Kacxa Week 2019 Day 12: Pre-Kacxa/Co-Worker Crush
College AU where Keith and Acxa are in their Junior Year of college. Chronologically speaking, this story precedes the one I wrote for Kacxa Week 2019 Day 9 Movie Date, as this story takes place the week before that one does.
This is also posted on AO3 under the title Foolishly Laying our Hearts on the Table.
Entering his Junior year at college, Keith is surrounded by people and yet he feels...alone.
He is doing well academically, spends a lot of time hanging out with his friend Hunk and Hunk's girlfriend Shay, and is a member of the Blades of Marmora Hockey Club. When he first joined the Blades he was a scrawny, lanky, uncoordinated player. Now three years in, he's filled out and, standing at 6.5" tall is one of the more feared members of the league. He loves hanging out on the rink and being with the team, but when the lights go off in the arena he feels...alone.
Oh, he's tried his hand at dating...and was shot down more times than he cares to remember. It's been ten months since he last asked a girl out on a date. She said yes, but after a couple of dates she told him that it wasn't working out, that she was going out with someone from one of the fraternities, but they could still be friends. Once again he feels...alone.
Tired of having his heart ripped out of his chest, he's decided he'd had enough with women. No more.
He'd seen her around campus a few times. She played Center on the Women's basketball team. She was in his Business Law class. Sat in the corner, wearing flannel shirts, baggy jeans, and combat boots. A bookworm who kept to herself. What really got his attention was the fact that she stood a good two inches taller than he did. She was cute, and he developed a bit of a crush on her. But she never seemed interested in boys, and he never worked up the courage to ask her out. He wasn't ready to have the heart he wore on his sleeve trampled on again.
So, he continued to suffer in silence.
Until the weekend of the charity walkathon.
Every year, the Blades of Marmora Hockey Club sponsored a walkathon weekend for the local Children's Hospital. It was a great way for the students at the college to help raise money for a good cause. Keith loved kids, and he loved the kids at the hospital. Every year he could be found pouring his heart and soul into the marathon.
This year, to raise more money and set a record for donations to the Blades, unofficial winners of the last 10 walkathons among campus organizations, issued a challenge to all the other clubs, fraternities, sororities, and sports teams on campus. If they could beat the Blades in the number of laps walked, the Blades would double their donation to the hospital.
This year, the campus was gunning for the Blades.
And that's exactly what Keith, the author of the challenge, was hoping for.
Walking the route on the first day of the marathon, Keith is joined by Hunk. He'd asked Keith if he and Shay could walk the marathon with him, along with one of Shay's friends. Keith recognized the very clear setup for a blind date of sorts, but he also wanted to spend time with his friends, so he agreed.
"Hey buddy, way to get everyone riled up for this marathon! Man, we are going to have so much fun kicking Blade butt this year...and raising money for the hospital of course."
"Uh huh. It took an obnoxious challenge to get your big butt out here, so I guess it worked! Where's Shay and her friend? I thought you said they were coming with you."
"They did, and speaking of the devils, here they are!"
Keith looked up and stopped dead in his tracks. Walking up with Shay was the girl from his Business Law class. Except the flannel shirt, baggy blue jeans, and horn-rimmed glasses had given way to a pair of properly fitting jeans, a very complimentary sweater, and contact lenses. She looked amazing. He swallowed hard to get the lump in his throat back where it belonged.
Shay greeted Hunk with a peck to te cheek. "Hey sweetie!" She then turned to Keith to introduce him to her friend. "Keith, this is Acxa. Acxa, this is Keith."
Acxa awkwardly extended her hand in greeting and said, "Hi Keith. It's good to meet you at last. I understand you're the one who gets the credit for getting so many people out this year."
He stared dumbly at Acxa for a few seconds before Hunk snaps him out of his daze. "Um, Keith, this is where you tell Acxa its nice to meet her."
Blushing beet red, Keith extends his hand. "I am so sorry for being rude. It's good to finally meet you too, Acxa. I remember you from our Business Law class, but I didn't recognize you without..."
He pauses, realizing he's about to embarrass himself even further. But she doesn't leave him hanging. "I got rid of the flannel and boots. Shay convinced me to dress a little better."
Without thinking, the words slip out of his mouth. "I'm glad she did. You look great!"
And she shot him a smile that made his heart melt.
The rest of that day, Keith and Acxa walked the route together. Neither of them are usually comfortable in social situations around strangers, but they find it very easy to talk to one another. Without running out of things to say. When Keith needed to see to some of the business of running the marathon, she willingly volunteered to help him. He genuinely enjoyed her company, and it was becoming clear to him as the day wore on that the feeling was mutual.
They discovered they had a lot in common. Both had lost parents at a young age and spent time in orphanages. They both have a love of the outdoors and of skating. She confessed to Keith that she'd been following the Blades for the past two years, and one player in particular. A certain 6'5" defenseman who'd just gotten promoted to Captain of the team this year.
As day turned to evening, they met up with Hunk and Shay. As Acxa prepared to leave, she turned to Keith and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "That's for all you're doing for the kids in that hospital. I think it's wonderful. And...I had a good time today. Thank you."
I had a good time today too. Um...will I see you tomorrow? I'm...hoping you come back."
She flashed him that million-dollar smile. "I'll be here!"
And she came back. Along with everyone else who had come to challenge the Blades supremacy.
"You know, Keith, it looks like the Blades need some help. I'm going to count my laps for them today."
Keith smiled broadly. "I knew I could get you to join the Blades eventually!"
As day turned into evening yet again, and the marathon wound down, it became obvious the Blades were about to come in second for the first time in years. And that was ok with Keith. As a club they had already broken the record for laps walked, and for the walkathon the campus set another record for money raised.
Walking the final laps together, Hunk asks Keith a rather awkward question.
"So, Keith, you got a date for the big dance yet? It's only 5 weeks away."
Ready to strangle his big friend for putting him on the spot, Keith does the only thing he can do.
"So, Acxa. If you're not doing anything in 5 weeks, would you like to go to the Fall Formal with me?"
Taken completely off guard, a very surprised Acxa does the only thing she can do.
"Um...sure. I'd love to go with you."
"There, Hunk! See, I have a date for the dance."
The way he said it, Hunk couldn't tell if his friend was relieved or terrified. He and Shay both wear side-eyed expressions of shock and disbelief. And Acxa is right there with them.
Back in his room later that evening, Keith gets a call from Hunk. "Hey, Keith. Were you serious when you asked Acxa to the dance?"
"Yes, I was. Why do you ask?"
"Because she and Shay are over here and we're all trying to figure out if you were serious or not?"
Now Keith is really panicking. "So...are you telling me she doesn't want to go with me?"
"I'm not getting in the middle of this. Hang on, buddy. You can ask her yourself."
"Acxa, I wanted to let you know, my invitation to the dance was serious, and sincere. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."
"Keith...of course I want to go with you. I wasn't sure if you were serious, and I feel stupid for doubting you. To be honest...I've been wanting you to ask me out for months. I...was just too afraid to ask you myself. I didn't think you would be interested."
"No worries there. I am DEFINITELY interested."
And they proceeded to run up Hunk's phone bill by talking for the next hour.
