Work Text:
washumissedconnections
September 29
"to the brown haired boy that's always in olin library with five empty coffee cups, you've been my entire study motivation this sem. if i pass my midterms, let me buy you all the coffee you want"
Comments (1)
itzaaliyah: the way this could apply to so many students lol
Fitz wakes up early in the morning just to cram before his history midterm. He chugs three coffees, reviews seventy-five flashcards, looks at two example essays, and silently freaks the fuck out for the entirety of an hour.
There are a handful of other early library-goers, but Fitz doesn't register a single one. His mind is flooded with panic. History is his absolute worst subject. When he glances at the time again, it's already cutting close. He packs his things up, repeating dates to himself like a surreal prayer as he rushes out the door and--
He absolutely slams into someone. Fitz's vision is flooded with maroon. He gets a massive inhale of soft hoodie, something citrusy.
"Oh, woah," says the guy who Fitz had presumably just walked into. He sounds surprised more than weirded out. His voice is nice, tilting on the edge of laughter.
Fitz jolts away, doom crashing down on him as he remembers his midterm, how quickly the seats fill up. He doesn't bother looking at the stranger with a nice voice and soft hoodie, just runs away, tossing back, "Sorry! History midterm!" and hoping that'd do.
He gets an A on the midterm. It's incredible.
washumissedconnections
November 19
"brown haired boy in olin, you're literally so hot it drives me crazy. wyd during thanksgiving break cause i can give you some things to be thankful for"
Comments (3)
aiden_.trn: I think Ive seen a post like this before. Is this the same guy lmao
valsberry: Thirsty af
natbunnies: But actually what is everyone doing during break am I the only one staying on campus..?
Fitz goes to Olin this evening, only one cup of coffee because he just needs to get a start on his Philosophy paper. He's in his usual spot, the very end of the fifth table, headphones on, phone silenced. Everything is normal.
Then someone taps his shoulder. Fitz jumps in his seat, an vaguely familiar voice beside him going, "Hey."
Fitz lowers his headphones, looks up, and forgets how to be human. It takes everything in him to stop his jaw from physically dropping. The guy standing in front of him is, quite literally, the most gorgeous person Fitz has ever seen, all freckled cheeks and blond curls.
"Can I sit here?"
Fitz's words aren't working, so he just nods. He feels like he remembers this guy from somewhere, but can't be sure. The guy grins, quick, sharp, searing straight into Fitz's brain, then slides into the spot in front of him. They're facing each other now, perfect eye level.
"I've seen you around here a lot," says the guy, casually. "What is it you're always working on?"
He's noticed Fitz? He's asking Fitz questions?
"Oh, um," says Fitz. Everything he's ever studied flies out his head. "I'm doing... Um. I'm writing. For, um. Philosophy."
"That's so cool," says the guy, who sounds really fucking cool saying the word cool. He shoots Fitz another smile, then pops his AirPods in and gets to work.
Fitz refocuses on his laptop screen, dazed. He feels like he just bombed a test.
washumissedconnections
January 12
"brown haired boy in olin, im never brave enough to ask you out when i see you, it's like i completely forget how to speak. id love a chance to make you speechless in turn, just lmk"
Comments (8)
aiden_.trn: This HAS to be the same guy
valsberry: TOTALLY
shrekkies: posting three times is down bad lolll
skib67: Cringe
The printer isn't working. Neither is the second printer Fitz tries. Or the third, or the fourth. It's not the printers' faults, it's Fitz's for waiting till the absolute last second to print his assignment. He jabs at different buttons, presses START so many times the lettering should have worn off, but nothing succeeds. He's printed ten or so sheets of blank paper, and none of them contain his essay.
The library is about to close. He is close to tears. He is going to fail GenEd English. He is going to drop out of college. He--
"Need any help?"
"Please." Fitz spins around, too relieved to even have a crisis when he sees the same gorgeous blond guy that had sat in front of him weeks ago. He's noticed him in the library often since then, but has not had the opportunity for an actual conversation, much to his despair.
"Everyone's been having trouble with these printers lately," the guy says, walking forward. Fitz steps aside, allowing him to fiddle with the printer screen. "Can I see the file you're sending?"
"Um, yeah." Fitz hands him his entire laptop without thinking. He gnaws at his lip, hoping he hasn't recently searched up anything stupid, that everything looks sufficiently normal, but also maybe interesting in a way that would make this guy a bit curious about Fitz.
"Okay, um," says the guy after a few minutes of clicking around, during which Fitz desperately tries not to be caught staring, "I think I got it. Hopefully."
They wait with bated breath. The printer starts humming. It stops. It starts again, a few buttons now glowing. It stops. And then--
It begins spitting paper out, Fitz's essay printed two-sided. He gazes in wonder for a second, then turns to the guy, trying not to be distracted by his eyes, so pale, so beautiful. "Thank you. Thank you."
"No problem." The guy shoves his hands in his pockets, not leaving yet. "Um, I've seen you around, right? I'm Keefe."
"Oh, yeah." Trying to look busy, casual, he gathers his freshly printed essay, skimming the pages to make sure he'd gotten it all. "I'm Fitz."
"Nice to meet you."
Just as Fitz glances back up, Keefe smiles at him. The entire world stops. Fitz feels blinded. He barely wheezes out, "Sure."
Keefe lingers, like he's waiting for Fitz to say something more. Nice to meet you too! But Fitz just stares down at his papers, brow furrowed in restraint before he blurts out something that will haunt him forever.
"Um, okay, yeah. See you," Keefe says, eventually. He waves as he leaves the room, an action that has no right to be so endearing.
Fitz needs a lobotomy and a shower. In no particular order.
washumissedconnections
February 6
"brown haired boy in olin, i keep fumbling when i talk to you irl and i cant find any of your socials. glad i could help out with the printers but is there any other sort of service youd be down to receive? jkjk unless.."
Comments (17)
valsberry: DUDE
valsberry: ASK HIM OUT THE NORMAL WAY
annieeeok: printers?? fill us in pls
michellinella: I don't think this is the purpose of a "Missed Connections" page. This person has evidently had many opportunities to "connect" with brown haired boy. There is no point in reaching out through Instagram when incompetence is the issue.
washumissedconnections: damn
Fitz is sitting at the fifth table of Olin, telling himself he's taking a quick study break but knowing, deep down, that he is simply wasting half an hour watching ASMR baking videos. It's not his fault. The way the batter falls into the pan, silky ribbons of chocolate, is practically hypno--
"Fitz, hey!" A scrape of a chair, Keefe casually thumping his bag on the ground.
"Um--" Fitz, late to process, jumps in his seat, immediately switching tabs. His cheeks burn at being caught off-task, turn even hotter when he realizes he now seems like he was openly watching porn at the university library. He wants to fold into himself. "Hi."
"Sorry, are you busy?" Uncertainty flickers over Keefe's handsome face. "This just looked like an empty corner. But I can--"
"No, sorry, I just got surprised." Fitz looks around. The library is pretty crowded, as expected for spring midterm season, but there are plenty of other available seats. For some odd reason, Keefe's been sitting near him more often as of late. It's absolutely wrecking Fitz's resting heart rate. "But you can sit."
Keefe smiles. He situates himself with an enviable ease, then peers over at Fitz's screen. "What're you doing?"
"Um, I'm supposed to do Chem."
"What were you doing instead?"
Fitz blushes. "Watching baking videos."
"Oh, you like baking?"
"I'm okay at it, I guess."
Keefe laughs. "My favorite dessert is sugar cookies, by the way."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Keefe's eyes are bright and clear, his nose dusted with freckles. There are plenty of hot guys at college, but none have this magnetic quality to them, making it hard to focus on anything else. Fitz realizes a bit too late that he's staring. He coughs.
Too quickly, Keefe glances away. His ears redden. Fitz feels like an idiot.
"Anyway," he says, voice hoarse. "I'm gonna do Chem now, I guess."
Keefe nods, taking out his AirPods. "Yeah, good luck."
When a few minutes have passed, Fitz sneaks a look out the corner of his eyes, finds himself staring once more. All his Chem problems are gibberish. He can't help but fixate on Keefe's movements, the way his fingers run through his hair when he thinks, how his foot taps in the silence.
A laugh builds in his throat, dry and sharp.
Good fucking luck.
washumissedconnections
March 21
"brown haired boy in olin, please let me know if you're seeing these because i've been losing my mind thinking about you. no quips this time just know i'd seriously love to take you to dinner"
Comments (42)
valsberry: EVERYONE QUIET MY FAVE SHOW IS ON
lanananana89: wowwww lock in bruh
syln_dee: im usually lurking on these pages but omfg this person is totally in love w brown haired boy
foster.soph: wait.
"Hey, Fitz. Where do you usually study?"
"At Olin."
"Hm," says Sophie. "Come here, look at this."
Fitz goes to where she's lounging on her bed. She immediately shoves her phone in his face.
"What's this?"
Sophie sighs, long-suffering. "Instagram."
"No, I mean--Dude, I know what Instagram looks like, but what's this for?"
"It's a missed connection."
He's seriously about to walk away from this conversation. "What's that?"
"Like, this is an account where you can submit messages to people you see around campus. They post the messages anonymously and if people recognize themselves, they can, you know, connect."
"Oh," says Fitz, nodding. "Cool."
"Fitz..." Sophie stares at him, then up at the ceiling. "Right, well, I think this message is about you."
"Me?"
"Yes! Obviously!"
Fitz looks at the message again. "Sophie, a lot of guys with brown hair study at Olin."
"No, dude, it's a series. The other messages have a ton more identifying info, just swipe."
Fitz sighs. He swipes. His eyes slowly widen.
"Holy shit."
washumissedconnections
April 2
"Blond haired boy in Olin, I finally saw all your messages. Meet me at our usual table this evening? I made sugar cookies"
Comments (149)
valsberry: ITS HAPPENING
bajablazterz: when will it be my turn
aiden_.trn: Rooting for yall