It occurred to Spock as he began to prepare the noodles that he hadn’t questioned Jim about his allergies. He knew that Jim had mentioned some. And since Spock’s ‘go-to’ noodle recipe included peanuts, he thought he’d better ask.
He set the jar of unopened dry roasted peanuts on the counter and made his way to the door of the bathroom.
“Jim?” He rapped lightly.
“Come in.”
With a shrug, Spock opened the unlocked bathroom door. Jim, completely nude, had just stepped out of the glass shower and was reaching for a towel off the towel bar.
“Whoa! Whoa!” Jim exclaimed, quickly covering himself.
Spock, face turning a dark shade, quickly backed up and exited the bathroom, rushing back to the kitchen.
He turned on the kitchen sink and splashed his face with ice cold water. He was mortified. He wondered if he ought to leave the dorm for the night. Was that the appropriate thing to do?
He’d have to leave a note of course.
While Spock was still trying to decide what to do, Jim suddenly appeared before him, fully clothed in sweatpants and a tank top. Spock couldn’t meet his eyes.
“I apologize.”
“Didn’t you hear me say don’t come in?” It was just a question, with no censure or anger behind it.
Spock stole a glance and noticed Jim looked merely curious.
“I thought you said come in. Normally my hearing is exceptional.”
Jim’s lips curved ever slightly. “Maybe ‘come in’ was what you wanted to hear.”
“Jim—”
“I’m kidding. Trying to lighten it up for both of us considering such an embarrassing incident. What did you want?”
“To know if you were allergic to peanuts.”
“I’m not. I’m not really allergic to most foods. I’ll eat anything really. I have a touch of asthma they think was from having weak lungs when I was born prematurely. And some perfumes and incense. That kind of thing.”
“Very well. And I apologize again. You should feel safe enough here to shower without being ogled.”
Spock was surprised when Jim laughed.
“I don’t think your very quick peek at the sight of my body could really count as ogling. And stuff happens, Spock. No big deal, really.”
“They you still wish to dine with me?”
“I’m still hungry, so why would I change my mind?”
“Then I will commence making them.”
“Great. I’m just going to sit over here in the living room and respond to some messages while you cook.”
Spock turned to cooking and as he did so, he could not deny, to himself, anyway, that he would gladly ogle Jim given the chance.
Jim stopped at the administrative office after his classes were over the day to see if by chance they had a cancelation or something and he would get a single dorm sooner than they had said.
He was quickly told no and turned away. So, slightly bummed out, Jim made his way to Spock’s place. He didn’t really think he could consider it as his own.
As he approached, he spotted Cadet Uhura leaving, the one who was studying Xenolinguistics and had an attitude. Apparently Bones had been right.
Jim wondered why she didn’t just live with Spock, but then maybe because Spock was a part time instructor the dating thing and living together could be a thing.
Jim didn’t see Spock when he first entered the dormitory so he assumed he was in his private room. He went straight to the kitchen to brew himself some coffee. He probably ought to contact his mother to let her know he’d made it safe and sound and got her chair, but he hadn’t been settled yet in his own place.
He sat at the table while he waited for his coffee and sent her a quick email. Then he search ‘apartments for rent’ near Starfleet Academy.
He’d just crossed off the first two when Spock emerged.
“Jim. I did not hear you return.”
He smiled. “I was trying to be quiet. I don’t want to be a huge pain. In fact, I was just looking about renting an apartment off campus.”
“I assure you that is not necessary.”
Jim shrugged. “I don’t want to cramp your style.” At Spock’s blank look, Jim explained, “I saw your girlfriend leave. I’m sure you two want your privacy as much as possible.”
“Are you referring to Nyota Uhura?”
“Yes.”
Spock shook his head. “She is not my girlfriend except that she is a female and a friend, but I believe you intend to imply a much deeper connection.”
“Uh, yeah. Yeah I did.” Jim frowned. “Guess Bones was wrong after all.”
“Bones?”
“My friend. You know, it doesn’t matter right now.” Jim blew out a breath and smiled. He closed out of search. “So you really don’t mind that I stay until they find me a place?”
“Had I minded, I would never have offered when they made the query.”
Jim nodded. “Good point.” He rose. “My coffee is ready. Want some?”
“No thank you. Are you hungry?”
“Yep.” Jim laughed. “I’m always hungry.”
“I could make us some noodles.”
“You cook too? I’m definitely in love.” Jim winked to show he was kidding but he did notice a little color to Spock’s cheeks.
“They are just noodles,” Spock said, somewhat stiffly. “Perhaps you should hold back your love declarations for after you taste them.”
Jim laughed again. “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.” He took a big sip of his coffee. “Do I have time for a shower?”
Spock opened his eyes to semi-darkness and awareness his bedroom door was ajar and Jim Kirk was standing on the other side, just barely visible in the crack of the door and the light behind him.
“Yes,” Spock answered. “Quite awake.” Now, he thought, but did not add.
“Oh good. Since we’re both awake maybe we can do something together or talk or something.”
He sounded eager, somewhat like a puppy.
Spock inwardly sighed. “Give me a moment and I will be out.”
“Okay.”
“Computer, lights on.”
And his room, well, his meditation room, lit up. It had not been his plan to use this room for his own sleeping purposes.
“No good deed goes unpunished,” he murmured out loud, quoting his mother.
Spock preferred to sleep naked, so he rose, pulled on a pair of pajama pants he had placed in the room for this sort of reason, and then pulled on a bathrobe his mother had sent to him for his last birthday. He slipped his feet into a pair of slippers that had come with the robe. His feet tended to get cold.
He pushed open the bedroom door and walked into the main area of the dorm.
Cadet Kirk, Jim, had been seated at the small dining room table adjacent to the kitchenette, but rose immediately when Spock appeared.
Jim also wore pajama bottoms, flannel ones, and a dark blue T-shirt that seemed to do a lot toward enhancing the blue of his already striking eyes. Spock had not anticipated being so thoroughly attracted to his temporary roommate.
Once again his mother’s oft-quoted saying came to mind.
“Coffee?” Jim asked, tilting his head toward the kitchenette.
“I do not believe either of us needs more stimulation to keep us awake. I have herbal tea, I will make some.”
Jim followed Spock as Spock opened a cabinet that contained his collection of loose tea.
“Not chamomile, please. I don’t like to drink flowers.”
“It is not.”
“Good.” Jim watched him spoon it into a teapot and start a tea kettle. “I bet you’re wondering why I’m awake.”
“The question did occur to me.”
Jim didn’t answer right away, so Spock added the now boiling water to the tea in the pot and carried it over to the table and then fetched two mugs.
His houseguest got the idea and sat down, after which Spock did too while he waited for the tea to steep.
“Had a nightmare,” Jim finally mumbled.
“I see. Do you have a lot of those?”
After all Spock wanted to be prepared if this was going to be a nightly occurrence.
“Well.” Jim shrugged. “I mean…some. I guess, yeah.”
“What is involved in your frequent nightmares?”
“Generally the usual things. Falling, being chased, monsters eating me.”
Spock arched a brow. He picked up the teapot and poured tea into each of their mugs. “Have you fallen while being chased by a monster who wants to eat you often enough for it to invade your dreams?”
Jim laughed. “That’s funny. You’re funny.”
“I do try,” Spock said, dryly.
Jim picked up his mug and took a sip. “Not flowery.”
“I told you.”
He smiled. “You did.”
“What was tonight’s nightmare?”
“I was chained to a wall while a werewolf had his hand on my face.” He frowned. “Or I guess his paw. Claw? I don’t know. He had big beady red eyes.”
“How were his eyes both big and beady? Doesn’t beady mean small?”
Jim laughed again. “You got me there. Anyway, they were red and bearing down on me.”
“Werewolves are not real, Jim.”
“I know. I mean I guess I know. But my subconscious mind conjured one up anyway.” Jim shrugged. “I’ve been plagued a bit by nightmares since I was a kid. Back when Sam was around I’d sneak into his room with him and sleep there after I had one.”
“That is your brother?”
“Yep.” Jim sighed. “I’m okay now. So you can go back to bed if you want. I don’t know why that nightmare bothered me so much but I woke up pretty freaked out.”
“Will you also return to your bed?”
Jim nodded. “I have a big day tomorrow. First classes.”
“Indeed.” Spock took a few more sips of his tea, then stood. “Goodnight, Jim.”
“Hey, thanks for holding the door,” Jim said, as he dragged in the chair to the dorm room he’d be temporarily occupying. “This is kind of heavy.”
The very hot Vulcan stood aside wearing what Jim would consider his “puzzled by a Human” look. He was tall and thin with very dark hair and eyes to match. Jim didn’t know how he was going to feel living with a guy that sexy.
“You brought furniture?”
He had a sexy voice too.
“Yeah. Well, just the chair.” He set it down just inside the door and wiped his brow with his forearm. “Damn it’s warm in here.”
“I keep it set to a degree comfortable for Vulcans,” Spock said. “I will adjust it. Cadet, I do not understand why you would bring furniture with you to my residence when your stay is quite temporary.”
“Jim.”
“What?”
“My name. You can call me Jim. Anyway, I get it I do. But my mom insisted on sending it to me. I mean obviously she thought it would go into my dorm and didn’t know I wouldn’t have one. It’s a Kirk chair.”
“A what?”
“It’s my favorite chair back home. I mean we all have our favorite chairs, right?”
Spock’s brows furrowed.
“We do in my family anyway. My brother used to have one but he spilled all this stuff all over it and stained it and then he wouldn’t sit on it anymore.”
“Cadet—”
“I’m babbling, aren’t I?”
“Yes.”
Jim nodded. “I tend to talk a lot. Anyway, when my mom found out I was enlisting she wanted me to have my favorite chair so I’d get a bit of the home feel, you know?”
“Likely she should have waited until you were settled before sending it.”
“Yep. But you can’t really say no to Mom. I can’t anyway.” He smiled. “Which room am I in?”
Spock turned and indicated the one on the left.
“Cool. Hey, so why did you get a double if you weren’t going to have a roommate anyway? I mean before me.”
“I use the extra room for meditation.”
“Ah, gotcha. I’ll just, uh, move this into that room and then grab my bag of other stuff.”
“I will move the chair, you may collect the remainder of your belongings.”
Spock moved over to the large chair to pick it up.
“I don’t want you to have to go to any trouble,” Jim protested.
“It is no more trouble than anything else,” Spock said, vaguely. He picked up Jim’s Kirk chair like it weighed nothing at all and quickly headed for the room he had designated as Jim’s.
With a shrug, Jim went to grab his duffle bag he’d left just outside the door and then shut it behind him when he reentered the dorm.
He followed Spock into the room that was meant for him. He sniffed as he looked around. Spock had placed his chair on the far side of a single bed.
“What?” Spock asked.
“You used incense in here, huh?”
“Yes, I use it for my meditation. It is a Vulcan incense.” He paused. “Is that a problem?”
“Nah. I mean, I just have a few allergies. No big deal.” He smiled.
Spock stared at him. “Would you like to switch rooms?”
“Oh no. I mean your clothes are already there, right? And you’ve already stayed there. Isn’t this your last year?”
“Clothes can be moved.”
“I don’t want to be any trouble.” Jim coughed. His nose twitched.
Spock arched a brow. Jim was pretty sure Spock was about to announce how much trouble Jim already was, but to his surprise, Spock did not.
For the remainder of September, like August, I am sticking with one continual story…. Starfleet Academy.
“Damn.”
“What’s wrong, Jim?”
Jim’s newly obtained friend, Leonard McCoy, asked as he walked over to the check-in table where Jim stood.
“They don’t have my single dorm room,” Jim explained. “The guy on the shuttle said I was all set, but they don’t have it. And most of the doubles are taken up too.”
“What are they going to do about it?”
Jim shrugged. “I guess they’re looking for someone who can take me temporarily in a double until they can get me a single.”
“Well.” McCoy frowned. “I have a single myself. We can maybe put a cot in it until they figure it out.”
“Thanks but—”
“Mr. Kirk, we’ve found someone willing to share their double with you temporarily,” the woman at the table announced.
Relieved, Jim turned around to face her. “Yeah? Great.”
“Understand you might have to room with this person for up to a month,” she explained. “There are separate sleeping rooms but the kitchenette and bathroom are shared.”
Jim nodded. “Okay by me. I can put up with anything if it’s temporary. Does the guy who is willing to share know it could be as long as a month?”
“Yes, he is aware. He’s in his last year of the Academy and spends much of his time as a part time instructor to earn extra credit.” She peered at him. “Are you Xenophobic?”
“Huh?”
“The person with the dorm is Vulcan. His name is Spock.”
“All right, that’s fine. And no, I’m not.”
She handed him a folder. “These are your class assignments as well as the location of the double dorm assigned to you. The key is there too. We’ll be in touch, Cadet. Good luck.”
Jim turned away and joined Leonard McCoy where he stood.
“Guess he’s a Vulcan and an instructor. Part time anyway.”
“So I heard. That could cramp your style.”
“It’s only for a month at the most. What could happen?”
Jim opened the door to his dorm to his “bestie” Leonard “Bones” McCoy.
“Here.”
Bones thrust a paper bag into Jim’s hands and then brushed past him and into the dorm.
“What is this?” Jim asked, opening the bag to peer in.
“Custard filled donuts. And don’t eat them all at once. You shouldn’t be eating them at all. You should be eating salad. Or broccoli.”
“Salad or broccoli flavored donuts suck.”
“Har har. Where’s the coffee?”
“Haven’t made it yet.”
Bones frowned. “Didn’t you remember we were having breakfast this morning?”
“Well, see, uh, Yesterday, I kind of talked to Spock about—”
“Oh, good. So you got that straightened out, right? You’re definitely better without—”
Just then Spock emerged from the bedroom area of Jim’s dorm. To Jim’s amusement he was wearing Jim’s own robe and his hair was still quite messy. It was a very good look on him, Jim thought.
“Good morning, Doctor,” Spock said cooly.
When Spock came near, Jim put his hand on Spock’s arm and smiled.
“As I was saying, I talked to Spock yesterday about our relationship and he ended up spending the night. I did forget about breakfast. Sorry, Bones. I’ll get that coffee going right now.”
Bones stared at them. “You know what? Three’s a crowd. So Why don’t we make it another day?”
“You don’t have to leave. Now I feel bad.”
“Don’t. It’s fine, Jim. You deserve, uh, well, you know, if this is what you want, I support you.”
Jim smiled. “Thanks, Bones.”
When Bones was gone, he closed and locked the door, and faced Spock.
Spock quirked a brow. “I believe your plan was to show me another one of your secret talents.” Jim laughed and flung himself into Spock’s arms. “Yep. Let’s go back to bed.”
Jim waited to see Captain Pike in a crowded waiting room. He knew Pike was a busy man. He knew he probably should have gotten an appointment. But he hadn’t wanted to wait for that but apparently he was having to anyway.
He felt pretty stupid. Mortified might be a better word. He stared down at his now bleeding cuticles. He’d been picking at them since he’d been sitting there waiting.
And he had to pee. But he was afraid if he got up to do so, the severe looking brunette ensign manning the desk outside Pike’s office would skip right over him and give the next slot to someone else waiting.
“Kirk. Cadet Kirk,” the Ensign said in a loud, nasally voice.
Jim went up to the desk and she sniffed. “He’ll see you now.”
He nodded and went past the desk to the double glass doors. They opened at his approached and he stepped inside.
Behind a large oak desk sat Pike. He hadn’t seen the captain since that day in Riverside Jim got on the shuttle after Pike dared him to do better.
Pike looked up and gestured to a chair in front of the desk. “Jim. Have a seat.”
“Thank you, sir.”
After Jim took the chair, Pike raised both eyebrows in query. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Yes, sir. I have a request to make.”
“Okay.”
“I’d like to be reinstated to Professor Spock’s Merits of Logic class.”
Pike steepled his fingers. “That course is an elective and not required for command.”
“I realize that. But it was a course I found interesting prior to my…being kicked out.”
“And why were you booted from that class, Jim?”
Why?
****
Jim smirked as he read the text from Feeney. It was a stupid text, really, and only mildly amusing, but he responded to it anyway.
So what if I do want to sleep with the teacher? He’s hot. You want to too, don’t even pretend otherwise.
And then Jim located the “eggplant” 🍆emoji on his communicator and added it to his text.
I’ll bet his is massive.
Jim looked up at Spock’s back just before he hit send. He was busy demonstrating something on an overhead screen. Jim hit send.
And Feeney, the swine, burst into loud guffaws.
Jim turned red and slunk down in his chair just as Professor Spock turned around.
He glanced at Feeney who was still making a loud nuisance of himself and then to Jim as Feeney took a second to point to Jim.
Spock frowned slightly. “Why is there an eggplant on your screen?”
And the entire class busted up.
****
“I see,” Pike said slowly. “So you were disruptive, inappropriate, and insubordinate.”
Jim winced. “It could be viewed that way.”
“It was viewed that way by Spock. And he’s not wrong. Request denied.”
“Sir—”
Pike held up his hand. “Spock requested that you not be reinstated.”
“He knew I would request it?”
“Apparently. He also requested that there be no mark on your record for the dismissal from the class. He did likewise for Feeney. As I said, this was an elective course that you don’t actually need so the only reason for you to want to go back is to prove something that no one thinks needs proving. And of there is nothing else, Jim, you’re dismissed.”
“Sir—”
“Jim, I have a lot of people waiting out there to speak to me. And this is Valentine’s Day and I still need to get flowers for my wife. So, dismissed.”
Jim left, realizing there was really no point to arguing further.
He went to the restroom on his way out and then left the building feeling dejected.
He should be celebrating. He would have no mark on his record and it would be one less class he’d have to deal with for the semester.
Too bad he had liked that class and most especially Spock. And his idiotic foolish behavior with Feeney had cost him that. And likely any chance he ever had with the Vulcan. If there had been any, really.
He was only vaguely surprised to find his best friend, Leonard “Bones” McCoy, waiting for him.
“How’d it go?”
“I’m not allowed back in.”
Bones nodded. “Consider yourself lucky because that class was boring anyways.”
Jim frowned. “Anyway.”
“Huh?”
“You don’t need the s after anyway. That’s not correct.”
“Are you the grammar police?” Bones demanded.
“A guy has to have something. Apparently it’s not going to be on my record that I got kicked out though.”
Bones chuckled. “His massive eggplant.”
Jim groaned. “Don’t remind me. I feel stupid enough as it is. So where are we going tonight?”
“You thought wrong. Sorry, Jim. But this time you’ll have to find something to do on your own.”
“Fine. Whatever.”
As it turned out, Jim went home to his dorm room alone. He was, admittedly, feeling sorry for himself. His reputation as some kind of Lothario was mostly exaggerated anyway. And the only one he really wanted to spend time with wouldn’t give him the time of day.
Jim had just opened a bottle of whiskey to drown his sorrows when there was a knock at his door.
Standing there was Spock. One hand was behind his back, but in the other was a brightly wrapped box.
Jim blinked. “Uh.”
“May I come in?”
Jim stood back to allow him inside. He glanced around his messy room. “I, uh, I wasn’t expecting anyone so the place is a mess.”
“That is fortunate.”
“It is?”
“Not the mess part, but that you were not expecting someone.” Spock held out the box. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
His mouth dry, Jim opened the box. He stared at the large eggplant inside. “What—”
“It is my massive eggplant.”
Jim’s gaze flew to his, his face hot with embarrassment. “Uh—”
Spock shook his head. “It is an effort at a joke, Cadet.”
Then he brought his hand from behind his back to reveal a large bouquet of at least two dozen pink and red roses.
“These are for you.”
“I don’t understand it.”
Spock sighed. “You cannot be a student in my class and date me.”
Jim’s mouth dropped open. “Did I…are we going to be dating?”
“I have presented you with flowers and my eggplant. I would think it was obvious.”
Jim laughed. “I see.” He tossed aside the eggplant, grabbed the flowers, and planted a long lingering kiss on Spock’s lips. It was returned most enthusiastically.
“Well that wasn’t exactly how I thought Valentine’s Day would go,” Jim Kirk said to his best friend, Leonard “Bones” McCoy.
“Yeah, yeah.” Bones smirked. “You expected to get laid at least two or three times.”
Jim shot him a look. “Once would have been enough. Who knew they would raid that club?”
“I did. Well, maybe not this exact night, but that club’s been crazy and asking for it for months. All that illegal shit going on there. Just be glad they didn’t lock us up and we’re leaving the station and able to go home.”
Jim sighed as they went through the double doors the Federation Police Department and back out to the fresh air. Sort of fresh air. There was a little bit of sewer smell drifting their way.
“I don’t think they arrested any patron except that dude in the back.”
“And its no wonder. I did say we should cross that place off our list.”
“The Federation’s done that for us now.” It was too bad too because Jim wore a red t-shirt and he looked good in red.
“I’m actually surprised you wanted to go to a club.” Bones turned at the end of the pathway toward Starfleet Academy and their dorm.
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I sorta thought you were seeing that Vulcan.”
“Spock?”
“You know any others?” Bones snorted. “Maybe you do. After all you spent a summer there.”
“Hottest damn summer I ever spent.” Jim grinned. “In more ways than one, I might add.”
“Wish you wouldn’t.”
Jim laughed. “Anyway, I haven’t heard from him. Not since the last time.”
“You will.”
“Maybe.”
They turned to other subjects until they got to their dorm. There standing at the door was Spock holding a dozen red roses.
Jim smiled. “Are those for me?”
Spock arched a brow. He looked vaguely annoyed, no doubt from having stood outside waiting for who knew how long. “They are not for Doctor McCoy.”
“Awe, man, way to hurt me, Spock.” Bones rolled his eyes, went past the two of them, and into the dorm room.
“Been waiting long?”
“Long enough. I was about to leave.”
“Sorry. I was at the police station.”
“Do I wish to know?”
Jim smiled and took the roses. “Nope. But my Valentine’s Day just got a heckuva lot better. Your place?”
“Unless you intend to give the doctor a show…yes.”
“No shows.” He linked his arm with Spock’s. “Perhaps a private one for you. I’m wearing red silk briefs with pink hearts on them.”
Spock shook his head. “Of course you are.” He frowned. “You were not expecting me, why are you wearing—’
“Better not to ask.”
Spock sighed and led Jim away from the Academy campus and to his apartment. A very good Valentine’s Day for Jim.
“Dashing through the snow, on a one horse open sleigh.”
Vanik froze as he heard the hearty singing, his heart leaping happily in his side for a moment.
Jim!
But as Vanik rounded the corner of the hallway of the apartment building floor where his Uncle Spock’s apartment was situated, Jim’s name on his lips, his hope dashed along with the sleigh in the snow.
It was not Jim singing Jingle Bells but rather a delivery man knocking on old Mrs. Miniver’s door. As Vanik watched, she opened the door and received a big box of chocolates with a gold bow from the man.
“Oh my,” she exclaimed, happily. “This will be from my grandson.”
Shortly after this exchange, she closed her apartment door and the delivery man got on the elevator to depart.
Vanik could barely tamp down his disappointment.
Jim and Spock were fighting again and Jim had taken off. Again.
Last time Jim had done this, he had gone all the way to Riverside and Vanik had followed him in order to make sure Spock hadn’t lost the best thing that ever happened to them…him. Best thing that had ever happened to Spock. But…Vanik didn’t dare go to Riverside this time, if that’s where Jim had gone. Though initially he had believed he had escaped the ire of his parents, once he returned to San Francisco, Vanik had been put on restriction for weeks.
So his new plan was to go to his uncle and ask him to be the bigger Vulcan and apologize to Jim. Vanik knew that Jim could be, as Uncle Spock and his own Father, Sybok, said, “a hot head”, however, now was not the time to fight over who was in the wrong. The important thing was getting Vanik’s favorite Uncle by marriage where he belonged.
Vanik marched over to the door of Spock’s apartment and knocked on the door.
It took ages but finally Spock answered the door, peering out through a thin slit.
“Uncle Spock—”
“Not now, Vanik.”
Through the small opening, he could see that Spock’s hair looked messy and he wore only a bathrobe with no shirt.
“But—”
“It is not a good time.”
And then it occurred to Vanik. His uncle, his beloved relative, had cheated on Jim. Even now was cheating on him.
“This is unacceptable!” Vanik heard himself yell before he could stop himself. No wonder Jim had left Spock.
The door opened wider and Spock stared out at him.
“What?”
Vanik blinked uncertainly. This was well above his age range. This was adult problems he did not want to become involved in.
“I—:
“Bells on bob tail ring, making spirits bright…”
Eyes wide, Vanik’s heart leapt once more.
“Jim?”
And like a holiday miracle, Jim came out of the bedroom in Spock’s apartment, also wearing a bathrobe, his hair wet as though from a shower.
“Hey kiddo.”
“You are here!”
Jim glanced at Spock, smiling quizzically. Spock shrugged.
“I thought…I had been led to believe…that is, were you not fighting?”
“We made up,” Jim replied, his smile widening.
“I-I see. I am well pleased.” Vanik stepped back, feeling himself blush. He had been wrong about everything, clearly, and stepped into something a kid like him had no business stepping into. “I will be on my way now.”
“See you tomorrow for Christmas movies?”
“Yes,” Vanik replied. “That would be most welcome.” And for once, Vanik definitely did not wish to stick around.
