Different Dimension

It was the end of the third week of October now, and Zack was writing an essay in the library, having decided to stay late there rather than try to work in the dorms. Students were starting to decorate for Halloween already (yes, already, it was a Halloween ‘week’ apparently), so Zack knew he’d either be roped into helping or just be distracted by the noise. So he took the smart route and made himself a nest in the library.

2 hours in, someone sat down next to Zack with a groan. Zack couldn’t help but laugh as he saw Alex sitting there with his head in his hands.

“Rough evening?” Zack mused.

“Jack won’t shut up about Halloween,” Alex muttered, sitting upright.

“Ouch. I can only imagine how bad he’s going to be hyped up on all that candy too,” Zack teased.

“Shut up, I’m trying not to think about it. He’s bouncing around the dorm like he’s on something,” Alex grumbled, “and he’s not, I’ve been with him for hours,”

“Sorry man,” Zack winced.

Zack liked Jack, he really did. His energetic super-enthusiasm about everything was quite refreshing, and Zack was a cheerful positive guy himself – but he could see Alex’s point.

Alex sighed, before smiling fondly.

“Jack’s incredibly distracting. He doesn’t mean to be, but he gets restless really easily,” Alex explained.

“He sounds exhausting to dorm with,” Zack said.

“I’ll never be bored, that’s for sure,” Alex shrugged, “If Jack was gay I’d shut him up with my dick, but unfortunately he’s straight. So I’ll just have to avoid him if I want some peace and quiet,”

Woah. Zack’s jaw dropped, his cheeks blushing. Alex was so blunt!

Alex just laughed.

“You are so adorable, you know that right? It’s obvious why that Junior of yours can’t get enough of you,” Alex said, eyebrows wriggling.

Zack just blushed a little more. That Junior of yours. Yeah, he wished.

“Martin and I aren’t dating,” Zack reminded him.

“Yet,” Alex shot back with a smirk, pulling a notebook out of his bag.

*

It only took another two hours for Zack to finish his essay, and he was pretty happy with the results. He’d gotten into the habit in high school to hand write everything out before typing it up, so that’s what he’d done, meaning he could do a round of editing when he typed it up. But he could type it up tomorrow – right now he was heading straight to bed.

“How much more have you got to write?” Zack asked, clicking his neck.

“Too much. You should probably just head back to the dorms,” Alex groaned.

Zack frowned, making Alex laugh.

“Seriously, don’t wait for me. Fuck knows how long this will take,” Alex insisted.

“Are you sure? I feel bad about leaving you,” Zack said, still frowning.

He did, really. Alex looked like he was going to drop at any second.

“I’ll be fine. Text me when you get back to your dorm,” Alex said.

Zack just nodded.

“Actually, text someone to meet you here,” Alex said.

Wait, what?

“I’m perfectly capable of walking myself back to the dorms, Alex. I’m bulkier than you are,” Zack pointed out.

Why would he need anyone to walk him?

“Please? You can’t ever be too safe,” Alex said.

There was something in Alex’s big pleading eyes that made Zack sigh but pull out his phone. Who would come and walk him at this hour?

Not Rian. Rian was in a girl’s dorm tonight – and Zack wasn’t going to interrupt that for anything.

Jack was a no go – he’d just want to stay and distract Alex.

He couldn’t ask Sierra and Tay – it was way worse for girls to walk around campus at night.

So…Martin? Could he do that? He probably could, right? If he played it cool, obviously. Zack bit his bottom lip, before firing off a text.

To: Martin
From: Zack

Hey. This is kinda random but my friend Alex and I were studying in the library and I’ve finished, he hasn’t, and he’s insisting that I text someone to walk with me. If you’re busy, then I’ll text someone else x

Zack chewed his bottom lip as he waited for Martin to reply. He didn’t have to wait long.

To: Zack
From: Martin

I’ll meet you outside the library in 15 minutes x

Zack couldn’t help but smile, making Alex laugh. Asshole. Zack just blushed and gathered up his books, shoving them in his bag before heading down to wait. Waiting would give him a chance to calm himself down, right?

Sure enough, 15 minutes later, Martin arrived, smiling widely.

“Hey,” he said softly, bumping Zack’s shoulder with his own.

“Hey,” Zack replied, smiling shyly, “Thanks for meeting me. You didn’t have to,”

“And let you walk by yourself?” Martin said, raising an eyebrow.

Zack frowned, irritation bristling.

“I’m more capable of knocking someone out than you are!” Zack spluttered.

Martin snorted, rolling his eyes. What?

“You might look it but I know you hate confrontation. It’s not a bad thing not wanting to fight,” Martin pointed out.

Zack bit his bottom lip. Martin’s words sort of made sense, but he didn’t want Martin to think he was a kid.

“Besides, I wanted to spend a little time with you,” Martin added.

Well consider Zack a pile of goo.

“What were you doing before this?” Zack asked, as they started walking.

“I was hanging out in Paul’s dorm. He was hiding from the Halloween decorating,” Martin shrugged.

“You were with Paul?!” Zack whined.

Oh that’s so embarrassing.

“He didn’t care,” Martin said.

Yeah, Zack doubted that. He’d seen Paul’s judgemental eyebrow raises.

“Seriously, Zack, he was fine with it. He’d rather his freshmen made it back to dorms in one piece,” Martin said.

“I don’t need protection,” Zack muttered.

Seriously. He wasn’t a kid!

“But how do you know when someone’s gonna jump your fine ass? I’m certainly struggling to resist,” Martin grinned.

Oh wow. Zack blushed heavily, making Martin laugh.

“I hate you,” Zack muttered.

“Sure you do,” Martin smirked.

Zack blushed even more as Martin linked their fingers together loosely, biting his bottom lip to hide his grin. Okay wow. They hadn’t done this before. Hell, they’d only even kissed that one time, but this was progress, right? Martin holding his hand in public? What did it mean?

No, he wasn’t going to think too much into things. That’s what his friends had suggested, wasn’t it? Just take things slowly, don’t stress. He could be chilled about Martin holding his hand.

The two of them walked the rest of the journey in a comfortable silence, Martin not letting go of his hand, until they eventually reached Zack’s dorm door. Zack fought not to whine at the loss of contact, but Martin didn’t move too far away, so at least that was something. Zack quickly fished in his pocket for his dorm key and unlocked the door (Rian was still gone), before he turned back to Martin.

“You don’t have to leave, y’know,” Zack said as innocently as possible.

Wow. Smooth, Zack. Real subtle.

Martin smirked slightly. “If I stayed, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you,”

“So?” Zack grinned.

Martin laughed softly, stepping forward to rest both hands on Zack’s waist. Zack’s stomach flipped, cheeks flushing with want.

“So, I don’t want you to think that sex is all I want,” Martin said simply.

Zack inhaled sharply. Martin didn’t just want him for sex? That meant…he wanted him for more.

Martin smiled at the hopeful spreading across Zack’s face. Zack didn’t feel nervous, not even slightly as Martin’s hand rose to cup his face, thumb brushing over his cheekbone.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” Martin murmured.

That wasn’t a bad thing, was it? He meant that in a good way?

Fuck it.

“Kiss me?” Zack asked softly.

Zack licked his bottom lip to wet it as Martin mumbled ‘fuck’ under his breath before he pressed his lips to Zack’s, kissing him deeply. Oh wow. Oh wow oh wow. This…this was so different to that chaste kiss after their first date. Zack didn’t hesitate to reply, arms sliding around Martin’s neck, kissing him hungrily like he’d wanted to since they’d first met, earning a soft moan from the older boy. Fuck. Fuck that was a good sound. So good. Kissing Martin was like a fire burning through is veins, making his entire body sing with want, with need. He’d never wanted anyone like he wanted Martin right now. Zack didn’t know how to describe the feelings bubbling up inside of him, but he knew it liked it. Really liked it.

But all too soon, Martin broke the kiss, stepping backwards. Zack would’ve protested, but the intense look in Martin’s eyes told him he was just as into it as Zack was. As Martin just stared at him, the haze clearing in his eyes, Zack’s hand rose to his mouth, fingertips tracing his tingling lips. He’d never felt anything like that before. Sure, he’d only ever had one boyfriend, but he’d kissed plenty of people. And he’d never felt a spark like that.

“I need to go,” Martin said gruffly.

Wait. What? No!

“Please don’t,” Zack begged.

What had he done wrong?

“I’m sorry,”

And with that, Martin quickly walked away, not looking back once.

What…What just happened?