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1. Allison is sitting in her dorm, filing her nails with her back propped up on her fluffy pillows in her bunkbed. Renee is knitting a cardigan in a pretty pink and lilac floral pattern on the other bed, while Dan is trying to teach herself the ukulele while sitting on the carpet in the middle of the room instead of in her own bed above Allison.
“Guys, do you think Andrew’s ever been in love with anyone?” Dan asks out of the blue. Apparently, she gave up teaching herself the ‘g cord’ today. She leans back on her hands and looks from Renee to Allison. Dan’s dark skin is especially flawless since she started using the body lotion Allison got her for her birthday.
Allison mulls the question over in her head for a few seconds and catches Renee’s eyes. Dan and her both start staring the pastel haired woman down.
“Renee?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugs pleasantly, pushing her needle through the yarn she’s already knitted together.
“And you’re still convinced that you and Andrew are never going to be a thing?” Dan wonders.
“A hundred percent.” Renee assures them.
-
Allison thinks of Renee’s words when she enters the athlete’s cafeteria and spots Andrew and Neil eating lunch together. Instead of sitting on opposite sides of the table, they sit next to each other, almost touching. Neil is quietly talking, and Andrew seems to pay attention to him. They haven’t spotted her yet. Everyone else has classes, but Allison is skipping today’s English class. That's why they must be acting so openly.
It’s obvious that Neil is the only one this close to Andrew, and not just in a physical way. Allison thinks that anyone else would’ve received a stabbing wound as payment for touching Andrew’s wrist like Neil is doing now.
It looks an awful lot like flirting, if she’s being honest. Not for the first time, she wonders if they’re a thing. It certainly looks like it, now that she compares it to her teammates’ behavior before the thanksgiving incident.
Allison watches Neil laugh, and Andrew roll his eyes at him before poking his cheek right under Neil’s burn scar and making him turn his face away.
Allison decides to leave before they catch her watching and decides that she’s going to make a fortune with a new bet.
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2. It’s way too warm inside for Andrew and Neil to be wearing their armbands under their hoodies, Matt thinks. He huffs at the thought of sweating even more than he is in his t-shirt. Also, Dan likes his forearms too much for him to cover them up. Speaking of the love of his life, she’s currently hurling insults at Kevin. Matt loves her even more, not that he thinks it’s possible in the first place.
Kevin and she are playing monopoly. They are the only ones who are still in the game. Allison and Renee lost not far into the game. Aaron and Nicky preferred playing on their PlayStation in the beanbags. Neil and Andrew are quietly smoking in the bedroom they now share. Matt supposes that Andrew is too possessive over Neil to let him sleep in Matt’s dorm after the Baltimore disaster. He still shudders at the reminder of it.
After a while, Kevin gets so frustrated at Dan that he flips the bord and fucks off to grumpily sit on the couch and watch the cousins. Dan cheers and happily sits in Matt’s lap from where he’s perched on Kevin’s desk by the window. They watch the others, content to just be there with their family.
It’s half an hour later when Neil and Andrew return from their smoke break. They were in the room for almost two hours, and Neil is wearing a different hoodie. Matt recognizes it to be Andrew’s.
Huh. Weird.
He exchanges a glance with Dan. So, she noticed too. They don’t comment on it. Matt very much likes to have all his organs intact. Neil and Andrew wordlessly wander into the kitchen, where he and Dan have perfect view of their two short teammates.
Neil stands on his tiptoes to grab two mugs while Andrew opens the fridge. Neil turns on the coffee machine and pours them both a mug full once it’s done brewing. Andrew adds milk and Neil holds the sugar pot out to him. They’re in perfect sync.
When they drink their coffee, they’re leaning against the kitchen counter, watching each other. It’s probably a staring contest.
“Don’t look at me like that”, Andrew says quietly, missing any heat.
Neil just grins at him and lets Andrew push his face away with his pointer finger. It’s downright gentle.
He and Dan share a look. They’ve seen enough and she pulls Matt away into the living room to give them some privacy.
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3. Professor Willis is specialized in advanced mathematics and Neil Josten is one of the most brilliant students she’s ever had. She says as much to him at the very end of the year. The student in question is currently standing next to her by her desk, looking down at his exam. He got over a hundred percent.
“I’m just saying. I saw your other grades. Your incredibly good at languages, but this? This is extraordinary. I’m stunned and want to suggest that you change your major.” She looks at him with a smile, waiting for his answer.
“Oh.” Neil says belatedly, “I guess I could do that.” The scars on his face have healed a lot, Willis thinks. She remembers the first few horrible weeks after the incident with a cold shiver.
“Think about it, maybe talk about it with someone if you’re unsure.”
Neil nods distantly. There’s a knock by the door. They turn around in sync to see an even shorter man than Josten. His dark outfit stands in stark contrast to his blonde, almost white hair. Willis sees the exact moment Neil’s face softens.
Andrew Minyard has been waiting for Neil after every class for the past few months, showing up with coffee and a granola bar every time. Willis knows that her time is up, and Neil won’t listen to her anymore.
“Enjoy your evening with your boyfriend, Neil. Have a good night.” She turns back to the pile of papers she has to grade and packs her bag. Willis doesn’t realize Neil’s bright red face until she looks up from under her desk and watches as Andrew Minyard, the so-called psycho, softly kisses Neil’s cheek.
Now she feels extremely lonely. At least she has a cat at home.
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4. Jake hates his criminal justice teacher. He also hates that Andrew Minyard is always top of the class, even though he doesn’t even take notes or bring his fucking book. The asshole is also sitting in his row, one chair next to him. Jake always has to see his bored stare when he receives yet another perfect test. The guy’s GPA must be out of this world.
When Jake’s class is finished, he stands up as quickly as possible, he has a shift in the library and has to be there in five minutes. He probably has to run again. Minyard is just as fast to get out of class though. He’s out the door before the last words have left their professor’s mouth.
His shift is horribly boring, but at least he gets some of his studying done. It gets more interesting once Andrew Minyard filters in, Neil Josten at his side. Jake doesn’t think he’s ever seen Andrew Minyard willingly spend his time with anyone except Josten. It’s a well-known fact in this school. The weird thing is that Andrew’s never been in the library before. Jake knows this for a fact, he gets all the library gossip
Andrew is strolling through the aisles and picks out a Russian book. Now that is suspicious . It gets even more confusing when Josten slides up to him and rests his head on Minyard’s shoulder. Now that’s just gay. Jake scoffs.
That was the wrong move. Minyard ignores him while Josten shoots daggers at him.
Literally .
Jake sees the knife coming before he can move. It pins the sleeve of his hoodie to the wall behind him.
“Got a problem?” Josten drawls. “I could help.”
Jake knows about the Baltimore thing. He really knows. He can see murder in Neil’s eyes.
“It’s fine, he’s in my class he’s harmless.” Andrew says without looking up from the book.
Neil strides towards him, rips the knife from the wall and glares at him. He walks back to Andrew. “Stop trying to fight everyone.”
“Nah I like a challenge.” He says and winks at Minyard.
“Idiot. Grab the book and move your ass.” Andrew mutters.
Neil grins and swats at Andrew’s hand, which is trying to flick him on the forehead.
Gay .
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5. Wymack knew that there was something going on between his goalie and striker before they realized it themselves. It was exhausting to watch – seeing Andrew interested in something was new, but it was also kind of painful, considering all the pining and long glances he had to endure witnessing.
It’s late getting late tonight, and Wymack still has a stack of paperwork to do. It’s a Friday night, for fucks sake, and Kevin insisted on late night practice since there’s an important game next week. Kevin has already left though, Wymack saw him leaving alone.
Kevin had been alone more often lately, trying to get rid of the need to be with someone at all times. Wymack thinks that Andrew and Neil appreciate the privacy.
Speaking of privacy, Wymack is sitting in his office when he hears the locker room door open. His office door is cracked open, and he can hear the two of them talking quietly.
“Andrew”, Neil says.
“Neil.”
“Can I-”
“Yes.”
Then there’s a wet noise. They’re kissing. God no. Not on his Friday night. Wymack sighs and lets his head drop onto his desk, suppressing a whine.
He thinks he’s safe fifteen minutes later. WRONG. Andrew has his striker pressed against the wall, supporting his weight and Neil’s legs are wrapped around his waist. They’re also still making out.
Fuck no. Wymack doesn’t know how, but he manages to get to the exit without them noticing him. He gets out just in time to hear Neil moan Andrew’s name and some other pleads he doesn’t ever want to be reminded of again.
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The next day, Wymack is in his office early. He prepares the poster and laminates it. Sticks it to the wall in the lounge. Gets into the Stadium and waits for the foxes to filter in twenty minutes later. He feels like a winner.
“Coach what the fuck made you put up that poster!” Nicky cackles.
“Dan and Matt must’ve been at it again.” Aaron grumbles.
Neil and Andrew decidedly don’t say anything. They do glare at Wymack though.
“’No fucking allowed’, you're a fucking legend, coach.” Nicky laughs.
Yes, he thinks, I'm a winner.
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+1
The Christmas banquet is different this year. With all the freshmen around, with a different, nicer hosting team and no threats anymore, it’s certainly more relaxed. The foxes are seated with the Trojans, to some of their team's great delight. Kevin is excitedly talking to Jeremy Knox and Jean Moreau. Neil is flanking his right side and Renee his left. Andrew sits next to Neil, whispering to him. Neil’s focus is entirely on Andrew, so he doesn’t hear the others talking to him.
Andrew is telling him about a book he’s currently reading. He adds insightful anecdotes, and his thoughts are surprisingly opinionated. Neil grins when Andrew complains about the main character. “She’s dumb and should just get a move on him.” He huffs and Neil stares at him fondly.
“Listen you fucking idiot.” Kevin says and elbows him. “Jean wanted to ask you a question, but you keep ignoring us.”
“Maybe I prefer talking to Andrew right now, we still have five hours to kill, you know?” Neil snarks back at him. He's not mad, just irritated that Andrew was interrupted. It doesn’t show on Andrew’s face that he’s annoyed, but to Neil he looks like he’s pouting. He catches Andrew's eye and smiles.
Kevin sighs heavily next to him. “You know, I liked it better when your focus wasn’t entirely swallowed by Andrew.”
Jeremy snorts at Kevin’s choice of words. “Anyway, I wanted to ask something about exy, but since you’re right, I'll bother you later.” He turns back to the conversation at hand.
Neil and Andrew stand up not soon after.
“Where are you going?” Celine, their new backliner sub, asks.
“Bathroom. Smoke break.” Neil says curtly.
“Gay.” Jack supplies helpfully.
“Indeed.” Andrew says and takes Neil’s hand to get away from their shouting team.