"You know, if you want to get into law school, you're going to need to apply yourself. Study. Read a book, at some point. This won't fly forever."

"I'm a shoo-in, trust me. Maybe your parents need you to put in some effort; I can coast. I put the effort in where it matters, Daehler, and don't you forget it."

He winks.

"You don't actually need to fix Jackson's personality, you know. He likes it that way, you're fighting an uphill battle with this one."

"I'm trying to look out for a friend. Recruiters only get you so far, and we both know you're not following your dad's undergrad strategy."

He does know.

It's taken some time, but he does know. Matt knows a lot about Jackson Whittemore. He knows what makes the guy tick. He knows the shape of his political ambitions, he knows his insecurities about his adoption, he knows his unhealthy relationship to perfectionism- he knows a lot more about Jackson Whittemore than most.

It takes time, to spy on someone well enough to know how to work all their buttons, but not as long as it might without the handbook.

It wasn't hard to figure out the small tweaks needed to make his relationship with Jackson closer- he just needed the right combination of sports, in the end. Jackson Whittemore is disappointingly simple, when it comes down to it, as far as Matt is concerned. Between track & field, soccer, and ultimate, Matt weaseled his way into Jackson's past. He's made decent headway over the past several months.

(The real secret, of course, was that in a world without being nearly drowned by the high school swim team, Matt had apparently been the type of person to keep a daily journal. It was a valuable resource, really, how much his alternate past selves wrote in the damn thing. He tried to imagine writing any of his innermost thoughts in a journal and wanted to scream, so- he supposed it was convenient, that these boys he'd never been were so open-hearted.)

"I'm going wherever I want to go. The system is rigged, you expect me not to use it?"

The real trouble is figuring out how much is for show. Jackson isn't excelling academically, but Matt does believe that he's putting in some effort.

Could he put in more? Does he need advice? Support?

Not important to find out now. Matt has other priorities.

"I support you wholeheartedly in exploiting the system to your advantage. You gotta use the leverage you have, right?"

"Why do I put up with you two?"

"Right in front of my homework, too. You're shameless."

They are occupied, so they don't dignify that with a response.

Jackson tries to focus on studying.

(Mission accomplished.

And he gets to kiss a cute boy, too.)

It's not precisely that Matt thought he was straight before this. He just hadn't looked at it too hard. He'd never really considered his interest in guys as unusual, among the other straight guys he knew.

He's pretty sure, after months of experimenting, that the conclusion is written on the wall.

Eventually, after they've both had their fair share of the activity:

"So, about the convention- do I need to dress up?"

"You definitely don't have to be into cosplay to date me, Māhealani. It's not really my thing. I wouldn't say no if you wanted to show off..."

"I don't really know comics. Maybe I could go as Catwoman. I've got the ass for it."

"You do. Just for me, though. I've got to keep a tighter leash on you."

"Not in front of the missus. He'll be jealous, and he's not pretty when he gets jealous. Catty, vicious queen."

He is so good at studying.

So. Good.

"I don't want to bore you with too many panels. We can find some artists to check out, I think you'll find something to like there. And there's always some kind of game to join, if I can sweet-talk you into playing..."