Work Text:
Hannah was exactly 6 minutes late to their Study Date. Study session. Study meeting. Not that Garrett was keeping track. Not that he had gotten a snack plate from Tucker or made sure Dean’s door was closed this time. He had not done any of that. They were friends. One would do that for any of their friends.
Pacing, staring at his phone, she whipped the door open, helmet still askew. “I am so sorry. Texting and biking don’t really mix.”
“I could pick you up next time- your bike should fit in the back of my jeep.” Garrett offered. Hannah smiled at him and said she was fine. “Maybe we should listen to some music-”
He reached for his phone again only to have Hannah whip his phone out of his hand.
“Let me guess your favorite band. I will do this for a living, you know. If I get this right you can tell me all about your history of technology class and how cool the printing press was or something. My party trick- cool. History Majors- no party tricks only weird facts.”
Hannah dropped her bag near the foot of his bed and took careful mental notes about his room. Stopping to grab a carrot stick from the tray she used it like a magic wand before stopping in front of him. His knees were spread and it would be so easy for her to just sit in his lap- whoa, where did that come from?
“Well there’s really no horrible music because I listen to it all, so I can definitely say, with ultimate musical authority, that your favorite band is Queen. We are the champions? Mighty Ducks? That had to be a formative song in young Garrett’s life.”
Her eyes light up when he nods, the smile creeping onto his face. “You got it in one, Wellsy.”
His favorite song was Somebody to Love and halfway through making flashcards when the song came on, Hannah grabbed a pencil and did her best lip sync motioning for him to join her. “Study break time Garrett, you can’t leave me hanging!”
No he couldn’t.
**
Garrett was already sitting down with his textbooks trying to get a sought after table in the coffee shop closest to campus. Being public was all part of the plan and as much as he’d prefer to study at his place it made the most sense. Happy he found a table near a window, he grabbed his phone to text Wellsy his coffee order when he saw she was already ordering.
“I’ll take an iced chai latte with oat milk and an americano with two splenda packets. Mediums are great. Thanks so much.” He wasn’t sure how he knew, but something told him that she was smiling at the cashier like they were old friends and it made him feel warm and fuzzy in a way he didn’t like to admit. As much as she hated it, she paid with his black Amex and waited for their drinks.
He held an arm up, waving her over and she happily took a sip of her tea while handing him his.
“How did you know-”
“You always put an ice cube in your espresso at Malone’s. Also you’ve stopped eating dessert lately but you like it sweet. Everybody knows that, Graham.” Hannah replied, like that was common knowledge. It was not common knowledge.
He sipped his drink and watched her excitedly talk about who she was hoping for in her oral presentation. She had signed up to do it early so she could spend more time studying with him.
As friends. They were friends.
**
The captain's practice had gone long and he and Logan were both exhausted. He just wanted to crawl into bed, text Hannah and go to sleep. His friend. His good friend Hannah. While he was frozen in his musings, Logan called dibs on the bathroom and ran ahead.
Garrett locked up his jeep and headed inside, stopping seeing the familiar bicycle on the porch. Suddenly energized, he opened the door to find Hannah waving a piece of paper at Dean and Tucker.
“Elizabeth Graham didn’t raise a loser.” Hannah’s voice rings out from the living room where she was proudly showing off his report card. She walked towards the kitchen laughing while she stuck it to the fridge.
“Garrett! Hi. I was just dropping this off for the fridge. Tucker let me in.” He was not going to look at her lips, or her eyes or her hair that he knew smelled like cherries. The wall above her head was a safe place to look.
“How do you know my mom’s name?”
“Graham Radio Station? Your mom donated a bunch of money to Briar. I kinda assumed that’s why you went here.” Hannah shrugged. “Sorry if I shouldn’t have said that. I gotta run but I’ll see you in class tomorrow.” She kisses his cheek and skips outside into the cold fall night.
He makes his excuses to the boys and heads to bed. He dreams of brown hair and big eyes and kissing under a maple tree in the backyard near the firepit. A welcome respite from his normal dreams of hockey or his father. He wakes up in a cold sweat, reaching for a person who wasn’t there.
They were friends. They were friends. Taunts him until he sees her again.