Chapter Fifteen
Rus’ history professor for the “Hidden Heroes Between the Pages” had wrapped up the lecture early in favor of offering the students time to quietly collaborate and discuss an upcoming research project.
Rus was still buzzing from his recent relationship…
was it a relationship? His dating situation at the very least had kept his interests captivated.
“I have to tell you something exciting,” Rus whispered to Daysha.
“Oh?”
Between his dating news and the joy of October officially marking the calendar, Rus buzzed with excitement. Since it was the greatest season of the year, Rus actually dressed up. Today, he wore a bloody, oversized sweater that said “I’m Fine” in carved lettering.
“I’m seeing someone,” he quietly continued. “Well, someones.”
Daysha quirked a brow, her face completely confused.
“I took your terrible but apparently not-at-all terrible advice.”
“My advice?”
“To kiss Kaiden and then to kiss Dylan,” Rus explained. “Maybe not in that order. Well, it was for me. Your advice didn’t really specify any order.”
“My advice was a joke.”
“Welp, jokes on you because now your bi bestie has two boyfriends that you’re going to have to hear about all the time.”
“Ooookay.” Daysha side-eyed Rus. “How is that any different from you talking about your crushes nonstop? At least now I won’t have to hear about celebs you’d smash if you crossed paths because they’d definitely be wowed by your… Hmmm. Charm? No, that can’t be it.”
Rus tsked. “I just wanted to prepare you mentally for me being utterly insufferable and talking about guys all the time.”
“You realize just because I don’t date doesn’t mean I’m allergic to the discussion.”
“I know, but I also know when I’m single, I find people blabbing about their relationships annoying.”
“But I’m a better person than you, obviously.” Daysha smirked. “So, tell me everything. Minus squishy bits touching. That, I am allergic to. Unless it’s in a BL book.”
“Relationship?” Emma scoffed, leaning forward in the seat behind them and intruding on their conversation in only a way she could.
Rus had nearly forgotten she’d taken the seat behind them.
Most lectures, she made her presence known almost immediately with cutting commentary and rude questions, but other days, she sat in abject silence until she found the right moment to strike.
Why she felt the need to sit nearby Rus so often, he had no idea, but he suspected it was some type of irritating power trip.
Her long blonde hair draped her smug face, and Rus contemplated yanking a strand if only to twist that hateful gaze into shock.
“Dating around isn’t a relationship, even if you use some sad gay label to say otherwise.”
“No one asked you,” Rus snarled in a breathy whisper.
“In fact, dating two men is sort of proof there’s nothing serious about your romance,” Emma said with this condescending giggle.
“This is why gays are terrible for the world. They mock tradition, they take nothing seriously, they spit on sacred values, and then they gloat about it in public to rub it in everyone’s faces. ”
“There’s no gloating,” Rus replied, biting back a thousand cutting words he sought to add.
“Yeah, we’re having a private conversation.” Daysha pointed to herself and Rus. “You’re the nosy bitch, quite literally, forcing your way into our conversation.”
“Because you’re loudly talking about immoral and disgusting things when we should be focused on our research projects.”
“And what are you even going to research on?” Daysha asked in a loud, furious hush.
“You hate all BIPOC representation, you adamantly believe queers of history are lies and propaganda to disparage the dead, you think every woman’s achievement in history is used to silence the ‘real’ male accomplishment.
So, what the fuck are you even researching? ”
She summed up every thought Rus had. It still irked him to no end that Emma took this elective purely to incite discourse in the class.
“I’ll be doing a counter essay on the real hidden figures of history,” Emma boldly stated. “The white Christians who are slowly being erased from textbooks because of DEI history initiatives.”
“You seriously don’t even give a fuck if you fail this class, do you?” Rus asked, truly astounded.
“I’ve actually already started writing out my appeal if the professor unfairly demonstrates biased bigotry against me for my political and religious rights.” Emma primmed her shiny, blonde hair, practically posing with pride. “Honestly, if you’re going to just date around, you should—”
“Why would I even listen to you?” Rus asked, having a sudden realization about his most irritating, unwanted nemesis.
“You’re a woman. And by your very hateful definition of women—which you constantly voice, loudly at that—they shouldn’t have opinions.
So, why the fuck would I listen to a goddamn thing that comes out of your trashy cherry-picking Christian mouth? ”
Emma glowered, her face scrunching into something methodical and likely intending to argue her way around her very own stupid logic.
“I’m just surprised you’re not more ashamed of yourself,” Daysha cut in. “You’re like twenty-two, college educated, unmarried and single, career-driven, and quite opinionated.”
Daysha counted off each achievement on her fingers, hurling them like insults. Then she made a nasty face, utter repulsion in her eyes.
“Jesus must be so disappointed in you.”
“Wait, career-driven?” Rus asked somewhat sarcastically. “I thought her whole trad wife sales pitch fizzled out when her followers learned she was a sad, single college girl and not a 1950s homemaker?”
“Oh, it did, but grifters always find a scam.”
Rus nodded, playfully agreeing.
“Now she mostly does Lives with red pill podcasters, arguing about the ‘woke’ mob and bragging on how she’s surviving her liberal indoctrination.”
“And not one of those proud good ole boys wants to make you an honest woman?” Rus asked with a sassy twang to his voice. “Pretty pathetic if you ask me.”
“No one fucking asked you!” Emma blurted, caught off guard by her own rage.
Rus slid down in his seat, snickering at Emma’s outburst. He did his best not to look at Daysha, who followed suit, and they both kept their eyes locked on the whiteboard as their professor turned his attention to their area.
Emma stormed out before the professor even attempted to understand the situation.
Daysha and Rus stayed silent for the longest minute of their life, waiting for their professor’s ire to lessen.
“Also, I should mention,” Rus leaned over, whispering, “we have our first date night planned.”
“Exciting, but how’s that work logistics-wise?”
“We all show up, eat food, chat, go to a movie, then—”
“Absolutely not,” Daysha interrupted. “Movie first, so you can avoid bathroom breaks from your full belly meal, and also, it’ll give you something to chat about.”
“About going to the bathroom?” Rus scrunched his face.
“No, you weirdo. About the movie. You see the movie first and can talk about it at dinner. Also, you won’t have to step out of the movie midway for a potty break. I mean, unless you order a super-giant soda.”
“You could’ve explained that better.”
“You could’ve honed your critical thinking skills; we all could’ve done something.” Daysha did a hair flip, intentionally swiping Rus across the face. “But seriously, how are the logistics going to work?”
“Meaning?”
“Table or booth?”
Rus shrugged.
“’Cause if it’s a booth, someone is going to be left out. Table is the best bet,” Daysha said assuredly. “Also, who’s paying? Split three ways? Not the worst, but—”
“But nothing.”
“Oh, yeah, for sure.” Daysha waggled a finger at Rus. “No butt stuff on the first date. But—pun absolutely intended—how is the butt stuff going to work?”
“I thought you didn’t like talking about the squishy bits?”
“I mean, on my terms, it’s cool. Plus, I’m super curious,” Daysha said. “Is it going to be like a conga line of fuckery or more like a wrestling match where y’all tap in for each other?”
“Huh?”
“You know, two-on-one. Whoever gets pinned spends his time getting tapped, and—”
“And we’re done.” Rus pulled out his laptop, deciding to make the most of this research time provided.
“I guess my imagination will just have to fill in the blanks.”
Rus’ imagination also started filling in blanks. He couldn’t help but heavily contemplate his date. It’d gone from a fun, simple way to spend the night with two of his favorite people, to a weight of concern and stress that if everything didn’t go just right, then…
Then what?
He shook away the thoughts. Daysha had inadvertently gotten into his head, but he wouldn’t let that deter his plans. This was going to be a great night.
Although he did text his boyfriends about switching movie times earlier, so they could have dinner afterward. And he’d be sure to insist on a table over a booth.
Rus released a deep breath, exhaling the festering anxiety before it had a chance to take root.
Since Dylan and Kaiden didn’t share Rus’ enthusiasm for Halloween, he toned down his outfit for the date and picked out a casual black polo shirt and gray jeans.
He did, however, add a colorful orange tie and some Nightmare Before Christmas knee-high socks, which he kept bunched around his ankles.
He preferred thicker socks with his boots, anyway.
Dylan and Kaiden arrived together, making their way up to Rus’ apartment to greet him.
“You could’ve just texted me to come down,” he said.
“Well, then you’d have to carry these the entire night.” Dylan flashed a bouquet of red roses from behind his back.
“He was feeling quite festive.” Kaiden revealed a second bouquet. “Do you mind if I put them in water before we leave?”
Rus sniffed the flowers, surprisingly a bit giddy at the idea of someone bringing him flowers. It was weird. Rus never considered himself the sentimental type for something so simple, yet the excitement on Dylan’s face only further exhilarated Rus.