CHAPTER 13
brEVAN
I’m surprised when we get back later than Corwin. He’s already in bed, sound asleep, when Xile and I step into the dome. We’re as quiet as possible while stripping off our outdoor gear and taking turns in the bathroom.
The thick blankets piled on top of me feel like a comfortable weight as I settle in. The fabric is cold against my skin where my body heat hasn’t seeped into it yet, but it’s definitely warming up. A smile lingers on my lips as my eyelids grow heavy.
I had a really good night tonight. I’m glad I didn’t go with the others.
I’d have been too aware of Anna and Philomena and what they think of me to enjoy myself.
Besides, it sounded as if they were going to walk around and see what’s here in town.
It’s far too cold for that. Especially with the sun down.
Xile was silent as they climbed the ladder, but I can hear them shuffling into their blankets. “Are you cold, Brevan? I volunteer to keep you warm.”
My smile widens. “I’m warming up quickly with all these blankets, but thank you.” I hear them sigh dramatically. “And thank you for hanging out tonight. You didn’t have to stay with me, but I appreciate your company.”
“I enjoyed tonight,” they answer. “With you.”
“It was cool that the faculty joined us.”
“They’re interesting, aren’t they? It’s interesting getting to know them. I’ve heard Dr. Weaver is brilliant, but he looks so… normal, doesn’t he?”
“Yep. I like his necklace.”
Xile is quiet for a minute. I think maybe they fell asleep, but then they answer. “I don’t think I noticed. What is it?”
“Just some pearls. They look good on him.”
“Ah. I love a man in pearls. He just got at least thirty percent hotter.”
I laugh. “Good night, Xile.”
“Good night, Brevan.”
I’m asleep as soon as I close my eyes.
Again, the unfamiliar beeping wakes me, and I snap upright. I slept like a damn log. I’m not sure I moved at all. Now that I’m sitting up, though, it’s freaking cold.
“Ugh,” Corwin mutters from below. “I think the fire went out.”
“When do we need to meet everyone?” I ask.
“Hour. I didn’t take either of you as the kind of person who needs to primp for a long time.”
“Does it make sense to start a fire now?” I ask.
“Yes,” Xile says groggily. “The longer it’s out and the cold from outside has to settle in, the longer it’ll take to get warm later. Start a fire.”
“Someone knows woodstoves,” Corwin muses.
I roll onto my stomach and scooch forward so I can see over the edge of the loft as Corwin climbs out of bed. He’s in a tee and underwear. I shiver just looking at him.
“For the record, I regret accepting the bed down here if I have woodstove duties,” Corwin says as he looks up at me. “The bigger bed might not be worth it.”
I grin. My attention snags on the mountains outside, and my breath catches.
I’ve never seen a more stunning view. The sun coming in from the east casts long shadows over the peaks.
The sky is clear, but there are some clouds or mist, or something hovering around the mountains.
Not a lot. Just enough to make it look like a painting.
“You think we’ll get to see the northern lights?” Xile asks.
“I looked online before we left, and it said it’s possible,” Corwin answers as he begins stuffing wood and kindling into the stove. “Though the sites I looked at said it was possible because the nights are still longer, so I think we just didn’t stay out long enough.”
“What time did you get back?” I ask.
“Eight, maybe,” Corwin says. “You? I didn’t even hear you come in last night.”
“I think it was close to ten,” I answer.
“How did you stay up that late? Where did you even go?”
“Katai—Miss Ito—said that there was trivia in town, so we all went to trivia. Xile is a madm… uh… mad person at trivia.”
Xile laughs. “Madman is fine, dude. I’m not overly sensitive. I prefer they/them when given a choice. But sometimes, it makes more sense to use he/him pronouns. Madperson doesn’t really have the same ring to it as madman.”
“I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable or upset you,” I say.
Xile peeks their head out of the blankets. “You’re not, Brev. I appreciate your respect in the matter, though.”
Silence fills the space between us except for the sound of Corwin getting the fire going. Is it weird? Did I make it weird?
“Trivia, huh?” Corwin asks after another minute. “With the provost and them?”
“Yep. It was a lot of fun,” I say, and remember all the times Kendrick looked at me. The way he met my eyes, and we shared a smile. It felt good. The time we talked before everyone joined us for dinner made it feel like we’re now… friends. His presence last night was comforting.
“Where did you guys go?” Xile asks.
“Just walked around town to see what was there. We’re in a pretty rural section, but there are still shops, restaurants, and stuff. We talked to some people, and they said downtown Reykjavík is only a fifteen-minute drive and that’s where all the goods are.”
“That’s on our itinerary, isn’t it?” I ask. I’m finally beginning to feel the heat of the woodstove now.
“Yep. Afternoon of day three, so… tomorrow, I think,” Xile says. “I’m pretty sure today is day two.”
“That makes sense since we landed just before nine in the morning yesterday,” Corwin says.
“I’m glad yesterday wasn’t filled with activities. I was so tired,” I comment. “Imagine having to make a good impression on a couple hours’ sleep and twenty-four hours of travel.”
Corwin grunts in agreement.
“I’m going to head into the shower,” Xile says. “It’s going to take some hot water to warm me up, I think.”
“The mountain of blankets didn’t do it?” I ask while watching them dig their way out.
“Someone didn’t want to cuddle for warmth last night,” they tease, winking at me.
I grin.
Even though we lounged around after the alarm went off, none of us seemed to have lengthy morning routines.
We’re ready to go with eight minutes to spare.
Though the walk to the dining room is short and the sun is out, it’s still freaking cold.
I can see my breath, but this morning, I was smart and dug out my scarf too.
About half of our group is already there.
It’s a buffet breakfast, so after we set our jackets on chairs, we head to grab something to eat.
I fill my plate with a little of everything from every serving tray—heart-shaped waffles, eggs, mushrooms, bacon, tomatoes, a couple slices of toast, and a couple pastries.
And a bowl of fruit on the side. Coach makes sure we consume plenty of fruit in our diets, so I try to keep myself in the habit of eating it whenever possible.
“You’re going to eat all that?” Wendy asks as I take my seat.
I glance at her plate. There’s not much on it. “That’s all you’re going to eat?” I counter.
She laughs.
“Athletes have like three stomachs,” Jerome says. “You should have seen what my brother ate. He plays basketball. It’s wild.”
“They work their metabolism,” Anna agrees. “From so many years of constant exercise, their bodies are programmed to burn everything more rapidly.”
“That ability needs to be bottled without exercise,” Xile says as they sit beside me. “I don’t have that kind of gym stamina.”
“You just need to work at it,” I say. “Stamina is something you build.”
Those around me snicker, and I have a feeling I might have just inadvertently said something sexual. That’s what my teammates’ snickering means, anyway.
“Noted,” Xile says, giving me a grin. “There are certainly some forms of exercise that I’d be interested in to help build my stamina. Want to coach me, Brevan?”
“Oh no,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m not a trainer, but I bet if you stopped by the athletic department, one of the trainers would work with you.”
“Oh, Brevan,” Wendy murmurs.
I glance up to see her shaking her head. Her smile is kind, though, so I’m not sure what the comment was about. It makes me a little self-conscious, so I turn my attention to my food. Thankfully, the conversation switches away from me, and I’m left to my breakfast.
My attention shifts when Kendrick walks into the room. It feels like his eyes move right to mine, and he smiles, just like he did last night. My stomach flutters as I return it. He passes behind me and squeezes my shoulder.
I like his presence. His comforting touch and the warmth it brings me help me relax. Any lingering self-consciousness fades away, and I enjoy the rest of breakfast while everyone talks about today.
The shuttle from the Domes to tóreargleei University is only six minutes. I’m not sure what I’m expecting, but part of me thought we’d be pulling into a campus like Rainbow Dorset. This campus looks like… a campus. Any campus that you could pull up on the internet.
“Huh,” Xile says quietly as they watch out the window beside me.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks it’s strange.
“I read that Iceland is one of the most progressive countries when it comes to the equality and rights of all people—gender, sexuality, orientation included,” Wendy says. “I think I expected something a little more… obvious.”
“Or proud, maybe,” Sarabeth says.
“Wait, look. There’s a pride flag,” Anna says, pointing.
Everyone cranes their necks, shifting in their seats to get a glimpse. We silently watch it until it’s out of sight as if it’s going to do tricks for us. Or duplicate in front of our eyes.
“It’s not the UN of representation like we have, but I guess that’s a start,” Corwin says.
There’s a group of people waiting in front of a large building as the shuttle bus pulls up. We wait in our seats as Kendrick gets off first, and I watch through the window with a smile as he shakes a man’s hand.
I like watching Kendrick. I don’t know why or what it is about him, but I could watch him for a long time. He’s dressed as we are, though his scarf isn’t covering half his face and leaving just his eyes uncovered like mine is. He’s far more… distinguished than that. Is that the right word?
They talk for a minute. I can’t hear what they’re saying, and I’m too busy enjoying the warmth that I don’t so much as contemplate lowering the window to listen. Not that I would.
After another minute, Kendrick turns toward the bus. That’s a cue for us.
Byndley, who had apparently been standing in the doorway of the shuttle bus, climbed back up the stairs. “Let’s go. Grab whatever you brought—the bus isn’t staying here.”
I’d only brought my water bottle and tablet in case I needed to take notes on something. As I wait my turn to get off the bus, I note that almost everyone brought the same things. Some have a small pack, like Wendy, Anna, and Samuel. Otherwise, they’re lugging their items like I am.
The air feels a little warmer than it did yesterday, but it’s still cold.
It might just feel cold because northern California, where RDU is located, remains relatively warm all year.
It’s not unheard of to drop into the fifties in winter, and there are always exceptions, but it doesn’t get cold like this.
Which makes the freezing weather of Iceland extra cold.
Anywhere you can see your breath when you exhale is too cold in my opinion.
We’re led down a paved path toward a building that appears relatively new. It’s blessedly warm inside. I’m not the only one who sighs in relief. I wonder if everyone is from warmer states like I am.
We’re brought into what I think is maybe a large conference room.
We walk through halls that have that school smell—I’m not sure how to describe it.
It just smells like whiteboards, cleaning solution, and books.
There are people already waiting for us.
They get to their feet as we enter, all with big smiles.
I’m so nervous. Meeting new people always makes me anxious. I’ve never been convinced that I make a good first impression. In the corner of my eye, I see Philomena, and my stomach rolls. That’s the first impression I give: big, dumb jock. Maybe if I don’t talk, no one will think that.