“Did you bring her here?Nicki?”Carter asks.
“Hell no,” Fox replies.“I’ve got this annoying weird kid as a roommate.I don’t think I can bring anyone over anymore.”
“Wait, you’ve got a roommate?”Blaze asks, his voice tinged with a faint New York accent.
“Yeah.Freshman.Idiot,” Fox says, and I angrily shut my laptop.Does he realize I can hear every word?
“Why would you get a freshman roommate?And from what you’ve said, he must be a total wimp,” Carter says.
Carter whines like he’s been slapped.“What?I’m just saying, he’s probably a child.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Blaze says.
“Mr.William brought him in yesterday,” Fox continues.“I didn’t have a choice.The rent’s paid, so now I’m stuck with him.You probably saw him earlier today.He’s that blonde kid who sat with that black girl and that fag.”
“Landon?”Blaze asks.
“Yeah.”
“So what, your roommate’s a faggot too?”Carter asks.
I clench my phone, trying to ignore them.I should just go to the library or find anywhere else to study.
“I don’t know, man, and I don’t care,” Fox says, his voice dropping slightly.“That Landon kid’s too much, always flaunting his gay shit.It’s disgusting.”
“Why do you care what your roommate thinks anyway?”Carter pushes.
“I don’t give a fuck what he thinks,” Fox snaps.“What’s wrong with you, Carter?”
“Calm down, I’m just saying—”
“Shut up, Carter,” Blaze interrupts.“It’s called decency.”
Carter snorts.“Fox doesn’t even have that,” Carter jokes and the group laughs like idiots.
I’m tired of listening to them, but I can’t help noticing one thing—Fox hasn’t said a word about me being gay.And for that, at least, I’m grateful.
“What’s up with the party tonight?”Carter slurs.“Aren’t you getting ready?”
Fox groans.“Tell me you didn’t invite people.”
“Just a few hot sorority girls,” Carter says, and I can only imagine with a sloppy grin.“You know, a party without girls is like… a pizza with no cheese.Just sad.And dry.And illegal in some states.”
“Shut up, Carter,” Blaze says.“That doesn’t even make sense.”
“Carter, I told you this party is just for the soccer team and maybe their girlfriends,” Fox sounds stressed.
“You bringing your girlfriend?”Blaze asks.
Fox snorts.“I don’t have a girlfriend.Stacey and I are just hooking up.”
I zone out their conversation and check my phone.A message from Leanne pops up.
LEANNE:you up for some studying tonight?
Thank God.An excuse to leave this apartment.
ME:what kind of studying?
