Chapter Seven
It’s only hitting me now how much time I’m going to be spending with Zarmenus.
Like, he’s going to be here, with me.
A lot.
After I spoke with Dean Leeke, I came back to our room. I still can’t believe what she offered me. An internship at Google, all for getting along with Zarmenus. If I were to get that, my future would be set. It would burst open doors that might’ve been forever sealed shut.
It could give me everything I’ve ever wanted. I knew I made the right choice to not switch rooms.
The past few hours have been spent hanging out in our room, talking. We’ve kept the conversation surface level, mostly talking about TV shows we like. He said he’s been watching a lot of American TV to prepare for his trip here, so he’s seen most of the shows and movies I consider my favorites.
For the past hour or so, I’ve been trying to take a nap while Zarmenus has been playing a game on his computer. I like gaming as well; that’s not the issue. The issue is that he is playing it on what has to be close to full volume.
I know I could ask him to turn it down, but things have been going so well between us that I don’t want to risk that in any way. Plus, I now have the internship hanging over me. I can put up with a noisy video game for a few months if it means getting that.
I roll over so I’m facing the wall. I have already pulled my covers over my head for privacy.
I wonder if I’ll ever be used to sharing a space like this with someone.
I’ve always had my own room, so whenever I wanted to sleep I could lock my door and keep everyone else out.
I never slept well at sleepovers; I was too self-conscious about snoring or generally being unconscious, and therefore out of control, around other people.
“Owen,” says Zarmenus, calling out over his game. I pull my covers down and sit up. Zarmenus has his legs up on his desk, and with one hand he’s eating a packet of Doritos. From the looks of things, he’s not the neatest eater. There is a circle of crumbs on the floor around him.
“Yeah?” I say.
“I was thinking we should go over some housemate ground rules.”
“That’s a really good idea.”
He laughs. On the screen, he shoots a rival until they die.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing, it’s just that people aren’t normally this excited about rules.”
I know he’s joking, but it still stings. I’m fun, not some horrible stickler. If I was, I would’ve asked him to turn the volume down and to be a little more careful with the Dorito dust he’s getting everywhere.
“What kind of rules are you thinking?” I ask.
“Well, first things first, if there’s a sock on the door, don’t come inside. And that goes both ways.”
I can feel my cheeks heat up. I won’t lie—yes, one of the biggest appeals of college for me is the prospect of boys.
I mean, nothing ever really worked out for me on that front all throughout high school, and I didn’t even have an excuse.
My school was about as liberal as it gets, and there were a bunch of out, queer guys who dated or hooked up.
I just didn’t. I am kind of hoping that it will be different here.
I feel more confident, and Ashley has always said that I shouldn’t worry about my lack of action in high school since I’ll clean up during college.
Plus, I don’t have a crush on anyone anymore.
The guy I used to like is miles away, and it’s like my brain has finally accepted that feelings for him are not good for me.
Knowing myself, I’m sure it won’t be long until I get a crush on some other unavailable guy, but at least I have some peace at the moment.
“Okay,” I say. “Anything else?”
He shrugs. “No nagging.”
“Nagging?”
“Yeah, I hate that. And no being passive-aggressive. If we have issues, we should just say it.”
“Totally.”
“Easy,” he says. “Can you think of anything else?”
We just met. I don’t want to spring any rules on him just yet.
“Nope, I’m good with those.”
“Sweet. What are your plans tonight?”
“I’ll probably just crash,” I say. “I’m pretty tired. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to a house party,” he says. “You could come, if you want? I’m sure it’d be fine.”
Classes don’t start for a week, and I know this week is designed for Point students to get settled and make friends.
That’s a huge part of college, and it’s not like I don’t want to meet new people.
I do. I just am not sure about going to a party with a guy like Zarmenus.
He doesn’t seem like he runs in the kinds of circles that I’m used to, and I don’t want my first night here to be a disaster.
“I’m kinda tired,” I say. “Next time, though.”
“Damn it!” he yells at the screen. “Sorry, that wasn’t at you. I died. All good, roomie.”
A few minutes later, gunfire sounds on the TV.
“Yes!” says Zarmenus, practically bouncing in his seat. “Man, does anything feel better than revenge?”
“I truly wouldn’t know.”
He laughs.
“Did you go to many parties in high school?” I ask.
“Not really. My parents were pretty strict about that kind of thing.”
“Are your parents strict about everything?”
“You could say that. I mean, they’re pretty much the whole reason I’m even here.”
“So you don’t want to be here?”
“I didn’t say that. It just wasn’t my choice. I have always been curious about Earth, though,” he adds. “People fascinate me. They always have. How about you, have you been to many parties?”
“They’re not really my scene.”
“Damn it! Sorry, roomie, I need to concentrate.”
I pull my covers back over my head.