Chapter Text
It's the first week back at college after Christmas break his junior year and Peter is already late for his Ethics class. Thankfully, the professor isn't there yet when he arrives, but he does find a surprise in a row in the middle.
"Lara Jean Covey?!"
She looks up and the same surprise reflects on her face. "Peter Kavinsky?!"
"Hi." He smiles. "Is this seat taken?"
It takes her few seconds of staring before she realizes what she's doing. "Ohh.. yes. I mean no, it's.. free."
He sits down and takes out his laptop. "I thought you went to UNC?"
"I just transferred la— "
She's interrupted by the professor, who neither of them noticed coming into the hall but is calling for everyone's attention now. They smile politely at each other and turn to face the podium.
When class is over, they try to continue their conversation, but the bustle of everyone leaving at the same time makes it difficult.
"Do you have lunch plans?" Peter asks.
"I was just going to have a sandwich"
"The dictionary will disagree with your definition of lunch. Come on, I'll show you where to get the best pizza."
"So Ethics," Peter say after they find a table and each of them starts on a slice of pizza, "how does that fit into your major? English Lit, right?"
"Sociology, actually."
"Really?! I could've sworn someone said you were English Lit. I remember thinking it made sense because you always had killer presentations in English class."
She is surprised that he remembers her presentations and blushes slightly over his complement but hides it by drinking her soda. "I was, actually. I officially changed my major when I transferred here last semester."
"How come you transferred, by the way? UNC is a great school."
"I always wanted to go to UVA and I missed home. How about you? What's your major?"
"Pre-law."
Lara Jean's eyes open wide.
"That surprising, ha?" He smiles, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh god, no. I didn't mean to imply... I just didn't expect... Because you were..." She sighs and finishes lamely. "There's no way I can dig myself out of this one now, can I?"
He laughs out loud. "It's OK, I get it. Nobody really expects the dumb jock to become a lawyer."
She frowns at that. "You were never dumb, Peter. I knew that well enough so I really shouldn't have been that surprised. I'm really sorry."
It's his turn to blush now. "Well, I knew I couldn't play lacrosse forever, so..."
"Oh, yeah, I heard you got a full scholarship. You still play?"
"Yeah, every game."
They continue to talk about their classes, schedules and workload until Lara Jean has to go to her next class. Peter walks with her and they exchange numbers before he leaves for a study circle.
"Pick your poison, Covey. Tea or Coffee?"
"Tea, please."
Their Ethics class is perfectly timed before both their lunch period, so they decide to have lunch together again and wash it down with something warm.
"So you still talk to anyone from school?" Peter asks.
"Just Chris. She goes here too."
"I heard. Psychology, right?"
"Yeah. She took a gap year and went to Costa Rica to work in some farms. When she got back, she applied to few places and got a spot here. You?"
"I keep in touch with most of the team but we don't meet much now that we're all in different colleges. Trevor and Gabe are here though, so we're still close. Gabe is in business school and Trevor is into Biology. We meet sometimes at this bar close by, called The Local. Hey, you should come with sometime. It would be fun to have the high school gang gathered again."
Lara Jean gives him a pointed look. "We weren't exactly part of the same gang in high school."
"So?" He shrugs dismissively. "We all went to the same school, didn't we? Bring Chris too."
A short girl with dark brown hair and Indian features approaches from behind Lara Jean and puts a hand on her shoulder. Lara Jean jumps out of her seat, looking so scared that Peter is alarmed. She relaxes though as soon as she turns around and a look of recognition appears on her face. The whole thing happens so fast that Peter is sure that he imagined her initial reaction.
"Jani, you scared me."
"Sorry."
Lara Jean turns to Peter as Jani takes a seat next to her. "Peter, this is my friend Janya. Janya, this is Peter."
"You can call me Jani. Nice to meet you." She extends her hand for him to shake.
"Nice to meet you too, Jani. Also a sociologist in the making?"
"Structural Engineer. We're both members of the ASA though. The Asian Students Association."
Peter nods.
"I didn't bring the purse with me because I didn't know which one you wanted," Lara Jean tells Jani. "Come back with me now so you can pick."
"Uhh..." Jani looks at Peter then back at Lara Jean. "Do we have to go now?"
"I have classes the rest of the day. So if you want it for tonight, we should go now."
Jani turns to Peter and sighs. "You boys don't feel it, but it's really nice to have friends with impeccable fashion sense."
Lara Jean laughs as she stands up and takes Jani by the arm. "I may have an impeccable fashion sense, but I still can't miss class. See you later, Peter."
"Bye Peter. See you around," Jani tells him as she gives him a once over.
As they walk away, Jani turns to Lara Jean and exclaims. "OMG LJ, he is so hot. Please tell me you're banging him?"
"Shhh, he'll hear you. And no. He's a childhood friend. That's all."
"Then can I bang him?"
"Go for it."