Message Recieved

@Veronica Douglas & @Benjamin Halverson

Because sometimes you have to see which way things would go if they went a bit differently...

College Meet-Cute AU...

That actually stays pretty cute for a long time.

You aren't what's happened to you, but it can definitely change you. For better or for worse.

 

You meet Veronica Douglas at freshman orientation.

 

She reminds him a little of Hannah; she's got that same kind of intensity, the same kind of... Well. She's a little scary. He smiles shyly when she flops down next to him, fidgeting. "... Hi."

 

"Hi. I'm Veronica," she offers a hand. "Bio major. You?"

She tosses her fall of black hair over her shoulder as she speaks, smiling easily.

 

He takes it, a little awkwardly. Not used to shaking hands. "Ben. Computers. I, uh... So are you from around here?"

... Scary is kind of hot, he's just saying.

 

"More or less." She smiles idly. "At least for the next four years or so."

 

"I mean... Do you like it here so far?"

 

"...it's a nice enough city, yeah."

 

"So, um... where'd you come from?"

 

"New York City." She grins crookedly, letting her words come out with a bit more of an accent than she usually lets loose.

 

"... Oh. That sounds... Why'd you come here?"

 

"I heard their premed program was top notch." She smiles serenely. "I plan on going into medical research."

 

"... oh. I... Wow." He blushes, obviously having run out of things to say. "That's pretty cool."

 

"Anyway...You like computers?"

 

"... Yeah. They're... like puzzles, you know?"

 

"...yes. Ones which should have an elegant solution... correct?"

 

"... Yeah. Exactly." He smiles shyly. "Is that what research is like?"

 

"It's what I'd like research to be like," she replies wryly. "But the real thing is far messier?"

 

"... yeah? You... wanna talk about it?" He really does look curious.

 

(( Switching to chunk formatting because hoo boy. ))


".....how strong is your stomach?"


He blanches. "Um. ... I'm probably okay?"


She smiles, then leans in, pulling up a slideshow on her phone and explaining a process of cell harvesting and growing, that ends with an attempt at growing a human heart. Her voice is full of quiet excitement, and it's clear she's passionate about the subject.


He stares, a little green around the gills, but... fascinated. Leaning in so that his shoulder bumps hers, just slightly.


: She smiles. "...fascinating, right?"


"... Yeah. That sounds... really cool."


"I'm hoping to get a grant when I get into the PhD program," she says excitedly. "I want to see if I can find something even better."


"... like what?" He smiles, obviously charmed by her enthusiasm.


: "....regeneration, maybe?"


: "... You think it can really be done?"


: "With effort, I think just about anything can be done."


: "... You're pretty amazing."


: She grins. "thank you."


: "... maybe we'll see each other again?"


: "What's your email?"


: "Um." He offers it, scribbled on a piece of paper.


: She smiles. "Now we will."


: He gives her a shy, uncertain smile. "... that'd be nice."


: "Coffee, maybe?"


: He's turning very, very red. "... Sure."


: "I... I'd like that. A lot."


: "Friday at 2?"


: "S... sure?" He squeaks.


: "Perfect. There's a little place on the corner of 8th and Market."


: He's so, so red. "... okay."


: "I look forward to it?" She quirks a brow, expression amused.


: He squeaks, brain obviously having shorted out. "I... you... me too?"


: "Good."


: She looks up. "...ah. Time to head out. See you Friday, Ben."


: "... see you."


: Oh god oh god oh god.


: She grins, pocketing his email, and heads out the door.


: He goes back to his room and panics, pointedly not sharing any of this with Hannah because oh god, oh god.


: His desktop pings with an email.


: He squeaks. Now?


: It's a phone number.


: He squeaks. Stares at it for a few seconds.


: ... punches it into his phone to call.


: "Um. Hi?"


: "Oh. I thought you'd text."


: "... I'm sorry?" He squeaks. "... I thought you'd email if you ... wanted just text?"


: "Didn't think about it. Thought this was convenient. Especially if you get lost."


"I... th-thanks."


: "...see you then."


"... see you."


Friday barrels for him like a freight train.