Part 1 of a two-parts Students AU. See part 2 under 'The Christmas Holiday Party.'

"I knew I'd find you here."

Amy suddenly looks up from one of her Art History books when she hears someone take a seat at her table where she and her best friend are studying for their fall semester finals at the library.

"Jake?" she exclaims, watching the person that appeared in front of her with surprise.

"Am I… dreaming?" Kylie – the young woman's best friend – adds, mocking him. "Is that you, Peralta?"

It's true a library isn't really the place where the male student can usually be found.

Quite the opposite, even.

"Ha-ha," he replies with a fake laugh. "So fun. But don't worry, I didn't come to study. Don't need that to nail my exams anyways."

Both girls roll their eyes at that in a sync move.

"Of course you don't," the blond one whispers, more for herself than anything else.

As for Amy, she simply asks, curious, "why are you here, then?"

"I know how you are when you're studying, getting so caught up you forget to take breaks and eat," he turns his whole attention back to the one he's actually come to see in the first place, and smiles at her, then goes on. "I past by your favourite Polish place on my way to the uni so, as the awesome friend I am, I thought I could bring you a little something from there."

"You did?" the brunette seems startled, though sincerely touched, by the sweet gesture.

"Yep. I took the usual Santiago order: perogies, potato pancakes and… a cup of hot chocolate, as you like it," he hands her the bag, fully grinning now – he feels really proud of himself.

If she wasn't already surprised, she would be now, with how well he seems to know her and her tastes.

She stares at the young man in front of her with an affectionate look on her face for a little while, before she comes back to the reality of the moment, her stomach suddenly rumbling at the nice smell coming out of her bag and finally reminding her she hasn't had a true meal in the past hours.

"Oh my god Jake," she lets out after she takes a first mouthful of her perogies, enjoying it a lot. "I love you so much right now," she doesn't realise what she's saying.

His heart misses a beat at her use of words, but he tries not to let himself be too overwhelmed by it. He's soon back to joking then. "Yeah. I have that effect on people," he leans on his chair, sighing with contentment, a small smirk lighting up his face.

For once, Amy doesn't fight back with some banter of her own and lets him have it – he deserves this truce, after being so nice to her.

"Sorry Kylie," Jake quickly adds, though, looking at the other girl, remembering she's there with them as well. "I didn't know you'd be here. I would have taken something for you too otherwise."

(He's not really sorry, though.

Because his gesture wouldn't have had the same meaning, would have he done it for her too.

He only had Amy's well-being in mind when he went past the restaurant earlier. No-one else's.)

"Well, I guess I'll go grab myself a snack by myself, then," the blond stands up, nodding at her friend.

It's not like the other girl needs her right now, anyway.

She's even glad to have an excuse to be able to leave the two, finally – she has no interest in being the third wheel in their little romance.

(Even though they're 'just friends fooling around' if you listen to them.)

(Sure they're not madly into each other at all.)

Truly alone this time, Jake leans back on, and watches the brunette with his head resting on his hand.

"So…" he trails off, mysterious. "I know you're currently busy with school and exams and that's all that matters for you until it's over but with our holiday party coming up next week, I was wondering… where are you at with your Secret Santa? Have you already bought them something maybe?"

Amy stops in the middle of her meal, and sighs, perfectly aware of what turn this conversation is soon going to take – it's only the third time they're having it, after all.

"I should have known you wouldn't do something nice without a good reason for it behind," she seems a little disappointed. "But I told you, Jake. I won't tell you whose name I drew. Wouldn't be fair."

Truth is, even if she wanted to, she actually couldn't let him know who she got. Because she got him.

And she's nowhere near having bought anything. Not that she didn't think of that.

In fact, she thought of it way too much for her liking, even preventing her of being 100% concentrated on her studies sometimes. And she still doesn't know what to offer him.

Of course some ideas went through her mind like, obviously, something Die Hard-related. She's certain he would love and cherish something like that. But anyone who knows him a bit – even people who're not real friends to him, just acquaintances – is aware of how much of a fan of these movies he is, so it would be like an easy way out. Which she doesn't want at all.

She wants something special for him. Something personal, that would show she knows him well.

That would show she cares.

Because she does – a lot. Has had for awhile now.

More than she would ever admit, even…

"You're not funny," Jake pouts, which suddenly takes her out of her reverie.

He pauses a second after that, hesitation noticeable in his eyes, then adds in a more serious, and very sincere, tone this time, "and for the record… I didn't pick something up for you because I wanted to 'bribe' you. I just thought it would make you happy if I did."

She swears she can feel her cheeks turning read at the confession. "It did," she puts her hand on his on the table, squeezing it gently, and offers him a soft smile. "Thank you."

There's a short moment of silence during which the two students only stare at their entangled hands, lost deep in their thoughts, until Jake breaks it, looking around as he clears his throat.

He spots Kylie in the distance then, finally coming back towards them, and says, starting to stand up, "anyways, I took too much of your time already, I should leave you back to your studies. See you later?"

"Sure. I'll text you when I'm done with my exam," the brunette is a bit sad he's going away, but tries not to let it show too much.

He's right, though. She needs to concentrate on her work again.

"Oh yes, please, do," he prays her. "I'd love to read you brag about how you nailed it and finished it 20 minutes before anyone else."

They both laugh.

And, as Amy watches him leave, never letting her gaze off him until he's out of reach, heart pounding fast in her chest and a small rictus across her lips, she nervously tucks her hair behind both ears at the same time without even noticing it.