Potential Beginnings
by elfin
“Dr Grant! Wait up!”
Alan turned, smiling to himself as his cheery graduate archaeology student, William Brennan, jogged across the campus road to catch up with him.
Only when he was along side did Alan duck his head and say, “’Dr Grant’?”
Billy’s private smile back at him was breathtaking. He tightened his hold on the books in his hands, dropping into step with Alan.
“I thought, you know, keeping up appearances.” The young man couldn’t believe he was actually blushing.
Alan’s grin spread from one ear to the other, but he moved his gaze forward and picked up his pace once again.
“About… last night…”
Alan picked the sentence up. “You’re regretting it.”
“No!” He surprised himself and lowered his voice. “No… not at all.” Billy shook his head. “I thought, perhaps… you might be.”
Alan stopped walking, waiting until the student noticed he’d halted and came back to stand in front of him.
“What?”
For a moment, Alan just looked at Billy, head tilted to one side. He studied the young face, wondering what it was that a twenty-seven year old saw in an ageing archaeologist with a hang-up about velociraptors.
“If either of us is going to regret last night, it should be you.” He waited, watching the young man’s reaction. A smile. “You have the world at your feet. You’re young, you have your whole life ahead of you. Last night… doesn’t have to mean anything. It was… whatever you want it to be.”
Billy stared at older man. And then he smiled broadly. “I want it to be what it was. You’re a fascinating… attractive man.” He was blushing again! He hadn’t felt this embarrassed since high school.
A glance at Alan’s face told him that he wasn’t the only one to feel it. And along with the embarrassment was the joy of knowing that they both felt the same way.
“I… have a lecture,” Alan spoke with a smile. “I’ll meet you at the dig site?”
Billy nodded.
For a moment they stood silently, grinning at one another like children.
And then, Alan turned and strolled off without looking back.
fin
elfin