Chapter Text
Even Bech Næsheim hated his life.
"Go to college, they said. It will be fun, they said. No one ever told me about the mountain of tasks that continues to pile up on my desk and all the essays I have to write."
Even was not made for these conditions. Give him a camera, however, and he could be under all the pressure they wanted, but when it was deemed to write essays or read 50 pages of his textbooks Even did not know what to do. If it wasn’t for his high school friend Mikael, he would be really screwed. He was his strength and the reason he had not yet surrendered on standard academics.
That and the great scholarship that the school gave him to study film.
It was 7 pm, and Even was heading to the library in search of an important book he needed to finish his essay that was due the next day. Mikael could not help him, he had already written most of the paper, and he had his own finals stuff that he had to deal with.
"Just breathe. You’re half way through already and you won’t have to put up with anymore bullshit from this class anymore. "
Even left his bedroom.... To walk into a windy snowstorm.
Even hated something more than his life ... the snow.
This was the straw that broke the camel.
"What the .... Fuck them all! I'm done! I don’t care that these are the last days of the semester, there is no way I’ll walk all the way to the stupid library in the snow.” Just then, one of his classmates, Henry, went out with a group of friends. When Henry saw Even kicking and frowning in the middle of the lobby he approached him with concern.
"Brother, are you okay? You've been left behind? You have to understand that nobody wants to leave their room." Henry patted his back and smiled at the him, as if he was apologizing for his friends.
"Hey ... how much does that essay counts for the final grade in our biology class?"
"It's a third of the grade, Even. Do not tell me you haven’t finished it? You’re screwed. "
"Yes, I know. I was on my way to the library, and this" he pointed to the falling snow, “happened."
"Come on! The snow has never killed anyone. Be brave and go out! I know you can make it! "
Henry gave him one last smile and ran to catch up with his friends. Even had no choice. With a long face and heavy feet he closed his coat and went on his journey.
The worst part was not the snow, but the wind that would not let him move, and pushed him in the opposite direction, while at the same time filled his face with cold snow that went down to his neck and melted.
He arrived at the library and made a pact with himself. Never to go out in the middle of a snowstorm like this again. He opened the door, and as soon as he stepped inside the library he took off his hood and opened the zipper of heavy coat that kept him warm. He located the main lobby and went up to the assistant with his killer smile.
"Excuse me, Miss. I'm looking for the book Inside the Human Body for Anatomy 101. "
The girl smiled back and quickly typed on her computer. "It’s located on the third floor. In the DD-DE section of Biology. "
Why didn’t she send someone to fetch it?
"Sorry, but I’m in a hurry. If you would be so kind as to send somebody to look for the book quickly I’d appreciate a lot. It’s urgent... "
The girl looked him up and down and then laughed. "Young Man. Our staff organizes sections and brings back books that have been returned. We do not seek books for students, you have to look for them yourself. "
Ok, Even hated libraries now, but he didn’t tell that to the girl in front of him.
"Thank You. Have a good day. "
Even turned towards the stairs, but she said, "If it wasn’t because I am working I would help you, but I'm afraid ..."
"Don’t worry! I’ll find it soon. After all, how big can this place be?
He was so wrong. University of Oslo’s library was huge.
"First thing's first. Third floor," He climbed slowly step by step, carefully observing all signs until he found the entrance to the third floor. When he got to the third floor, he saw that the bathrooms were right in front of the stairs and around them were several sections with computers and tables with students surrounded by books and papers. A large sign received him.
THIRD FLOOR: SLIENT FLOOR. PLEASE DO NOT ANSWER YOUR PHONE AND / OR HAVE CONVERSATIONS IN HIGH TONE IN THIS FLOOR.
Great, now he couldn’t even ask his colleagues where the DD-DE bookshelves were
Even had no time to lose and began to move around bookshelves. He looked around hundreds and hundreds of them, many with rare identifying numbers, but Even could not find the DD-DE section.
He decided to take another hallway.
AF-AG
BN-BM
BA-BB
BC-BD
"At this rate I'll never get out of here!" He wanted to kick some bookshelves until they were all lying down by the domino effect, but he didn’t because he knew he would get in trouble. Even breathed deeply and decided it would be best to take some water and start again.
He looked to his right. He looked to his left.
Front and back.
The water fountains that were next to the stairs and bathrooms were nowhere.
Even sat to the floor and leaned his head on his knees. "Fuck. I'm really screwed. "
He looked at his watch. 8:20 pm. Where did time go?
He laid on the ground, with his backpack as a pillow and closed his eyes.
Colors. Many colors floating around in space. Letters, numbers and familiar voices were dancing in the cosmos as well. So that’s what it felt when you abandoned it all? When your soul reached new worlds? It felt great. Warm. Smooth. Smelling of vanilla and expensive perfume. Even could get used to this. Floating endlessly in the soft, warm arms of the cosmos, with this sweet voice breastfeeding his dreams.
"Hello. Hello? Hey! Wake up! It's almost closing time. Hey!! "
Even feel warm hands poking his cheeks before he could see the face which belonged to them. He tried to open his eyes several times, but had forgotten how bright the lights were and it took a while to get used to them.
But the view that now his eyes admired was worth it.
Green. Pure and magnificent green inside the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Framed perfectly between black lenses that adorned them so well.
Red. Spilled among the most delightful cheeks and splashed into beautiful and full lips.
Golden halo waves dancing in soft hair.
"H-hello." Even whispered, unable to say more to the angelic figure.
"I'm sorry to wake you, but the library is closing and I don’t think you want to stay locked up here all night."
That holy voice!
"Thank you very much. Have you come for me? "
"No. I am working and I saw you here between my sections very asleep. "
"Sorry, I did not mean to. I got lost looking for the DD-DE section. Do you know where it is? "
"Let me see your number," He took the piece of paper from Even’s hands and replied, "Go to the main hall, which is this one by your side, and walk five horizontal corridors down. That's the DD-DE section. Your book will be on the aisle to the right. Return to the main hall and walk in this direction ten horizontal corridors and you will find the stairs. "
The boy smiled to Even and returned to his duties. With a cart full of books beside him, he focused on the number on the books and started to place them accordingly in the bookshelves. The boy took a red book, look at the spine for the numbers, and raised his head looking for his place. Even, still sitting on the floor, looked at the boy in question. He was tall, closer to his same height, and that was saying a lot because Even was taller than most of his peers, and his beautiful legs were well embraced by the magnificent jeans he wore. He had a red and black sweater that cover half covering his butt until he stretched to place the book...
Oh goodness.
Even could not give up. He had to know more about him.
"Thank you so very much! You don’t know how much you have helped me..."
"Isak."
"Isak.” Even repeated the name to memorize it. As if he could ever forget it. Isak said he worked in the library, so he must be a student here and if he was, where was his dorm, or did he commute, and what was his major?
Did Isak by any chance like boys? Did he feel this connection that Even felt?
This strange electricity between them.
Isak looked at him with a little smile on his face. His cheeks blushing more.
Even saw stars. He had a crush and a big one.
"Well, nice to meet you, Even and, seriously, hurry or you'll be locked here."
Even had so much to say and so much to ask but he had wasted more than an hour already and unfortunately his final grade depended on this stupid essay.
He gave one last look to Isak who had already gone back to work mode and ran through the halls following his directions. He found his book and went back to the main stairs, he tried to look through the corridors until he found Isak organizing his books, but the boy had disappeared completely.
An announcement was made through the speakers.
"Dear students and teachers, the library will close in 10 minutes. Thank You."
Even had to return to the main lobby and sign out the book. Tomorrow he would come back and he would find Isak again. He would ask him out on a date.
That was his promise.