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"Did you cry when you got dropped off?"
"Nah. Thought I would but I've been doing amazing in the emotion section of things so far."
It's strange being in someone else's space so quickly. This is where Dream lives, eats, sleeps, and despite this being their second time speaking, Techno is perched atop his bed, cross-legged and leaning against the headboard of the bed Dream has slept in for the past four days. It's intimate. It's college. Techno doesn't know how to feel about it.
He does know, at least, that he hopes he and Dream will stay friends for the rest of the year, maybe even after college. It's great to talk to him. They have similar interests, are both English majors (though Dream is double-majoring with English and Computer Science), and are both members of the LGBTQ+ club on campus (though Techno's not completely sure how Dream identifies). Techno feels comfortable around Dream so far, despite this being their second meeting.
"I can't believe we're actually here," Dream comments. He's been staring out the window at the other people moving into the building (people who are not in the Honors College and who didn't move in early). He seems to be like the kind of person who watches, observes, sits to the side rather than getting in front of the crowd. An introvert at heart, but one able to make friends if need be, which is how they ended up here, and Techno isn't complaining. "It's so surreal. I mean, I just feel kinda happy to be here? Like I should be sad about leaving but I'm not. It's weird."
"I get that." Techno looks down at his hands. They haven't actually looked at each other, which is nice; looking too much at someone's face feels almost rude and Techno doesn't know why. "It's nice to be here. And I'm sad about leaving my dogs and all, and my parents and brothers, but it's a step forward into adulthood. I guess. I don't know."
"I agree," Dream says, and it feels good to hear that. Distant insecurity tries to wash away at the words, and Techno, for one of the first times in life, lets himself think that a new friend likes him just as much as he likes them. "Where'd you say you were from?"
"Citron. Close to the state border. It's... small and conservative. Not like your city."
Dream comes from a rich part of Florida. Dream had hundreds of people in his graduating class at school, opportunities to travel the world with the school's orchestra, and no worry about student loans. Techno is distantly jealous but he'll survive.
"It was time for me to leave." Dream finally looks back at Techno and their eyes meet for a second. Dream's eyes are a pretty color of green, and he's got a sturdy jaw and a sprinkle of freckles over his nose and cheeks. A distant thought Techno had last night (at their first meeting) was the freckle above his eyebrow suits him well. "And now I'm here! Free, single, and ready to put a name in the history books of the school."
"Single?" Techno doesn't mean to seem so excited when he asks it, but it happens nonetheless and he can't really take it back.
Dream doesn't comment on the way Techno's eyes lit up for a moment. "Yeah, I broke up with my partner before I moved up here. You can't really date long-distance and be in college at the same time, I think, and it was time for us to part ways." He pauses for a moment. "I miss dating a bit but I'm glad to... keep my options open, if you catch my drift."
"Yeah? You looking for a cheerleader to hook up with?" Techno teases, but it's the most casual way he can ask the unspoken question.
"Nah. I want to meet someone, become best friends, and then make sweet, sweet love beneath the big flag flying outside the stadium."
"In public? Yuck."
Dream shrugs. "I don't know. All athletes seem off-limits during their game seasons. Like, I can't go try to date a player and have him be wrapped up with practice and games all the time. I want someone who... I don't know, studies the same things as me or something. So we have something in common and get to see each other a bunch."
"That... makes sense."
Something in the air crackles for a second, like they're both holding their breath and expecting the other to make a move, but Dream just turns back to the window and sighs. "I just wanna fall in love with someone. And if I just need to go to parties and figure that out, so be it."
Techno knows he never had a chance in the first place but there's still a bit of an ache in his chest at the confirmation that Dream isn't thinking about him when he says all that.
They've only known each other two days and Techno... Techno might want to know Dream for the rest of their lives.
***
They have a comparative literature class together, meaning Dream and Techno walk to lunch together every day after it, talking about their eccentric teacher and the awful books they're subjected to analyze.
Techno's made other friends, sure, but Dream is his favorite to talk to. They're on the same level a lot of the time, understand each other in a way most other people don't, but still Techno doesn't read too much into it.
"You need to go to the volleyball game on Thursday," Dream says, brandishing his chopsticks at Techno for emphasis before picking up a piece of nori and a noodle from his ramen bowl. "I think I'm in love with the assistant coach and I need you to be there to tell me if he's attractive or not."
"In love with him? Really? That's a bit much for having never spoken to him." Techno stares at the open tab of his essay, trying to figure out what the fuck his topic is going to be. He glances up at Dream for a moment, sees a twirl of blond hair sticking up that needs to be patted down with gentle fingers, and turns back to his laptop before doing something stupid. "Just go talk to one of the boys in your dorm. I'm sure you'll find your Prince Charming somewhere, or at least a quick hookup to get your mind off the volleyball coach."
"Yeah? Come to a party with me, then. It'll be fun, just like the movies, and we can- I don't know, try alcohol for the first time."
"I've had alcohol before, Dream."
"Sips of it from your parents' glasses don't actually count, Techno," Dream retorts. "Come on. It's a Friday night, we've got a whole morning to sleep off hangovers before the football game, and you'll never have to go to a party again."
Techno sighs. He does want to go to a party, and tonight is as good of a night as any to go... "Fine," he concludes, typing out the title for his essay and taking a breath. "Just one party. It'll be great."
***
They step in the door of the frat house (Alpha Sigma Phi, whatever the fuck that's supposed to mean) and are immediately hit with loud music, stale alcohol, and too many bodies in the house. It's an anxiety attack waiting to happen and honestly, Techno doesn't want to be here.
"This is a bit much," Dream says over the music, and Techno nods. It is VERY MUCH too much.
Dream tilts his head back towards the door in a way that suggests a speedy exit and Techno leads the way, pushing past too-warm bodies of people who are significantly more experienced in life than both of them combined.
The sidewalk isn't much quieter but it's more open. Techno glances around at the people on the lawn, most of which are coupled up and either making out or talking. After a distinct pang in his stomach of desire for an act so intimate and so public at the same time, he looks at Dream.
Who promptly takes his hand and begins down the sidewalk in the direction of their residence halls.
"You're... holding my hand," Techno says dumbly when they're far enough away that privacy doesn't seem like such a foreign concept.
"I am." Dream is looking forward. It's not the first time their hands have touched; Techno has a habit of swinging his arms while he walks and he accidentally hits Dream constantly. This is different, though. Dream's hands are soft, gentle, warm. Techno's not quite sure what to do here.
"Why?" Techno asks, then realizes that's too blunt. "I mean, I'm not complaining, I just-"
"Can I kiss you?" Dream suddenly asks, and Techno blushes so hard he's lightheaded before he nods an enthusiastic yes.
Techno's never kissed someone before, but he's thought about it, and it feels pretty similar to what he expected. He hears his own heartbeat as Dream's hand grabs his jaw and pulls him closer, and the softness of the act makes him feel comforted as few things have previously.
"Woah," Techno says when they pull apart.
"Good woah?" Dream is beaming but there's a certain insecurity behind his eyes that Techno wants to leave right away.
"Yeah- holy shit, Dream, that was my first kiss. I mean, I- I already told you that, just-"
"Hey, hey, breathe for a second. I was kinda overwhelmed the first time, too, so-"
Techno cuts him off with another kiss, practically jumps forward onto the poor man in excitement. Maybe it's a bit overzealous but he's been fighting off fantasies of making out with Dream for nearly a month now and it feels damn good to actually have the real thing.
"Fuck, Techno, your tongue is- your tongue is something else," Dream gasps, right against his mouth, and Techno feels like they could crash to the ground together and it would all be fine. He feels like he's flying, he feels stupid, he feels dizzy, he feels so good and it's amazing. "That's your- your first kiss? I guess. Holy shit."
"Dream," Techno starts, gripping Dream's bicep with a gentle yet firm hold. He doesn't want to lose this. "I- I've wanted that for a while. Since we met, actually. I would've kissed you right there at HC orientation if there weren't things like consent and being a good citizen in a community-"
Dream's hand finds itself in Techno's hair, pulling their mouths together again, but Techno realizes where they are and how he can definitely NOT do what he wants while they're standing in front of a frat house.
"My dorm is closer," Dream whispers, nearly reading Techno's mind. "And my roommate is at home for the weekend. If you want to."
"I do, yeah, I want to."
As they walk, there's buzzing in Techno's fingertips. He's touch-starved as fuck and Dream feels so, so good.
"I really like you, Tech," Dream says when they're nearly asleep in his bed, lips swollen and sore. Techno's finger is tracing along Dream's back, getting a little itchy from the constant movement over cloth but it feels nice nonetheless.
"I like you too," Techno says.
Okay, college is pretty good, honestly.