Surprise!!!

[Maira]

There she was, standing at the front of the class talking to one guy, and apparently guarding another. He'd been planning this for months and now he was finally here watching as she pushed a stray lock of purple hair behind her ear. Her hair color had always been an intruiging part of her and with it currently shot through with streaks of red and purple, that most deffinately hadn't changed about her.

Quietly, Lucas walked toward the unsuspecting girl at the front of the class. Once he was right behind her, he reached in and swooped her up off the ground, cradling her in his arms like he was going to carry her off somewhere.

*****

Archer had been shooing off the little freshmen as they'd tried to disturb poor Romi while he nursed a hangover. For some reason it seemed every single newbie to the theatre class really really wanted Romi's seat.... She'd had to resist the urge to hiss at a few of them.

The only thing that -had- kept her from hissing at the other freshman was Cian. He was a very good and very entertaining distraction. Once she'd gotten over walking in on him and Chester in a rather compromising position one time, Archer had actually come to like the incubus quite a lot.

Because she was fending of freshman brats, and because Cian had her laughing most of the rest of the time, Archer was for once completely oblivious to her surroundings. Even Zephyr was distracted by Cian. This left her open for somebody to sneak up on her and whisk her feet off the floor. Her first reaction was to hit the person, as it was likely her boyfriend Chester, but then she saw who it was and she sat cradled in his arms completely stunned for a moment before letting out a very girly scream. "LUCAS!!!" She screamed as she threw her arms around the older student and kissed him on the cheek.

*****

Lucas was very pleased by the reaction he'd elicited from Archer and when she hugged him and gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek he knew he'd done the right thing in coming out to the west coast. Oh he'd missed her!

Just as he opened his mouth and said "Surprise!" Archer leapt out of his arms and got splashed full in the face with a lukewarm liquid of some sort. He only spluttered a moment then he licked his lips and mumbled, "Mmm, caramel machiatto."

[Demeter]

Cian whinced at the girly scream issued from Archer and edged away from their trio of desks. He didn't want to be around when Romi actually managed to pick his head up off the desk. The professor, someone who'd dealt with plenty of Romi, just shook her head and went back to searching through her bag.
+++
When he heard the scream, Romi didn't think, his body just reacted. His arm jerked and he flung the venti coffee cup in the direction of the scream. A few seconds later, Romi raised his head and blinked at his empty hand, still curled around in the shape of his coffee cup. "Huh? Where's my coffee?" at the giggles of a couple of freshman, huddled into a corner and giggling at Cian, Romi groaned and turned around. "Archer! What the hell is going on and who is that and why is he dripping all over the floor?"

[Maira]

Archer couldn't help herself, she was nearly bent double laughing at the look on Lucas' face as he wiped the coffee of himself. When he mumbled something about caramel she just laughed even harder. One thing was for certain, Lucas was always good for a laugh or two.

When she heard Romi's voice practically yelling at her, Archer had to force herself to stop laughing long enough to answer the grumpy vampire. "This Romi-dear," she said while gesturing to her long lost buddy, "is Lucas, a friend of mine from back home. And I believe he is dripping all over the floor because when you flung your coffee at me, I jumped away and it got him instead."

Before the grumpy looking owner of the now empty coffee cup could say anything, Lucas added in, "And it was really good coffee too, though I'm not sure why you let it get cold." Lucas watched and Archer covered her mouth and a big silly grin, and seeing her do so made Lucas smile too.

Then, not thinking anything of it, Lucas dropped his backpack onto a nearby empty desk and pulled his coffee soaked t-shirt off over his head. Once he had it off he dropped it onto the floor, where it made a soft wet squishy plopping noise, and then began rummaging through his backpack for his black hooded sweatshirt that he'd been wearing earlier that morning. After he found it, Lucas said happily, "Well as much as I like the smell of coffee, I think I'd be better off in something more dry and warm than a coffee soaked t-shirt." Then he pulled the hoodie on and smiled warmly at his best friend who was staring at him in a bit of shock.

When Lucas had pulled off his soaked t-shirt right in the middle of class, Archer had watched in part amusement and part jealousy as almost all the girls in the class, and a good portion of the guys, all drooled over her best friend and ex-boyfriend's upper body. Yes he was a fine looking male specimen so she really should have expected the looks but from Cian and Romi? Two of her other friends? That was just too weird...

She had to fight back a shudder at the thought of what either of those two might be thinking about Lucas. As it was, once he was fully clothed again, she nearly sighed in relief. Until Lucas smiled at her that is, then she smiled back nervously.

[Demeter]

When the new comer took off his shirt, Romi could help the appreciated scan he did of the bare torse presented to him. It was just a unconcious reaction to a sorce of stimuli, much like the throwing off the coffee cup. He just responded. When the new guy pulled on a sweatshirt, Romi frowned. He was tempted to shout out that he'd been enjoying the view but that might have scared Lucas and cause the giggling freshman to suffer some sort of overgiggled..problem...

At a bout of giggling after the half naked boy, somewhat of a delayed reaction from the freshman corner, Romi groaned and laid his head back on his desk. After living for 1oo plus yeards, he aught of have learned just how a two week binge of drinking would hurt after he stopped drinking.

***

Chester stood in the doorway, chuckling. He'd been about to step in and ask just what Archer was going the arms of another man, a human at that, when Romi flung the coffee. Now, stepping into the classroom, he sidestepped the puddle of coffee and tapped Archer on the shoulder. "Hey, Lady, I thought you might want this," he said while dangling her cell phone in front of her nose. "You left it at my place last night."

[Maira]

Archer was still in a bit of shock from Lucas' sudden display of torso when Zephyr alerted her to somebody familiar and cuddly coming up behind her. She could have turned and greeted him, but honestly Archer wanted to get her face with as normal an expression as possible on it before doing that.

When he tapped her on her shoulder, Archer had no choice but to turn and face Chester. Luckily, when she turned around she had a huge smile on her face and she was able to snag the phone and kiss him quickly without botching the attempt at normalcy. "Thanks for that, I was wondering why my alarm hadn't gone off this morning. Thiery likes me however so he didn't eat me alive for being 45 minutes late to a class that only lasts 50 minutes..." Her smile was sheepish as she flipped open her cell phone, saw the 'missed alarm' notice on the screen and the flipped the phone shut again and shoved it in her pocket.

Lucas, being totally human had no idea the other man was walking up behind him and Archer and when the man greeted her, Lucas' happy bubble popped. She left her phone at that guy's place the night before? Sure she was forgetful and could have been studying with him but the kiss she gave him proved before he'd gotten his hopes up too far, that Archer was now quite unavailable. When had that happened? Why hadn't she told him? She told him everything, always had... Until now apparently.

Archer saw the hurt look on Lucas' face and she couldn't help but look at him curiously. Why on earth would he be so hurt by her kissing another man when they hadn't been a couple in quite a while? No matter, she'd figure that out later. For now she wasn't going to forget her manners. Touching Chester's arm affectionately, Archer started, "Chester, I'd like you to meet my best friend Lucas from back in Indiana. I'm not sure what he's doing here but since he has a backpack filled with what looks like books I'm assuming he's transferred here."

Then, turning to Lucas she told him with a small nervous smile on her face, "Lucas, this is my boyfriend Chester, he's majoring in Anthropology and will be graduating this spring." She wasn't sure what else was needed by way of introduction for either man but Archer had a sneaky feeling that no matter how nice of introductions she made, the two men would butt heads for a while.

Feeling a little bit overwhelmed, Archer looked to Cian, her eyes pleading with him to save her. Romi was once again oblivious to the world so he would be no help but maybe Cian could diffuse things before they got too bad.

[Demeter]

Though his head was resting on his desk, Romi heard everything. He silently chuckled. If Chester was anything, it was jealous over any other men, other then those who had tastes that leaned in other directions, who spoke with Archer. The feline in him refused to allow any other males near her. And with a male being her best friend...well, Romi was just wondering where he could get some buttered popcorn for the upcoming soap opera.
+++

Chester eyed the new male and then wrapped his arms around Archer. He'd fought off the other young, single males in the kindle. Some had be sent off with a growl or a single world while Pax had to maul some of the others. He glanced at his watch and growled. He had to get to his own class. Thankfully, the room was in the same building. He dropped a kiss onto the top of Archer's head and sprinted out of the door.
+++

Cian watched with a smirk on his face. When the professor started class by calling out the names of her students, he spun around and slid into his seat, just to the right and ahead of Romi, who lifted his head and set his chin on his folded hands. They didn't even have to answer, the professor just made a comment to each of them, asking when they would graduate and the freshmen spun around with wide eyes.

[Maira]

Cian was no help whatsoever... Archer resigned herself to glaring at him all through class for his lack of help but for now she tended to Chester's growing nerves. She could feel Pax surfacing and she let Zephyr out just a bit to placate the male cougar. She was -his- and nobody elses Zephyr reminded Pax and waited until he calmed before she went back to her snooze.

At the kiss on the top of her head from Chester, Archer knew that Zephyr had done her job and she too relaxed. Of course, the moment she relaxed Chester sprinted out of the room. She looked at the clock and smirked, he was going to be late again. Luckily the teacher for that class of his was very lenient and often late himself.

After Chester had gone, Archer sighed with relief, punched Lucas in the shoulder and slipped into her seat. "Butthead," she muttered when he took the seat directly behind her and tugged on her hair. When he leaned forward and whispered, "Still a colorful character I see," she reached backward quickly and bopped him in the forehead. God, this was just like high school! Archer had to fight not to laugh the whole class.

*****

Lucas, even as a mere human could tell that Chester was possesive of Archer and he made a mental note not to be too comfortable with her around him. The last thing he wanted was to get a black eye or a bloody nose for cuddling with his best friend. Of course, the fact that Archer had a boyfriend seriously put a damper on his reasons for coming out west... He had come out in hopes of winning her back but now that was very obviously out of the question. In truth though he wasn't totally devastated, he was just glad to be back near his best friend. And judging by the issue she was having not laughing as she bopped him on the head, she was enjoying having him back too.

During class, Lucas paid pretty close attention to the professor but since he had already taken a class very similar to this one back at his other college, he didn't need -all- the details. This gave him an opportunity to scope out his classmates and Archer's friends in particular. The one that was sitting in front of Archer seemed to have a perma-smirk on his face and he was very curious why. The one that had given him a coffee shower seemed rather oblivious to everything around him and he had to wonder if that student would even pass the class...

One thing he noticed about both of them was that they were quite attractive. He'd had a boyfriend back at his old college but in all honesty he had thought, like his family seemed to believe, that he'd only been going through a phase. If that was true then why, even after having that relationship end badly, was he still finding men attractive? And why oh why was Archer the only girl he'd ever had any interest in really? He gave up trying to figure out the inner workings of his brain and decided to focus on class instead.

[Demeter]

Romi lifted his head and various points in the one sided conversation that the professor was having with the class. He'd gone through enough to only need this class in order to graduate. He knew that he looked like he didn't care but after years of crossing stages, he knew how to deliver speechs from various plays. He knew most of the stuff being taught in these class but he needed to take them in order to graduate.

When the professor handed out a handful of papers, samples of the things they'd be doing during the class, Romi glanced through the pile. He had the texts at home, in his townhouse and not the apartment he shared who two other college students. None of his skills would be shown, really, unlike it came to presentations and critques. He'd probably make a freshman cry this quarter.

When the class let out, Romi stood and stretched. He also pulled his hair free of the knot he'd put it in that morning when he was hung over and running late. He walked out of the classroom and sat down on the raised wall that surrounded the building. He pulled a comb from his bag and started to work through the snarles. He waved to Cian as the Custos walked past, headed towards the library.

When Archer, new friend in tow, sat next to him, he smiled. "So, you are who again?" he asked the new comer while one hand pulled the comb through his hair and the other seached through his bag for the pair of dark sunglasses he kept in his bag. "Archer, could you run over to the market and ask the girls for another coffee? Please?"

[Maira]

When class was over, Archer and Lucas both shoved the stacks of papers their teacher had given them into their bags and they got up at the same time. Just as she swung her arm up a little to get her messenger bag's strap over her shoulder, Lucas tickled her and Archer had to stifle another scream. At Lucas' laughter, Archer turned around and whapped him on the arm and told him sternly, "Don't -do- that Lucas!" The shit-eating grin on her face sort of ruined the whole stern tone of voice though and Lucas just laughed harded before turning and heading out of the classroom.

Once out in the hallway he fumbled in his pocket for his class schedule and shoved it at Archer and asked, "So where is my next class? I tried to find it on the campus map but had absolutely no luck." He watched as Archer eyeballed the list and when she just shook her head and shoved it back at him he tilted his head questioningly. "What?"

Archer just grabbed Lucas and linked her arm with his at the elbow out of habit and walked him out of the building and pointed across the street and through some trees. "Its in the library you dork," she teased before she spotted Romi combing out his tangled hair. Dragging Lucas with her, she went over to the vampire and plopped down on the wall next to him. When he asked her to go get him another coffee she smiled sheepishly, as it had been her fault indirectly that he'd lost his first coffee, and then headed off to pesker the coffee girls for yet another cup of the steaming liquid for Romi.

Once Archer was gone, Lucas looked the other man over before answering his question. "I grew up with Archer, we've been best friends all our lives." As he looked at the other man and waited for him to comment, Lucas had to fight the unexplainable urge to take off the other man's sunglasses to get a look at his eyes. What the hell had gotten into him? To supress that urge he asked the other man, "And who are you?" Simple solution to a very odd dilemma...

[Demeter]

"Romi...er, Romulus Neri. My father was a roman history buff." He said as a way of explaining the oddity that was his name. "I'm one of Archer's fellow theatre buffs and favorite of Theiry. He's one of the professors here. Teaches set design. A bit odd."

He finally pulled through the last tangle and put his hair back up, this time in a high ponytail that he secured with a old holder. The sunglasses, a fancy pair of custom made wire wraparounds reflections everything back to the view. No one could see Romi's eyes even if they wanted to.

"So, you grew up with Archer. And what are you doing out here?" When Archer returned with the new venti cup, Romi cooed. "Archer, I love you. You bring me coffee. Marry me!"

[Maira]

Romulus huh? Not a normal name by any standards. The again, Romi wasn't much more normal, but the nickname fit the other man rather well from the brief interaction Lucas had had with him so far. When Romi asked why he was 'out here' Lucas supposed he was trying to figure out Lucas' intentions for Archer so he answered only slightly evasively, "I missed my friend and needed to distance myself from a relationship that ended badly." All true, just not all inclusive...

When Archer reappeared holding a steaming cup of coffee, Lucas snickered at Romi as he professed his love for the girl and asked her to marry him. When Archer hurried the last few steps, shoved the coffee at Romi then looked around quickly and whispered overly loud, "Of course I will, just don't let Chester know I said so!"

Then, straightening, Archer waved to Chester as he strolled up to them and she drawled out, "Hey Baby, how was class?" She knew he had heard her, Romi always asked her to marry him if she got him coffee though so she wasn't overly worried about Chester's reaction.

[Demeter]

Chester scowled down at Romi. "If I've told you once, Fang Boy, I've told you a thousand times. "Archer is going to marry me after we run away to Bimini in order to avoid my mother. You'll marry anyone who'll bring you coffee, you slut." he said it good naturedly and Romi took it as such, used to the cougar's teasing.

"Says the gay man," Romi shot back at Chester, hands cupped around his coffee cup. He enjoyed his good natured bantering with Chester. Such a great stress relief. "Now then, I need to be off. The sets from the last play during winter quarter still need to be taken down. Archer, will you be joining me or do I need to work all by myself?"

Archer waved him off, claiming that she had another class in fifteen minutes. Romi gathered his stuff and headed for the main theatre building. He passed Theiry on his wya over and the man tossed him the keys to the theatre. Theiry knew just who he was and allowed him to run wild around the place. Once in the theatre, the large room was still hot from the heater being turned on over the break, Romi stripped out his hoodie and the thermal t-shirt he wore under that, to reveal the wife beater he wore. He picked up a screwdriver and got to work on taking apart the last set.

***

Theiry yawned as he wheeled into the classroom in the library. Half the class was already there. He dropped his bag of stuff next to the podium and waited for the others to show up. This was intro to set design and the first thing on his list was taking his new students around on a tour.

[Maira]

Lucas was very amused by the interaction between Romi and Archer's boyfriend Chester. Fang Boy and gay man? Yeah, they must be good friends. Of course, the whole Fang Boy comment Chester directed at Romi perked Lucas' curiousity. Was he like Archer? He knew she wasn't technically human but that had never really bothered him much. They grew up together and had told each other all their secrets, how would that one have been left out?

When Romi left him with Archer and Chester, Lucas actually felt a bit awkward. The two were standing so close together and looked so comfortable with each other that Lucas actually felt a small stab of jealousy which was completely out of the norm for him. "Hey Archer, could you show me just where in that monster of a library my class is supposed to be? Can't say the brief tour I got did me any good..."

Archer laughed at her best friend's sheepish grin at his admission of having no idea where he needed to go next, then leaned in and kissed Chester. "I'll see you for lunch right? We can plan our wedding plans in Bimini." The last was said in a teasing tone because she had secretly already imagined their future together and it did involve an elopement rather than a formal wedding. Having his mother sticking her oh so formal fingers in her carefree wedding just wouldn't mesh at all...

When Chester gave Archer another kiss and shooed her and Lucas off, Archer smiled and slipped her arm through Lucas'. "Come on you sad excuse for a college student, let me walk you to class."

Inside the library, Archer made a beeline for where she knew Thiery would be holding court over his students. When she found the intro to set design students murmuring over some of the books Thiery had chosen as examples, Archer snickered. When she saw Thiery she waved at him, pointed at Lucas and smiled, then shoved Lucas towards the other students. "Have fun Lucas!" she said sweetly and loud enough to catch the other student's ears, then she turned and wandered off in search of her own class, one of her creative writing classes was in the library today so she didn't have far to go.

[Demeter]

Thiery watched as his new students poured into the classroom. He leaned against the whiteboard, staring at the door. His boys were sick, down with the flu and he didn't want to be here. A few minutes after the top of the hour, he pushed away from the whiteboard and started to speak. "All right, today is day one. I'll go over the roll, natter on about the sylabus and then I'll take you on a tour of the threatre buildings."

After he'd gone over everything, including the fifth hour requirements that he viewed as cheap labor, Theiry herded the students out of the classroom. The students groaned when they learned that they'd have to spent extra time working for the theatre departments without pay.


Romi used the back of one arm to wipe the sweat from his forhead. He turned around when he heard talking. Theiry's tourgroup he thought. He turned around and leaned against the set he was pulling screws out of. "Hiya, I'm Romi Neri. I'm a Senior and, for those of you who get to work under my direction for Theiry's heinous fifth hour requirement, I'm a slave driver.

[Maira]

As with most of his classes, this one started with the basics. Going over the syllabus was boring for the most part. Hearing that he was going to be a slave building sets actually made him happy as he loved manual labor of that particular kind. There was just something fun about working on sets. Of course, that could have been because every set he'd worked on until college he'd been working with Archer...

When Theiry finally led his group of students over to the theatre buildings for their tour, Lucas was eager to take it all in. He'd only seen a little bit of the building earlier when he was looking for his first class and he hadn't really been able to figure out just where everything was.

When they actually made it into the set building shop, Lucas heard hammering for only a moment then they rounded a corner and he was greeted by the sight of Romi weilding a hammer while wearing a wife-beater tanktop. Working on sets with him wouldn't be any hardship either.

[Demeter]

Romi, ignoring Theiry as he shuffled the students into the backstage area of the main theatre, scowled and tapped his screw driver against a stubborn board. He'd been part of the crew that had built this set and knew that this portion of plywood had been a recent purchase. The Theatre department prefered to reuse set pieces until they weren't salvagable. Some idiot had screwed in this piece to it's backing just a little too tight. He'd have to get the drill.

Romi tossed the screwdriver into a small toolbox and headed for the locked storage closet. Theiry and his slaves stood next to it, the professor pointing out the various rooms. Romi couldn't wait till the students were loosed on the Amory, the place where the department stored all the props and costumes. He wanted to be there for that one. Romi pushed through the crowd, using his elbow where needed, and accessed the closet. He came out a second later, drill revving up in his hand. At Theiry's look, Romi grinned. "That idiot, Markham, used it to assembled parts of the last set I think. Bastard. Who let him near the power tools. Certainly wasn't me."

Romi sidled his way out of the crowd, hooking a finger into Lucas' shirt. "I'm borrowing this one, Theiry. I'll need someone to hold up the damn plywood section. Theiry let them go, waving away the transfer student and the vampire witha careless flick of his hand.

Romi pulled Lucas along. He'd seen the new guy in the group and figured that if Archer like him he couldn't be all that bad. He normally wanted to snarl at the others. While returning to the set, Romi grumbled about idiots with power tools. He motioned Lucas to the section he was working on. "Just lean against the section. In the middle somewhere" he indicated the area with the cordless drill. He placed one hand on the section and set the bit into the screw. He was only glad that the Markham idiot hadn't chewed the screws up.

[Maira]

The tour of the theatre set shop had been going well, he was actually standing with the rest of his class in awe of the tool closet. Archer must have been in heaven when she started here, Lucas thought to himself. He was startled out of his musings by a finger being hooked in his shirt and him suddenly being dragged off away from the crowd.

Lucas recognized the voice before be actually turned to look at him and he just raised an eyebrow at Romi as he was dragged off. Once they were clear of the crowd of students and Romi started talking at him, Lucas listened and did what he was told.

[Demeter]

Romi stood chest-to-chest with Lucas, reaching over the younger man to free the board from its supports. Lucas had his hands around his waist, as Romi was perched on his toes in order to reach the top of the board. He really didn't want to go hunt down the ladder. He was enjoying the warmth Lucas' body was putting off.

He swore under his breath as the drill slipped out of the screw. He didn't have the proper angle. He scooted a few inches closer, pressing up against Lucas, as he reset the drill to pull the screw out. It probably would have been faster to get the ladder but really, what sane man would get the ladder when he had a nice, warm body supporting him?

[Maira]

Pressed up against the boards of the old set by Romi's body was not an unpleasant place for Lucas to be, though it was a bit baffling. After the first time the other man had wobbled while standing on his toes to try and stretch up to reach the screw, Lucas had placed his hands securely on Romi's hips to hold him from falling over.

Apparently Romi was still having trouble reaching the screw just right because he heard the drill go and then slip out of the screw. Romi wobbled again slightly and Lucas tightened his grip on the other man's waist. When Romi pressed even closer into him, likely to see if he could reach better, Lucas couldn't help but admire the body that was now totally flush against his. Only after he'd been staring for a while, did Lucas realize he'd been doing it and that he had an appreciative smile on his face.

With that realization, Lucas shook his head and in the process whacked it on the boards behind him. He grumbled in pain but didn't say anything else. His last relationship was supposed to have been a phase, he'd had no attraction to any other man before or since. Now, he had just found himself staring appreciatively at the muscles on Romi's chest moving under his shirt...

*****

Archer's class had let out early and she had decided to go get some shop hours in before her next class. Of course, her next class was with Thiery anyway so she'd be back in the shop but she really did enjoy breaking down the old sets and she knew Romi would need the help.

Only, when she arrived Romi seemed to have help already and judging by the hands on his hips, she knew exactly who his help was. She walked silently around to the side of the duo and had to stifle a laugh at the look on Lucas' face. So apparently his last boyfriend hadn't been a phase after all! When Lucas shook his head and smacked in on the boards behind him she was pretty sure the same thought had gone through his mind too and she couldn't help but laugh this time.

Lucas, hearing somebody laugh, looked around Romi's side and saw Archer watching them and he just stuck his tongue out at her. That just made Archer laugh louder and she made her way over to the pair. "So, Romi having issues with a screw? I can climb up there and get it for you if you like."

[Demeter]

Romi turned his head, just a bit, and glared at Archer. The girl knew his inclinations. He shifts his body, setting his booted feet flat on the floor. "I've got it taken care of, Archer. Someone let the Markham idiot play with the power tools. If you really want to help, you can go clean up the green room. The props are a mess."

Romi stood on his toes again, setting the drill into the next screw. He could tell Archer was complaining about prop duty even over the whine of the drill. He dropped the loosen screw into the pouch at his side. "Really, Archer, you can handle the props, unless you want me to send the freshmen in there and who knows what they will do to your precious props."

He glanced at her, sidelong, and bobbed his head in Lucas' direction. "I've got taking the set down covered."