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To say today had been a bad day was an understatement. To begin with, Stephen Meeks had been running late. He was never late, but his alarm had failed him. Then, he’d missed his bus and had to rush for the train, which left just as he arrived on the platform. He’d been reprimanded by his boss, lost some important diagrams for his next project, and been refused a grant for his telescope idea because it seemed “too much money for such a small project.” On top of everything, it was his birthday, and he hadn’t received a message or call from anyone, not even his mother. He was fed up and relieved to be going home.
With a folder of paperwork under his arm and his briefcase in the other hand, Stephen hurried through the crowded streets to his bus stop, getting more irritated by the second as people refused to move. Turning a corner, he fell back and landed on his ass after seemingly bumping into a wall, his paperwork scattering about and being stepped on.
“Oh shit,” he shook his head, trying to clear his vision as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
“I’m so sorry!”
He hadn’t expected the wall to speak, or to start rushing around and frantically grabbing his papers. The wall suddenly lost its balance and tripped over, falling head first into another wall with a groan. Except it wasn’t a wall, it was a person. An extremely tall, clumsy man who was now clutching his head as well as Meeks’ papers.
“Are… are you okay?” Stephen grabbed the last of the sheets and shoved them into the folder before crouching down before the man, brushing his shaggy, dark hair from his eyes; he had very pretty eyes. “Oh, Jesus, that’s a pretty nasty cut.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing. They always look worse than they are,” he snorted a laugh, handing Stephen back his notes before rummaging around in his pocket for a band-aid and some tissue.
“Here, let me.”
The man reluctantly handed them to Stephen, who was feeling immensely guilty about all of this. Meeks began dabbing away at the cut to find the man had been right; it was only a tiny nick after all. He pressed the band-aid gently against the man’s head before smiling at him.
“Thanks,” he muttered, his cheeks flushing scarlet as he pushed himself to standing; he towered over Stephen and the redhead had to crane his neck to look at him. “I’m really sorry for knocking you down.”
“No harm, no foul. You got hurt worse than I did,” Stephen laughed, the giant grinning shyly. “I’m Stephen. Stephen Meeks.”
“Pitts. I mean… Gerard. I’m Gerard Pitts,” he stammered as he shook Stephen’s hand. “An unfortunate name, I know.”
“Nah, I like it. It’s interesting.”
Gerard beamed at him and nodded once, their hands falling apart as they stood awkwardly for a moment.
“I’m really sorry if this is forward but can I grab you a coffee or something to make up for this?” Pitts rubbed the back of his neck, gazing at the floor as Stephen stared at him. “I was actually on my way to the museum. They just opened the new Attenborough exhibit. If you wanna come along, I mean.”
“Absolutely,” Meeks was thrilled, and had the unusual feeling of butterflies swarming around his stomach. “I’d love that.”
“Alright then,” Gerard nodded, still smiling, and the two of them chatted animatedly as they made their way there.
“They’re actually the smallest migrating bird in the world,” Pitts informed him as Stephen leaned in to get a closer look at the stuffed hummingbird. “There’s over three hundred and fifty different species of hummingbird. They don’t live too long though.”
There was a sadness tinging that last sentence and Stephen glanced up at his tall companion, lifting a brow.
“I’m sure they live happy little lives whilst they’re here, though,” Stephen smiled encouragingly, Pitts nodding and returning it. “They’re beautiful.”
“This is one of the more common ones. Only the males have the red on their throats though,” Gerard pointed, Stephen following his finger with a nod. “C’mon, I think the reptile exhibit’s this way.”
Stephen followed, bombarding the man with questions and staying close by him as they moved through the small crowd of people. Pitts was a fountain of knowledge and Stephen was enjoying every minute with him. Gerard took him around each exhibit methodically, spouting random facts about each animal within seconds of facing it, and Meeks was hooked on his every word. As they sat down for coffee, Stephen’s treat, things fell quiet, but a comfortable kind of silence, and Meeks gazed at the man. He was extremely handsome; that jaw was something Stephen could fantasize about for days. He liked how Pitts’ hair hung over his eyes, constantly making Stephen want to lean over and brush it away.
“Thanks for this, Steve,” Gerard gestured with his cup before taking a sip. “I feel like I should be buying you coffee though.”
“Not at all,” Stephen took a sip of his own, wincing as it scalded his lips. “You bumping into me was actually the best part of my day.”
“Really?” Pitts looked shocked, unsure how him knocking Stephen down was a good thing.
“Mhm. It’s been a really shitty one,” Meeks sighed, his hands curled around his mug as he gazed at Pitts. “You’ve turned this into a great birthday.”
“It’s your birthday?” Pitts exclaimed, blushing as people turned to look at him and making Stephen laugh, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.”
Silence fell again, but Meeks didn’t mind. Gerard very shyly reached over and squeezed his hand, Stephen grabbing hold of it to keep it there before the man could pull away. The giant flushed scarlet but smiled, squeezing Stephen’s hand again before scooching his chair closer.
Stephen liked Gerard Pitts. He liked him a lot.