~~~~ADRIAN~~~~

    <I can meet before 2nd or 3rd Period on Weds>
    <Weds don't work for me>
    <I don't have a 4th Period on Thurs>
    <Doesn't work>
    <When works for you?>
    <Between period 2 and 3 except Weds and Thurs. Fri?>
    <Can we do a later time on Fri? I only have first period, and I have to be somewhere until around 3>
    <Meet me at the gym at 3:30>
    <ok>


    "Nanna," I call a bit louder than normal as I enter her room. She and Mrs. Hebrum are playing cards, both of them hooked up to IV's but seeming to be in good moods and decent enough health.
    "Ah, my favorite grandson," she says, smiling at me. I roll my eyes and pull a chair over.
    "Your only grandson," I respond cheekily, kissing her hand.
    "You can be my grandson any day," Mrs. Hebrum says with a booming laugh. I smile at her. She and Nanna have become very close and I love knowing that she isn't lonely. It makes me feel better about her staying here rather than at the house.
    "Now, what's got you all excited, sugarplum?"
    I pause, unsure if I should say what was on my mind in front of Mrs. Hebrum, before deciding that she likely already knows plenty about me since Nanna always has said a bit too much when she talks, and they certainly talk a lot.
    "I think you're right about that guy," I say tentatively.
    "The hot one with the biceps?" Nanna teases, and my face immediately darkens.
    "Y-yeah, the one I'm doing the project with. We, uh, we had a little misshap. Or, I uh.. I was me?" I stumbled through my sentence, Nanna slowly catching on and grinning.
    "Ah, Adrian, my lovely baby foal. What possibly could be a misshap with you?"
    I send her the best glare I can muster before letting her know about the eventful day I'd had with my new Creative Writing partner.
    "Zombies though?" Mrs. Hebrum states at the end, as though that was the most important detail of what I'd just announced.
    Nanna gave her a soft chuckle before turning to me. "Well, it certainly sounds promising. Though, you should aught be careful not to go spilling things on him if you want your relations to improve. Might I suggest a sippy?" She teases me, and I cover my face with my hands. She's so unfair sometimes!
    "I think he sounds like a good partner for your project. He and I are on the same page with disliking the living dead," Mrs. Hebrum says with a shudder.
    "We're meeting up on Friday, after our lunch together," I inform them. "He lives on campus and wants to work on the project in his dorm room."
    Nanna wiggles her eyebrows at me. "Now, Adrian, how much project is the writing and how much is hi-"
    My face lights up like Rudolph's nose and I quickly interject, "Nanna! It's just a project! We - we can barely - I-"
    Nanna laughs heartily. "Oh, Adrian, you know I'm just fooling with you."
    "Wait, you like men?" Mrs. Hebrum abruptly asks, and I hesitate and nod as Nanna beams at her. A moment later, Mrs. Hebrum laughs. "I guess we can swoon over romantic men with you too then, right Mary?" Nanna nods enthusiastically.
    "My grandson tells me stories about such handsome men. Though he hasn't brought anyone over here yet," she gives me a side eye and Mrs. Hebrum wags her finger at me making a tsk sound.
    A short time later I give Nanna a kiss on the cheek and leave so I can get to campus in time for Algebra.

--------
    "Adrian, are you serious right now?" Elijah grabs my face and stares into my eyes, placing the back of his hand on my forehead. "You don't have a fever so WHY IN THE HELL WOULD YOU AGREE TO THAT?"
    I push his hands away, "Eli, it's just getting together for a project."
    "Yeah, at Demian's dorm room. Alone."
    I shiver a bit, which Elijah takes as a sign that I'm catching on to how dangerous that is. That's definitely not the reason, but I'm not about to correct him.
    "Adrie, just because he hasn't done something to you yet doesn't mean you're safe with him. It's been what, four weeks since the semester started? And you've had so many run ins with him that I can't keep count of them all!"
    "That's just it," I retort quietly, walking into the classroom with him, "I've had so many run ins - too many of them literally - and he hasn't done a single thing. I don't think he's as bad as the rumors say."
    "You're too trusting," Elijah sighs, rubbing his face.
    I'm really not, but I don't say anything, not wanting to get into a conversation about that. Ever. Thankfully the bell rings and our conversation is put on hold.

~~~DEMIAN~~~
{Wednesday}

    "Demian, Mrs. Hebrum wants you to personally deliver her dinner," Ansley says, rolling her eyes. I don't know why she works here since it's clear she really doesn't enjoy working with the residents, but I hold my tongue and take the tray. I can't blame Mrs. Hebrum for not wanting to interact with her. I don't like being around people who don't want my company either.
    "There's my Demian," she coos as I enter Mary's room. I'd stopped by hers first, but the room was empty and this was the next best bet as to where she'd be.
    "Oh, Demian, it's always a pleasure to see you," Mary adds, smiling radiantly from her bed. "Please, sit a while with us old ladies and chat."
    "What it was like to be in my 20's," Mrs. Hebrum sighed, winking at Mary who giggled.
    "Demian, darling, have you found yourself a nice girl yet?"
    I hate this topic. "I don't really have the time for dating right now," I say carefully, hoping that will put an end to the conversation. It doesn't.
    "You're always so busy here with us old folk. You should take a break, spend time with a lovely lady your age."
    I do my best to keep my facial expression pleasant but neutral. "I don't mind. I have many other priorities, too. College, for one."
    "Surely there's time for love, sugarcube," Mary says softly.
    "Don't go wasting your prime, boy!" Mrs. Hebrum wags a finger at me. "You're a handsome young man, and I'm sure the girls will swoon at your feet if you give 'em the time of day."
    I bite my tongue, not sure what to say, when Ansley opens the door to say she needs help cleaning Mr. Andrews. I don't think I've ever been excited to hear there's been a shittastrophy as I am at this moment, and I doubt I ever will be again. I bid a quick farewell to the women and follow Ansley down the hall.
    Ansley looks me up and down. "Y'know, they're right. You're hot and even I'm shocked you don't have a girlfriend yet." She smiles in a way that makes me really uncomfortable before saying, "I'm free this Saturday, if you'd like to go watch a movie. Or we could watch a movie at my house," she adds a wink, and I feel utterly disgusted.
    "No, thank you." I know my response is curt, but I don't want to waste words. I'm here to work, I'm gay, and even if I were into women, Ansley definitely wouldn't be on my list of potential bachelorettes.
    "Mmm, but if you change your mind," she looks me over once again and gives me what I assume is meant to be a sexy wink, "the offer still stands."

--------
    I think Isaac can tell that I had a rough day, because he invites me to join him and a couple guys from the football team on an evening out on the town. I usually wouldn't agree, but I need a break from my thoughts and some pizza and a bottle of beer while watching sports doesn't sound too bad right now.
    We hit a pizza joint a few towns over. One guy brought his girlfriend along, someone from a different campus. She looks familiar but I can't figure out why. We spend a couple hours eating, chatting, and watching the game. Only Isaac and the guy's girlfriend are really interacting with me, but I ignore it as best I can. Nobody is being actively upset with me, so I'll take it as a good night out.
    Isaac ends up drinking one too many to drive, so I end up driving us back to the dorms. We drop off one other guy who lives in a different building on campus and make our way back to our room. It suddenly hits me that the reason the girl was so familiar is because she was one of Cory's ex's. At least I don't have that question nagging at me, I guess.

~~~~~~~~
{Thursday}
    Mary pats the bed next to her when I come into the room. I set the tray down on the pull-out table and sit where she was patting.
    "Demian, dear, I'm sorry that Mrs. Hebrum and I made you so uncomfortable yesterday," she says, taking my hand. I'm not really sure how I want to respond so I simply shrug. Today felt so long already. I'm tired, and I really don't feel up for this kind of conversation again.
    "It's just hard for us old ladies to know that someone so sweet and handsome as you doesn't have a special lady in his life," she says so sweetly, looking up at me with her soft blue eyes. "Don't you want to have a lady who loves you waiting for you when you go home?"
    "No," I respond, realizing a second too late that it probably wasn't a good way to answer.
    "No?" Her eyebrows go up in surprise. "But why wouldn't you want-" Her eyes go wide. "Oh, I see," she gives a small nod as though reaffirming it to herself, "You like men."
    I'm taken aback. It's not that I hide that I'm gay, I just don't go around making it public. I've really grown fond of Mary, and I'm worried that things between us will become awkward if I confirm what she said - or that she won't want to see me again. But, I know she'll be able to tell if I try lying to her. I swallow before nodding in agreement.
    She smiles at me. "Well, then I hope you find a sweet boy to go home to. Someone like my Harold. When he would smile, I thought my heart would fly right out of my chest. In fact-"
    I'm still processing how easily she just accepted my sexuality and can't follow what she's saying at all. She didn't ask any questions, just came to the realization naturally, and she'd smiled at me. Smiled. When she determined I was gay.
    "It's not a problem to you?" I blurt out, interrupting her.
    She cocks her head at me and furrows her brows. "Dear, why would it?"
    I'm overwhelmed with emotions and next thing I know Mary is holding me tightly, rubbing my back.
    "Sweet child, there is nothing wrong with loving who you love. Be it man or woman or," she pauses for a moment and looks up at the ceiling, "There are others now, but I forget what my grandson said it was called." She chuckles softly. "Love who you love, and be happy with who you are, sugar. Don't let anyone tell you there's something wrong with you."
    I'm not crying, but I'm not far from it. I wasn't expecting this reaction, not at all. If only my parents had been so accepting. I suddenly felt jealous for her daughter and grandson for having her in their lives, but as soon as that thought crossed my mind I felt guilty and upset with myself for even thinking it. I'm happy someone like Mary exists, even if I didn't have a Mary when I came out.
    "Thank you," I say softly, hugging her back. We sit there like that for a few minutes while I get my breathing under control.
    As I make the rest of my rounds, it feel like a weight I didn't even know I was carrying had been lifted.