“Well, no, we’re just chatting. They’ve got an 8 AM class, too.”
Max and Theo exchange an odd look. “Is Jude actually texting you back?” Max asks.
I frown. “Yes? Is that bad?”
“No, I’m just surprised. Jude doesn’t warm up to people very quickly—especially when it comes to men. They’ve had some pretty nasty experiences with guys.”
“Oh,” I say softly, my heart sinking. That makes sense, at least regarding Jude’s initial hesitation. I had assumed that Jude was simply more reserved, or that they really wanted to make it clear they weren’t interested in flirting. I didn’t realize they had a legitimate aversion to the male sex. “That sucks,” I finally manage.
“Yeah, I won’t get into it because it’s their business, but, yeah,” Max continues. “The CIS men in Jude’s life have been awful. I’m the only guy they willingly engage with. Until now, I guess.”
“That’s awful,” Theo adds. “I mean, I don’t blame them. Men kind of suck.”
Max nods. “They kinda do.”
I glance back down at my phone screen, where my text conversation with Jude is still open. If they don’t trust men, whywould they talk to me? Do they feel pressured to interact with me because I’m Max’s roommate? Are they only being nice to avoid conflict?
“Well, if there’s such a thing as a decent cishet man out there, Jude’s picked the right one to befriend,” Theo says, patting me on the back. “Oliver’s a good egg.”
I smile gratefully. “I try.”
“Good,” Max says with a tight smile. “Jude could use all the good eggs they can get.”
“Well, then, I’ll be the best egg possible,” I vow. And even though I have no idea what it even means, I have every intention of keeping my word.
Tuesdays and Thursdays will likely be my favorite days of the week. By some miracle, I was able to schedule two of my classes back-to-back, both in the Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr. Hall—or, MHJ Hall for short. Not to be confused with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, a different building on the other side of campus. Way to be super confusing, Eidola University.
But the fact that I’ll be finished with my classes for the day by 11:30 AM is genuinely exciting to me. That gives me the rest of the day to study or work on homework, and then I’ll have the evening free to do whatever I want—watch TV, catch up on reading, hang out with Celeste and Max, or even hang out with Nikki, assuming her schedule allows it.
As soon as my second class lets out, I practically skip back to my dorm. According to the schedule Celeste posted next to mine on the fridge, she has class until 3:00 PM today, which means I have the dorm all to myself for a couple of hours. I can think of quite a few ways to pass the time.
Jude
hi Nikki <3
how are classes so far?
My stomach finally growls loud enough to remind me I need to eat, so I head to the kitchen to heat up last night's leftover pasta. While the microwave works its magic, I watch my phone for a notification. Nothing happens.
No big deal. Nikki’s probably in class right now. I’m not that impatient.
As I dig into my reheated noodles, I switch our little TV on and stream an episode ofCommunity, my favorite comfort show. Still no text.
Another episode later, I figure maybe it’s time to sweeten the deal.
Jude
I’m actually already done with classes for the day so if you have any breaks or would like to let off a little steam, I have an empty dorm all to myself for a couple of hours
That might get a faster response. Not that Nikki only cares about sex—I’m simply giving her a little extra incentive.
I start the next episode and settle into the couch cushions. It takes some time, but I eventually relax enough to enjoy the show, and I even forget to check my phone every two minutes. I drift in and out between my thoughts and the show, allowing my eyes to rest for just a few moments…
The loud click of the door unlocking and opening startles me awake.
“Oops, did I wake you up?” Celeste asks, pausing on her way to her bedroom. “I didn’t expect you to be in the living room.”
I stretch out my limbs with a groan, blinking until my contacts no longer feel like they’re about to pop out. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Is it already 3?”
