AU Ten: "I've never talked to you before but the teacher just used us as an example for a scenario where we are married."
[AKA: The one where Cain has a crush on Lily, his mutual friends both know it, and they're doing their best to tease him about it in public.]
"...which led Blumer to introduce the theory of symbolic interaction." Will points a space on the A3 poster that Eve is holding up.
"Yes," the blonde agrees eagerly.
Cain rests his head in his palms, trying to look as though he's listening and not staring at the girl across the room from him. He knew that he was setting himself up when he agreed to take this course, solely for the purpose of being in the same room as Lily for longer periods of time. Even having Eve and Will there is starting to become less of a comfort, especially when both of his friends know exactly how he feels about the Watson girl, and like to make suggestive comments whenever Lily joins them for group projects, comments that make him either want to crawl under the desk, or flip it over and hurl it in their direction.
"...means that different interactions have different meanings depending on what circumstance they occur," Eve is saying to the small classroom, jabbing at the poster without looking at it, earning a few chuckles. Will only smiles fondly, which makes Cain roll his eyes - how come Will doesn't get any mocking? - as his friend points to the correct place on the mind map.
"For example," he says. "If Cain were to give me a bunch of flowers, it would be mean something completely different to if he were to give them to, let's say, Lily."
Cain's head almost slips out of his palm at those words, staring incredulously at the front of the room. Eve is trying to muffle her laughter behind the poster, as Will throws a conspiring wink over at his best friend.
They're dead. Both of them. They are so d -
"If they were married," Will continues, in a tone that would be considered casual if it wasn't for the smirk, "it would have another meaning as well. If Cain produced a bunch of roses right now, and gave them to Lily, it would be more of an invitation, rather than the signs of mutual affection that comes from being married for two years and living in a little terrace house in Surrey."
Cain barely resists the urge to sink down in his chair and attempt to crawl his way out of the room. Instead, he risks a glance over at Lily; she looks unfazed by the suggestions, even though Eve and Will are still snickering at the front of the room. She must feel his gaze watching her, because she suddenly glances up, meeting his eyes, and he quickly ducks his head, trying not to look like he's blushing a little. A loud snort from his so called friend Eve tells him that both of them saw that interaction.
He's never forgiving the pair of them for this.
Ah, Cain and Lily. So adorable. x