Fated

A faint buzzing vibrated against the table.

Loser: Yo, Gem, wanna come to the library with me?

Gemini: Library? Where’s the fun in that?

Loser: I dunno, but I heard from someone that they are renting games there

Gemini: Games? Like board games?

Loser: No, video. C’mon, Gem, let’s go see if it’s true, get you out of that apartment!

Gemini: but I like my apartment...

Loser: Plz? There might be some cute nerds there! You know, like twinks!

Gemini: Really? You’re going that low?

Loser: plz, man?

Gemini: Fine...

Gemini dropped his phone back onto the table with a groan, tipping his head back. He didn’t particularly feel like going out today, least of all to the library. Maybe I can convince him to get drinks after? He wondered, pushing himself up. Then it will be worth it.

He ran his fingers through his hair quickly, glancing in the mirror to make sure the chestnut locks were somewhat neat, before snatching up his denim jacket and leaving the house.

The library was massive, made of stone and fancily cut wood. Massive glass windows gave a view into the space, bookshelves upon bookshelves filled the room, with a few clear spots for chairs and desks.

A boy was sitting on the stone barrier of a garden, his hair a wild mess of greasy black locks, white headphones pressing against his ears. Gemini figured he thought he looked cool, dressed in a faded shirt, torn jeans, and a leather jacket that had a hole in it.

“Loser!” Gemini called out, cupping his hands over his mouth.

The boy looked up, and when he saw him, he rolled his eyes.

Gemini laughed, heading over, hands in the pockets of his jeans. “What’s with the new look?”

“Are you just gonna keep calling me that?” the boy asked, dragging his headphones off.

“Well, I think Loser is a better name than Terry, don’t you think?” Gemini grinned.

Terry rolled his eyes, shoving him away. “Get on with you!”

“Hey, you invited me!” Gemini said with a laugh, holding his hands up.

“And I’m already starting to regret it,” Terry muttered, standing in one fluid motion.

Terry was tall and lanky for his age, and maybe a little too skinny, but he wore the look with a pride and confidence Gemini could only wish to have.

“Yeah, well, you dragged me to a library, this is what you get!” Gemini said, gesturing to himself.

“Just try not to embarrass me, will you?” Terry asked, ruffling Gemini’s hair.

“No promises!” Gemini grinned, “especially if there are some cute guys in there!”

Terry chuckled. “Still can’t believe you’re gay,” he mused.

“How could you not believe it!” Gemini said, a proud hand to his chest. “I’m the gayest of gays! An icon!”

“And yet no one knows your name,” Terry mumbled thoughtfully.

Gemini choked on the air. “That’s ain’t true! I have fifteen followers on TikTok!”

“Wow, me, yourself, my mother and a few random TikTok bots, amazing!” Terry said sarcastically, waving his hands.

Gemini shot him a glare. “Still more than you, I bet.”

“Excuse you, I have five hundred followers and one viral video, thank you very much!” Terry said with a proud grin. “People like my guitar videos!”

“They make fun of them, you mean,” Gemini muttered as they entered the vast space.

Almost immediately, a hush fell over them, the kind of peaceful quiet that seemed to fill every library on the planet. The place didn’t smell musty like Gemini expected; instead, he swore he got that faint trace of roses in the air. He could hear people murmuring to each other and the sound of pages turning.

“Are you sure they have video games here?” Gemini asked, looking around.

“That’s what I heard,” Terry said, keeping his voice low.

“From?” Gemini pressed.

“Some new kid at work.”

“You mean you overheard two kids rambling on about it,” Gemini muttered, rolling his eyes.

“So what if I did?” Terry snapped back.

“Are you sure it was even this library?” Gemini asked as they passed the Fantasy section.

“It’s the only one in town, so it must have been,” Terry shot him a look.

“‘It must have been!’” Gemini mocked lightly, rolling his eyes, “you have no clue where those kids even came from!”

Terry looked down at him and raised an eyebrow. “You really don’t want to be here, do you?”

“Of course I don’t!” Gemini hissed, “it’s a library! What am I meant to do at a library? There’s nothing but books!”

“Uh, I dunno, read, maybe?” Terry mumbled.

Gemini shuddered. “Urgh, reading!”

Terry chuckled.

“And there aren’t even any cute nerdy boys around,” Gemini grumbled, looking down the aisles.

“Never said there were,” Terry mused.

Gemini rolled his eyes. “We’d better be going for drinks after this!”

“Of course!” Terry flashed him a grin.

Gemini shoved him lightly. “Gaming and getting drunk, now that’s what I call fun!”

Terry shoved him back, nearly making Gemini topple into the history aisle. “Well, c’mon, can’t do the gaming without the games!”

Gemini laughed, waving his arms as he regained his balance. As he moved to follow, he turned his head to look down the aisle and paused.

A boy was standing there.

Not a boy, he realised, but a young man, about the same age as him. He wore a striped vest over the top of a long-sleeve white shirt. His skin was a gentle beige colour that seemed to glow under the library lights. He had a neat mess of silvery blonde hair that curled just at his shoulders, the fringe of which fell over his eyes.

He was beautiful.

“Whatcha looking at?” Terry asked, peaking around the bookcase. “Oh.”

Gemini dug his elbow into Terry’s ribs. “Shut it,” he hissed.

Terry’s eyes gleamed. “Ohhhhh, someone likes what he sees!” he crooned just loud enough for the other guy to hear.

“Shut up!” Gemini snapped, shoving him out of sight of the boy just as he looked up.

Terry laughed, tipping his head back and gaining a few nasty looks.

“What the fuck was that? What the fuck was that?” Gemini hissed.

Terry tried to catch his breath, doubling over. “Oh... my... God!”

“It’s not funny!" Gemini groaned.

“Oh, it definitely is,” Terry snickered.

“Why did you need to embarrass me like that!” Gemini asked, shoving his hands through his hair. “I haven’t even done anything!

“Because it was funny!” Terry laughed, slapping Gemini’s shoulder. “You saw some eye candy, I had to make fun of it!”

Gemini gave him a melting look.

“Oh, c’mon, man, don’t look at me like that!” Terry grinned, “I doubt he even heard me.”

“Oh, he most definitely heard you,” Gemini muttered, folding his arms over his chest.

Terry just grinned.

“Excuse me.”

Gemini yelped, whipping around. When he saw who had spoken, he almost died of embarrassment.

The boy was standing there, adjusting the cuff of his shirt. He had startling blue eyes, the colour of sapphire.

“This is a library, I’m going to have to ask you to lower your voices,” the boy said, his voice smooth like velvet, but sweet like chocolate.

Gemini felt himself flush. “We’re sorry.”

“Gemini thinks you’re cute,” Terry said with a snicker.

Gemini felt like vanishing into the floor. He turned sharply and whacked Terry on the shoulder. “Shut it!” he hissed.

He saw a small smile playing around the edges of the boy’s lips. “I see,” he murmured. “Well, is there anything else you need?”

Gemini shook his head rapidly, hair flying over his shoulder. “Nope, not at all, thank you though!” he said, hurriedly shoving Terry away.

He took one last glance at the boy and caught sight of a lanyard around his neck. Huh, he works here...he saw a name too, surrounded by smiley face stickers. Aqua, it read.