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Even after crossing half the campus from the bus stop, he's early to class. Among his friends, he shares this one only with Kier - who, of course, is sick the very first day -, so he sits alone in the back and turns to his phone to complain to Kier. He gets as far as typing "I'm so lonely" and prepares to spam a horrifying amount of emojis when someone taps his shoulder.
He looks up, and freezes.
It's the green-haired guy from the bus. He's still holding his phone but now all his attention is on Dev and he's smiling, a full-on grin that makes his eyes shine, and Dev is definitely staring. He blinks, opens his mouth to say something and then can't remember words for a solid five seconds.
"Hi?" he gets out, finally, and feels a sudden wave of gratitude that Kier isn't here to witness him being an idiot.
"Hi," says the green guy with the beautiful smile and holds up his phone. "Smile for me?"
Dev does not smile, can't even process the words in the time it takes the other to, apparently, snap a photo of him.
"Now we're even," the green guy explains. The corner of his mouth ticks up a bit more, enough to crinkle the corner of his eye, and then he is gone.
Dev watches him go down the stairs of the lecture hall and choose a seat a good few rows down. He feels like his soul has left his body. Then the professor enters the room and the sudden quiet that sets in startles him into awareness again.
That went well.
He ignores the professor greeting them to class and starting an introductory monologue about the importance of distributed systems in modern infrastructure. Whatever. Dev whips out his phone.
Dev frowns at the screen. Unintentionally, his eyes wander a few rows of students down. The moment he focuses on green and realizes what he's doing, he forces his attention back to the phone.
Inevitably, his attention is always drawn to the back of a head full of green hair. The black jacket came off to reveal a cream-colored hoodie that goes really nicely with the green. Dev spends most of the lecture trying to guess what he would see if Green Guy takes that hoodie off too, and in the end he can't recall a single thing the professor said.
To his credit, he actually makes an effort to keep track of Green Guy after class but he loses him in the masses of students. He lurks around to wait for the biggest wave of people to pass in hopes that Green Guy will find him instead, but after a while he gives up. He has another class to get to.
Kier doesn't answer him so he is either plotting Dev's death or taking a nap. Both are possible.
He turns a corner, pushes the door to the lecture hall open, and as soon as he sets foot into the room, he sees him.
He's sitting in the third row from the back. There are a good few students already milling around but his row is empty and very, very tempting. The decision isn't hard to make.
Green Guy notices him coming when he's halfway down the aisle. For a brief moment Dev entertains the idea that the other waited for him but then Green Guy smiles at him, a sort of expectant look on his face, and he focuses on setting up his best confident smile.
"Hi again. Can I sit?" he asks because he has manners, no matter what Kier says.
Green Guy taps a rhythm on the table. "Sure," he drawls.
"Thanks." Dev sets his backpack down and takes a seat. He needs to do this right or Kier will behead him, so he starts with an apology. "Sorry for taking a picture of you on the bus, by the way."
Green Guy gives him a look Dev can't read. "Yeah, that was kinda weird, dude, not gonna lie."
Dev cringes. He doesn't make a habit out of photographing strangers on the bus but he does feel like a creep, now that he's getting called out.
"I promise I didn't post it anywhere," he tries to save what can be saved. "I just sent it to my- friend."
He hesitates for a heartbeat before he decides on the word friend. Boyfriend is risky. For one, he doesn't actually know this guy. While it would be sad if Green Guy turned out to be hot and also a homophobe, Dev doesn't need to be hatecrimed today. And also, casually mentioning he's taken might make it look like he doesn't want to get into Green Guy's pants when really he very much wants that.
Green Guy either doesn't notice or doesn't care about the falter in his voice. "I didn't post yours either," he tells Dev. He leans in a tiny bit and, again, the corner of his mouth ticks up. "It's for private purposes only."
Huh. That might be a weird joke or, or, he's being flirted with. Only one way to find out.
"You might want to take another one, then," he suggests lightly, "I don't think I look very good in that one."
He definitely doesn't. He looks like a deer in the headlights, probably.
Green Guy hums and just looks at him for a moment. Absently, Dev notices a brown spot in his blue eyes.
"Definitely doesn't compare to the real thing," Green Guy decides, "I may need another one."
Dev grins. He is absolutely getting hit on.
He doesn't say any variation of "take me home with you if you want the real thing" because again, manners. He does however take the opportunity at hand.
"I could give you my number," he offers, hopefully casually, "You know, if you ever need more pictures."
Green Guy rolls his eyes. "Very smooth." His voice drips with sarcasm but he doesn't seem genuinely affronted and he is also already picking up his phone.
Dev says nothing and accepts the phone handed to him. The interface for a new contact is already open. He types his name and number and ponders putting an emoji behind it for a moment before he decides against it. He's not fifteen with his first crush. He clicks on save and gives the phone back.
Green Guy scans over it, taps a few things and then very obviously takes a selfie. Dev's phone lights up with a new message.
"Now you also have a nicer picture of me than on the bus," Green Guy explains.
Dev can't resist. He unlocks his phone and clicks on the message.
He maybe stares at the picture a bit longer than appropriate because fuck, he's cute even on screen.
And, conveniently, he now has a name. Saves him the awkwardness of asking for it after already talking to the guy for a good fifteen minutes.
He saves the number as a new contact and grins at Boosfer. "For private purposes?"
"I have others that would be better for that," Boosfer says dismissively, "Maybe you'll get to see them at some point."
Before Dev can figure out if he really has been... what? offered nudes? the professor hurries into the room, five minutes late, so he doesn't get the chance to reply. Maybe for the better, because chances are he'd start thinking with his dick and embarrass himself.
He tries to pay attention to the class instead. It works semi-well. Having Boosfer next to him is equal parts helpful (he can't stare unnoticed and therefore doesn't) and distracting (their arms brush whenever Boosfer hits the end of the page while taking notes) but overall preferable to staring at the back of his head for ninety minutes.
Boosfer stays by his side after the lecture ends, follows him outside the room, so Dev thinks, why not. "What's your next class?" he asks.
"Nothing. I'm done for today," Boosfer says.
Ah, well. Dev definitely isn't disappointed. "Lucky," he sighs, "I better get going, I wanna get some food before the next class."
It's a tentative offer, an opportunity for Boosfer to say something like "mind if I join you?" but it doesn't happen.
"Alright," he just says, "Text me."
And then he turns around and leaves. Dev takes a deep breath and fights a big stupid grin that wants to jump on his face. He needs to text Kier.
He pockets his phone before Kier can start up an argument and makes his way across campus to the canteen. He eats lunch and sits with Bubbo and Baablu and then spends the next class actually comprehending what is being said.
Boosfer told him to text him but Dev doesn't want to come across as desperate or annoying so he waits. Instead, he forwards Boosfer's selfie to Kier, gets an incomprehensible keysmash in return and spends the bus ride home teasing his boyfriend about it.
Kier corners him as soon as he comes home and makes him recount his entire interaction with Boosfer. Dev laughs, indulges him, and then spends twenty minutes trying to take the perfect selfie to send to Boosfer. At some point Kier steals his phone and simply presses send on the most recent one.
"You are so annoying," he accuses Kier but adds the caption he planned.
Kier chuckles. "Was he waiting for you to text him?"
That, at least, makes Dev feel better about taking twenty minutes to choose a picture to send. "I'm just that irresistible," he shoots back, watching the three dots telling him Boosfer is typing closely.
"Private purposes," Kier repeats. "What in the world are you guys talking about?"
"He started it," Dev defends himself. "And I told you, he's definitely flirting with me."
Kier doesn't reply immediately. He studies Dev's face for a few moments, searching for something Dev doesn't know if he finds, and when he speaks his voice is a rare, dead-serious tone. "You really wanna try?"
Dev shuts his phone off. He looks his boyfriend in the eyes and says "Yes," can't say anything else really because he has met Boosfer only today but it feels like they fit together - not the same way he and Kier do, slowly molded to each other's shapes over years and years, but fitting nonetheless.
Kier doesn't look away. Dev doesn't either. He wants this, but if Kier tells him "no" or "wait" or "maybe", he will stop it before it begins.
"Okay," Kier says instead, carefully, "Let me meet him, but. Okay."
Dev nods, can't keep the excitement from bubbling up his spine to form into a giddy smile on his face. "Okay," he echoes.
Kier doesn't feel good enough to go to college yet the next day, so Dev is alone again. He doesn't see Boosfer on the bus (not that he's looking for him, absolutely not) but as it turns out, they also share the Programming II lecture. Boosfer sits next to him like it's the most natural thing in the world and Dev introduces him to Bubbo when he shows up.
Judging by the look Bubbo gives him he knows exactly what's up and why Dev started talking to this stranger, but he doesn't comment on it.
Since Bubbo is actually able to hold a conversation with Boosfer without getting distracted by how pretty he is, Dev learns that Boosfer transferred to their college this semester, meaning he knows absolutely no-one here, so Dev and Bubbo take him with them to lunch where he's introduced to Yello and Baablu.
Boosfer and Yello get on like a house on fire. Within five minutes Boosfer makes fun of Yello's accent, Yello calls him a bitch, and then it turns out Boosfer spent the first decade of his life in Norway, so he and Yello start talking shit about the entire North American continent.
Dev finds he likes watching Boosfer.
His laugh is more of a wheeze and incredibly contagious, he has a cute little giggle he does when he gets embarrassed, and he gives as good as he gets - which is a good skill to have in Dev's friend group.
Dev also notices that he doesn't try to flirt with anyone at the table but him, not even with Yello who, of course, can't keep his mouth shut ever, which reinforces Dev's impression that Boosfer was actually into him.
After lunch, he departs from his friends. It's the first week of the semester, most exercises don't take place yet, so he gets to go home early today. Kier awaits him to mock him relentlessly that he's so caught up in his "new crush" he barely even answers Kier's text messages, so of course Dev doesn't shut up about Boosfer until Kier makes him. He's efficiently distracted, after.
On Wednesday, Kier decides he's well enough to go to class. Dev texts Boosfer to meet him on campus a bit early and introduces them.
"This is Kier," he says, "My boyfriend."
Boosfer looks between them. "Oh," he says and his face falls for the fraction of a second before he gets himself under control again. "I mean, hi. I'm-"
Kier interrupts him. "Dev's crush, I know."
Boosfer's eyes snap back to Dev and he smiles. "Crush? That's cute." Then he visibly remembers Kier's presence and what they just told him. "Uh. Sorry."
"Nah, you don't need to stop flirting with him," Kier tells him.
"Please don't stop," Dev adds.
Boosfer looks terribly confused. He's adorable. "What?"
Dev cuts the bullshit. They do owe him an explanation. "Just to be clear, I wasn't leading you on, I actually am interested in you."
"We," Kier corrects.
Dev nods. "We are interested in you. And we're a package deal, it's either both of us or none," he says firmly. This is something he needs Boosfer to understand before any of them make any further decisions.
Boosfer looks them both up and down. "Sounds like a good deal to me," he finally settles on.
Dev exchanges a quick glance with Kier. "Yeah?" he asks, just to be sure.
"Yeah." Boosfer gives him a smile and Dev is starting to hope that this might actually turn into something.
"Cool." Kier starts walking. "Let's go to math, boys."
Right. Classes. Dev falls into step with his boyfriend. "You hate math, Kier."
"Absolutely I do."
Boosfer makes an offended sound from his other side and Dev has the very brief but very intense feeling that he could get used to this.
"Math is fun," Boosfer says.
Kier groans. "Why did we pick you, again?"
"Because I'm hot," Boosfer explains and Dev laughs because, well, he isn't wrong.
As it turns out, Boosfer is not only hot but also absolutely cracked at math. Kier leaves the lecture with a haunted look in his eyes whereas Boosfer breezes through ninety minutes of mathematical proofs and definitions like it's nothing. Dev envies him.
Over lunch, Kier turns to Boosfer. "How much do I need to pay you to help me get through math this semester?"
Boosfer grins at him. "I was gonna do it anyway because you're cute, but if you wanna pay me..."
"No I don't," Kier protests immediately, "We're all broke college students, dude." He tilts his head in consideration and Dev gets an idea of what he will say before he even opens his mouth. "I could pay you with something else, though," Kier offers very innocently.
Boosfer laughs. "Whatever Dev told you about me, I'm not that easy."
"I told him only good things!" Dev defends his honor immediately before his boyfriend can accuse him of every crime under the sun.
Kier chuckles. "You wanna be courted, Boosfer?"
"Oh god," Boosfer says, vaguely fearful, "Sure. Why not."
Kier nods decisively. "Alright. This Friday, date night at our place. We provide takeout of your choice and a movie of Dev's choice or he's gonna bitch about it."
Dev huffs. "That's just because your taste in movies is ass." He side-eyes Boosfer. "I'm sure Boosfer has great taste."
"I think," Boosfer says, the corner of his mouth ticking up into what Dev had started to recognize as an omen for chaos and mischief. "That Kier should pick a movie."
Kier cheers next to him. Dev stares across the table at Boosfer. "You're a dickhead."
"But I'm cute so you're gonna let me get away with it."
Dev crosses his arms and keeps up the glare for a few more seconds. Boosfer is right. "Fine."
And that's that.
Friday rolls around, and Dev is stupidly excited for it. Boosfer picks a Thai place halfway across town that thankfully does delivery. Dev has never heard of it before but the food is as awesome as the movie is terrible. He's pretty sure Kier picked the worst one he could possibly find on purpose. Boosfer starts making fun of it ten minutes in and Dev happily joins him. Kier keeps alternating between complaining about them and being bullied into admitting they're right, and it's- it's good.
Boosfer looks good on their couch, Kier's favorite bright red pillow - previously stolen from Kier in self-defense - still clutched in his arms, the TV screen reflecting in his eyes and dousing him in colorful lights, looking loose and relaxed and content while he's bickering with Kier over how long it'll take the main lead to get the girl.
Dev's heart aches with the sudden sense of longing. He wants this to work.
After the movie, they talk, about college and friends and family back home, about Boosfer's horrible first college party experience and Dev’s attempt to join a circus at seven years old and Kier's plans to get a cat that Dev keeps vetoing.
Boosfer doesn't stay the night, although Dev really really wants him too and judging by the look on Kier's face he's not alone in that, but Boosfer says no, not the first date, sorry boys. Maybe next Friday.
So they have a date planned again. The door closes behind Boosfer and Dev turns to Kier, finds him grinning and bright-eyed and looking so, so hopeful Dev just has to kiss him.
And, somehow, in the beat of his heart and the curve of Kier's smile and the empty space Boosfer left behind on their couch, he thinks this will work.