Chapter Text
-That Night-
The evening air is crisp, the campus pathways lit by warm streetlights as Lukas and Petra walk back to their dorms. They don’t share a room for obvious reasons, but their buildings are linked, so they’re able to accompany one another without any problems.
Their last classes of the day have just ended. The sound of their footsteps fills the quiet space between them until Lukas nudges Petra’s arm lightly.
“So, whatcha think about Jesse?” he asks casually. “She’s pretty cool, right?”
Petra snorts, shifting the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder. “Yeah. I think so.” She smirks, “You two seem fit for each other.”
Lukas grins at that. “Yeah. Here’s hoping.”
Silence falls for a beat or two. As Lukas looks over at Petra though, something catches his eye—just for a second. The faintest hint of red dusts the tips of her ears, and her teeth are gently grazing her bottom lip, as if she’s deep in thought.
Lukas raises a brow. “You good?”
Petra immediately perks up. “Yeah, why?”
Lukas is quiet for a moment. Gears start to slowly turn in his head. “I dunno. You’re… kinda red.”
At this, Petra immediately scoffs. “It’s cold, dude.” She turns her face slightly away.
This does nothing to change Lukas’ mind. “…You’re sure ?”
“Yes,” Petra answers flatly, uncharacteristically defensive.
Interesting. Unconvinced, Lukas keeps watching her as they walk, letting more silence stretch, just long enough to make her shift uncomfortably.
Then, he decides to go on. “Well, anyways—yeah, she’s really pretty. I like her style a lot.”
Petra visibly stiffens, averting her gaze.
“And funny,” Lukas continued, “Smart too. I mean, biology? That’s tough.” He pauses, sneaking another glance at Petra, gauging her reaction. Her face is definitely redder.
“I get it. You’ve got a crush on her.” She eventually laughs, trying to sound playful, although her tone is a little sharp, “Cut it out.”
“…Right,” Lukas drags out the word, amused. He decides to press her even further. “Yet you’re the one acting all weird.”
Petra raises her hands in confusion, her eyes sparkling with mirth and...something else. “What am I supposed to do, disagree with you?”
Lukas raises a skeptical brow, unable to shake the fact that Petra is having this kind of reaction instead of brushing it off or cracking jokes like usual.
“Wow.”
”What?”
”I haven’t seen you act like this over someone in a long time.”
Petra acts stunned. Lukas can see that she’s internally panicking. “There’s no way you’re serious. There is no ‘like this,’” Petra has now gone from denying to straight-up arguing. “I think she’s cool, yeah. And I think you two would be great together. That’s it. Quit making something out of nothing.”
Lukas doesn’t answer. He just watches her coyly.
Petra lets out an exasperated sigh, slumping her shoulders, realizing she was successfully baited. “You are so annoying.”
“You’re being defensive!” Lukas chuckles. “And we both know you’ve been ‘keeping an eye out’ for someone.”
“Oh, please.”
“Just saying.”
As they approach the doors to their building, Petra stops dead in her tracks. “Okay, for real Lukas. Let me lay it out for you.” She turns to face the blonde in full. “Jesse? Is your thing,” she pauses, making sure she’s being heard. “Not mine.”
Lukas studies Petra carefully, his easy smirk fading into something more thoughtful as he processes Petra’s words.
He likes Jesse. That much is obvious. She’s cute, kind, and there’s something so effortlessly genuine about her. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t hoping there was a chance there.
But Petra…
Petra had been leaning in earlier today, asking Jesse questions, cracking jokes, being all smooth-talky with her. Something she doesn’t normally do with new people. Actually, she generally dislikes meeting new people.
She’d also blushed at Jesse’s compliments. And Petra doesn’t blush.
Petra has met a handful of girls Lukas has talked to, and has always been friendly. But not to this extent. Not to the point of sparking a potential friendship beyond Lukas being present. And it doesn’t offend him at all. It genuinely surprises him. Kind of intrigues him, actually.
Truth be told, Lukas is far from convinced. But he also knows Petra well enough to know when to drop something. For now.
”So you’re really not into Jesse? At all? Because I wouldn’t be mad—“
”Nope.”
Lukas sighs, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Alright. If you say so.”
“Yeah. I do.” Petra mutters, shaking her head as she jerks open the door to the building and walks inside. Lukas follows close behind.
The two friends exchange their goodbyes and head towards opposing stairwells. As Lukas makes his way to his dorm, he presses his lips together in thought.
That was really, really odd. Lukas has known Petra for years, and something was clearly on her mind. Something related to lunch earlier.
…
Okay. So.
Two plus two is four, the sky is blue, and if anything, Petra might like Jesse. Just a little bit.
Despite Petra saying otherwise, Lukas honestly wonders if his own little crush even stands a chance.
It’s worth a shot.
———
“You going out to see your boyfriend?”
“I— what?” Jesse glares. “I’m going to class, Liv. And stop calling him that.”
Laying in her bed, phone in hand, Olivia laughs. Her tone is laced with mischief as she curls an eyebrow knowingly. “Oh, come on. You’re definitely getting lunch or something with him again.”
It’s the next morning and Jesse’s getting ready to head to her first class. It’s an 8 am, unfortunately pretty early, and it doesn’t help that it lasts until about ten. But she can manage. She prefers to have the rest of the day free, with her classes being earlier.
This class, however, is differential calculus. And Olivia, already filled in on the events of yesterday, knows that’s the class that Jesse has with Lukas. AKA: the “cute blonde” who saw her in the library and invited (and walked with!!!) her to have lunch with him and his friend.
So of course, she’s cracking jokes.
“I don’t even know if I want to date anyone yet. Everything’s still so new,” Jesse says, fixing in her red hair clip and observing herself in the mirror. “He is really nice, though.”
"I'll shoot my shot if you won't," Olivia comments playfully.
With a roll of her eyes, Jesse checks her phone, realizing that she has enough time to chat for a bit. So, she sits backward in her desk chair, resting her arms over the back. “I thought you weren’t into blondes?”
Olivia shrugs, putting her phone down. “I mean, you’re really hyping him up. Plus, all the guys I met yesterday were either hanging in these huge groups or looking to get into the frats being advertised around the courtyards," she paused. "Or they just didn’t talk at all.”
Jesse hums thoughtfully, “That’s no fun.”
“For real.” Olivia sits up, sighing heavily. “I can’t believe you’ve had so much luck already.”
Jesse watches her in silence, admittedly sympathizing with her friend. She ponders for a moment.
“Hey, I’ll text you when we get lunch today— if we even do. I don’t know if it was just a one-time thing…”
Olivia perks up. “Really?”
“Yeah! I don’t know about Petra’s schedule, but Lukas and I have the same hour or so to eat every day as far as I know. So we can make it a regular thing between us.” Jesse smiles. "It'd be nice to have you there."
“I'm down! And Petra is...?”
Jesse blinks, realizing she’d never even given Olivia a name. “Lukas’ friend.”
“Ohh, gotcha.”
At that, Jesse stands, hoisting her bag over her shoulder. “Okay, well— I guess I’ll just text you which dining hall we’re at later.”
Olivia’s smile widens and her eyes soften with gratitude. “Alright. I appreciate that, Jess.”
“Sure,” Jesse heads out the door. “Hopefully I’ll see you around ten-ish!”
“See you!”
———
Jesse steps out of her dorm building, her hands clutching the straps of her bag and her face immediately feeling the bite from the cold. The campus is still waking up—students walking in small clusters or alone, some chatting, others silently contemplating their schedule choices.
The brunette huffs, mentally preparing for her early lecture as she starts her brief trek to the designated hall.
But as she rounds a corner near the main courtyard, she nearly bumps into someone.
“Whoa—!”
“Shit—”
Jesse takes a step back just as the other person does the same. She immediately looks up and her heart drops, warmth buzzing under her skin and something strange twisting in her chest.
Of course she had to run into Petra. Great second impression.
“Oh!” She blurts, completely caught off guard.
Petra’s eyes go wide as she too takes a second to process. “Oh– hey, Jesse.”
Petra’s dressed in a dark hoodie, the sleeves pushed up to her elbows, her bag slung carelessly over one shoulder. Her hair is slightly tousled, like she’d only run a hand through it a few times before heading out.
Her hands are tucked into her jeans, likely to avoid the brisk air, but that isn’t what draws Jesse’s eyes downward.
What does — is the intricate tattoo on Petra’s right forearm.
“Didn’t mean to run into you like that,” Petra says, cutting off Jesse’s train of thought. She blinks slowly, clearly a bit tired as she rubs a hand over her face. “Sorry about that.”
“No! No, you’re fine,” Jesse waves a hand, offering an assuring smile. She hates how red her face probably is, but thankfully, she can just blame it on the cold. “I wasn’t really paying attention.”
“That makes two of us. I’m barely awake.” Petra grins, then lets out a shuddering breath, squinting her eyes as a gust of wind hits. “ Damn, it’s cold.”
Much to Jesse’s disappointment, she proceeds to pull down each of her hoodie sleeves, rubbing her hands together in an attempt to keep warm. “Yeah…” Jesse murmurs, glancing behind her for a moment to guess where Petra had been headed. Sure enough, there’s another educational hall across the street. She can’t make out which one it is, though. “You cursed yourself with an 8 am too?”
“Pff, yeah,” Petra chuckles. “Just to knock out Econ. It’s not too bad.”
The cold starts to really nip at Jesse’s skin. But she doesn’t want to leave just yet. Just like yesterday, Jesse can’t help but feel this odd pull to her.
“What about you?” Petra inquires. Before Jesse can respond though, she suddenly perks up. “Oh! Right. You’re stuck in calc with my bonehead of a friend.”
The comment makes Jesse laugh. “Yep. That’s the one.”
Petra watches Jesse with amusement and something else that makes her heart flutter. “He likes you, y’know.”
“I…kinda picked up on that,” Jesse answers shyly, although the way Petra says it does pique her curiosity. Regardless, Jesse shrugs, “I’m not against it. Just want to navigate this whole… thing, first.”
Petra seems to hesitate before she nods in understanding. “Yeah, I hear you.” Then, she shivers, muttering a curse under her breath. “ Whew, okay. I’m freezing.”
Jesse can’t help but second her there. Despite her lingering disappointment, she gets ready to say her goodbyes.
“Here, I’ll walk you to class.”
Jesse’s heart flips.
“What?” She blurts, sounding (and probably looking) like a deer in headlights.
“I can walk you to class,” Petra repeats casually. “Mine starts at 8:30, so I've got time,” she shrugs. She turns around, offering a friendly grin over her shoulder. “I mean—unless you’re in a hurry.”
Petra continues to look at Jesse, waiting, and it’s at this exact moment that the shorter girl realizes how attractive she is.
…Shit.
Jesse never understands how she manages to find her voice in these kinds of situations. “Nope! Not at all,” she answers, clearing her throat and internally begging her heart to stop racing. “Just uh, didn’t hear you the first time. Sorry.”
It’s so obviously a lie. If Petra catches onto it, she chooses not to comment.
“All good.”
———
As they start walking, Jesse struggles to keep herself focused.
Being side-by-side with her, Jesse realizes just how much taller Petra is. Jesse stands by what she’d said yesterday: Petra is intimidating. But only at a glance. Right now, as they make conversation, Jesse can’t help but feel comforted by the sound of her voice.
On top of that, being right beside Petra, faint traces of coffee and some kind of cologne fill Jesse’s senses. She finds that strangely comforting, too.
“So,” Petra starts, glancing slightly down at her. “What other classes do you have today?”
Jesse exhales, watching her breath fog up in the cold. “Um…well, after calc, I’ve got a break. Then my literature class at twelve-ish, then environmental law at three.” She laughs, “ That’s my longest one.”
“Damn. How long are we talking?”
“Two hours.”
Petra makes a face. “That’s rough.”
“Tell me about it,” Jesse mutters, letting out a heavy sigh. “What about you?”
Petra grins, “Econ now, business law at two, and then accounting after,” she lists off. “It’s a pretty chill day for me.”
Jesse side-eyes her. “That’s your definition of ‘chill’? With those classes?”
Petra chuckles. “Compared to my Tuesdays? Absolutely.” Catching Jesse’s curious look, she explains, “I work at the shop right after classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It gets pretty exhausting.”
Jesse hums in immediate understanding, having forgotten about Petra’s job. She feels an urge to ask more about it but decides against it for now. “Okay, fair.”
They cross a biking path together. Once they hop the curb, Petra waits a few moments before continuing. “What time do you usually get done with everything? I mean, so far, I guess.”
Not expecting the question, Jesse thinks for a second, immensely grateful that Petra has taken on leading the conversation. “Technically five, except for on Fridays. No environmental,” she adds, “but I’ll probably start sticking around the library after classes most days.”
Petra nods. “You’re a library person?”
“Yeah, usually,” Jesse smiles, “I like the quiet. It helps me focus.”
Petra hums in acknowledgment. “Noted.”
At that, Jesse blinks, feeling warmth creep up her neck. “…Noted?” She prays that Petra doesn’t notice the way her breath hitches.
“Yeah,” Petra grins. “I’ll tell Lukas how to find you. Help the guy out.”
Oh. “Right,” Jesse manages, doing her best to sound casual as she lets out a soft laugh. “I’m sure he’d be there anyway. He told me he likes it there.”
“That he does,” Petra affirms, slowing her pace as the two approach the hall entrance. “We’re very different, me and him. When I’m getting my hands dirty with cars, he’s always nose-deep in books. He’s been that way for a while.”
Petra then pulls open the door, stepping to the side to let Jesse in first. The rush of warm air is a welcome relief from the cold outside.
With a grateful nod, Jesse walks past her. “Thanks,” she murmurs, stepping inside.
“No problem,” Petra replies easily, following her in. Jesse can feel her get a bit closer as she does so, closing the door behind them. It makes her heart feel all the lighter.
They pause just past the doorway, students moving around them as they head to their classes. Jesse adjusts her bag on her shoulder while Petra shoves her hands into her pockets, rocking back on her heels.
For a few moments, Jesse doesn’t move, her brain feeling scrambled. She isn’t sure how many seconds pass before Petra gently nudges her on the shoulder.
Jesse turns, “Hm?”
“Lead the way,” Petra says, her words laced with amusement. “I mean, I don’t know where your class is.”
Jesse freezes. Then, she feels embarrassment wash over her like an ice-cold tidal wave. Of course she doesn’t.
I’m being ridiculous. She’s just another student. You’ve made new friends before. Stop being so nervous! Stop staring at her!
Say something!
“Right, sorry. Sorry.” Hurriedly, Jesse turns back around and starts walking, knowing her face is even redder and now very aware that she can no longer blame it on the cold.
She hears Petra laugh. “You say sorry a lot,” she comments playfully. “Still waking up, huh?”
Jesse laughs with her, but all she feels is butterflies. Her tone is bashful, “Yeah, guess so.”
It doesn’t take long for them to reach the lecture hall. Jesse slows as they approach, standing just out of the way of the other students heading inside. She then turns to face Petra with what she hopes is a casual smile. “Well, this is me.”
Petra nods, her expression warm. “Cool. Guess I’ll uh…see you later, then.”
With a nod of her own, Jesse almost relaxes—almost—until Petra suddenly perks up, leaning in a bit closer as if she’s about to say something more. And she does.
“Oh—yeah,” she starts, “you are getting lunch with us again, right? I mean, Lukas said he’d ask, but…”
Jesse’s brain short-circuits. Petra is standing close; the way she's looking at her, waiting for an answer, totally oblivious to the absolute meltdown happening inside Jesse’s head—it’s unfair.
It’s completely normal. Totally casual. Jesse is burning up.
Somehow, she finds her voice. “Yeah! Yeah, that sounds good.” She winces at how eager she sounds, but pushes forward regardless. “I mean—yeah. I assumed we’d do that again. I’m inviting a friend, too.”
Petra grins, seemingly happy with that response. “Alright.”
It only lasts a second or two, but neither of them say anything for a moment. Jesse feels very awkward.
Thankfully though, Petra has one last thing to add. Her demeanor suddenly shifts. “By the way…”
Oh no.
“So, Lukas…he likes the food from both dining halls on this side of campus. And he’s offhandedly mentioned switching between them.”
Jesse nods, unsure of what Petra's getting at. For the first time that she’s seen, though, Petra seems nervous. The taller girl brings a hand up, rubbing at the back of her neck. “He also tends to be an awful texter. Or caller. Honestly, I’m shocked he even owns a phone.”
Jesse smirks at that; Petra scoffs.
“Anyways, I was thinking. If we’re having you join us, and you’re with him before I am…” Petra hesitates. Jesse watches her curiously.
“Do you think you could just…like, text me if he wants to meet somewhere else?”
Jesse blinks.
“I mean, just so I’m not left hanging, y’know?” Petra adds hurriedly. Her eyes wander as she brings her hand back down, now dangling on the strap of her bag. She’s once again rocking back and forth on her heels.
In contrast, Jesse is completely frozen. She just asked for my number.
It should be the most normal thing ever. But Jesse’s slowly starting to realize that it doesn’t feel that way for reasons she does not want to acknowledge right now.
She nearly takes too long to respond, but fortunately, she’s able to recover. “Oh, yeah! That makes sense,” she agrees, her stomach twisting. “I…I could do that.”
Petra lets out a breath, her expression immediately lighting up. “Okay, cool.”
Before Jesse can even fumble for her phone, Petra is already pulling out hers. “Here—you can just put yours in.” She hands it over, fingers briefly brushing Jesse’s, and Jesse swears her entire arm tingles from the contact.
Forcing herself to just calm down, Jesse types her number with only a minor amount of fumbling and hands the phone back, praying her face isn’t as red as it feels.
Petra takes it graciously, her expression soft. “Alright—I appreciate it,” she turns, a vague smirk on her lips, “I'll see you later, for real this time."
Jesse lets out an amused huff and nods back, a little too quickly for her comfort. “Yeah, I’ll see you!"
As soon as Petra disappears within the bustling crowd of students, which takes no more than a few seconds, Jesse exhales sharply and practically throws herself into the lecture hall.
She takes only a few steps in before she hears Lukas calling for her from the same seats they'd taken yesterday. He's waving her over, his smile bright, his tone friendly.
Jesse smiles back as she makes her way over, though her mind is still spinning. She barely even registers the creaking of her chair as she drops into it, her heart stubbornly hammering against her ribs.
"You're looking a little out of it," Lukas comments as she settles, tilting his head as he studies her. "Rough morning, huh?”
Jesse lets out a short laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She pushes her lingering thoughts to the side for now, reaching into her bag for her laptop.
"Yeah. Something like that."