Chapter Text
Formally, Jeremy would like to sit Steffie down and tell her why exactly this Fall Festival car smash booth was a bad idea. Informally, Jeremy would like to punch Steffie in the face.
“It’ll be fun!” Steffie said during the planning meeting. “You get to see hot guys smash up a car and we raise money for the theater club.”
“Who ever said anything about hot guys?” Jeremy asked, looking for any way possible to get out of this.
“You. Literally half the time.” Cole said and Jeremy sighed.
“Do it.” Steffie whispered, staring directly into Jeremy’s soul.
That conversation is exactly why Jeremy is now sitting in the unseasonably cold weather on the quad next to Steffie’s old, broken car. People mill around him, not really wanting to be the first person to beat up a poor, defenseless car. Jeremy sighs, pushing a hand through his hair and looking down. Then someone clears their throat and he looks up. It’s a tall, lanky kid with black hair and what looks like zero muscle mass that Jeremy kind of recognizes.
“You’re in my psych, aren’t you?” Jeremy asks and the kid nods.
“Uh, yeah. I’m Trevor. Can I do this?” Jeremy nods quickly.
“Two dollars and you get a sledge hammer and five minutes.” Trevor fishes two dollars out of his pocket and hands it over.
“Now everyone gets to see me go crazy, right?” Jeremy shrugs.
“Trevor, this is college. If you’re not crazy, you’re not doing it right.” Trevor laughs and takes the sledge hammer. And then he f*cking attacks the car. Jeremy did not think that someone who seemed like sunshine and puppies could have so much pent up anger and aggression, but apparently Trevor does.
Five minutes stretch on forever and a small crowd has gathered around to watch Trevor mercilessly mutilate the poor, poor car. Eventually, Trevor hands back over the sledge hammer and safety glasses, grinning slightly maniacally.
“Thanks.” He starts to walk away and Jeremy hurries to set up the next person in the now long line before he chases after Trevor.
“Wait, wait!” Trevor turns and Jeremy runs full speed into his chest. “Uh… Sorry. I just wanted to say, I’m part of the theater club, you should come check it out sometime. Thursday nights in the old auditorium.. We do improv nights and sometimes we just watch movies. You don’t have to, but it would be cool if you could, if you don’t already have plans.” Trevor laughs, quietly.
“Who put you on recruiter duty? You’re absolutely horrible at this. But, yeah, I’ll check it out.” Trevor then walks away and Jeremy hurries back to the stand where a tiny girl with purple hair is tearing into the car like there’s no tomorrow.
“I told you that it would be a great idea!” Steffie crows that night over non-alcoholic drinks at a small, hole-in-the-wall bar. Jeremy sighs.
“You did. I should’ve believed you.” Steffie nods.
“Of course. I’m always right.” Cole leans forward, putting his head on his hand.
“And who was that guy? The first one?”
“Trevor? He’s in my psych, got the whole ball rolling.” Cole leans farther forward.
“You ran into his chest.” He narrows his eyes, then leans back. “You like him.”
“I do not.” Jeremy says, tapping on his fingers on the scarred table.
“Oh, you totally do.” Steffie says, clinking her glass with Cole’s. “You called it.”
“Shut the f*ck up.” Jeremy says. “I definitely do not like Trevor. We’ve never even talked before today.”
“Jeremy’s got a crush.” Steffie sing songs and promptly ducks down to avoid a thrown french fry.
“I hate both of you.”
“You can’t push us away.” Cole reaches across the table and puts his hand on Jeremy’s shoulder. “We’re your only friends.”
“But he has Trevor.” Steffie chimes in, eyes sparkling, maliciously.
“True.” Cole admits, taking his hand off of Jeremy. “God bless your little gay soul.” Steffie chokes.
“Shut up, Cole.” Cole shrugs.
“Just saying the truth, man.” He puts his hand over his heart. “I was chosen at a young age to be a vessel for our lord and savior.”
“I am going to hurt you, Cole.” Jeremy threatens, brandishing another french fry.
“Okay, okay, boys, calm down. This isn’t a competition. You can both be super gay.” Cole splutters, trying to protest. “But what are we doing this Thursday?”
“Well, we just did a movie, didn’t we?” Cole says, tapping his fingers against his chin. “How about improv? Like, pick a partner, pull a scenario out of a hat. For example, Jeremy would pick Trevor and then pull out ‘hopelessly in love’.”
“I will f*cking murder you.” Jeremy hisses and Cole holds up his hands.
“Now you have a witness.” He tilts his head towards Steffie, who smirks.
“That’s actually a good idea, Cole. Let’s do it. Hopefully we’ll have some new people this week.”
“We should, actually.” Jeremy says. “This purple haired girl sounded interested and there were a few others who took pamphlets.”
“And Trevor.” Cole stage whispers. Jeremy slams his hands down on the table.
“Alright, man, let’s f*cking go.” Cole stands up.
“Yeah? Well, come at me then!” Steffie sighs.
“Sit down, Cole. I swear to God, I can’t go anywhere with you two. Apologize to Jeremy, it’s not his fault that he’s mega-gay.” Jeremy scoffs and Cole rolls his eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Jeremy. I never meant to hurt your feelings.” Steffie nods.
“And for the sarcasm, you will buy us all ice cream.” Cole swears under his breath as Steffie drags them out of the bar.
They end up going to their favourite ice cream place, yet another small, not-that-popular place. Jeremy recognizes the girl behind their counter.
“Oh! Hey! You smashed the car today, right?” The girl nods.
“I did! I’m Meg.”
“Jeremy. Cole and Steffie.” He points at them.
“I’m going to come to the theater club this week. I would have come much sooner, but I kind of didn’t realize that it existed.” Steffie laughs.
“Our fault. Our posters didn’t have enough glitter.” Cole huffs.
“That’s because you put literally all the glitter in my hair.” Steffie blinks.
“Oh, yeah. I’d forgotten about that. We look forward to seeing you, yeah? Bring your friends!” Cole unwillingly pays and they leave, ice cream in hand.
“Cole, what is that monstrosity you have?” Jeremy asks, staring at Cole’s ice cream cone.
“Root beer and peanut butter…?” Jeremy stares at him.
“Man… What the actual f*ck?”
