I sigh. “I’d rather not think about it, if that’s okay with you.”
Celeste studies me for a moment, and I know she wants to say more, but thankfully, she respects my request. “Consider it forgotten. What are you going to wear to Max’s?”
A laugh makes its way out of my throat. “Does it matter?”
She shrugs. “I want to make a good impression on his new roommates! Who knows, maybe one of them is single.”
“Didn’t Max say that they’re queer?”
“Only one was confirmed, I thought,” Celeste replies. “Even so, you know I like to make an impression.”
“I know you do.”
“Well then,” Celeste says, tugging on my arm. “Come help me pick an outfit.”
Smiling, I allow myself to be dragged off to Celeste’s closet.
“This is going to be our year, babes. I can feel it.”
Celeste laughs. “Max, you’ve already said that like thirty times. You’re going to jinx it.”
Max gasps, his shaggy brown hair swishing dramatically. “No, I’m manifesting! That’s what you two should be doing, too.”
The three of us have finished decorating the living room of Max’s four-bed-two-bath dorm, and now we’re working on his bedroom. It’s already very Max: movie posters of various sizes cover the walls, several floor and table lamps cast a warm glow, and an army of Squishmallow plushies has nearly overtaken the brightly colored bedspread.
“Oh, hey, Jude,” Max asks, his back turned away from me. “What do you know about the EQA? Did you go to any meetings last year?”
Before I can ask for clarification, Max thrusts a neon-pink flier at me, and I skim it. The Eidola Queer Association. “Oh, yeah, I’ve heard of them, but I didn’t have time to go to anything last year.”
Celeste gasps out a “bullshit” in the midst of a mock coughing fit, and I shoot her a glare.
“Mhm,” Max agrees, then snatches the flier back and sits between Celeste and me on his bed. “Well, I’m going to their welcome party on Thursday night, and you should, too.”
“I might.”
“I’m also going to invite Theo because I feel like you’re going to bail.”
I playfully clutch my chest. “Cold, Max. Cold.”
“You could invite Nikki, you know,” Celeste interjects.
Max gasps. “Oh my God, yes! That’s perfect! I’ve been wanting to spend more time with her.”
I consider it. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Max pouts. “Come on, Jude, why the hell not?”
“Yeah, Jude,” Celeste says, leaning forward, ensuring I can see her devious expression. “Why the hell not?”
Sighing, I shake my head. “Nikki’s insanely busy, so whatever free time she has, we usually want to spend it alone. Plus, those events are mostly for finding hook-ups, anyway.”
Max scoffs. “No, they aren’t! They’re for finding community! The flier literally says their goal is ‘to achieve queer liberation and provide for LGBTQIA+ students who need it most.’”
“Please,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Are you going to honestly tell me you’re not going to get numbers from cute boys?”
Celeste’s jaw drops, but Max doesn’t miss a beat. “Uh, yeah, I’m an LGBTQIA+ student who needs it most. ‘It’, of course, being gay ass.”
“Oh, fuck off!” I shout, trying in vain not to laugh.
