Chapter 30
Rafe
Rafe went back to Browerton a few days before winter quarter started up. He wanted to get into campus mode. Christmas with his parents had been a nice time, but he was ready to be on his own again, ready to be his working, independent self here inAmerica.
He walked through the Browerton campus, and it was the same buildings and same pathways. Nothing had changed except for that one new residence hall they’d finished building, but it still felt different. Or maybe he was the one who wasdifferent.
Rafe signed up for winter quarter classes and got all of his textbooks. His friend Coop was renting an apartment off campus sophomore year, and Rafe crashed with him a few days. He contacted local businesses about finding a part-time job. This cupcake place called Dollop said they might have an opening and to contact them again in mid-January. He tried to put in an application at the one gay bar in town, Cherry Stem, but the owner said he didn’t like to hire people under twenty-one because of liability issues. Even though it was legal, which Rafe reminded him of, he’d had a bad experience with a runner drinking out of customers’glasses.
“It was like the first second these kids get anywhere near liquor, they lose their minds!” the owner said. “I think they need to lower the drinking age to eighteen. This will make kids less prone to binge drinking and better at handling their alcohol. It’s eighteen in England, and everyone there can hold their liquor. Well, you shouldknow.”
Rafe did. The memories of his time at Stroude glowed in his mind, but like the brightest ray of sunshine, they were followed by a dark cloud. There was one Brit in particular he couldn’t get out of his mind. He hoped it would get easier, and he hoped that a new year at Browerton older and wiser would snap him out of thisfunk.
On New Year’s Eve, Coop took Rafe to a house party a few blocks away. It was a bitterly cold night, the kind of cold England nevergot.
“When does Matty get into town?” Rafeasked.
“Sunday night. He likes to maximize family time, and it’s still eighty degrees in Dallas. I can understand him not wanting to come back so soon,” Coop said of hisboyfriend.
The party took place in an old house that had been rented out entirely to college students. The windows glowed with festivities indoors. A wall of steam hit them when they entered. Coop whipped off his sweater. He took any opportunity to walk around in a tank top. Though if Rafe was that jacked, he’d probably do thesame.
“What do you want to drink?” Coop asked him. Since he had the muscles, he would push through to the bar—or rather, the kitchen table that housed all thealcohol.
“Do they have Midori Sours?” Rafe asked with a nostalgia-tinged smile. Could one have nostalgia for something that happened only a few weeksago?
“What arethose?”
“Or maybe aSnakebite.”
“I think it’s just the usual. Cheap beer and junglejuice.”
“Cheap beerthen.”
Coop maneuvered his way into the mishmash of thirsty coeds. Rafe watched him go, almost expecting to see Heath’s head poking out from above thecrowd.
Kids clumped together in nearly every room. Somebody’s grandmother’s furniture decorated the living room. It could’ve been a set piece for a period play were it not for the huge flatscreen TV hanging on the wall. Times Square went nuts on screen, with the evening’s hosts narrating from a booth high above themasses.
Do they have the ball drop in England?It was already the new year there. People were probably hard at work on their resolutions and turning over new leaves. Maybe Eamonn was at a pub with Heath and Louisa. Or maybe he was babysitting his sisters, which he would claim he was forced to do even though he secretly lovedit.
“Those people are crazy.” A guy sidled up to Rafe, wearing a Browerton T-shirt and jeans. He wore black, thick-framed glasses that were in style. “I know it’s Times Square and all, but they’re freezing, hungry, and most of them probably have to go to the bathroom but they don’t want to lose their spot. That’s not how I want to spend my NewYear’s.”
“I don’t know. It seems fun. Yeah, it’s inconvenient and probably uncomfortable, but it’s an experience.” Rafe found himself jealous of the revelers on TV, until he remembered how he almost froze on the way overhere.
“I’m Alvin.” He wiped beer foam off his thumb and shookhands.
“Like thechipmunk?”
“You know it. I don’t think my parents really thought this through.” He had a nice smile. That was something Rafe liked to notice in people. A genuine smile was one of the few times when we let our guarddown.
“Rafe.” He pointed tohimself.
“Do you want something to drink,Rafe?”
“Someone’s already waiting in line forme.”
“Like a boyfriendsomeone?”
Rafe shook his head no. Alvin nodded withdelight.
