I insist on heading upstairs to my room to change shirts instead of borrowing one of his, so Micah says he’ll meet me at the Rue in twenty minutes. Then he closes himself in his bathroom with a forced grin. 

We’ve...never really talked about that before. 

I ease my way out of his apartment after checking the hallway first. He’s on the main floor since he’s got the Head Resident position. It comes with perks, like a much bigger room...plus it pays more. 

I plaster a smile on my face while I stroll through the common area in the direction of the stairs, and even wave at one of my residents when he notices me passing by. There are only a couple stragglers up this late doing homework. The Thursday night rush is real at Carmen University. It’s like the professors band together to make every major project due date and test on Fridays. 

“Hey, uhhh…?” A deep voice sounding from over my shoulder startles me into an immediate halt right by the doorway. I spin around to discover my resident blinking up at me with his clear blue eyes wide as he scratches his hair. “Ethan...right?” 

“Ahuh, that’s me.” I give him an encouraging nod and wrack my brain for his name. 

“Sorry I haven’t scheduled my one-on-one yet,” he mumbles while digging a hand into the pocket of his shorts. “Do you have any slots open tomorrow? I understand it’s last-minute, so no worries if-”

“Actually, no one signed up for tomorrow so I’m wide open.” I offer lightly, tilting my head while I try to remember when his swim practice starts. “I’m done with class around 1:30pm, so whenever you’re free after that works for me.”

As an RA in freshman housing, I’m required to meet with every resident twice per semester to make sure they’re adjusting okay. I’ve had about half of my one-on-ones for this first round so far, and it’s been super awkward.

“Okay, uh…” He nibbles his thumb nail while his gaze dashes all across the floor. “Two…?” 

“Sure, that’s fine.”

“Have you met with my roommate yet?” 

“I…” My brain fires rapidly until a name finally comes to mind. “Mitch, you’re...you’re Mitch.”

The kid’s face breaks into an unbearably adorable grin. “Am I famous?”

My chuckle eases the tension along my neck while I palm sweat droplets from my brow. “You’re living with Quinn, right?” I haven’t heard from him yet, either. 

He nods slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly before he clears his throat. “That’s what my door says.” 

“Ah…?” 

“He’s never there, but I’ll tell you more about it when we meet tomorrow.” He bounces a little as he turns towards the table littered with his textbooks. “I’m screwed. Morning practice is in six hours and I’m gonna die.” He laughs softly, then gives me a wave before pouncing into the armchair. I watch him pick up a pencil, highlighter, and for some reason…an orange crayon, before I stifle a laugh and get out of there.

~

“Merrr. Ethan. Ethan. Ethan. Ethan…ya need some help?” 

I glance up from yet another probability problem that has me stumped, and discover an extremely sleepy-looking Jamie hovering over my shoulder. “Yes, please.” 

She takes a sip from the orange smoothie in her grasp before scooting beside me on the couch. I’ve been in the Rue for almost two hours now. It’s a vast study space that offers a variety of food and drinks until 2am every night, and it’s been a lifesaver for me since I came to college last year thinking I was a natural at school. But not so much tonight. Even though I’ve put away a ham and cheese sandwich and some potato chips, I’ve made very little progress on my homework. 

“Flip the second one,” she murmurs, pointing to the paper worn down from all the erasing I’ve done in the last thirty minutes. “The three should be on top.” 

“Bless you for existing.” 

“I know, I’m great.” She smirks and tilts her chin at me while I comply with her instructions. “I saw you were getting some help earlier…” Jamie’s voice trails off when I flinch. “Seems he got distracted, though,” she muses under her breath, avoiding my stare when I turn to face her. 

My eyes wander without my permission, and I find Micah huddled at a table with a few of the junior English Majors. All girls, three of which I know he’s slept with. “They’ve got their first proposal due tomorrow,” I mutter, even though I’m aware he’s been done with his since Tuesday. 

“Mm.”

“Jamie...” Something in my tone brings her drink bottom against the table in front of me with such force that a little condensation springs across her hand. “It’s fine.” 

“Is it, though?” She asks, her voice going completely hollow while her dark glare darts across the room. 

“Yes.” I grip my pencil tighter, and pretend to be calculating the answer in my head. “We have an agreement.” 

“Psh, Ethan-”

“Please don’t.”

“You can’t be serious!” Jamie scoffs and grabs her smoothie, slurping it obnoxiously just to prove her point. “It’s times like these I wish we still lived together.”

“I’m fine. You really don’t-”

“Ya gotta admit I was a pretty fantastic cockblock.” 

I snort and drop my pencil, letting it roll to the floor while I cover my face with my hands. She’s got a point. Micah hated her guts last year.

“Hey, so-” Jamie clears her throat and nibbles on the straw as she watches me drag my fingers down my cheeks. “How much more do you have to do tonight?”

“Uh…” I blink down at my notebook with a shrug. “This is my last problem.”

“Okay.” She nods and takes another sip, but quietly this time. 

Does she…?

“Jamie-”

“Hurry and finish. I’ve got some tea for ya.” 

I frown at the way her fingers dance across the drink while she actively avoids my look. 

“Will do.” I scramble to retrieve my pencil from under the table. “Fill me in on all the gossip while I walk you to your room.”

Her sigh of relief sends a chill to my bones while I take my time coming back up to eye-level. She doesn’t want to go alone.