Caleb considers it. “I mean, I guess it’s different with Harry because he’s a person of color? He’s also marginalized, so he gets it, in a way. I don’t know. I just know that I usually avoid straight white guys like the plague.”
“Yeah, I guess it helped that Theo’s not completely white, either,” I say. “But you didn’t know he was queer right away, did you?”
Caleb’s lips curve up into a knowing smile. “I had a strong feeling about Theo from day one.”
“Gross,” I say, almost on instinct. “But did you thinkIwas straight from day one?”
“I mean, I assumed that you were,” Caleb continues. “I still assume that because you’ve never said differently.” He gives me an inquisitive look. “Is that…notthe case?”
I shrug. “Nah, it’s probably still the case.”
Caleb’s brows furrow. “Probably?”
Before I can answer, the door clicks and swings open, and Theo and Harrison enter, each carrying two plastic bags. The delicious scent of Chinese food hits my nose a moment later, and I nearly swoon.
“Welcome to 319,” Theo declares, grinning ear to ear. “You can set the food down in the kitchen so I can show you my room.”
“Damn, you have your own kitchen!?” Harrison exclaims.
“I mean, the four of us have to share, but yeah.”
“Man, shut the fuck up,” Harrison snaps. “We just left my place. You know I have to share a kitchen with the whole floor.”
Sadly, Harrison’s housing situation is a much more traditional college dorm setup: he’s in a four-person suite with two two-person rooms and one shared full bathroom. His floor includes two halls, each with a communal kitchen and lounge. At least his roommate seemed nice enough.
“Well, if you ever need to use your own kitchen, you can borrow ours,” I say. “Unless Max and Vimlesh are actually chefs and we don’t know it yet.”
Harrison shakes his head. “This is some privileged rich kid shit.”
“Oh, Harry,” Caleb sighs. “You haven’t even seen their bedrooms yet.”
Harrison’s face drops. “Bedrooms? Plural?” He turns to Theo. “I thought you said you and Oliver were roommates?”
Theo winces. “Technically suitemates, I guess?”
“No fucking way.”
Theo reluctantly guides Harrison back to his bedroom while Caleb and I tear open the bags full of Chinese food. “Poor Harry,” Caleb whispers.
“I know,” I mutter in reply. I feel awful. Harrison is right—weareprivileged rich kids. Theo and I both have pretty wealthy parents who are paying for all of this. All we have to do is keep our grades up and not get kicked out. Well, actually, Theo has to keep his job and work on the weekends, too. So really, I’m the one Harrison should be frustrated with.
“I hate you both so much,” Harrison grumbles as he and Theo return to the kitchen. Fortunately, there’s no real edge to his words, so I know he’s just putting on for the bit. But I still feel pretty shitty.
“Here, have an egg roll,” Caleb says, passing the iconic cardboard box to Harrison. “It’ll make you feel better.”
“Then we can smash until your heart’s content,” I add with a wink.
Harrison rolls his eyes at my implication, but then grins. “You know, virtually beating the shit out of y’all does sound cathartic right about now.”
“Should we eat at the dining room table like a family?” Theo asks, loading a plate with sesame chicken and white rice.
“I don’t see why not,” I reply. I carry my plate loaded with noodles, rice, and various sauced chicken to the table.
After stuffing our faces with excellent Chinese cuisine, the four of us move to the living room. Harrison lays claim to the armchair, Theo and Caleb cuddle on the couch, and I decide to give the new floor pillows a try.
A few rounds into playingSmash Bros., nature calls, and I take my leave. Almost as soon as I sit down, I hear a distant door open, and I recognize Max’s voice. I can faintly make out introductions and new voices over the bathroom fan, and I curse to myself. Damn it, I wanted to meet Max’s friends. I can only hope they’ll stick around a little while longer.
Once I’m finally finished and washing my hands, Theo and Caleb join me at the sink outside the water closet. “What did I miss?” I ask eagerly.
