A/N: Hope you enjoy! And reviews are appreciated if you do!
Disclaimer: Across the Universe is not mine. Nor are the characters, or even the title. It is from a song called "Stop and Stare" by OneRepublic. There is a video about Jude and Max on youtube with that song, and it inspired me.
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Max knew Jude was different when the foreigner took the time to help him pick up his books.
Tick, tick, tick.
Max's watch rang soundly in his ears, drowning out the groans of the students he sharply ran into as he made his way across campus. His eyes searched for his intended destination, but for some reason, he couldn't see it. He couldn't concentrate on anything.
He was surprised at how quickly he was running, and decided it must be the adrenaline; not like he would consider entering a marathon because of an anxious sprint to a class.
His shoes were slippery on the pavement, and a few times he was one toe away from a mouthful of concrete. But his slippery shoes weren't all that made this run difficult. The books in his arms loved to challenge him. Just as he would gain his balance one of them would slip, threatening to fall to the ground just before he snatched it up again. His English Literature book was the most devious of them all: heavy and brand new, it's glossed cover was impossible to grip, ultimately forcing him to press it roughly to his chest.
Okay, so he couldn't concentrate on anything important.
Finally figuring that he should watch where he is going, Max lost his fingering and began to drop a book. Before he even realized it was happening, all of them were sprawled out across the ground, and he wished he could join them.
"Shit," he muttered. Bending over, he picked up the goddamn-piece-of-shit English Literature book, slammed it against his chest, and headed for the next one. After a few seconds, he noticed that someone was helping him, and realized he should probably use his manners.
"Thanks, man," he said. The man gripped onto his bag and held a few books with his free hand. He had a cap lying messily over his black hair, and shoes that were worn and scuffed. Max liked him.
As Max stumbled over to quickly snatch his books away, he barely caught what the polite man began to say.
"Excuse me, uh," he started, handing over the contents in his hand to Max, "you dunno where I could find, a Professor Huber, do you?" he pushed his bag further up on his shoulder and bit his lip. Max didn't give it much thought.
"Um, no such person, not that I'm aware of," he said, ready to make an exit. But before he could, that British accent caught his ear once again.
"Professor, uh, Wesley…Huber?" Max turned around, and figured since he liked this guy so much, the least he could do was offer an explanation.
"Listen, buddy, I've pissed off every professor in Princeton, and he's not one of 'em." Max smiled, and then caught sight of the quiet but slightly-scary janitor standing atop a ladder. "Oh, wait a second, there's a Wes Huber," Max let out a small chuckle. "That's him, right over there." With that he started to run again, practically hugging his books to his body.
Once he was onto the grass, Max glanced back to see the man once again. He felt a certain twinge of disappointment; it really was sad that he was surprised to see someone help him. It had not been the first time he had dropped a pile of things on campus, but it was the first time someone had helped him clean up the mess. A smile spread across his lips as he finally reached his classroom.
The incessant ticking in his ears had faded away, leaving only a soothing British accent.
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Max knew he and Jude would get along as soon as he smiled.
Breathing in the brisk night air, Max swung his golf club, aiming directly at the window across the way. As the ball flew through the air, time seemed to stand still, and all four of the boys stood on edge, waiting for the sound of broken glass.
When that shatter did come, Max was met with excitement and pride, soon transforming into unbreakable panic. He couldn't run fast enough down the stairs from the roof, imagining a dozen angry frat guys ready to strangle him as soon as they could catch up. The ledge appeared out of nowhere, and Max took a chance, jumping, landing, and crouching against the wall.
And god was he glad he took that chance.
The dark-haired, thick-accented man from earlier stared at him, questioning, and without another thought, opened the door for Max to slip in. Max briefly saw him flick his cigarette away, and seconds later, they were sprinting down a corridor.
Max had no idea where he was going, and as soon as he hesitated, the other man took the initiative. He brushed past Max quickly, pressing a hand to the blonde's stomach on accident, and leading them both to his underground room. Max sprinted in the doorway, breath coming in heaves and hands fumbling. For a moment he blamed it on chaos, and grasped at the Brit's arms, helping himself inside. He chuckled.
"Shit, I'm outta shape," he yelled, gulping down air. He looked around, a smirk still glued to his face.
The brunette stood across the room, eyeing him curiously. Max could feel something strange. Never really having felt pressed for conversation before, he was finally at a loss for words. So he clung to the facts.
"You're the guy who was looking for the janitor, right?" The other man nodded with a mumbled "yeah," and Max's stomach fluttered. Working past the lump in his throat, Max asked question after question, and to his delight, received answers, and even a few questions, in return.
"It's Jude," he said with a laugh, rubbing his fingers together. Jude tipped his head to the side as he introduced himself, and Max found an urge to follow suit, just so he could see Jude's face more clearly. The blonde extended a hand, and after a second, Jude took it.
"Max." He couldn't do anything but stare into Jude's eyes as he talked, and soon took notice that the Brit was doing the same. What really caught Max's attention was that smile: it was shy and nervous, yet almost completely seductive. The way Jude's eyes lit up just as he spread his lips was enough to make Max smile, and he did. Almost a little too much.
When their conversation subsided, Max decided to take his new friend to meet the other boys. He was almost positive they wouldn't be as intrigued with Jude as he was, but he couldn't bear to be away from that smile for an entire night.
Jude's smile soon became Max's favorite part of the day.
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Max knew Jude would be more than just a friend after their first night together.
Fatigue crashed down on Max like a ton of bricks. Almost a full day of drinking and fooling around left him exhausted, unable to keep his eyes open long enough to make it home. Jude trotted next to him the whole way, their shoulders pressed together and feet clumsily stepping on each other every few yards. They were reduced to a fit of giggles when Jude's left foot got the best of Max, knocking him quickly to the ground.
The boys found the stairs to be the stairs to be their greatest challenge, but eventually, miracle of miracles; they were met with the door of their dorm.
Max moaned at the sight of the couch, content to make it his bed for the night; or rather, for the day. He dragged himself to the brown lump, and in one swift movement, spread across the cushions on his stomach. Jude trailed behind, plopping down on the floor next to him and stretching his legs under the cluttered coffee table. Max tucked his arm under his head and extended his hand to the other man. Reaching only far enough to graze Jude's own hand, Max felt his fingertips tingle. He smiled.
One by one the other guys filed in drunkenly, throwing themselves wherever they saw space, and eventually, two of them piled on top of Max. At first their weight didn't bother him; in fact, it was almost comfortable. But after a few minutes, Max struggled to receive air, and decided it would be best to move. Slowly, he slipped out from under them, landing harshly on the floor below.
"Oomph!" he groaned as his knee hit the wooden floor. Jude chuckled quietly, and Max jumped, not having realized the other man was awake.
"More comfortable down here?" Jude asked. Max nodded, his chin touching the ground softly. As Max situated himself, Jude let his body slide until he was flat on the floor. Max was surprised, and he almost gasped when Jude turned onto his side, looking him in the eye.
"What're ya doin'?" Max mumbled before he knew what he was saying. Jude smiled, and Max felt as though his face were on fire.
"Just getting comfortable," Jude said. Casually, he let his hand drift from his leg to the floor, leaving his elbow bent. He sighed, content to fall asleep in that position, and Max watched as his friend's eyelids slide shut.
Careful not to make any noise, Max pressed his palm to the ground closest to Jude and mimicked his position, lying with one arm cradling his head; he had a full view of the other man. For a few seconds he watched Jude sleep; air inflating and deflating his chest, and the slight red tint that covered his cheeks. Max noticed Jude's fingers flinch and hesitantly brought his own free hand out next to them. Throwing all caution to the wind, Max lightly hooked two fingers beneath Jude's.
"Now what're you doin'?" Jude murmured. Max glanced up quickly, and through his sleep cloaked eyes, could see that Jude's face had gotten even redder.
"Just gettin' comfortable." Max could hear his heart pounding in his ears. He waited for Jude to pull his hand away, turn over, or even stand up and walk out, but he stayed. Their hands rested against each other for the rest of the afternoon, fingers tangled gently.
And holding hands wasn't exactly something Max did with his friends.