"What are you still waiting for? I'm done practicing," James said as he packed up his saxophone. Kenneth sighed from his position at the door. It was midday, and most people had headed for lunch in the college cafeteria. Kenneth had come to watch James practice in the abandoned lecture room as he usually did, but today, he had a request to make.

"I'm waiting for you," Kenneth said, making James look up from his bag to stare at him with a confused frown. Kenneth could feel his heart rate quicken. There was something about the redhead just looking at him that made his knees weak.

He had it bad. Very bad.

James frowned half the time he was around Kenneth. The dark-haired man knew that it was his fault, and he could only dream of a day when James would start to smile more around him.

"Why?" James asked, looking away from Kenneth to zip up his saxophone's case. "You didn't even taunt me today, you just watched me practice. Is something wrong? Are you feeling alright?"

Kenneth found himself chuckling at the last sentence. He ran a hand through his dark hair as a grin made its way to his lips. "No. No, I'm not sick."

"Then why are you acting weird?" James asked as he walked over to Kenneth. "Move, you're blocking the way."

"You're being a bit mean to me, don't you think?" Kenneth asked, making James let out a laugh as he cocked his head to the side in disbelief. The way James' hair moved with the motion made Kenneth look away. The sudden urge to reach out and touch James' hair had been strong. He didn't want to do something out of place that would freak James out.

"Mean? Kenneth, do you really think you're in the position to talk about someone being mean? You're plain out cruel sometimes," James said, and although he was now chuckling his words made Kenneth feel uncomfortable because they were true. He wasn't the nicest person around, and he could be a plain monster if he wanted to be one.

"Well, I'm turning a new leaf," Kenneth said, looking up at Janes who now had an amused look on his face.

"Well then," James said. "Maybe you can start by moving out of the way."

"Wait!" Kenneth said in desperation, making James frown a bit. "Are you eating lunch with anyone?" Kenneth asked, ending the awkward silence that followed.

The dark-haired saxophonist watched as James rose a brow in confusion at him. "I'm sitting with who I've always sat with. With Leo, Claire, Marie, and Al," James said in response, making Kenneth let out a sigh as he looked away.

I should have thought this through. Kenneth thought to himself. James always sat with them, what made him think it would be different today? Kenneth eventually looked back at James, biting his bottom lip before asking, "Well, would you mind sitting with me today instead?" The room went quiet as James just stared at Kenneth with a confused look in his green eyes.

"Why?" The simple question from James made Kenneth panic. He stepped away from the room's entrance with lightning speed. His heart was racing, and his mind was already being plagued with the fear that he would be rejected.

"Sorry, forget that I asked," he stuttered, moving away as he cursed under his breath and covered his face with his palms. "Sorry. I'm sorry," he repeated his apology.

"I'll eat with you."

"What?" Kenneth took his hands away from his face at the sound of James' words. He looked over at him with wide eyes, wondering if he had imagined what he had heard him say.

"Sure, I'll eat lunch with you," James repeated, turning to the open door. "Are you coming?" he asked before walking out of the room, and a stunned Kenneth hurried to follow him.

When Kenneth caught up with James, he awkwardly walked beside him, staring down at his feet as they stepped on the tiled floor.

"Are you okay?" James asked as they made their way to the cafeteria.

"I'm fine," Kenneth muttered, and his heart fluttered when he saw the smallest of smiles make their way to James' lips.

This is not a date. Kenneth tried to remind himself. He was now sitting across from James on the two-person table. They were just having lunch in the loud cafeteria. People were talking, and there were others messing around with their instruments and drawing small crowds around their table. There was nothing romantic about the stuffy place or eating barely edible food in the café, but Kenneth couldn't explain why he was flustered and nervous. He watched James eat, unable to touch his own food because of how jittery he was feeling.

"Are you sure you're okay?" James asked, pausing eating to look at Kenneth who was red in the face and quiet. "You haven't touched your food."

"I'm okay," Kenneth muttered as James watched him pick up his fork. "I'm just a bit nervous, and happy," he said, looking away and James just stared on at him.

"Don't you usually eat alone?" James asked, making Kenneth look up at him again.

"Yeah," the saxophonist simply said as a smile made its way to his lips. "But it's nice to have you eating with me. We're basically an item now," he laughed in a sarcastic tone. He wanted it to come off as a joke, but deep down he wanted that—hoped that it would lead to that in the future.

James rolled his eyes at him, but he was relieved that Kenneth seemed to have regained some of his snarky demeanor and sarcasm. The past hour had been confusing, and he couldn't figure out why the man had been acting so odd.

"So, what are you doing after graduation?" Kenneth asked, making James look at him again, his green eyes meeting Kenneth dark ones.

"I'm probably going to join a band, you?" James asked, watching as Kenneth's lips twisted into a small smile.

"I've got a bunch of offers. I'm looking to join an orchestra," Kenneth muttered, reaching out for the saltshaker at the center of the table.

"Oh," James said with a small nod before folding his hands. He had finished his food and was just watching Kenneth eat. "You and Al have been doing great with the contest, will you still be playing the saxophone when you graduate?"

"I will," Kenneth replied as his smile widened. James smiled back at him. Kenneth might be an asshole, but he was a talented one. He was a great saxophonist, and it would be a shame if he stopped playing.

"Can we do this again tomorrow?" James watched as Kenneth moved his food around on his plate. The question Kenneth asked, hovering over them on the table. His voice had been small, and his nervous look returned.

"Sure, why not," James said in reply after a while, and he watched as Kenneth's shoulders visibly relaxed.

When Kenneth was done eating the two left the cafeteria together, and James waved Kenneth off when he got to his lecture hall, leaving Kenneth in the middle of the hallway with a big grin on his face.

This might actually work. Kenneth thought to himself as he remembered Al's advice telling him to befriend James first. Kenneth had almost broken down—twice—while asking James to eat with him, and while asking him if they could eat together again tomorrow.

Kenneth rubbed his aching chest, trying to calm his racing heart before he turned away and headed for his own class. The smile ever left his face, and the cute redhead remained on his mind for the rest of the day.