Study Group Circle Jerk
by Anora Lane
Copyright 2012 Anora Lane
Smashwords Edition
All characters, places, and situations in this work are entirely fictional. Any resemblances to real persons living or dead are entirely coincidental.
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“…and so by solving the equation for x, we arrive at 84,” Professor Green was saying, as the bell began to ring. Startled by the sound, Tim’s head slipped from his hand, where it had been leaning, to almost hit his desk. Overcompensating, he jerked his head back and sat upright, his mind of the fog induced by a mandatory lecture course. He hadn’t been sleeping – in fact, his attention was completely devoted to the instructor, but his mind was too busy fantasizing about the man’s looks to have listened to anything he was saying. He immediately regretted it as he noticed the Professor scrawling a large last-minute reminder on the board.
TEST FRIDAY OVER UNIT 3.
Oh, Professor Green. Tim hated math, but he loved Professor Green. A tall, slender man with youthful style in spite of his graying hair, the instructor’s buttery voice and wide smile always made him melt. Sighing, Tim picked up his books and threw them in his bag. If he could somehow focus on the material, instead of the teacher, he might have a chance of passing the class. At least he had the review session planned that night with Jeremy to help him out.
He gave a long glance and a sheepish wave to the Professor as he hustled out the door. Walking across campus to his dorm, Tim almost lost himself to daydreaming again as thoughts of Jeremy filled his head. They had met at a coffee shop next to his dorm. Jeremy worked there part time, but he always seemed to be there, working or not, when Tim came in for his morning brew. Tim had waited weeks before mustering his courage enough to compliment Jeremy on his outfit. The other had been so friendly and encouraging that it wasn’t long before they were flirting every day. For a guy like Tim, who was just beginning to explore his bisexual feelings, a friend like Jeremy was exactly what he needed. Jeremy seemed not to mind his occasional awkwardness, but gave him the same winning smile no matter how shy he came across.
They had even had something like a date the night before. There was an old film being projected on the side of the library, and the two had sat on the grass watching it together. When the night grew dark around them, Jeremy held his hand, and before they departed, they had even had a kiss. Tim never realized before just how soft a guy’s lips could be. He wondered if the girls he dated before had found him as soft – but mostly he wondered how exciting it would be to go further with Jeremy.
When Jeremy texted him that morning inviting him to a study session with his friends, he had been ecstatic. It was one thing to have a movie date, but to also want to spend time doing something boring together meant you really liked a person. Or so he hoped. Arriving at his dorm room, he unlocked his door and stepped inside. He wondered if he had time to take a shower before he had to leave. He wanted to make sure he looked good for Jeremy, after all. And it would be nice to have a chance to relieve some of the sexual tension he had been building up in fantasies the whole day.
Unfortunately a quick glance at the clock told him that he really didn’t have much time to prepare before he needed to head to the library. Settling instead for changing into his favorite v-neck tee, he ran his fingers through his hair and looked at himself in the mirror. He knew that he looked handsome with his neatly cut, dark hair and his large hazel eyes; even so his shyness chewed at him, making him wonder if it was good enough. Deciding he really didn’t have the time to worry about it, he quickly packed his bag again and headed out the door.
When he arrived at the library, Jeremy was waiting on the front steps. The taller guy’s long, lean legs were draped lazily over his backpack as he read a book in the dwindling sunlight, the last few rays catching and gleaming from his blond hair. When Tim called to him, he looked up smiling, showing a perfect set of teeth wrapped in those velvety lips, flanked by a set of attractive dimples. Tim shivered a bit as he wondered if he would get to taste the lips again that night. The two shared a brief handshake and a hug before heading inside. Jeremy led him up the stairs toward their reserved room, and the two talked about their days as they went.
“I totally zoned it in math again today,” Tim admitted as they rounded another staircase and continued to climb.
“Professor Green, right?” Jeremy clapped a hand on Tim’s shoulder, and the latter felt his chest grow warm. “He’s actually my advisor. I’ve worked with him a lot.”
“To be honest, I’ve got a huge crush on him,” Tim laughed, blushing a bit. “Something about the way he talks just draws me in… even if I can’t remember a word of it after he stops.”
“Yeah, he’s great. Did you know he’s gay, too?”
Tim’s heart jumped at the revelation. “I wish he could help me figure that out instead of math,” he whispered conspiratorially.
Jeremy only shot him a weird glance in response. Before Tim could try and figure out what it meant, his friend said, “Well, we’re here!”
The two men had passed beyond many rows of shelves before arriving at a soundproofed door in the back corner of the third floor. Unlike the other study rooms, this glass door had been completely covered in many layers of old theater advertisements and posters from long-past sporting events. Tim thought momentarily about the privacy the posters would provide from anyone trying to see in from the stacks. Jeremy knocked softly on the door.
It cracked open a peek, and a slim Asian guy with trendy plastic-framed glasses answered. “Hey, Jeremy,” he said, opening the door to let them inside. “Hi,” he added, reaching out a hand to shake with Tim’s.
Tim took the hand and shook it warmly. He looked past the shorter man to see another guy, darkly tanned, sitting at the table in the back half of the room. The second stranger had been looking out the exterior window, watching a pick-up Frisbee game unfold below, but turned to face the newcomers with a smile. He wore red shorts and a jersey top on top of his strong frame, and smelled slightly like he had just come from the gym.
“Hi, I’m Tim.”
“Nice to meet you,” the Asian said. “I’m Lee. This is Grant.”
“Lee is studying Chemistry, and Grant is on the football team. His major’s Psychology,” Jeremy said, as he walked to drop his books on the table. “Tim’s in Journalism, so now we have a pretty good variety of subjects covered.” He smiled at the other guys. “Tim’s got a test in Professor Green’s class Friday. I told him not to worry; that by the end of tonight he’d know everything the Professor wants to see.”
The other guys chuckled. Tim stared at Jeremy, a bit confused. He guessed he just didn’t get the joke. Ignoring it, he walked to the table and slung off his bag, then pulled out a chair and fell into it with a slump. “So, what’s first?” he asked, looking to the others.
“Hey man, no hurry,” Grant said, pulling a chair around and plopping down next to Tim. “I don’t really have any homework today, and I don’t think Lee does either.”
“Oh, sorry guys,” Tim stammered, feeling his face begin to flush. “I didn’t mean for you to come if you’ve got nothing to do.” He stiffened as he felt a pair of hands rest on his shoulders, but then realized it was only Jeremy. His cheeks grew a little redder. He’s really making it obvious, isn’t he? Tim thought as Jeremy began to massage his shoulders gently.
“Tim, I should be the one apologizing,” Jeremy said. “I lied a little bit. This isn’t really a study group.”
“Well, we study sometimes,” Lee said.
“Mostly anatomy,” Grant whispered, and the two started to chuckle.
Tim laughed nervously. “What do you mean, Jeremy?” He craned his neck around to stare into the blonde’s eyes.
“Well Tim, I know you’re experimenting, so I thought this would help. We don’t come here to study… we come here to play.”