Once upon an October

Crackling leaves skittered over rough pavement, catching on cracks and shoring up against cement stairwells, dragged into corners or up into free air by autumnal gusts of wind. Beneath a pure blue October sky, two girls waited on a scuffed metal bench. Their gloved hands were shoved deep into fleecy jacket pockets, their shoulders hunched into tasseled scarves. A penetrating breeze teased long strands of hair from beneath one's hood and whipped them into her watery eyes. "Are you sure we shouldn't just go inside?"
Her shivering cohort shook her head, the motion downplayed somewhat by cold shakes that rattled her entire frame. "They come by every Thursday, after lunch and before class at two," she replied, nearly nipping off the end of her tongue between chattering teeth. "Just hang on a minute."
The bang-beaten girl withdrew her hands to blow on them, rubbing them together vigorously. "This had better be worth --"
Her retort froze to her lips as she saw a trio of men approaching from down the sidewalk.
***
"'S really cold out today, Bones," Jim said to his friend, working his hands to increase circulation as they strolled down the paved path. "I dunno why I'm even going to class."
"Because you don't want to fail?" Leonard huffed, managing to roll his eyes and glare threateningly at the same time. "And I don't think Spock is going to let you 'borrow' his notes again."
"The good doctor is correct in his assumption, Jim," asserted the third member of their group. Though none of them were short, he was the tallest and sported a pair of black, thick-rimmed glasses.
"And don't you start calling me that, either," Len glanced over at Spock with irritation. "Just because I got accepted into the graduate program doesn't mean I'll get far enough for that 'Ph.D.' after my name." He stuck his hands farther into the pockets of his parka and scowled as a particularly icy gust slapped him in the face. "It is damned cold, though," he muttered, examining Spock with more care. "How do you like the chill, Spock? Have enough layers to insulate that thin blood of yours?"
Spock was bundled up in three layers of warm shirts under a sweater under a hoodie under a long woolen coat. The ensemble was capped off by a large striped scarf and a beanie for his ears. He gave Bones a brief look, quirking one eyebrow in the worrier's direction. "I believe I shall survive the walk, Len, but I thank you for your concern."
"Just checking, you cold-blooded cretin."
"Now, gentlemen, let's all be friends and agree that Bones is a genius and this weather is god-awful," interjected Jim before familiar bickering got entirely out of hand. "I swear, if I didn't know better, I'd think you two hated each other. Why are you friends, again?" Two pairs of eyes, one clear blue and one dark brown, fixed him with pointed stares. "Oh, right, it's 'cause you both love me. I think that's a pretty good reason to set aside your differences, am I right?" He laughed and skipped ahead when both men lunged at him. "Bones, you know I'm right, and Spock, you know I'd get your notes eventually." He stayed out of reach and waggled his eyebrows, attempting to give Spock a sultry stare and failing miserably because he was smiling too broadly. "You're helpless against my wiles."
"Aren't those usually the province of women, Jim?" Spock allowed himself a small smirk, while Bones guffawed openly.
"Guess that proves who's the woman in that relationship, eh, Spock?" Leonard teased. Jim was still trying to avoid their combined efforts to pin him down, and Bones was ready to give up. They were almost at class, anyway.
Spock was not so easily deterred. One careless slip from Jim sent the smaller man flailing towards the cement and rocks; Spock grabbed his arm and yanked Jim into a brief embrace. Jim grinned up at Spock, said, "See? I planned this," and leaned in to kiss him briefly on the cheek.
Bones rolled his eyes again, grabbed a shoulder of each, and dragged them into the building where class had started two minutes ago.
***
Two girls sat on a bench, its black paint fading and flaking. Their eyes were stuck open and focused on the door behind which three men had vanished. One reached out a quivering arm and jabbed the other in the shoulder.
"Did you just see . . ."
"Yeah." They remained, silent and staring for several minutes. Leaves scratched raggedly over the rough pavement, playing with the rushing of the wind in their ears.
Finally, the first to speak offered a final word.
"It was totally worth it."