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It’s an early Saturday morning right after a big win for the foxes. They’re all extremely hungover, but this particular diner has the best hangover food, according to Allison.
They’re seated at one of the large tables in the corner, Andrew on the outside next to Kevin, Nicky on the other side of Kevin, Aaron on the other end, and the upperclassmen across from them.
Their server comes over to them, a redhead with the bluest eyes any of them has ever seen and scars, lots of them. He takes their drink orders, and the second he walks away, Nicky and Allison are already plotting on him.
“He’s hot.” Nicky says simply, and the entire table, save Andrew, Renee, and Aaron agree.
“Let’s make a bet.” Allison says, and Andrew rolls his eyes, staying silent, but the rest of the table agrees. “First one that can get him to get his number gets 50 bucks from everyone who joins?” She asks, and everyone seems to be immediately interested in that.
“What if he isn’t even into guys?” Nicky complains, and Allison just shrugs with a grin on her face.
“What if he isn’t into girls?” Allison asks in retort. Nicky just shrugs.
“Okay fine.” Nicky agrees.
The rest of the table agrees, surprisingly everyone going along with it, mostly for the money. Andrew shrugs in agreement, staring across the table at Renee. She agrees out of peer pressure, and everyone except Aaron, Dan, and Matt are in. Aaron’s excuse was that he isn’t into guys and finds it stupid, Dan and Matt are already together, so they don’t see a point in trying.
The next time he comes around to pass out their drinks, everyone’s on their best behavior. He passes them out, looking at each person as he hands them their drinks, and then takes their orders.
They all place their orders, and the guy writes them down, sending a look at Kevin and Andrew afterwards. “He likes exy!” Nicky says as soon as he walks away.
“How would you know that?” Kevin asks, confused.
“He started at you and Andrew. He recognizes you two.” Nicky says, and then he stands up from the table. “I’m going to talk to him.” He says simply, and the table watches as he walks towards the little bar top they have in front of where the food is made. The diner is laid out much like a waffle house, nobody really going anywhere that’s not attached to the front of the diner unless it’s to get extra supplies.
Nicky walks up to the counter and leans a hip on it, smiling at the man. He’s putting orders into their system and only looks up when he’s done. “Can I help you?” He asks, rather rudely.
“Maybe.” Nicky says, grinning. “You’re too pretty to be working at a place like this.” He tries, and the guy just stares at him, a confused expression on his face.
“Too ‘pretty’ to make money?” The guy asks, shaking his head.
“No, that’s not what I mean.” Nicky says, shaking his head, feeling his cheeks heat up.
“What do you mean?” The guy asks, rolling his eyes.
“You like exy.” Nicky accuses, pointing at the guy.
“Yeah, so?” He asks, shrugging.
“So, we play exy.” Nicky says, pointing back towards the table. The guy looks back at the table, nodding.
“I’m aware.” He says, “Look, I have people to get to. Is there a point to this?” He asks, waving his hand to the other people sat in the diner.
“Can I get your number?” Nicky asks, and the guy looks at him, eyebrows furrowed.
“Why?” He asks, a little confused.
“You’re pretty and I’d like to get to know you.” Nicky says, flashing a smile at him.
“No.” He says, shaking his head.
“No?” Nicky asks, a little surprised.
“No.” The guy says simply, and walks towards another table, leaving Nicky standing there, eyes wide. He turns and heads back to the table, a little disappointed.
“No luck?” Allison asks, a grin on her face.
“You try.” Nicky says, sitting back down in his seat.
“I will.” She says, smiling as she stands up, heading for the bar top to wait for the guy to come back. When he does, she smiles at him. She knows she’s beautiful, and it works on most guys. “What’s your name? You never told us.” She asks when the guy looks at her.
“Neil.” Neil replies, putting in the order for another table. “Your food should be ready soon.” He says, practically dismissing her.
She doesn’t take the hint though, “Well, Neil…” She says, leaning over the bar top, obviously trying to show off her breasts, but Neil’s eyes don’t leave the computer. When they do, he meets her gaze, boredly.
“Well?” He asks, wanting her to get on with it.
She seems a little confused, but she perks back up after a second. “I was wondering if you had a girlfriend.” She says, and Neil stares at her, his expression unreadable.
“Why is that your business?” Neil asks, an eyebrow raised.
“I was hoping that I might get your number, but if you had a girlfriend, that would be disrespectful to you and her.” She says, shrugging, trying to play up the fact that she can be nice.
“I don’t, and no.” He says, shaking his head.
“You don’t have a girlfriend, and I can’t get your number?” Allison asks, a little confused. Neil nods, seeming uninterested in the conversation. “Can I ask why not?” She asks, and Neil shrugs.
“Not my type.” He says, and then turns around to grab a plate of food for one of his tables.
Allison stares for a minute, and then nods, heading back to their table. “No to you too?” Nicky guesses, and Allison shrugs.
“Neil says he doesn’t have a girlfriend, and he said I’m not his type.” She says, confused. It seems as though she’s never been turned down, and she probably hasn’t. “Kevin, you try. He clearly isn’t into women.” She says, shooing Kevin away from the table.
Kevin stands up with a slight flush on his cheeks and walks up to the bar. “Hey,” He says when he’s face to face with Neil.
“Kevin Day. Striker.” Neil says instead of hello.
“Yeah, you like exy?” He asks, excited.
“Love it. I used to play.” Neil says, nodding enthusiastically. “God, I’d kill to play again.” He adds, shaking his head.
“Why don’t you play anymore?” Kevin asks, actually intrigued. “You look like you have the build to play, you look like you’re still in shape.” He adds, gesturing to Neil, completely forgetting about the task here.
“I’ve got a bad leg.” Neil says, shrugging at his right leg.
“What position did you play?” Kevin asks, more interested in that.
“Backliner in little leagues, switched to striker in high school. Almost got recruited and then the leg.” Neil says, sighing.
“Well, I’m sorry you didn’t get to keep going. Exy’s the best thing that happened to me.” Kevin says, smiling widely.
“Yeah, I’ve followed you through college. You’ll be Court, even right-handed.” Neil nods and Kevin’s a little surprised by his knowledge of Kevin’s past.
“I hope so.” Kevin nods. “You should come to our games; I could get you tickets.” Kevin says, a small flush on his face as he remembers what he’s supposed to be doing.
“I already have tickets.” Neil nods, “I couldn’t come last night, but I’ll be there when you play Breckenridge.” He says, smiling.
“Great!” Kevin smiles, “Could I maybe get your number? We could hang out sometime?” He asks, face flushed.
Neil hums, acting like he’s considering it. “I see a pattern here.” He says, and Kevin’s face flushes even more. “No thanks, but I’m sure I’ll see you around. Good luck next week.” Neil says, nodding.
“Yeah, thanks.” Kevin says, a little awkwardly. He heads back to the table and shakes his head. “Recognized me, says he comes to our games, I’ll be Court right-handed, and that he will ‘see me around.’” He explains, shaking his head. “Renee, you try.” He says, and Renee nods.
Renee stands up with a small smile, heading for the bar top. “Hi Neil.” She says as she approaches.
“Hey Renee, what’s going on?” Neil asks, confused. “Why are they all asking for my number?”
“They have a bet on who can get your number.” Renee explains. “They sent me to try next.” She shrugs, sitting down and making herself comfortable.
“Should you just tell them that I gave it to you so it’s over?” Neil asks, shaking his head. “I mean, surely they’ve seen me around, right? I mean, me and Andrew aren’t exactly hiding.” He asks, confused. He and Andrew had been together for months, how none of the foxes noticed is beyond him.
“Apparently not. If you don’t mind, I’d like to see their reactions when Andrew comes up here. If not, I’ll tell them you gave it to me and split the money with you.” She says shrugging.
Neil smiles a little and shakes his head. “No that’s okay, I’d kind of like to see Andrew’s reaction too.” Neil says, and Renee nods.
“What should I tell them that you told me?” She asks, smiling politely.
“Tell them that I prefer someone shorter than me.” Neil says with a grin. “It’ll piss him off.” He adds with a smile.
Renee laughs and nods. “It definitely will. Will I see you this week?” She asks, and Neil nods.
“Me and Andrew were planning on going to dinner this week. I was going to pick him up from sparring.” He nods, and Renee smiles.
“I’ll see you then.” She says, smiling. She heads back to the table and acts like she’s disappointed.
“That looked promising, what did he say?” Nicky asks, intrigued.
“He says that he prefers someone shorter than him.” Renee says, hiding her grin successfully as she takes a sip of her drink.
“I guess that means Andrew’s up.” Allison says, and Andrew sends a glare at her.
“How much if I get him to actually go out with me?” Andrew asks, and Allison’s eyes go wide.
“What? You think that after he turned all of us down, he’d not only give you his number, but agree to a date?” She asks, shocked. Andrew shrugs, taking a sip of his drink. “Double or nothing. You get his number but not a date, you get nothing. Everyone agree?” She asks, and everyone nods. Andrew nods too, expression unreadable.
He stands up from the table, walks over to Neil, and doesn’t say a word. He takes his pad of paper out of Neil’s apron, steals the pen from behind his ear, and writes on the paper without a word. Neil stares back.
Andrew slides the paper over to him, ‘someone shorter? I’ll kill you, you know,’ It reads, and Neil grins. Andrew rolls his eyes and looks at Neil “Just write your number down so I can get paid.” He says, and Neil grins again, grabbing the pen from Andrew’s hand and scribbling down his number. He slides the paper back to Andrew, puts his pen back behind his ear, and turns around to grab their food.
Andrew turns and walks back to the table, paper in hand. When he sits down, everyone waits on an explanation. Andrew just holds the paper up, showing Neil’s number, and they all immediately start talking.
“What the hell did you say to him?” Allison asks, confused.
“He just gave it to you?! He didn’t even say a word!” Nicky complains, throwing his hands up.
“He didn’t get a date, he just got his number.” Kevin argues, and Andrew raises an eyebrow.
Neil makes his way to their table, carrying their plates, grinning at Andrew the whole time. When he passed their food out, Andrew catches him by the wrist before he can walk away. “Wednesday. 9:00.” Andrew says, and Neil nods.
“I’ll pick you up.” Neil says, nodding. Andrew nods and releases his wrist, and Neil walks back towards the bar top.
Everyone’s silent for a minute before Nicky’s complaining again. “How the hell?” He asks, confused.
“There’s no way it was that easy.” Allison says, shaking her head.
“Pay up.” Andrew says, holding out his hand. Everyone puts $100 in his hand, and he pockets it, a smug look on his face. They all shake their heads in defeat, and start eating, a few still complaining about how Andrew so easily got Neil’s number. Andrew and Renee both stay silent, Renee grinning at him from across the table.
When it comes time to pay, they all hand their cards to Neil in the booklet with their checks. Neil looks at Andrew when he doesn’t pay up. “Just because we’re going out doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay.” Neil says, an eyebrow raised.
Andrew reaches into his pocket and pulls out his card, sliding it into the holder, and handing the booklet to Neil. Neil grins and walks off, closing each of their tabs.
While he’s doing that, Andrew rolls his eyes at Renee, and she grins back. Neil walks back to the table and hands their receipts and cards back, passing out a few pens to sign with. Neil hands Andrew the one behind his ear. Andrew takes it, and before Neil can walk away, grabs his wrist again. Neil stays put, looking at Andrew expectantly. The whole table watches as Andrew reaches into his pocket and pulls out a hundred-dollar bill, putting it into Neil’s apron.
Neil rolls his eyes, the whole table stares with wide eyes, and then Andrew lets a small smile, he then says something in a language that nobody else at the table can understand. “Thanks for playing along, bunny.” Andrew says, still holding onto Neil with two fingers hooked in his apron.
“Will I get a reward for all of this?” Neil asks, in the same language.
“Since when do you speak Russian?” Aaron asks, confused.
Andrew ignores him, “I suspect you will.” Andrew tells Neil, and Neil grins. “Yes or no?” Andrew asks, switching back to English.
Neil raises an eyebrow, “Yes.” He says, and then he leans down and presses their lips together. Neil’s hand is immediately in Andrew’s hair, and Andrew’s hands are on Neil’s waist. The whole table freaks out, as they probably should.
When Neil pulls back, he grins. “See you Wednesday?” He asks, his hand still in Andrew’s hair, carding through the blonde strands.
“See you then, bunny.” Andrew says, not bothering to switch languages. Everyone catches the pet name, but Nicky’s the only one to address it.
“Bunny?” He asks, confused.
“Oh yeah,” Neil says, as if the thought just occurred to him. “Thanks for paying for our next date.” He says, and then reaches into Andrew’s pocket to grab out a hundred. Andrew rolls his eyes, “Thanks Renee, here you go.” He says, handing the bill back to her.
“Of course, Neil. See you Wednesday?” She asks, and Neil nods.
“See you then.” He smiles. He looks back at Andrew with a grin, and then heads for the bar top again.
“You two know each other!” Allison accuses, and Andrew shrugs.
“No, that’s not fair.” Kevin says, shaking his head.
“You never asked.” Andrew shrugs, standing up from the table.
“Renee, you knew?” Allison asks, obviously offended.
“I’m surprised none of you knew.” She says, shrugging as she takes one last sip of her drink.
“You have a boyfriend and didn’t tell me?” Nicky asks, obviously a little upset about it.
“You never asked.” Andrew says again, rolling his eyes.
“You made me look like a fool.” Kevin complains, shaking his head as he stands up.
“You don’t need help to do that.” Andrew says, walking towards the door. He sends a wink to Neil, and Neil grins in return.
“Nice to meet you all!” Neil says, and everyone awkwardly waves, following Andrew outside.
“So unfair.” Allison says under her breath, shaking her head.