-Josh-

I can't believe he did the same thing to me that I did to him. Kieran had to help me up (once he stopped laughing at me-- what a dick) and then I had to deal with my tailbone throbbing for the whole rest of the day. Out of all the petty things to do in retaliation...

I guess, in retrospect, I should've expected it. But I just didn't think he was that kind of guy. He seems like more of a pushover, but the goth makeup doesn't seem to be for nothing, that's for sure.

I don't do a thing once we're back in our room together in the evening-- now that there's a war being waged outside, I need to make the truce clear.

He seems to get it-- just goes about his business.

I leave him alone as we both get ready to go to bed-- pajamas, teeth brushed in the hall bathroom, back to our room to climb into bed.

As I'm settling in, Ezra says, "Sorry about earlier. I just... I wanted to do it back so you knew how it felt."

I give him a subtle glare. "Yeah. I deserved it. So don't apologize, idiot."

He puts his hands up. "Jeez. Fine, I take it back."

"Good." I turn over and face the wall.

I listen to him settle in, then try my best to fall asleep. It takes a while, but when it does, I sleep peacefully and without dreams.

The next day starts badly because Ian insists on morning practice and then works us all to the bone in the cold. He's the worst sometimes, and while I know he's just trying to be a good captain and make us a good team, it's still really freaking annoying at times. Running around and getting sweaty and uncomfortable about an hour before I'd normally be getting up isn't exactly my idea of fun.

When I get back, Ezra is still in bed and I realize that it's actually before his alarm is supposed to go off. I can't believe this.

I take a quick shower in the hall bathroom because I have the time and then get into my uniform. I find myself making sure it's straight and clean, but I'm not sure why. I don't care that much-- why am I even doing this? So Ezra doesn't get on my case about it? That's stupid. I don't care what he thinks about my uniform.

It's just because I don't want him to fix my freaking tie again. I'll go with that. I don't want his hands on me because that's weird.

We have breakfast, then I walk with Kieran to my first class because his is down the hall from mine. "I don't know what's wrong with Ezra. He did the whole knocking-me-over thing yesterday, and then on the first morning, he fixed my tie for me? Like, who does that?"

"I dunno. Maybe he's gay."

"What?"

"Well, I mean, it's an all-boys school full of completely teenagers." Kieran shrugs. "I wouldn't be surprised if half the guys here had gone queer out of pure desperation."

"You're gross."

"But you don't seem to think I'm wrong," he points out. "So..."

"Well, it's not like everyone's going to be straight, right? It's statistically improbable. Maybe not half the guys would be, but there's definitely gotta be a group of them." I shrug. "I just don't exactly know how I feel about rooming with one, if he is."

Kieran stops at my classroom door with me. "Look, Josh. I know I can be a giant dick, but I need you to take me seriously right now. This isn't a joke. Got it?"

I nod slowly, not sure where he's going with this.

"Rooming with a guy who's gay, or bi, or anything other than straight, isn't any different than rooming with a straight guy. Yeah, they fall in love with different people, but at the end of the day, they're still people." After another couple seconds, his serious expression drops. "Besides, it's not like anyone wants to sleep with you regardless."

I huff. "Dick."

"It's what I'm known for. See you at lunch."

"Yeah."

He heads off to his own class, leaving me with more to think about than I expected.