
“Me?”
“Yes.” Gyro hums like everything Johnny said was amusing.
“Yeah I’m an undergrad. Can I have my book now?”
“No. This is more interesting than the books I have to read. I’m a graduate. Medical school.” Gyro lifts up his backpack.
“Shouldn’t you be studying for finals too?”
“That was the plan.” Gyro looks back to Johnny. “But I found something more interesting.”
Johnny looks down to the table. His face is burning. He must be blushing. How embarrassing.
“So Johnny you plan to be a vet?” Gyro asks, not taking his eyes off the textbook.
“Sorta. Vet tech. I don’t really want to work in a zoo or anything. Just help out around farms and stuff.”
“Ah, that explains the accent. You sound like a cowboy.”
“You sound like a cheesy romantic movie.” Johnny snaps back, regretting it quickly. Ah, damn it, Gyro was just talking with him. Not picking a fight.
Gyro laughs. “That is a first. Hmm, a lot of the stuff in here is just like human biology. Maybe I could help you study.”
“Don’t you need to study yourself?”
“You can quiz me. We’ll be...what’s the word? Study group? Yes, we’re a study group.”
“We don’t really have the same subjects.”
“Science is science.” Gyro waves his hand dismissively. “Come on Johnny, what do you need to study? Birds?”
“Well, the test is only on the second half so it’s mostly mammals…”
The time flew by. Before Johnny knew it it had gotten dark outside.
“This was enlightening Johnny.” Gyro hums. “Give me your phone. I’ll put in my number and we can resume this tomorrow, okay?”
“Yeah, that sounds like a great idea.” Johnny searches through his pockets, handing Gyro his phone.
Gyro chuckles at something he sees on Johnny’s phone and hands him back the phone. “There we go.”
Johnny looks to his phone. His lock screen was just him with his old horse Slow Dancer. Nothing amusing there.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, amico.” Gyro pulls Johnny’s beanie down over his eyes and walks out the cafe with a laugh.
Johnny pulls his beanie back up, scowling at Gyro’s back. When Gyro’s put the door Johnny looks back to his phone.
Gyro - Study Group :)
Johnny laughs at the name Gyro entered for himself.
Studying didn’t seem like such a bad idea now.