Lessons Learned
"Dr. Culber, you certainly seem to have an extra – um, what's the expression? Pep in your step, perhaps."
The observation was made by Nurse Deming who worked at the same medical station as Dr. Hugh Culber, on Alpha Centauri. Both were recently out of the academy, carried the rank of Ensign, and enjoyed each other's company.
Hugh's eyes widened. "Is it that obvious?" he asked quietly as he stepped closer to the nurse. Hugh took a few quick looks around to ascertain that med lab was its usual busy place and that no one seemed interested in their conversation.
Deming nodded and smiled. "Why don't you take your morning break the same time as me? And we'll talk about it over coffee."
Two hours later, Culber and Deming sat in the spacious and comfortable break room. Deming enjoyed his slightly sweet and powdery pastry, and pointed to Hugh's. "You're hardly touching yours. And I can practically see a gleam in your eyes, and you've been moving all morning with – I guess with extra energy. Not that you weren't energetic before."
Hugh leaned forward in his seat. "I met someone yesterday. Someone who I think is going to be really, really important to me."
Deming steadied his hands and took another sip of his piping hot coffee. Hugh looked like he wanted to jump out of his seat. "Well, tell me everything," Deming said enthusiastically after swallowing the bitter drink.
"His name is Paul. He's an Ensign. In the Science division. I – we – we both happened to be at Café Trieste last night. It started out kind of – well, rocky, to put it mildly. But then we sat and talked for four hours. Literally four hours. Then I went back to my quarters and I don't think I slept a wink at all."
Hugh paused, forcing himself to slow down and do what he normally did, silently and mentally take stock of the other person. "Am I rambling too much? I hope this isn't boring you."
"Boring?" Deming practically squawked the word out. "No, Hugh, I want to know everything. Seriously."
Hugh smiled and took a breath. "It's nice to have someone to talk about this in person with. So many of my friends are stationed elsewhere. So, um, where do I start? He's – he's really funny and witty. Prickly, quite a bit prickly – which I honestly really liked. He doesn't seem to care about trying to make nice with people all the time. When we first met, I was humming my favorite song from the new Kasselian opera, and he told me to stop it. Can you believe it? So I moved closer to him and kept humming. I don't even know why I did it, maybe I wanted to see who this guy was, who would tell a stranger to be quiet. Maybe I knew I was being annoying and I felt like I deserved a dressing-down. So we sat together and just talked. I asked him what does he like if he's not into opera. He's into mushrooms."
"Mushrooms?" Deming questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Mushrooms. He actually made them sound very interesting. Everything he said was fascinating. Really! But he also…he also listens. Like everything I said to him, he listened. He wanted to know all about me, where I'm from, what my family is like, what I like to do, everything." Hugh made himself pause, knowing his heart was racing just thinking about it.
"What else is Paul like?" Deming asked. "Other than smart and prickly. And I assume he's fairly brash if he told a stranger to be quiet. What does he look like?"
Hugh again smiled, not really noticing that the muscles around the corners of his mouth were the slightest bit sore. "He's beautiful. He's very pale, he has really blond hair and his eyebrows are so light sometimes it's like I can't see them. Blue-grey eyes. Just a bit taller than I, and slim. He's just a couple years older than I, but I don't remember ever meeting him at the academy. Big place, I guess – plus my last few years I don't think I ever even spoke to someone who wasn't in Medical."
Hugh noticed he was breathless again.
Deming took in Hugh's description of Paul. He noted that Paul apparently didn't look anything like how Deming looked.
"So, what happened after the four hours you spent at the café?" Deming asked, looking down at his pastry. "If you don't mind me asking."
"I don't mind," Hugh said. "My quarters were closer and we walked there together. It was – there was –" Hugh stopped. "Maybe the only awkward moment was then and there because I wasn't sure if I should invite him in, and he seemed….nervous, I guess, for a moment. Like he wasn't sure what should come next either."
Hugh had wondered what to do last night. He certainly was no blushing virgin and knew Paul couldn't be either. Hugh had not wanted a one-night hook up, and he had wanted to ensure Paul knew it. Whatever this was going to be, it was not going to be only sexual. Without discussing it, the easiest way to communicate that had simply been to not have sex.
Hugh picked up his recap. "Paul finally just asked if we could meet at Café Trieste again, and I said yes. We exchanged contacts details. And then, then he kissed me. He initiated it. We said goodnight, and I went into my room. And I literally haven't been able to sleep since then."
"Or eat," Deming pointed out, gesturing to Hugh's uneaten snack.
"I forced down some oatmeal and grapefruit before I left this morning," Hugh said. "Less than half of what I usually eat but I just – oh, Deming, it's just taking every last bit of my willpower for me to focus on work today. I'm glad we can't check our personal communicators until our shifts are over. I'm so excited."
Just then, a ping sounded to signify that break time was over. Deming made Hugh promise to give an update.
The two men went about the rest of their days. As soon as Hugh's shift was over and he could pick up his personal communicator, he reached for it. Paul had left a message: "Café Trieste tonight? Say 1900 hours if that works for you. No humming please."
Hugh's heart thudded and a small laugh burst out as he typed his reply. "You got it. Bring that recipe from your grandmother you were telling me about, if you can find it." And then, a moment later, he added, "I'm looking forward to another kiss afterwards too."
Paul's reply was swift. "You'll get that, and pretty much anything else you want."
Deming meanwhile went back to his quarters and nearly cried. He had always wanted Hugh for himself. He should have made his interest known instead of hoping Hugh would notice him someday. Lessons learned.
THE END – except there might be an addendum which will be geared towards mature readers, if readers would like to see it.