Chapter Text
The sun shone brightly overhead as Dean made his way through the quad towards the campus dormitories. He clutched the strap of his backpack at his chest as he walked along the green grass.
To make himself look occupied amongst the many students in the quad, he stretched out his left arm to check the time. It was 3:58. He’d left the engineering building at 3:30 and his legs were burning from the lengthy walk he faces everyday.
He was halfway across the quad when someone called his name.
“Dean? Is that you?” it was a voice that he had hoped would never be directed at him again.
Hesitantly, he turned his head to his right to see his ex-girlfriend, Lisa Braeden, standing up from her spot on a blanket. She glanced down at a man who was still seated on the blanket, looking at Dean curiously.
“Lisa…” he said quietly, unsure of what to do. He stopped walking and shifted his body to face her.
She smiled at him widely. “How have you been?” she asked him.
“Um… fine, I guess. And you?” Dean cleared his throat. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been great, really great, in fact.” Her eyes widened, as if she had remembered something. “Dean, this is Maxwell Hill. He’s my boyfriend.” Her hands gestured to the man who was currently standing up from his spot on the blanket he and Lisa had been sitting on.
Maxwell awkwardly waved at Dean. “It’s nice to meet you, Dean. I’ve heard some about you from Lisa.”
That made Dean feel uncomfortable. Well, more uncomfortable in this already uncomfortable situation. He didn’t know what to say, so he stayed quiet.
“So, how have you been? Romantically speaking?” Lisa asked, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
Dean wanted to laugh. Was she seriously asking him if he had moved on? After what she put him through a year ago, how could he? He was about to tell her that, no, he had not seen anyone new, even though a few people had made it known that they had wanted to. But something about the way that Maxwell was standing so close behind Lisa made Dean feel weak. So he lied.
“I-I’ve been good,” he smiled nervously, thoughts racing as he tried to come up with something fast. If he told her he was dating a girl, she would maybe be interested in finding out who she was. Maybe if he told her he was dating a guy, she would leave the subject alone. During the two years they had been together, he revealed to her that he was bisexual, and she acted pretty nonchalant about it. But maybe she wouldn’t asked at all.
“Oh? Seeing anyone at the moment?” she asked.
He nearly cursed aloud. He thought quickly on what to say. “Yeah, actually. I am. A guy,” he said shortly, only looking at Maxwell briefly to see his reaction. He didn’t have one, and Dean figured that maybe that was something Lisa had told Maxwell about him.
“Really? I’d love to meet him, Dean! How about we go out on a double date?” Lisa asked, eyes sparkling with excitement, and Dean’s heart gave a painful squeeze.
He panicked shortly, but he was too embarrassed to admit the truth. “Sure. Let me in on the details later.”
Lisa smiled happily. “Number still the same?” she waited for him to nod. “I’ll text you.”