Chapter Text
Elio hated New York City.
It was always too crowded and too smelly and too noisy and too everything! Most of the times he felt claustrophobic, and would have to spend countless hours in his room trying to calm down his anxiety. This never happened back in Italy. Where the air was crispy clean and the people were nice. Everything was better and simple and just more relaxing. Elio missed his home so fucking much. Not to mention, his parents, his friends, and Marzia, his lovely girlfriend. They were all so far away from Elio and he didn’t know how he was supposed to cope with the distance. He was homesick and he knew it, and every little thing reminded him of home. He had found himself crying more often than he could proudly admit and he only had been in New York for a month.
What a fucking mess.
He regretted ever applying to Columbia and wished he had listened to his mother and went to a college in Italy instead. He could’ve went to school with Marzia and his friends, but no. He wanted to take that extra mile, like always. Prove himself.
What a fucking dumbass.
If he had listened to his mom instead, he would have been having the time of his life. Instead, he’s currently at the Columbia library, trying to work on an 8 page paper because his roommates are having a “small gathering” in their dorm room and the loud music and chatter was driving Elio mad. He didn’t mind that they were having a gathering. What bothered him was that they hadn’t consulted with him first, and told him last minute when people started to arrive. They had invited Elio to stay and get drunk, but no. Elio really didn’t want to get drunk with a bunch of Americans who drank shitty beer and smoked even shittier weed. He didn’t want to be a part of their little group, so after a while of trying and miserably failing to concentrate on his paper and block the noise out, he grabbed his stuff and excused himself.
And now he’s sitting at the library, all alone.
Even though it’s a Saturday night, Elio thought that more people were going to be around. But no. It was only him, his computer and his books. What a beautiful company. He didn’t mind it, actually. Being alone helped him concentrate on what he was writing and it also relaxed his flayed nerves. He knew he was constantly on edge and knew that if he didn’t relax, it was going to end terribly for him.
“Can I sit here?” A voice said. Interrupting Elio’s thoughts. He had been so deep in his head that when he heard that voice, he jumped a little.
“Huh?”
The man in front of him chuckled sheepishly. He was tall and broad, with blond hair and a clean shaven face. He was, to say the least, very fucking beautiful.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startled you.”
Elio stared at the man for a few seconds, trying to make his mouth work.
“uh, um.”
The man just stared right back. Those blue eyes piercing Elio’s soul.
“So, can I sit here?”
Elio shook his head, as if trying to clear the fog away. “Y-yeah, why not.”
The man didn’t hesitate to sit. Elio couldn’t help but stare at the Devine beauty in front of him and wondered why on earth this man was sitting right here with Elio when the rest of the library was pretty much empty.
“So, what are you doing here on a Saturday night?” The man asked, not even bothering to open up his computer.
Elio shrugged, “roommates are having a gathering or whatever. Didn’t want to join.”
“Why’s that?”
“Not interested in their company.”
“Too cool for them?”
Elio giggled. He had no fucking idea where that giggle had come from, but it had burst out of his lips without any premonition and Elio wanted to actually die. Luckily, the blond God didn’t seem to notice Elio’s internal turmoil and just flashed him a vibrant smile that sent Elio’s insides into a fluttering mess.
“No. It’s not that.” Elio found himself saying.
“So why? Enlighten me.”
Elio looked at the blond, confused as to why this conversation was taking place in the first place. “Why do you want to know?”
The blond shrugged his broad shoulders. “Dunno. Talking to you seems better than what I had originally planned on doing.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes, really. But it’s okay. I can leave you alone if you want.”
“No! No, it’s fine I-“ He didn’t know why but the actual thought of this beautiful man leaving him made him panic.
And then another thought swam into his head and made him panic even more.
Why the fuck did he care? Like yes, Elio was well aware that he was bisexual but… He had a girlfriend… He shouldn’t be talking to this man or thinking he was beautiful or anything… Right?
“You?” Blondie interrupted his thoughts again.
“Uh. I don’t really mind.”
“You sure?”
Elio nodded his head. “Yeah.” He’d think about those weird feelings some other time.
“Cool,” blondie smiled. “So, what’s your name?”
“Elio. You?”
Blondie smiled. “That’s a pretty name. I’m Oliver.”
“Nice.” Elio said, ignoring Oliver’s comment. “So what brings you here?”
Oliver shrugged again. It seemed like that was his signature move. “Couldn’t concentrate at home, so I came here instead.”
“Ah. Okay. What are you working on?”
“Grading some essays.” Oliver replied, finally opening up his computer.
“Are you a TA or something?” Elio asked.
Oliver scoffed and shook his head. “I’m a professor.”
“A professor?” What the actual fuck, thought Elio. How could this man, who looked no older than 25, be a goddamn professor?!
Oliver smirked. He was definitely used to this reaction.
“Yup.” Was all he said.
“How old are you?” Elio couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“Older than you.”
Elio rolled his eyes. “Ha, ha. Very funny. But seriously. You’re too young to be a professor.”
“Oh really? You think I look young huh?”
The way Oliver said that made Elio’s insides go up in flames. He felt himself blush and cursed himself internally for feeling this fucking way.
“W-well, yeah.” Elio managed to say.
The look on Oliver’s face told Elio that the other man was finding this very amusing.
“How old do you think I look?”
Elio took a good look at Oliver then replied, “23.”
“Close.” Replied Oliver, flashing him that tantalizing smile. “Guess again.”
“Do I have to?”
Oliver leaned forward, looking Elio straight in the eyes. “Only if you want to know.”
Elio gulped. Oliver was doing unexplainable things to him in such a fucking short time and Elio was truly going crazy.
“25?”
Oliver smiled widely. “Well shit.”
“Did I guess right?”
Oliver nodded and Elio couldn’t help but feel proud over such a stupid accomplishment. “What do you want as your prize?” Oliver asked.
“Prize huh? I dunno.”
“How about I take you out for pizza?”
Elio was perplexed. He couldn’t believe this was actually happening to him. Even though he had no idea what exactly was happening to him. Everything seemed so fucking surreal, and he didn’t know whether Oliver was flirting with him or not. Like, were professors even allowed to flirt with their students? No, right?
“Really?” He asked.
“You guessed the right answer, so yes. Why not? But only after we’re both done.”
He didn’t know what the fuck was happening but that didn’t stop Elio from feeling fucking happy.
“Okay.”
Oliver smiled again as he powered up his computer.