Published: January 13, 2020

Fancast notes:

Matt Lauria as Matteo

Jason Momoa as Sam

Kristen Bell as Becky

James Norton as Charlie

..

Chapter 33: College, Part 3

….

The Racer's Edge

"Han," Dom calls to the patron entering the high performance auto parts shop 'The Racer's Edge,' "Haven't seen you around lately."

"School, work, grad school applications," Han replies, looking horrified at the last prospect.

"Are you browsing or in for something."

"Plymouth Roadrunner."

"American muscle," the bald man grins, "Harry set my friend Han up. You're in good hands. I'll see you around."

"See ya."

..

-Weeks later -

It was Han's first race since retiring his beloved Mustang. He got out of his Plymouth, snacking as he waited for the others.

Gisele pulls up right next to him. Han missed her first race after Thanksgiving. He was excited to see her in action, but didn't think he'd finish his car in time to race her, but he did.

This wasn't a ten-second, quarter mile race. They were driving through K-Town, without streets being blocked off.

Gisele walked up to Han in her tank top, leather jacket and pants and combat boots, hair tied in a ponytail.

"I hear you're out of practice," Gisele lingers, checking out Han's car as two women move along when they no longer have Han's attention.

"We'll see," Han slips his chip wrapper in his black bomber jacket pocket.

The guy in charge gets their attention announcing the race is to start and directions are given and then they were off.

Han and Gisele go toe to toe early on, Gisele falling behind when she has trouble moving past a bus. She soon catches up and passes the third racer.

Han weaves through the traffic expertly, but hits a snag when a crosswalk light turns green, fortunately drifting to avoid the small group of people on the way across.

Gisele catches up to Han, slipping through a tight corner shortcut.

They were neck-and-neck towards the finish now. Han hit the nos but a fraction too early, then Gisele's car jerks forward then whizzes by Han's to the finish line.

The crowd cheers as Gisele gets out of her white car.

"Good race," Han whispers in Gisele's ear as he gives her a congratulatory hug.

…

Mice and Men

"So Valentines…" Matteo pauses the kissing session with Gisele to ponder, "I know we're just starting this again. I don't want to make a big deal of it if you don't. If we'd been together since Halloween that would've been different…"

Gisele usually thought Matteo's ramblings were cute, but the content of the current one held more weight.

"So?"

"Just something during the weekend or before if we have work," Gisele answers, sitting up from Matteo's couch, as an alarm on her phone beeps, "Which I need to get to now."

"Want me to come," Matteo teases, "We can make out between the stacks."

"I've been a bad influence on you," Gisele jokes, putting her binders in her backpack.

"After I've helped you put away the library books of course. What do you take me for?" The man feigns shock.

"There it is," Gisele zips her pack, and giving the fellow student who was straightening his plaid shirt a quick kiss goodbye, ruffling his previously buzzed cut and now growing hair a bit.

..

-The next week-

"Gisele?" A deep voice belonging to a scruffy-haired and bearded man in ripped jeans and a leather jacket approaches Gisele at the front of a coffee shop, "I thought that was you, and who is this little guy?" the tall and hulking man kneeled slightly to pet the giant St. Bernard on the head, making the dog look average.

"I'm dog-sitting Maxo for the day."

"Is this what you do the rest of the year? Sam asks, taking Gisele in a bear hug, his grin as wide as Gisele remembers.

"I wish," Gisele gushes, then is interrupted Han, who was holding their coffees, "This is Han, it's his parents' dog. We go to school together. Sam and I lifeguarded last summer."

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Han nods, quickly attending to the dog begging for water.

"The band's on the way to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, they celebrate the whole month. It's crazy."

"You guys have a show in town?"

"It's a secret talent showcase when we circle back here after the gigs over there," the man scratches his beard, "You guys should come, it'll be a good post-Valentine's-Mardi Gras date night."

"We're not—"

"We're just friends."

Han and Gisele respond at the same time.

"Come anyway, invite a few friends," Sam shrugs still smiling jovially, "I'll text you the details."

"You play—" Han's interrupted by the St. Bernard pulling away at its lease, "drums, sing?"

"Drums. A surfer stuck in Seattle turns to music, I guess. It's rock with a little Hawaiian going on."

The three's attention rears to the dog, fussing on the spot.

"It was really nice seeing you again," Sam says goodbye smoothly, giving Gisele another hug.

"I hope I can make it to the show."

"Han, Maxo," the man nods at them.

"Let's get this boy to the park," Han says as they part ways.

..

-Korean New Year/Valentine's Day-

Han hadn't had a girlfriend the last two years to celebrate Valentine's Day, and this year the holiday fell on the day of the Korean Lunar New Year and he was grateful for it, not wanting prying eyes on his would-be girlfriend when he had so much to deal with schoolwise.

This is where Han found himself that morning calling his ex-girlfriend.

"Han Lue on a Sunday morning, how lucky am I?" Becky sits backs on her bed, "Or is this a jail cell call?"

"I should be asking you that," Han chuckles, "You drunk called me last night."

"Did I spell my secrets, anything more embarrassing than usual?"

"The standard drunk Becky call," Han replies, "No worse than the lonely singles I served last night."

"Is this a pity Valentine's thing?"

"It's a pity Korean New Year slash Valentine's thing. What's up?"

"Oooh," Becky, "Stuck in your old room."

"My mom's being very particular this year," Han stops swiveling on a desk chair, "A few months back in Korea does that to you, I guess. I got work soon. The Valentine's brunch crowd is more my scene these days."

"And the tips."

"You get it."

"Anything up with Gisele?" Becky asks, "We've haven't talked much and she can be…like you, closed off."

"You can say stubborn."

"Han Lue stubborn is a whole other league. Stubborn without coming off as it. Masterful."

Becky tuts as she stares up at her ceiling, "This ski trip is what we all need, yeah? We should just ditch and leave right now."

"I can't wait, either," Han answers softly, then somehow even softer, "Gisele seems good, but like you said, she can be closed off. In general, I'd say she's worried about what we all what we all worry about to some degree, the future."

"The uncertainty."

"Yeah," Han tries again, "So what's up with you?"

"You go first," Becky exhales.

"Okay," Han shifts in his seat, "I think I'm getting cold feet about grad school…"

..

-The day after the concert-

At the Toretto Market & Café, Mia was busy with inventory with Gisele joining her soon after.

"She's alive," Mia teases, "Fun after party?"

Mia and Gisele attended Sam's band's show the previous night, Mia left early to the late shift at her temp job, leaving Gisele alone to catch up with Sam.

"Sam's always fun," Gisele grins, "And we always have fun."

Gisele is finishing up when Mia comes back from her phone call.

"Good news and bad news," Mia tells Gisele.

"Yes."

"I got a second job interview!"

"I knew you would!" Gisele smiles.

"But it's next Saturday during the ski trip, so I can't make it."

"Maybe I won't go and we can go another weekend," Gisele's frame stiffens, "It's California, you can ski year-round, really."

"You have to deal with being alone with Han and Becky some time."

"I know," Gisele shrugs, "I think we're dealing with it and then there'd be a moment and it gets weird again. And seeing other people isn't the answer, but it's not not the answer. Does that makes sense?"

"A little," Mia answers.

"I have to go," Gisele resigns, "I have to deal with it, or else…I won't know and I won't have a choice and maybe Han and I can't be around each other anymore."

…

The Last Resort

"Who need the Winter Olympics?!" Becky dusts the snow off her jacket and snowboard as Gisele lands down the slope in her skiis, "What do they have that California doesn't?

It was the first day of the ski trip, they rented cabin nearby for the four-day adventure.

"All this makes me want to live out here," Gisele smiles.

"Is it the small town vibe or the snow that you're into?"

"I don't know," Gisele ponders, "Growing up I always wanted to go back to a city when we left, but now I like the quiet."

"What about Alaska or one of those scientists in Antarctica?"

"Maybe not that extreme, but I could try it. What about you? Are you getting used to your new home?"

"Compared to L.A. it maybe feels a little like Alaska…"

..

-Day two-

"What?" Becky grins as Han hands her a mug of hot cocoa with a cinnamon stick and joining her on the couch by the electric fireplace at the ski resort building.

"I was a little afraid that San Francisco might have changed you."

"Like you in reverse when you came back?" Becky pokes at Han, leaning into his warmth.

"You never know?" Han shrugs.

"All studious," Becky starts rubbing Han's thigh absentmindedly, "speaking of hot…" her hand now slapping at the same spot to get his attention.

Han follows Becky's eyeline to Gisele chatting at a nearby table with the strapping ski instructor, Young Robert Redford Becky and Han dubbed him as he resembled the actor.

"The perfect kind of distraction, that accent, he's like a James Bond-Young Redford combo," Becky continues, "Looks like someone might get lucky tonight."

Han bites down harder on his cocoa stirring stick.

"And if you're lucky I'll have the room to myself tonight," Becky flips her strawberry blonde tresses, "unless you want something more adventurous."

"I don't know if that's a good idea."

"If you say so," Becky responds casually, "I mean Thanksgiving. So sore, but worth it…"

Han meant sex altogether, but she didn't seem to catch his drift. He was determined to clarify it soon.

..

-Meanwhile-

"I was wondering about your friend," Charlie asks, "Does he keep starring at me or am I seeing things?"

"He's a very protective friend," Gisele replies.

"The thing is," Charlie bumbles a little, pulling at his knitted sweater sleeve, "I'm interested in him, but I'm not sure if he's into guys. I thought he glanced at me a few times last night. We talked a little, but I couldn't get the nerve."

"Oh," Gisele thinks, "I don't think so…but I could ask him if you want."

"Are those two? Becky and Han?" Charlie discreetly looks toward Becky and Han on the couch, "Now they look cozy."

"Most likely," Gisele answers without looking, trying to look neutral.

"Oh!" Charlie gasps, "You fancy him."

"Please don't say anything."

"I get it. I won't say a word," the man assures, "If they get too much for you can always hang out with me."

"That's sweet," Gisele smiles warmly.

..

-Later that night-

Han lowers into the hot tub, relaxing as he makes contact with the water.

"Boo!"

Han's startled by a laughing Becky.

"I never get tired of that. Since we were kids, Gisele," Becky gloats, "Every time."

Han sends a splash Becky's way half-heartedly, not wanting to get Gisele's terrycloth robe wet.

Gisele disrobes then removes her sarong to reveal a purple bikini. Han swallows unable to look away when Gisele joins them.

"Why didn't we do this more often? The three amiiiiiiiiiiiii-gos," Becky sing-songs as she cackles, then in a mocking scholarly voice, "So children, how's school?" Any grad school news?"

"Not yet."

"Nope."

"She's high."

"Absolutely."

"I offered," Becky defends, "How about it? We can invite Charlie, unless you and Matteo are exclusive now? Or is your heart pining for surfer Sammy just waiting for summer to come?"

"I came here for you, Beck," Gisele replies.

"How sweet," Becky pats Gisele's head, "Han? Come on, I have to ask again?"

"Just once a weekend's enough for me."

"I forget how responsible you can be. Always looking out for your cousin, me, and with Gisele. You guys were like Rachel and Chandler from 'Friends' and now you're like Joey and Phoebe from 'Friends'…God I love you guys. I can't believe you might move to Poland or back to Israel."

Han darts his eyes at Gisele looking for confirmation.

"Maybe," Gisele answers quietly.

"See look at his pout, pup eyes," Becky points out, "He'd be sad to see you go too. And you finally got him on the side of celery and peanut butter –with raisins—golden raisins. I never thought of that…"

..

-The next day-

Han and Gisele were left alone in the cabin when Becky had to leave early due to the weather forecast. Soon the wind kicked up and snow activities were canceled for the day.

They lounged in the living room trying to watch TV.

"Have alternate plans?" Han flips through the channels, trying to find one not affect by the increasing wind, "They have some old VHS movies, if the power doesn't cut off."

"They're doing board game night in the cafeteria. You need electricity for that."

"Do you need a partner?"

"Charlie asked me already," Gisele answers, "The ski instructor."

"You two looked cozy this weekend."

"So were you two," Gisele retorts, "Cozy."

"You're jealous now?" Han looks to Gisele.

"We can't have this conversation again."

"Can't or shouldn't?"

"Hasn't this trip taught you anything?"

"If you never liked me like that just tell me," Han starts, "Tell me you used Becky as an excuse to let me down easy. I'll still be around. I'll still be your friend. I'm not the kind of guy who will cut you off for rejecting me. You should know that by now."

"I do have feelings for you," Gisele swallows the lump in her throat, "And I think they're only growing and that's a problem when you are around."

"Remember what you said after summer school when we were at the beach. How your life stopped? I feel that way sometimes too since I came back to L.A. and you made me…you makeme feel like I can start again."

Gisele felt like the walls of the mountain cabin were closing in on her as Han moved closer.

"I want to be with you, Gisele. No matter what," Han cups Gisele's face, "Tell me you don't want it too."

Han had to know and he couldn't think of any other way, if she was leaving this could be his last chance.

Han kisses Gisele with everything he has then.

….

Notes:

I'm being a little cagey, but this is likely set in the year 2010 which you can gather from the Korean New Year date falling on Valentine's Day in that year. I edited out the specific Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010 line, but if they go to a fictional college/university they can have a "fictional" calendar of events? So anywhere from the releases from films 4 to 6 works for me, 2009 to 2013.

I did way too much age math, but it comes down to Han and Gisele first appearing together in Fast Five, which filmed in the year 2010, and by the end of the college "school year" in this storyline it will be 2010.

I'm somehow getting into a fifth year of first publishing and I'd like to keep it on track. At this rate the final installment of the "College" AU should be published by April, which is the month I first published the drabble series.

So Thanks to the new readers for reading and the old ones who's stuck around or have come back all this time.