After classes, Bryden heads back to his dorm to study for his midterms. He sits in front of his desk and stares at the stack of textbooks, deciding whether or not to procrastinate. After a while, he groans and forces himself to open up a textbook and begin studying.

“Ugh, I hate studying,” Bryden complains, slamming his fist onto the page. “Why do midterms exist? Like, there’s no point in them.”

The genie chuckles beside him. “You are actually quite lucky, Mr. Stalling. Back in ancient times, education was much harsher and more difficult. This simple exam is nothing compared to the number of books that I had to recite and countless manuscripts I had to write in perfect calligraphy. And I was put to a higher standard since I was the crown prince. In addition, spanking was allowed as punishment in schools, while in this modern era, it is prohibited, as it is considered a form of abuse. You should be grateful for how much easier your life is than mine was.”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Bryden waves him away. “I was just complaining about midterms, and you just had to give me yet another lecture. Come on, all college students across the country hate midterms and finals. It’s not like I won’t study. I will. Right now.”

The genie examines his face. “Hmm… I don’t think I’ve ever seen you study so much. You’ve always been too busy going out with girls than to actually sit down and study. I sometimes forget that you’re even attending college. Now, my memory is a little foggy, as it’s been around fifty years since I was last out of the ring, but I remember that in the modern era, college is a school for higher education, and yet you do not seem to be taking it seriously, spending your years here chasing after girls.”

“Yeah, I know,” Bryden agrees, resting his chin on his palm. “I do the bare minimum, so I do enough to pass. I have enough credits to graduate this year, which is good enough for me. I don’t need to be a valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA. As long as I graduate, I’ll still get my finance degree.” He flips through the pages of his textbook. “Now, let’s see…”

The door creaks open. Bryden glances behind him, seeing Rory grabbing some of his books and about to leave again. Before he does so, Bryden stops him.

“Hey, Rory,” he greets him. “Where are you going? Aren’t you going to stay to study for midterms?”

Rory’s hand that’s about to turn the knob of the door pauses in midair. “I’m going to the library to study with Nora.”

“Oh, yeah.” Bryden nervously scratches the back of his head. “I forgot that we had a library. It’s much more quiet there, huh?”

Rory purses his lips, unsure of how to respond. “Mm.” He turns the knob of the door and leaves without a goodbye. The resounding slam of the door startles both Bryden and the genie.

“That was quite awkward,” the genie remarks. “Mr. Stalling, do you think your roommate is acting a little strange?”

Bryden nods in agreement. “Yeah. I don’t think he really forgave me.” He thinks back on the night before. “He seemed so cold and distant last night, even after I apologized.” He shrugs. “Well, I won’t complain. Not everyone will forgive me, anyway.”

The genie sighs. “Mr. Stalling, perhaps this is your chance to finally make a real friend. It’s not too late.”

Bryden scoffs. “Make a real friend? With who? Rory? Nah. He’s always so serious, always with that frown on his face. I try being nice to him sometimes, but he still acts so aloof. He’s honestly no fun.”

“Beg my pardon, Mr. Stalling, but I do not believe anyone else here would want to be friends with you anymore.”

Bryden blinks before laughing. “Damn, that was pretty blunt of you. Okay, okay, I’ll give it a shot. I’m pretty likeable, aren’t I? I’m too charming to be angry at for so long. It won’t be long before he comes begging for my…” He stops himself, sensing the genie glaring at him.

“Even after being humiliated in public, is your ego still unaffected?” The genie scoffs, shaking his head.

Bryden grins, unperturbed. “I don’t think anyone can change how much I value myself.”

The genie rolls his eyes. “It seems you still have a lot of work ahead of you.”

Bryden splutters. “Oh, come on! What’s wrong with loving myself? Am I supposed to hate myself? That’s not any better. And I don’t think it’s possible for me to ever—”

“All I ask is that you be humble.” 

Like you’re ever humble, Bryden retorts in his mind.

The genie presses his fingers against his temple and sighs. “Let us speak about this at another time. Now is the time for you to go down to the library and find Mr. Zier. Have a nice chat with him and study for your exams together.”

Bryden groans, covering his face. “But I don’t even want to be friends with him.”

“Just do it,” the genie orders. “You will thank me later.”

“Ugh, fine,” Bryden concedes, pushing himself up. “But only because you told me to. I’m not getting my wishes unless I listen to you, right? Which is so stupid anyway. I’m not doing this because I actually want to be friends with Rory. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t care less about him.”

The genie smiles. “If you insist.”

It doesn’t take him long before he finds Rory sitting at a table in the library with Nora. They don’t notice him yet, but Bryden doesn’t hesitate to go ahead and strike up a conversation.

“Hey, Rory, hey, Nora.” Bryden shoots them each a cheeky grin. "Mind if I sit here and study with you guys?”

Nora glances up from her books and hesitates before shrugging. “Uh, sure. I can’t help much, though, since I’m a different major.” 

“It’s okay,” Bryden assures, sneaking a glance at Rory, whose eyes avoid Bryden. Bryden doesn’t notice this, his grin unwavering.

Nora’s eyes linger on the ring on his finger. “Hey, that’s a pretty cool ring. Where’d you buy it from? Or was that a gift from someone?”

Bryden glances at his ring, which he twists with his finger. “Oh, this? I found it on the sidewalk. Pretty neat, huh?”

“Yeah, it is.” She sighs, pressing her head against her propped up fist, gazing at the ring. Then she smirks, a thought coming to her. “Isn’t that too girly for you, though?”

“Hm? Nah, of course not. Just because it’s purple doesn’t mean guys can’t wear it.”

Nora snickers. “I’m just saying. It doesn’t suit you very well.”

“Yes, it does,” Bryden insists, showing off his ring near his face. “I look good in anything I wear. You just want this ring, don’t you?”

She purses her lip. “Okay, fine. Maybe I do. Purple’s my favorite color, anyway. It’s really beautiful too. Plus, I’m a girl, so it’d suit me better. And let’s be real here: you don’t deserve that ring.”

Bryden scoffs. “What do you mean I don’t deserve the ring? Well, too bad, ’cause I’m not giving it to—”

“Guys, quiet!” Rory hisses, a stern expression on his face. “We have midterms coming up in the next few weeks. How are you two fooling around like this?”

“Okay, okay, sheesh,” Bryden says, opening his books. “No need to act all serious and grumpy.”

“I mean, he does have a point,” Nora agrees. “Loosen up a little, Rory.”

“Are you serious right now?” Rory scorns, pushing himself up and leaving.

“Hey, Rory!” Nora calls out to him, but he ignores her. Sighing, she has no choice but to leave him be. “Sorry about him. Rory’s not exactly… over how we broke up. And how you treated me and the others.”

Bryden shrugs. “Yeah, I know. I’m actually shocked how everyone else forgave me.”

Nora scoffs. “We only did because we all know that if you do anything remotely wrong, we’ll all go after you again.”

Bryden chuckles nervously, scratching the back of his head. “True, true.”

Nora stands up. “I’m going to go talk to him.”

“No, wait,” he stops her, standing up as well. “I’ll go talk to him.”

She hesitates, reluctant to agree. “Are you sure? I don’t think Rory would want—”

“It’s fine,” Bryden dismisses with a grin. “I’ll make sure to be as charming as possible. It’s fine if he’s upset at me. I don’t mind. I’m not that weak of a person.”

Nora rolls her eyes, sitting back down. “Except when you ran away like a chicken when we all threw food at you.”

Bryden blushes. “Hey, now we don’t talk about that!”

She snickers, covering her lips with her hand. “You know, you’ve been a popular meme for the past few days, did you know that?”

He turns away, covering his face with his hands in embarrassment. “Sh-Shut up.”

“Don’t tell a girl to shut up. That’s just rude.” Nora shoos him away with a wave of her hand. “Now, go away.”

Bryden hurries away with reddened cheeks, almost forgetting his search for Rory. Luckily, it doesn’t take too long before he finds Rory standing in front of a bookshelf with a frown and his head lowered. The sight of Rory in this state startles Bryden, but he maintains his cheerful and nonchalant demeanor.

“Hey, Rory!” Bryden greets him with a grin. “Whatcha doing? Why’d you have to leave like that?”

Rory turns his head to face him, his expression cold. “What the hell are you trying to do, Bryden?”

Bryden blinks, tilting his head. “What do you mean?”

“Stop acting dumb,” Rory scorns, his lips curling into a sneer. “What tricks are you trying to play? I know that you’re up to something.”

“I’m not acting dumb,” Bryden insists. “I truly don’t know what you’re talking about. What tricks do you think I have?”

Rory sneers, adjusting his glasses. “Do you think I’m stupid? Why else would you try to act all nice all of a sudden, unless you have some hidden motive. Why would your entire personality make a 180 just like that?”

Bryden places a hand against his chest, his grin unfaltering. “Aww, you really thought my personality changed that much? Thank you, Rory! That’s really kind of you. Although I don’t believe my personality made an entire 180, I think I did change a little bit.”

“Are you kidding me right now?” Rory scoffs. “How can you still act so calmly like nothing’s the matter?”

Bryden sighs, wiping the smile off his face. “Sorry, Rory, but I don’t think that part of me is going to change anytime soon. Look, I understand that you’re upset with me—and I’m okay with that. The egotistical campus player suddenly apologizes to everyone and begs for forgiveness—I’d be wary of me as well.”

“Everyone else may forgive you, but I sure won’t,” Rory retorts. “I don’t get how everyone just accepted your apology and moved on, forgetting all about the past. Even Nora! But I can’t forget the way you treated me the last three years as your roommate.”

“You don’t have to forget, and you don’t have to forgive—”

“Then why come down and act all friendly with me and Nora?”

Bryden pauses for a moment before speaking. “Because… I don’t know how else I’m supposed to act. I’ve only just now realized that I’m not the most popular guy on campus and that I’m not a very likeable person, so what else am I supposed to do? I still have my instincts when it comes to girls, which is pretty hard to control, but I’m trying because I made a promise to everyone at school. It’s difficult for me to become a good person overnight, so I need a little help.”

“And you’re asking me?” Rory laughs.

Bryden shrugs. “I mean, you’re my roommate. I wanted to get on your good side. I doubt anyone else would want to help or be friends with me, anyway.”

“And what made you think that I would? You know, when we first met at our orientation, I was so excited for you to be my roommate. You were so lively and insisted that we would be best buddies. I’m an introvert, so it’s difficult for me to socialize and make friends like that, so I was ecstatic at the time. But the more you ignored and neglected me, dated so many girls, and acted so full of yourself, I realized that you never really considered me to be your friend. I don’t think you’ve ever considered anyone on campus as your friend.”

“I know, and I’m sorry about that. That’s why I want to start over on a clean slate.”

“You think that’s possible?”

“Of course! Please, Rory? I’m still learning how to be nicer. If you don’t act mean to me, I’ll try my best not to act mean to you or anyone else.”

Rory crosses his arms, sizing Bryden up. “You will not go to Marla’s unaccompanied under my watch, because of the very known possibility that you may secretly chase after the girls there. If I ever see you flirting with girls or breaking their hearts again, I’ll slap you so hard and invite the others to give you a fate even worse than last time. Whenever you make a mess in our dorm, you must clean it up without complaint. When studying for midterms, I have to see you actually studying. When you do your projects and assignments, don’t let me see you sneak in your phone. You must complete your work to the best of your ability, not do the bare minimum. Understood?”

“Yeah, yeah, alright.” Bryden grins at him. “So bossy with such strict rules, but I understand, I guess. So, are we friends now?”

“Acquaintances,” Rory corrects. “We’re just acquaintances.”

“Sheesh, alright, if you insist.” Bryden beckons him over. “Come on, let’s go back. Weren’t you the one to remind us to study for midterms? I think Nora’s getting pretty lonely now.”

Rory snorts, a faint smile creeping onto his lips. “Alright, let’s go.”

When they return to the table Nora’s sitting at alone, she huffs, crossing her arms. 

“About time,” she remarks. “Come on, guys. No time to waste. We’ve got midterms coming up, on top of a report due next week.” 

“A report?” Bryden widens his eyes. “I don’t remember having a report being assigned.”

“You’re in different classes,” Rory explains, “so you don’t have the same assignments.”

“Aww, sweet!” Bryden exclaims with a grin. “I’m so lucky to not have to write a report.”

Nora snorts, rolling her eyes. “Even without a report, your grades are still a lot worse than mine.”

“Oh, come on,” Bryden scoffs. “It’s not like I’m failing any classes.”

“Yeah, by ‘not failing’ you mean passing with a D average,” she remarks.

Bryden clears his throat. “Ahem, actually, it’s a C average. Who cares about grades as long as I’m not failing?”

“Okay, okay, guys,” Rory interrupts with a stern expression. “Enough chit-chatting. We came here to study, so let’s study.”

“Alright, alright,” Bryden sighs, finally reading through the pages of his books.