Aspen #2
“No!” Isaak promised, shaking his head frantically.
He sort of reminded me of Ren, because they both had the socially awkward yet cute nerd thing going on, although Ren was like a cheerfully devoted puppy always under your feet that you had to be careful not to trip on.
Isaak was more like a squirrel, jumpy and jittery.
“I’ll delete it when I’m done writing my paper, I swear. ”
I had a shift at the café coming up that I wanted to go get ready for, but I’d have felt like a giant asshole abandoning Maddox during his very difficult time, so I hung around and, along with Cyprian, provided some color commentary during the parts I’d been around for.
By the time he’d begrudgingly recounted the whole tale, ending with the dramatic climax at the swim meet, Isaak’s books and papers were on the floor and he was frantically scribbling notes into a notepad, despite the fact that everything was being recorded.
Isaak thanked him profusely for his cooperation, heaping gratitude onto him, which only served to embarrass Maddox more, but Isaak didn’t seem to notice.
“It seriously means a lot,” he said, kneeling down to gather up his stuff.
“I hope this paper turns out really great.” He went on to explain a bit about how he was going for his master’s, but would need a Ph.D for the tenure-track professor position he dreamed of.
I knew from some of his lectures and broad knowledge on queer history and culture that it was incredibly important to him.
I couldn’t help but admire that a little, even if the degree I wanted was admittedly a bit cold and soulless, business analytics with a minor in marketing.
I didn’t dream of inspiring people or changing the world.
I just wanted enough money to feel secure for once in my life.
And as long as I had that, then I could take care of the people close to me, anyway.
Caelyx was also getting a business degree, mostly because he knew that was what would satisfy his dad, so we actually had a good handful of classes together. Thinking of him reminded me I’d have to swing by his house on the way to work, because we were closing together again.
“So then I guess that means you’ll be at that party on Saturday?” Cyprian guessed, a naturally friendly smile gracing his mouth.
“Party?” Isaak repeated, like he’d never heard the concept before.
“You know,” Cyprian went on. “The, uh, GSA club one? The proceeds are going back into the club and all that?” He said, glancing over at me for help, like I would have something to add.
I supposed he assumed Isaak would know about anything involving the club that centered around queer culture and identity, but being that he was a TA in his graduate’s program, I doubted he was as locked into the social scene as Cyprian seemed to think.
“Anyone can come,” I tacked on, only because I didn’t want to leave my friend hanging.
“You should come,” Cyprian added. “We’re all going.”
“Oh,” Isaak answered, looking vaguely embarrassed and just a bit dazed, like he wasn’t used to being shown niceties. “What, um, what kind of party?”
“It’s, like, rave-themed or something,” I said, recalling Arie’s comments from the night before. “Just music and dancing and drinks and stuff.”
“It’ll be fun,” Cyprian added. Maddox was quiet, but I figured that was mostly because he was still recovering from the horror-addled ordeal of discussing his feelings, even in a past tense format. Poor little emotionally-constipated jock.
“Well, um… Yeah, that does sound fun,” Isaak admitted. “I guess maybe I could…”
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a text from Caelyx.
Don’t forget about me, Cupcake.
Biting down gently on the inside of my cheek, my thumb twitched over my screen as I debated whether to answer him or not.
“I’ll give you the address and time in class on Monday,” I said, realizing I didn’t have those details yet from Arie. “I have work, so I’m going to split.”
After exchanging brief goodbyes and tossing Maddox back the bottle I’d emptied of the wretched protein shake, I snatched up my duffel bag and exited the gym, headed back up to my dorm.
I’ll be there. I sent a reply to Caelyx as I made my way down the hall.
What are you doing? He always replied immediately when I messaged him, no matter the time of day or night.
I was working out with Maddox and Cyprian. I’m taking a shower before coming over to get you.
Shower over here, his next message suggested.
I snorted, glancing up at the ceiling. You’d probably steal my underwear or something, creep.
Now what would I want with your boxer briefs? He wondered, and I could see him in my mind, smirking at his phone with that perfect, pearly fuckboy grin. How did he even know what kind of underwear I wore? Pervert instincts.
I’m afraid to imagine, I sent back.
Pushing open the door to my dorm room, I found Ren sitting at his desk, the screen of his laptop covered in mathematical equations.
“Oh, hey,” he greeted me. “Don’t you have work?”
“Yeah,” I confirmed, putting my stuff down on my bed before digging around in a drawer for clean clothes. “Taking a shower and then heading out.”
What color are the ones you’re wearing right now? Caelyx’s next text came through.
I paused, staring at the screen as I considered.
It would be smarter not to encourage his behavior.
If I engaged, then it was like I was telling him to keep going.
Like I was telling him I secretly liked it or something.
Which, of course, I definitely didn’t. Using me as a source of entertainment when he was bored, or because he knew we’d be stuck together at work in a handful of minutes, wasn’t any kind of compliment or anything.
He was probably texting five other people the same question.
Guess, I ordered, against my better judgment.
What do I get if I guess right? He asked.
What do you want? A dangerous question, considering who I was talking to.
“Wow, you must be in a really good mood,” Ren commented, and I snapped my gaze up to him.
“Huh? Why?”
“I don’t know, you’re just smiling a lot at your phone. Are you texting with someone?” He guessed, and I cleared my throat.
Send me a selfie, Caelyx suggested. Of course he would request something like that.
“What? No,” I lied. I hadn’t been smiling. “I was just laughing because your boyfriend got ambushed in the gym today.”
“Ambushed?” Ren repeated, looking slightly alarmed.
Alright. No nudes, I tacked on at the end, because I knew Caelyx would expect something perverted.
“By my queer studies TA,” I clarified quickly. “He’s writing a paper on, uh, toxic masculinity in sports or whatever, and he wanted to interview Maddox about the swim team debacle last year. He wanted him to talk about his feelings,” I added, coloring the last word with amusement.
Black, Caelyx guessed in his next message. The corner of my mouth twitched as I slid my finger under the rim of my shorts, pulling at them the tiniest bit, just so I could glance down at my underwear. They were black, with a dark grey crisscross pattern.
“Oh,” Ren realized, looking relieved, then amused as well. “Poor Maddy.”
“Yeah, I’m sure he’ll be up here soon so you can comfort him,” I remarked.
Turning toward the large mirror in our room, I stuck out my tongue and snapped a photo before sending it over to Caelyx.
“You taking a picture for someone?” Ren wondered.
“Just tracking my gains,” I lied again, shoving my phone in my pocket before gathering up my clothes and shower essentials in my arms before heading back out the door.