“So,” Kat began, sitting down across from me, “what happened,”
“I…” the words slurred from my lips.
I remembered walking into the lab, right after Islington, my eyes locked on his satchel. He always had nice outfits, wore nice clothes, and had nice shoes and accessories... and hair-
I shook my head, physically knocking myself out of that train of thought. Now isn’t the time.
Anyone who’d seen Islington knew that he was attractive, I mean he was incredibly noticeable in a crowd, and seeing him on his own was its own experience. He carried himself in any environment. He was taller than me, dark hair that was always perfectly cut, not the scruffy hair that I had. Damn, I needed a haircut. Islington just seemed perfect in every way. He was smart, teachers always seemed to like him, even back in high school, everyone seemed to like him. Despite that, I’d never seen Islington in a relationship with anyone, not girls, guys, or anyone. The closest I ever got to find out if Islington was in a relationship was overhearing someone say they saw Islington out at the library with some blond guy. That didn’t really solidify anything. Not to mention Islington taking two years off and no one seeing or hearing about him. Maybe it wasn’t any of my business, but there was something about Islington that made me want to know everything about him. Hear about his day, know his favorite food, what kind of socks he wore when it was rainy outside.
Islington stopped at one of the lab tables and laid down his bag, leaning against one of the stools ever so slightly. He looked up at me and I quickly averted my gaze, rummaging through my bag, grabbing a single pen, and making a face like ah that’s where this was.
“Do I have something on my face?” Islington said, reaching a hand to cover himself.
I waved my hands, “no, you look great,” I swallowed, “I mean, you always look great, your face it's… great,”
Good job Devin, that’s definitely how you talk to people.
Islington gave a polite smile and nodded.
There was a silence for a moment.
I scrolled through my phone for a bit before I decided to cross over the room and grab a seat. Islington pulled out a book, and following suit I pulled out my laptop, reaching under the lab table for an outlet. These desks usually had them on the sides, but for the life of me, I couldn’t find one. How embarrassing.
“They’re, uh,” Islington said, noticing my struggle, “actually under that panel,”
I felt my hand over the surface. What panel?
“Let me help you,” Islington walked over, placing a playing card in his book before setting it down on the table. He leaned over the table, his hand reaching over to a part of the desk where a thin indent made a circle in the otherwise flush surface.
“I see it,” I reached out a little too quickly, my hand landing atop his and pressing down.
He drew back almost at the same time I did, the panel popping up with a satisfying *click* revealing two outlets.
“Thanks,” I smiled, pulling out my charging cable.
Islington nodded, sitting back down at the stool and continuing to read his book, looking to his phone every once in a while.
I shouldn’t stare at him so much I thought to myself.
Avery should definitely have been here by now, telling us what lab safety or some other intro to the project we were supposed to help her with, but in the end, we waited about fifteen minutes before one of us decided to break the ice.
“So,” I half said half coughed, my voice tight in my throat, “do you think we have the right room?”
“Actually,” Islington began, his phone in hand, “Avery said she’s a little tied up,” Islington spoke out and began to pack up his things.
I kept my eyes down, staring at the words on my screen suddenly finding myself unable to read anything that was on it. Something in my gut sank, my shoulders heavy, as if someone poured a bunch of cement over me.
I sighed, “so we reschedule?”
“She said she was gonna stop by my place later and drop off the plan,”
“Y-your place?” the words spilled out of my mouth
He stopped packing up and looked at me, “is that ok with you?”
“You’re gonna go to his apartment?”
Suddenly it was noon and if you asked me what happened in the past hour I would have no clue how to respond. I sat in the student commons, Katerina was at the edge of her seat. The only other person we were sitting with being my roommate Blake, who clearly wasn’t listening to the story.
“Let the whole campus know will ya?” I said, face burning up.
Kat placed a hand over her mouth, “this is just huge, and a little spicy,”
“Don’t say shit like that, Kat,” Blake gave her a slight shove.
Kat was never one to tone things down, she said exactly what was on her mind no matter what people she was with. I’d grown used to it, having known her all these years, it was just part of her charm. Blake on the other hand, might still have needed a while.
Blake was my roommate, and after meeting in the first year, decided that we needed to spend every minute of everyday next to me. Luckily we were in different programs, so I never had to take any classes with him. He wasn’t a bad guy, and wasn’t annoying or anything like that, there just aren’t too many people I could spend every second of every day with.
“I’m allowed to be romantic,” Kat said, resting back into her chair.
Blake rested his book over his chest, “ You should've tried being romantic in front of your girlfriend,”
“It was a mutual breakup!” Kat hissed at him, gripping onto the sides of the chair.
I waved my hands in front of them, “anyways… he gave me his home address and number,”
Blake peaked his head and grinned, “oooo, his number,”
“So it’s fine if you say it?” Kat crossed her arms over her chest.
“I do it tastefully,” Blake said, making an ok sign with his hand.
The two of them started bickering, meanwhile, I pulled out my phone and searched through my contacts.
Islington had put his number in on his own. Even going as far as taking a picture of himself for the profile. Didn’t anyone even give out numbers anymore? I wasn’t familiar with his area, so he drew a small map in my notebook, outlining the route. Walking distance from campus.
What kind of place did he live in. When I thought about Islington’s house I imagined a modern space, the kind of space that seemed staged. High-end kitchen, some nice comfy chairs, a huge bed in the bedroom. Not like I’d be going into his room. This was a professional visit. Avery was going to be there, and we were going to do work. Work at Islington’s apartment. With Islington.
I wondered what it was exactly that Islington’s parents did, or what he did to be able to have such expensive things. He never talked to anyone, the only people who probably knew about him being Avery and…
“-those two students that died,” Blake’s voice rang in my ears, breaking me from my thoughts.
“We’re not supposed to talk about that Blake,” Katerina hushed.
Blake rubbed his chin, his stubble scratching against his nails, “wait no, didn’t only one of them die? Didn’t the other go missing or something… What was it, Dev?”
My phone buzzed in my hand, a text from Avery: [heading there now]
“No one died,” I let out a puff of air. Was I holding my breath?
Kat grabbed hold of my arm, “You know he didn’t mean it Dev,”
I smiled at her, “I know, but I’ve got to go now. I’ll see you tonight, Blake,”
“I won’t be home,” Blake grinned.
Kat scoffed, “not with Enna again,”
“What’s wrong with her?” Blake shrugged.
I began putting my things back in my bag, and shrugged on my shoulder, “not her, just you,”
Blake placed a hand over his chest, “Ouch, what did I do?”
Kat laughed, “she’s too good for you? Thought of that?”
Blake and Kat continued to bicker, as was their usual course of action. I didn’t mind the bickering, no one usually got hurt.
“Anyways, I’ll see you guys,”
Neither noticed me walking off. I put in my earbuds and started some music.
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