tom holland imagines

office hours

The first day of class was never your favorite. It was always awkward, especially when you didn't know anyone. But sociology was one of your favorite topics, so you were excited to see how it'd go. When you showed up on the first day, you were pleasantly surprised that a. the TA was young and exceptionally cute, and that b. he actually started with a little bit of class content after doing the obligatory introductions. As much as you didn't want to be that person, you found yourself answering a number of the TA's questions right off the bat, just because you were so interested in the content. You left that first class actually feeling good about sociology.

This was Tom's first time being a TA, and to say he was nervous would be an understatement. The nervous first-day jitters were eating him alive. He wanted to teach the content well; lord knows he'd had plenty of crappy TA's through his time in school. Tom was a fast talker when he was nervous, and found that he got through introductions much quicker than he anticipated, and seemingly forgot everything his students had just told him. Except for you.

Everything about you was burned into his brain, in the best way possible. He could already tell that you were so smart and definitely interested in the class, with the way you were answering his questions on the first day. He was enamored with you; not only with your smarts, but your beauty, too.

It didn't matter though — he was the TA and you were the student. In all honesty, he wasn't sure whether or not there was a rule against it, but it just felt wrong to date a student, even if you were the same age. And if there could potentially be backlash, he didn't want any part of it. He needed this job. It didn't pay much, but it was better than nothing. There was no way that he could act on his feelings or interests, so he did his best to shove those to the back of his mind.

Trying to ignore those feelings proved harder than he had expected as the semester went on, and as he got to know you a little better. Sure, he only knew you through class and your assignments, but he was more than interested in you. He found himself watching you during videos or as he was presenting something, his eyes always wandered to you. There was an immediate sense of panic whenever you spoke up in class, or even when you emailed him, because he didn't want to mess anything up. And the harder it got, the more distant Tom tried to make himself. But you were not making that easy for him. Especially when you showed up for his office hours, which meant it'd be just the two of you.

It wasn't that you needed help in class, really. You had a decent grade, and you understood what was happening. What was really bothering you was that Tom seemed to dislike — maybe even hate — you, and you didn't understand why, especially since he seemed to be nice to you the first few days of class. You always spoke up in class, and you tried your best on your assignments, so you weren't sure what more you could do.

In any other circumstance, you wouldn't care whether or not your TA liked you, but Tom... Tom was different. You'd be lying if you said that you didn't have a crush on him. He was incredibly smart, and he was so pretty, it was unfair. He had the prettiest brown curls that you found yourself daydreaming about running your fingers through, and he had those soft brown eyes that sat behind his cute glasses. And when he wore a button-down with the sleeves rolled up to just beneath his elbows... it was a struggle to pay attention in class. You found yourself daydreaming more often than not.

Either way, you'd decided to take matters into your own hands, and showed up at his scheduled office hours. He'd complained to the class before that no one ever came to office hours, so you figured you could actually talk to him about this issue one on one. His office was really just a cubicle in the sociology department, but no one else seemed to be around as you made your way to his space. He was busy staring at his computer when you walked up and had a pair of earbuds in so hadn't heard you coming, or heard the knock on his cubicle wall. Finally, you settled for reaching out and placing a hand on his shoulder tentatively.