***

For the last three days, ever since the incident in the cafeteria, Maddox had felt in a funk of sorts. So, everyone liked him, and there was just this one guy who didn’t. It shouldn’t have annoyed him so much, but it did. He had even let Rusty call dibs on all the new girls on campus until his friend had decreed that it was no longer fun to beat him at that game.

What was even more annoying was how the new transfer avoided him like he had the plague, each time they happened to be in the same one hundred square meters. Maddox was starting to suspect that someone must have badmouthed him, especially since the guy’s first reaction had been so bad, or else he couldn’t see why that kept happening. Also, it appeared that their little exchange hadn’t gone unnoticed, and everyone, with almost no exception, had decided that they had to treat the newcomer as a social pariah and ensure him, Maddox, wherever he went, that they were on his side, like there was some big war going on. The fact that he kept denying that was the case didn’t help either. Everyone loved him that much.

Except for that dude.

At least, the rumor mill had provided him with some facts for a change. The handsome asshole’s name was Jonathan Hamilton, he had transferred from a school up north, he was majoring in chemistry, he was openly gay (Dex had been right, after all), and that was pretty much it. Jonathan seemed to be a mystery, even to the most versed gossipers on campus. He was also there on an academic scholarship, so he had to be sharp as a tack. But there was nothing about his family and why he was staying at the dorms instead of renting some lavish townhouse and living like a king. Maddox wondered if he had mistaken in his assumption that the new transfer stank of old money. He usually was good at evaluating people and their wealth bracket. After all, he was majoring in business for a reason.

“I’m going to make that dude like me,” he announced to his friends as they strolled through the quad.

Everyone waved or tried to talk to them like usual, but he let all social interactions to Rusty, Kane, and Dex, too absorbed as he was in coming out with a plan to get close to Jonathan Hamilton.

“Are you still salty over that thing? So the dude doesn’t like you. Big deal,” Rusty said. 

“But everyone likes me,” Maddox protested. “Why doesn’t he?”

Rusty shrugged. Kane seemed keener on explaining. “Maybe he thought you were trying to hit on him.”

Maddox met that with a stricken expression. “Really? And what’s not to like?” He threw his arms to the sides and walked backward in front of his friends, allowing them to take a good look at him.

“Maddox, buddy, you’re not into boys,” Dex intervened. “Why does it matter if he likes you or not?”

“It’s about my reputation, come on,” Maddox complained. “I mean, just look at me, I’m practically candy for gay boys.”

His tirade was met with a snort from Dex, a chuckle from Kane, and a confused look from Rusty. 

“I’ll show it to you.” He searched with his eyes until they landed on a boy dressed in a rainbow flag t-shirt who was laughing with a group of girls. “Hey, you,” he called.

The boy stared at him in disbelief and pointed at his chest. “Who, me?”

“Yeah. You’re --” Maddox snapped his fingers while trying to recall the student’s name.

“Cletus,” the boy supplied.

“Right. Cletus, you’re into guys, right?”

Cletus just nodded, while the smile on his face was turning a bit cautious. 

“If I hit on you, what would you do?” Maddox asked directly.

Cletus blinked a few times. The crew behind Maddox started snickering. “How’s it going, Candy?” Dex teased him.

Maddox placed himself between Cletus and his buddies. “Ignore these assholes. Please, just tell me. It’s for a project, I’m running some statistics,” he added quickly, as he understood why the boy looked so intimidated now. “I’m not actually hitting on you.”

“Well, I guess I’d be flattered?” Cletus said and offered a forced smile.

Maddox groaned. “Seriously? You don’t think I’m hot?” His friends just started to laugh harder.

Cletus shifted nervously from one foot to another. “You are, but I’d totally think you’re pulling a prank on me.”

“What if I wasn’t? You know I totally respect gay people, right?” Maddox was starting to feel a little queasy. Was someone starting some nasty rumors about him? Although that was a good explanation for why Jonathan avoided him everywhere, it made him mad that someone would be spreading that kind of false information.

“Yeah, I know,” Cletus said, and some of his nervousness began to disappear while his good-natured smile returned. “So it wouldn’t be a prank?”

“Surely not. It would be the real thing.”

Cletus shrugged and grinned. He gave Maddox a long and suggestive once-over while biting his lips. “Then I’d say, bring it on, baby.” He then stopped and blushed a little as it was his crew’s turn to burst into laughter.

“Thank you, buddy, that was really helpful,” Maddox said and then turned to his besties. “I’m this close to unfriend you all, fuckers.”

Dex patted him on the back, hard enough to make him take an involuntary extra step. “So, Candy, gay boys want you. What does that prove?”

“Why doesn’t Jonathan Hamilton?” Maddox asked the obvious question.

“Maybe because he’s got his eyes on a different prize,” Kane said and pointed somewhere in front.

Maddox narrowed his eyes when he noticed what Kane was talking about. Jonathan was there, and he was engaged in conversation with that tree hugger Connor. Something about that dude had always irked Maddox, how he was trying too hard with his speech on protecting the environment as it looked like it was the only thing he could talk about, and there was also something shifty in his eyes that he disliked profoundly.

His sour mood only turned sourer as he observed how Jonathan kept angling his body, a clear sign of unspoken language that he was interested in his conversation partner. At the same time, Connor stood with his arms crossed and slightly defensive like he could barely wait to get out of there. Well, the interest was one-sided, and that offered Maddox a slight satisfaction. Not that he could understand how Jonathan would be interested in that greasy monkey and not in him, but that was something he would work on.

“See you later, guys,” he waved at his friends and walked purposefully toward Jonathan and Connor. “Hi, man,” he greeted Connor, who immediately turned toward him, seemingly relieved to be saved from having to talk to his current companion. “How’s it hanging?”

As Connor did his signature handshake and hug, Maddox looked over his shoulder at Jonathan. He was staring at him, and a frown was quickly forming on his face. Yeah, take that; how do you like being the guy who isn’t liked?

“Heading to Statistics,” Connor replied. “You too?”

“Sure.”

Maddox noticed the small hesitation in Jonathan. What was that about? Connor grabbed Maddox by the shoulders and made him walk toward the building where the lecture took place, all the while ignoring Jonathan, which was pretty rude and should have given him satisfaction but didn’t. Jonathan stayed behind, his face clouded, and turned away, and Maddox noticed that because he looked at him over his shoulder. 

“What’s with you and the new guy?” Maddox asked.

“Nothing,” Connor said quickly. “Can you believe that he just tried to lecture me on nuclear power?” He tsked like Jonathan must have told him some dim-witted things.

Maddox continued to sneak glances back until he noticed Jonathan moving and heading, surprise, surprise, in the same direction. Was he stalking Connor? That was so embarrassing. The dude should have taken a hint by now. Unless, of course --

“Is Jonathan in Statistics, too?” he asked.

“Who?” Connor said like he hadn’t spoken to him until seconds ago.

Maddox didn’t insist. If they all had the same class, he could see it happening, so he came up with an excuse to saunter off and head over to the lecture hall faster.

***

Jonathan felt a bit stunned. He was being ostracized, all because of that ridiculous run-in with Maddox. Connor had talked to him in monosyllabic words and then stormed off with Maddox like he wasn’t even there. He pinched the bridge of his nose and willed himself to relax. How had he managed to screw up things so badly from the first day? 

Was Maddox that much of a scumbag to tell everyone to stay away from him? He had thought it a bit amusing at first since everyone was a stranger, but now he found himself in the impossible position of not being able to strike a normal conversation with someone he was interested in knowing. 

He drew a long sigh. As much as he disliked it, he had to address the issue head-on with Maddox. It was true that he had assumed wrongly that Maddox was some sort of drug peddler, but using his influence to shut him out entirely from the campus social life? That was taking things a bit too far. 

Good thing he had Ray. At least, for now, his bestie was immune to the charms of the legendary Mad Dawg. He was probably called that because he could turn any student socially dead with a snap of the fingers like an insane emperor from Ancient Rome.

He walked into the lecture hall, his head wrapped in thoughts. As he crashed into another hard body, he looked up. “I’m so sorry,” he said automatically but swallowed his words when he noticed who had inconveniently placed himself in the way. His lips clamped shut.

Maddox examined him with curiosity. He was giving him a lazy once-over like he was licking him head to toes. Jonathan shuddered under that gaze for motives he didn’t care to explore. “No problem,” he said and finally moved away to allow Jonathan entrance. 

He moved quickly past Maddox and searched for a place in the back. The last thing he needed was to have everyone’s eyes on him. Most probably, those gossip-hungry students could barely wait for the next episode in the New Guy vs. BMOC war.

***