fandomtownies | The Perk, Mid-morning Thursday

As promised, Isabel arrived just a few minutes later, her make-up carefully done now that her eyes were healed up. She ordered an extra large mocha and a lemon-raspberry muffin, then took a seat at Andrew's table.

"Hi!"

"Hey! Fancy running into you here!" Andrew took a bite of his cookie. He had no idea how to start this conversation.

"So did you see the play?"

Isabel stirred some extra sugars into her mocha and shook her head. "I didn't. I only got back late Saturday night so I missed it. What happened? Fairies again?"

"Fairies? No, no fairies. It was really good. At least I thought it was. I was, um, in it. Nothing major, just the lead." He took a sip of his hot chocolate.

"So how was home?"

"Did anyone tape it? I'd love to see it. Especially if you were the lead." Now Isabel felt doubly bad for missing it.

"Home was home. I did what I could and now I'm back. It's good to be back."

"I don't know if anyone taped it. I should have totally taken care of that! There was just so much going on that weekend. And, of course, that entire me not being me thing." Andrew seemed a little distressed.

"I'll have to ask Troy about the video. I hope he took care of getting it recorded."

"You not being you? Fandom weirdness?" Isabel asked. It wouldn't be the first case she'd seen.

"I turned into John Sheppard for a couple of days. It was... well, weird. But I turned back into regular little ol' me on Sunday, so it's all good."

And took another bite of his cookie and chewed thoughtfully. "So I, um... I kind of have a crush."

"I spent a week as a dog. I'd rather be John Sheppard. At least then I'd have thumbs," she said casually, before taking a sip of her mocha.

"Oh? On who?" This was definitely something to focus on.

[Dear Gmail. Please do not be sticking my notifications in the spam folder where I do not notice them. kthnx? No love. Me]

"A dog! You were a dog and I didn't know? I'm a horrible little brother." Andrew frowned, but that frown soon turned into a little grimace when he saw Neil walk into the perk.

"Um... ah..." He tried not to stare at Neil, but he couldn't help but admire him.

Then he remembered what he and Izzy were talking about and replied, "Oh, just someone from school." He was definitely not looking at Niel now.

"Nobody did. I was trapped in the Jerries' store till I turned back," Isabel assured him. "It was a long week."

She followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. Yeah, definite eye candy.

"Do you think there's any chance it's mutual?"

Andrew glanced at Neil again. "Oh gods, I hope it is," he replied, sighing a little.

"I'm just no good at this kind of thing, Isabel. I've never been in a relationship. I've never been on an official date!"

"So start simple," she said. "Ask him, or her," just in case she wasn't reading the sighs right. "Out for coffee and just take things from there. Going on a date is just like going out with friends only with a little bit more umph to it."

"Well, we've done the going out thing. We just haven't called it a date. I, um, I even brought him flowers last time." Andrew squirmed a little when he admitted that.

"I guess the fact that he's still talking to me is a good sign, right?"

"Flowers are sweet," Isabel assured him. "And yes, if he's still talking to you, that's a very good sign." She glanced towards Neil then back towards Andrew, "I don't know him well, but he seems like a really nice guy."

"You know who it is?" Andrew glanced nervously towards Neil again. "Did someone say something? Did you, um, hear a rumor?"

"I have suspicions," she explained. "But I won't say anything. I understand wanting to take things slow." Of course she and Peter were currently redefining slow, but she didn't have a problem with that.

"But I don't want to take things slow," Andrew replied. "I'm so ready to do this. I mean, back in Sunnydale, I never would have dreamed... well, lets just say that once you've been beaten up a few times and had a penis drawn on your face with a permanent marker, you learn to keep certain things bottled up." Not to mention how much his aunt had laughed at him when he came home.

That was a problem Isabel never really had, something about being tall, blonde and built. "Well it depends on your definition of slow I guess. What exactly do you want to happen."

Andrew shrugged. "I guess I just want to be open about it -- call it what it is." It sounded so simple when he just put it out there like that... so simple and yet so big to him.

"Well you're in the right place for that," she nodded. "I've never once heard of anyone here having a problem with who anyone else wanted to date. It's always been about who makes you happy."

Andrew smiled. He totally made up his mind then and there to be honest with Neil about what he was looking for. "Thanks, Izzy. You're a peach."

Isabel smiled. "Glad I could help. And if there's anything else I can do, you better let me know. That's what I'm here for!"

Perhaps at some convinent point when Andrew might have a moment alone, Neil happened to come into the Perk to treat himself to a chai tea.

He had been fairly busy this past week, finishing up classes and getting an idea of what he wanted to take in the Fall so he hadn't been out as much as usual.

He might have also been still floating on a cloud as a result of the play!

Andrew had totally noticed Neil from the second he came through the door. No, this wasn't awkward at all.

As soon as he said his goodbyes with Izzy, he hopped up and came over to sit with his friend. "Hiya stranger."

Neil had definitely noticed Andrew but seeing he was talking to someone, he hadn't wanted to interupt. This in no way kept him from being inwardly gleeful when Andrew came over.

Smiling warmly at the other boy, Neil's eyes lit up as it dawned on him that Andrew was .. well ... Andrew!

"Andrew! You're you again!" From the tone of his voice it might be obvious that Neil prefered Andrew!Andrew over John!Andrew.

Andrew blushed a bit and tried to drain another drop from his empty mug.

"It's good to be me again. And it's good seeing you again. It's something that doesn't happen nearly enough."

Blushing a bit, Neil sat back and cradled his tea.

"I'm sorry about that. I got caught up in finishing up the workshops this week and then ... being in the play, brought back a lot of memories, good and some not so good. I've been trying to sort out my own head a bit."

Not wanting to dwell on this, however, he gave Andrew's ankle a little nudge with his toe.

"You did some awesome work in that play, by the way. I loved that I had a chance to be on stage but got to watch you at the same time."

"It's cool. I totally understand. I haven't gotten out that much these past few days either."

Andrew totally caught the bit about the play bringing up some bad memories. "And, um, if you want to talk about anything, I'm totally here for you. I'm a good listener." He decided not to push that issue any further.

"And how awesome were you! I can't tell you how many times I almost missed a cue because I was so caught up watching you in your element. You're one of the most captivating people I think I've ever met, Neil Perry."

Okay, now that made Neil blush like a mad thing that blushes and he gave his head a slight shake.

"You're too kind," he said softly, trying to get some semblance of control over the way his stomach felt all warm and full of butterflies as a result of Andrew's regard.

Peeking back up at him, Neil smiled softly.

"We never did get to do a cast party. How would you feel about catching up tomorrow night ~~in a totally NOT!DATE ... butdatelike manner~~?"

Andrew took a deep breath and decided to go for it, "You mean like go on a date?"

He bit his lip and waited for Neil's reply.

Urk!

Neil flailed more than a little bit on the inside, till some reasonable part of his mind stepped up and smacked him upside the head. After all, he had been the one talking kissing last week hadn't he?

Squirming a bit, he looked down and then up and then back down and finally back up with a little, shy smile.

"I uh ... guess so?"

Andrew let out the breath he had been holding and beamed at Neil. "Yeah? Are you sure? I mean, we can just go out, you know, like friends do, but um... Well, yeah."

Andrew noticed that his hands were flailing about so he placed them firmly on the table top.

Neil could understand about the hands. If his weren't currently holding a cup of chai they'd totally be doing the same thing.

"I ... yeah, you know. I'm sure." Grinning a little he took a sip of tea to help wet a suddenly dry throat and then coughed a little before asking.

"Shall I pic...err, I mean, shall I swing by your room or do you want to meet somewhere?"

"Sure! Come pick me up." Andrew drummed the table top happily with his hands. "And we will go on a date!"

He loved the way that sounded.

Neil might have been chuckling.

It was, however a sort of omgyou'restrangebutamusingandyoumakemelaugh good chuckle.

Then, just for fun he said.

"Daaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyttttee."

Yep, stringing it out as if to enjoy the feel of the word on his tongue.

After all, couldn't let Andrew have *all* the fun, right?

Andrew laughed. "You, my friend, are too much."

And with that he stood up. "So I'll see you tomorrow. And you dare back out on me, cause I will track you down, even unto the edge of doom."

Yeah, he totally threw in a Shakespeare reference.

The Perk, Mid-morning Thursday

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