Chapter 10
It’s the first time Jude has initiated a conversation with me, which means they don’t view talking to me as an obligation or a nuisance, so that must mean we’re friends. That’s how that works, right?
Jude
my turn for a question
did you grow up in or around Atlanta?
Oliver
about 20 miles north of here in the suburbs, yeah
Jude
close enough
how the fuck do you dress to deal with this weather?
An actual chuckle escapes my lungs. I shift my body so I’m sitting upright before typing out my response.
Oliver
lmaooo
you can't
not even nudity can help you out there
Jude
okay then follow-up question
why the fuck do you live here??
Oliver
I don't mind the heat too much
I mean right now it’s hell but it'll probably get back to the high 80s in a couple of weeks
Jude
in September it'll still be in the 80s???
Oliver
yeah probably lol
where are you from again?
Jude
north Indiana
by lake Michigan
Oliver
holy shit I'm so sorry
if you hate the heat why did you move to the south?
Jude
I didn't have much of a choice
it was for my dad's job
Oliver
but you're smart, you could have gotten into any school you wanted
why Eidola?
Jude
it’s a long story
Oliver
I've got all the time in the world
Jude
it's too much to type
maybe it'll be a lunch story
Oliver
ooh can't wait
I’ll be sure to bring some popcorn
Jude’s texts slow and eventually stop, indicating that they’re now paying attention in their morning class, so I decide it’s time to start my day.
While perusing the kitchen for some breakfast, an obnoxiously pink flier pinned to the fridge with a rainbow magnet catches my eye. Surely this is new—I would have noticed something this ridiculous before now.
“The Eidola Queer Alliance: EU’s first and largest student organization for LGBTQIA+ students! The EQA is composed of and represents a vast array of sexual, gender, and ethnic identities, all with a common goal: to achieve queer liberation and to provide for LGBTQIA+ students who need it most.
“Come check us out! Enjoy free pizza and grab a goody bag to take home! The welcome party starts Thursday, 8/28 at 7 PM in Room 207 of the Eidola Student Center!”
Max must have left this up as an invitation for anyone interested. Theo will probably want to go, assuming he doesn’t have to work early on Friday. He’s mentioned multiple times how much he wants to join a queer community. I’m sure Max has also invited Jude to tag along.
But…should I go?
I mean, I’m not a member of the LGBTQIA+ student population. At least not technically. That alone should be enough to deter me—I have no business invading queer spaces. And yet, something about the flier tugs at me.
Without really thinking, I pull out my phone, snap a picture of the flier, open my text chat with Theo, and send it along with a question.
Oliver
hey man, did you see this on the fridge?
Theo
no, I don’t recognize it
must be from Max…
it sounds fun though!
Oliver
I figured you might think so
Theo
would you mind tagging along with me?
those kinds of things make me all kinds of nervous
Oliver
of course! I’d be honored
Theo
thanks dude
Oliver
anytime
Well, that settles that. I’ll be accompanying my bisexual best friend and our new gay transgender roommate to a social event for queer people. For emotional support.
Problem solved.
“And that’s how Theo—and, by extension, how I—got to meet Hudson Helter two years ago.”
“I fucking knew I recognized Theo from somewhere!” Jude yelps excitedly, nearly knocking over their soda. “God, I can’t believe I didn’t piece it together myself.”
“I mean, how could you possibly have known that we were Triple H fans?”
“I don’t know, there should have been a vibe or something,” Jude says defeatedly. “But hell yeah, that’s so cool.”
“It really was.”
The Student Center cafeteria seems especially packed today—perhaps more students are discovering how incredible the sandwiches at Papa Geien’s Deli are.
Jude introduced me to this place a mere two days ago, but I can’t get enough.
It’s a local, family-owned business that opened a shop in our cafeteria and is run by second-generation German immigrants.
I still don’t get the parrot mascot, but perhaps I’m missing something.
“So, did Theo actually see a ghost at Saint Catherine’s?” Jude asks.
“Technically, no,” I explain. “He recorded some orbs on his phone, but he never saw them with his own eyes. He swears he definitely felt something, though. You’ll have to ask him about it sometime.”
“I will! That’s so fucking cool.”
I soak in Jude’s enthusiasm like a sponge—it’s almost as addicting as my Papa Geien Strammer Max. “So, do you believe in the supernatural?”
Jude scrunches their nose. “Not really.”
“Aww, no! Why not?”
“I would have to see it to believe it. Like, actually see it with my own eyes, not just a video or a picture.” They peer at me sympathetically. “I take it that means you’re a believer, then?”
“Believer? I hardly know her!”
Jude stares at me, unamused.
“Yes, I’m a believer,” I admit. “I feel pretty certain, anyway. Too many people out there have seen shit, you know?”
“There are also a lot of people who claim to hear God speaking to them,” Jude counters, but their eyes suddenly go wide with panic. “Shit, wait, are you religious?”
I shake my head. “Not even a little bit.”
“Oh, thank fuck,” Jude breathes a sigh of relief. “I thought I had just ruined everything by being an asshole.”
“No way,” I insist. “It would take a hell of a lot more than that for me to think you were an asshole.”
“Good. As long as we avoid any type of competition, then.”
“Oh?” I lean in, intrigued.
“I’ve been told I’m not a good sport,” Jude explains. “Especially when I’m losing.”
“That just means you’re passionate,” I argue. “You like to win. You don’t like to lose. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Jude shakes their head. “You say that now—”
“Listen, I have two younger stepsisters who throw tantrums when they lose at anything. Also, do you remember Harrison from the other night?”
Jude nods. “The Tech guy, right?”
“Yep. He’s one of the smartest, most reasonable people I’ve ever met; an absolute sweetheart. But the second he picks up a controller, it’s like Jekyll and Hyde, dude. Super Smash Bros. turns him into a monster.”
“Smash Bros.,” Jude sighs, almost dreamily. “God, I haven’t thought of that game in forever. I used to be so fucking good at it.”
My heart nearly leaps into my throat. “We play it all the time! We have it back at the dorm. You should come over and play sometime!”
Jude scoffs. “Nah, that would be a bad idea.”
“Come on, it’ll be fun! You said it’s been a while, right? You can practice solo first and rebuild that muscle memory.”
“I don’t know…” Jude runs a hand through their hair. “I might relapse back into my own version of Mr. Hyde.”
I try to imagine it—a formidable, aggressive version of the warm, gentle friend I’ve come to know over the past few days. “Not possible,” I conclude. “You can’t be any worse than Harrison.”
“Then I guess you’ll have to learn the hard way,” Jude says with a smirk. “Because I’m absolutely taking you up on that.”
My face breaks out into a wide grin. “Hell yeah.”
“Fuck off! You’re such a dick!”
“Says the one playing as Sonic the fucking Hedgehog!”
“You keep using all the stupid items! It’s cheating!”
“It literally isn’t cheating at all.”
“Then beat me without them, fucking coward!”
We’ve been at this for over an hour now. Jude was spot-on—they’re a bit rusty but clearly very good. I’ve had to rely on assist trophies and other items just to keep up with them.
Right as I’m about to throw yet another Bob-omb at Jude’s Sonic avatar, a familiar voice interrupts.
“Is everything okay out here?”
I pause the game to see Vimlesh standing in the hallway, watching us with a concerned expression.
“Hey Vimlesh!” I call out. “Yeah, dude, all good here.”
“I’m so sorry,” Jude says. “Are we being too loud?”
“Nah,” I answer. “I’d say this is the appropriate volume for Smash Bros.”
“I was talking to Vimlesh,” Jude hisses.
Vimlesh steps into the living room, looks at the TV, then smiles. “Oh, I see. Now I understand the yelling.”
“See?” I say with a smirk. “Vimlesh gets us.”
“Would you like to play?” Jude asks, offering up their controller to Vimlesh.
I quickly lean forward to tap the coffee table. “I’ve got more controllers—we can all play.”
“Hm,” Vimlesh hesitates. “Do you also have Mario Kart?”
“Sure do!”
Vimlesh’s grin grows. “Let me know if you play that next. I prefer it to Smash.”
“You got it, dude.”
“Actually, you guys can go ahead and start that up,” Jude says, standing to their feet and placing their controller on the coffee table. “I should get going anyway. I’ve got some Stats homework due tomorrow that I haven’t started yet.”
“Oh,” I mutter, trying not to sound as disappointed as I feel. “Yeah, of course.”
“Do you mind if I grab one of Max’s drinks for the road?” Jude asks as they walk into the kitchen. “I’ll let him know it was me.”
I chuckle. “Sure thing. You’re also welcome to a Dr. Pepper; those are mine.”
Jude’s brows raise with intrigue. “You know, that sounds even better. Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
Vimlesh sits in the armchair and retrieves Jude’s controller while I switch out the games on the console. While it loads, I glance back up to Jude to see their gaze lingering on something bright pink on the fridge.
As soon as it registers what they’re looking at, I practically leap to my feet. “Oh, hey, are you going to that EQA thing tomorrow?”
Jude sighs. “I completely forgot about it, and now I’ve already made other plans.” They toss me a dubious look. “Why? Are you going?”
“I am. Theo invited me to tag along with him for moral support.”
“Huh,” Jude says, studying me skeptically. “That’s nice of you.”
“That’s me. I’m pretty nice.”
Jude barks a laugh. “Yeah, sure. A pretty nice cheater.”
“I’m not a cheater!” I snap. “Items are part of the game!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Jude says dismissively as they put on their backpack. “Whatever you say, cheater.”
“Not a cheater!”
“Bye, cheater!”
The door closes behind Jude before I can shout back, so I mutter, “loser,” before returning to the couch to retrieve my controller.
“What were you guys talking about?” Vimlesh asks as Mario Kart boots up.
I snicker. “They think I’m a cheater because I use items in Smash. Which is just insane, because that’s literally—”
“Oh, no, I meant the event happening tomorrow?” he clarifies, gesturing towards the fridge.
“Oh, that’s, uh, that’s for a Queer Alliance meeting happening tomorrow night at the Student Center.” I glance at him, then focus on the screen. “You’re welcome to join, if you want. Max left that invitation there for all of us.”
“Ah,” Vimlesh says. “I don’t think it’s really meant for me. I’m straight.”
“I think it’s for allies, too,” I counter. “That’s what the A stands for in LGBTQIA, isn’t it?”
“No, I think that’s something else.”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
Vimlesh hesitates. “Are you…one of the letters?”
I laugh nervously. “Who knows, man?”
Vimlesh doesn’t answer, but the awkward silence cuts short as the Mario Kart music bursts through the speakers.
“Do you mind if I play as Mario?” Vimlesh asks.
I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Not even a little bit, my friend.”