Oliver
I figured you might think so
Theo
would you mind tagging along with me?
those kinds of things make me all kinds of nervous
Oliver
of course! I’d be honored
Theo
thanks dude
Oliver
anytime
Well, that settles that. I’ll be accompanying my bisexual best friend and our new gay transgender roommate to a social event for queer people. For emotional support.
Problem solved.
“And that’s how Theo—and, by extension, how I—got to meet Hudson Helter two years ago.”
“I fucking knew I recognized Theo from somewhere!” Jude yelps excitedly, nearly knocking over their soda. “God, I can’t believe I didn’t piece it together myself.”
“I mean, how could you possibly have known that we were Triple H fans?”
“I don’t know, there should have been a vibe or something,” Jude says defeatedly. “But hell yeah, that’s so cool.”
“It really was.”
The Student Center cafeteria seems especially packed today—perhaps more students are discovering how incredible the sandwiches at Papa Geien’s Deli are. Jude introduced me to this place a mere two days ago, but I can’t get enough. It’s a local,family-owned business that opened a shop in our cafeteria and is run by second-generation German immigrants. I still don’t get the parrot mascot, but perhaps I’m missing something.
“So, did Theo actually see a ghost at Saint Catherine’s?” Jude asks.
“Technically, no,” I explain. “He recorded some orbs on his phone, but he never saw them with his own eyes. He swears he definitelyfeltsomething, though. You’ll have to ask him about it sometime.”
“I will! That’s so fucking cool.”
I soak in Jude’s enthusiasm like a sponge—it’s almost as addicting as my Papa Geien Strammer Max. “So, do you believe in the supernatural?”
Jude scrunches their nose. “Not really.”
“Aww, no! Why not?”
“I would have to see it to believe it. Like, actually see it with my own eyes, not just a video or a picture.” They peer at me sympathetically. “I take it that means you’re a believer, then?”
“Believer? I hardly know her!”
Jude stares at me, unamused.
“Yes, I’m a believer,” I admit. “I feel pretty certain, anyway. Too many people out there have seen shit, you know?”
“There are also a lot of people who claim to hear God speaking to them,” Jude counters, but their eyes suddenly go wide with panic. “Shit, wait, are you religious?”
