This can be read as a standalone or if you want, the third and final part of the prior two.
Next week begins my annual Christmas in July posts.
“So…anyway. That’s my story. What do you think?”
Oh crap.
Jim leaned over his straw, stuck it in his mouth and took a long sip from his strawberry shake. His gaze strayed around the Academy cafeteria, stalling for time as he tried to figure out what Bones had just been talking about and what he was supposed to think about.
But his gaze stopped on the table on the far side of the cafeteria where a Vulcan sat talking to a beautiful cadet with a ponytail.
“Jim?”
Jim returned his gaze to his friend and smiled. In front of Bones was a largely untouched salad.
“I’m thinking.”
Bones narrowed his eyes. “So you weren’t just staring at Spock and Uhura?”
“Well, maybe I was.” Jim cleared his throat. “I think you should insist that she allow you at least three weeks over the summer to spend with your daughter.”
For several heartbeats, Bones stared at him, and for a second Jim thought he’d gotten it wrong after all. He hadn’t been listening, really, but nine times out of ten lately the subject was Bones getting to spend time with his daughter during the break.
But then Bones said, “Yeah, you’re right. I gotta stick to my guns.”
“You do.”
“And he’s coming over here.”
“Who?”
Bones snorted. “Who do you think? I’ll leave you to it. I gotta contact Jocelyn.”
A moment later, Spock took the seat Bones had recently vacated.
“Hey.”
“Hello Jim.”
“Listen, I know I didn’t make it clear the other day that it wasn’t a one-night-stand for me but—”
“Nor was it for me.”
“Okay.” Jim nodded. “It’s just I haven’t heard from you for days and I know you were busy because your folks were here, but I don’t know. I sort of felt…feel…that I’m not much of a priority.”
Spock looked stricken. Vulcan stricken anyway. “I apologize. I am…unused to dating a Human.”
“I’m unused to dating a Vulcan too,” Jim admitted.
“I will do better. In fact, I would like to inquire if you will go with me to Vulcan during the summer break.”
Jim blinked. Moistened his lips. His heart was racing. And he started to realize what he felt was a kind of apprehensive hope.
“Really?”
“I would like for my parents to meet you and for you to meet my parents.”
“I would…” His voice cracked. “I would like that too.”
“Is everything all right with your friend? He seemed to depart abruptly.”
“Custody issues. He’ll be all right. And, uh, I saw you with Uhura. I thought maybe…” Jim shrugged.
Spock shook his head. “She is a friend only. My interest lies entirely with you.”
Jim smiled, touched Spock’s hand briefly with his fingers. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Don’t you have a class, cadet?”
Jim laughed. “It was canceled.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 