Destiny’s a Bitch
Chapter two
Destiny’s a Bitch
Cya
By the time they settled in a chair at the front of the lecture hall, Cya’s tail was nearly cramping.
They subtly rubbed the strained tendons and inspected the place Niki’s heel had dug into their skin.
Other than a few missing scales, they were no worse for wear, and they coiled their tail under their seat to keep it out of the way as an influx of students poured through the doors to the lecture hall.
They centered their computer on the desk and ignored the other students, hoping they would be ignored right back.
Unfortunately, fate had never favored them.
Like the universe was trying to punish them, the seat beside them—which had remained empty this entire semester—was suddenly filled with a large, furry body. Dex collapsed into the chair with such gracelessness he nearly jostled Cya right out of their own when his bulky shoulder smashed into them.
With a rather undignified noise, they clasped the edges of their desk to keep themself seated as they slowly turned to pin the boy with a withering stare.
Instead of cowering away, he grinned toothily at them, tongue lolling out the side of his mouth as his tail thump, thump, thumped against the seat of his chair.
His mis-matched eyes stared right back at them, one a bright blue, the other a dark amber.
Unbidden, they went through the catalogue of stones they had at home to match the colors.
Sapphire was too generic, and turquoise wasn’t the right shade.
Aquamarine—no, too light. Perhaps a blue topaz or larimar.
Yes, that was better. The brown one was easier to categorize.
Easily tourmaline or jasper. Or even tiger’s eye, given the swirls of darker brown around his pupil.
The heterochromia was, objectively speaking, quite beautiful, and for a moment, Cya forgot to be annoyed at his unwanted presence. That quickly changed the moment he opened his mouth.
“I know I know you. I’m pretty good with faces, especially ones like yours.” He raised both hands, palms out. “Not that I’m objectifying you. I’m a feminist and stuff. I just mean that your face is interesting.”
Cya blinked.
“Don’t worry. I mean, interesting in a good way,” he added. “Like, you’re totally hot, but again, not objectifying you. Just spitting facts.”
Cya blinked again. Slower. Longer.
Dex’s grin wavered before he pointed at his chest. “I’m Dex.”
“Okay,” Cya said.
“We met on Tuesday at the cafe,” he explained unnecessarily. When they continued to say nothing, he explained more. “Because Glyma was interviewing me, then she gave me a tour. And we totally met each other.”
“Okay,” Cya repeated.
“Yeah, and I saw you, and I thought, ‘Hey, she’s in my Thursday class!’ And I was totally right because here you are,” he said triumphantly as he recentered his red ballcap backward on his head between his tall, fuzzy ears.
“They,” Cya corrected, and Dex quirked his head, one ear folding down.
“Huh?”
“They, not she. I’m not a girl,” they said.
The Lupyn’s mouth formed a big O shape. “Oh, my bad! I know better than to make assumptions. Sorry, my man.”
Cya rubbed the skin between their eyes. “No, not a man either.”
Snapping two fingers, Dex pointed finger-guns at them. “Right. They. Enby represent!” He winked and clicked his tongue obnoxiously at them. “I’m tracking with you now. Misgendering is so uncool, and it won’t happen again. Allyship high-five!”
They did their best not to sneer at the offered palm. “Mmm, no.”
Both ears flopped down this time, his tail curling around his calf, making him look so sad and pathetic. “What? You’re gonna leave me hanging?”
Yes, they most certainly wanted to. High-fives were childish and silly, but there was something about his big, sad eyes that made their hand rise of its own accord. His expression immediately brightened, and he high-fived them exuberantly, tail wagging in excitement.
“Boom!” he said, making them jump at the outburst. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Since they were definitely garnering attention now, Cya faced forward again and tapped their thumb against the mousepad of their computer, begging the clock to move faster.
The faster time moved, the sooner the professor would arrive to start the class, and Dex would be forced to stop talking to them.
Like the clock was mocking them, it appeared to tick even slower.
“Anyway,” Dex drawled, sprawling in his chair until his pawed foot nudged their tail coil, “I saw you at the cafe and thought how crazy it was that we’re gonna be co-workers. Because we’re already co-students in the same class. Like, so wild!”
“Thrilling,” they deadpanned.
“I know, right?” Drumming a nonsensical beat on his desk, he nudged their tail again, and they barely held back a warning rattle. “But that’s destiny, you know?”
They should have ignored him, but they found themself asking, “What’s destiny?”
“Us,” he said, so seriously.
Cya arched a brow. “I don’t think I follow.”
Leaning toward them, he counted off on his fingers. “First, co-students. Now, co-workers. Next, co-friends.” He splayed his hands like he’d just revealed something pivotal and irrefutable. “It’s like the universe is bringing us together to be besties.”
A disbelieving huff of amusement burst from them. “Oh, no. No, no, no. That’s… No.”
For the first time, Dex frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I decline your offer,” they said with a tight, patronizing smile. “Of friendship. Thank you, but no. No, I… No.”
“But you can’t decline,” he said, again sounding so very somber. “’Cause you know the one thing in this world you can’t fight?”
He paused, as if he was genuinely awaiting an answer.
With an exasperated exhale, Cya crossed their arms over their chest. “Destiny?”
“Desti—aw, whatever. I pretty much gave you the answer,” he grumbled with a pout before he shook off his melancholy and said, with far too much enthusiasm, “But, yes! Destiny!”
“For deities’ sake,” they muttered, running a hand through their hair. “I don’t believe in destiny.”
Like a bad drama actor, he reared back with a gasp, large hand flattening on his chest over his white tank top. “Dude, don’t say that! Now fate’s gonna fuck your shit up.”
“I beg your pardon?” they cried. “Fuck my shit up?”
Eyes wide, Dex nodded. “Uh, shyeah! You can’t go spitting in the face of destiny and not expect to get throat-fucked.”
“You’re obscene,” they hissed scathingly, and he held up his hands in surrender.
“Hey, now, don’t shit on the messenger just ’cause you don’t like the message.”
“It’s shoot the messenger,” Cya corrected.
He blew a raspberry and shrugged. “I’m pretty sure it’s shit on.”
“It’s definitely not,” they insisted.
“Whatever. Shitting or shooting, destiny’s coming for your ass, and I can’t wait to see it.”
Burying their face in their hands, they groaned. “Please stop talking to me.”
“No way. When destiny speaks, I listen.” Hands up, Dex slid down in his seat and crossed his feet at the ankles. “Just because you’re willing to piss off the universe, doesn’t mean I am.”
Finally, the professor entered the lecture hall, and Cya heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh thank gods.”
“Good afternoon,” Professor Myls greeted the class, though few returned the sentiment.
“As semester exams draw nearer, we will start prepping. I have a practice test for you today.” At the sound of several groans, she narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t stress about getting the answers right.
Every wrong answer informs you where to focus your time and energy in the coming weeks. ”
“Pst,” Dex whispered, but Cya studiously ignored him, gaze focused on the teacher. “Hey, your highness. Pst.”
“For gods’ sake, what?” they whispered back, and he grinned.
“You’re cute when you’re huffy.” Heat flooded their face instantly, but he didn’t give them time to react to that. “But, like, what’s your name again? I’m usually good with names, but I met so many people that day, so I forgot yours.”
“Mr. Triever, Ms. Vysov,” Professor Myls said, leveling them both with a stern stare. “Can you save your flirting for after class?”
Humiliation roasted Cya’s face as they shook their head. “No, we weren’t—I was listening, but he—”
“No shade or anything, Karyn,” Dex interrupted Cya’s blubbered protests.
“Don’t call me Karyn,” Professor Myls said, but Dex continued as if he hadn’t heard.
“But you can’t call them ‘Miss’. That’s misgendering them ’cause they exist outside the gender binary.
Not that I’m canceling you, because I made the same mistake, but we still gotta be open to learn and better ourselves, you know?
” Turning to Cya, Dex beamed at them, flashing them a thumbs-up. “I got you, fam.”
Slumping so low in their seat they could easily slide out of it if they really tried, Cya covered their broiling face with a hand. “Oh my gods.”
“Right,” the professor said, glancing Cya’s way. “Apologies, Cya.”
Since they wanted nothing more than to melt into the floor and die, they wordlessly waved off the apology.
To Dex, she said, “Now, Mr. Triever, wokeness aside, what was so important that you felt the need to interrupt my class?”
“Oh, you actually answered my question,” Dex said with an easy smile before winking at Cya. “Cya. Dope name.”
In response, Cya shook their rattle at him, but instead of being scared, the Lupyn snickered, tail swishing back and forth against his calf.
As Professor Myls passed out the practice exams, she continued outlining the study guides available in the online syllabus, and slowly but surely, the mortified blush leaked out of Cya’s cheeks. They ignored Dex completely as they filled out the practice test.