“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m very good at compartmentalising.”
Rome sighed. “Listen, he sounds like a great guy, but you were about to have sex with him, and now you want to be totally platonic bros? Come on.”
“Just because I was about to have sex with him doesn’t mean I’m wildly in love with him. I’d have sex with any reasonably attractive and kind guy. I’d have sex with you, for god’s sake.”
Rome choked.
“I’m not picky,” I continued.
“Thanks, Eddie,” he said dryly.
“I wouldn’t actually have sex with you because I wouldn’t want to ruin our friendship, just like I won’t have sex with Leo because I don’t want to ruin that friendship.”
“As if you could have sex with him. He’s straight.”
I shrugged. “He might let me if he felt sorry for me. He let me kiss his neck.”
Rome rolled his eyes.
I was doing a bad job of explaining my point. “Trust me,” I said. “I’m too focused on finding a boyfriend to get caught up onsome straight boy.” I frowned. “Why am I even explaining myself to you?”
“I don’t know why. I wasn’t attacking you.”
“You were attacking me with your eyes.”
Rome grinned.
“What?” I demanded.
“Nothing. Just…” he slapped a hand over his mouth to stop himself from chuckling. “The image of you two in bed, him all focused on Minecraft with you wondering when the hell you were gonna get to it —”
“Shut up!” I slapped his arm, but after a few seconds, I was laughing too.
The classroom door swung open, and our tutor walked in, carrying a leather satchel and wearing a thick wool scarf that probably cost a few hundred dollars. “Alright, peeps. Buckle in because today we’re discussing the super interesting topic of…” she paused dramatically. “Breach of contract. If you turn your textbooks to chapter 7…”
Two hours later, after class finished, I waved goodbye to Rome, who had to rush off to a lecture. I took the stairs down Arts East, the building hosting all humanities subjects. From the outside, it looked like a grand town hall, but the inside had been gutted and fitted with modern classrooms, sleek wide staircases, elevators, and decorated with abstract art.
As I landed on the ground floor, my phone buzzed, and I fished it out of my pocket.
Leo: Hey Eddie! Are you on campus today? I just saw there’s a deal on HSPs if you wanna get lunch :D
I typed out a reply.
Edwin: I just finished class actually, haha. HSPs sound good. Is it the place in the Union House?
Leo: Yeah! I’m there now
Edwin: I’ll meet you in five :)
It was a short walk to the Union House, a large red-brick building. Like most buildings in Lygon U, the inside had been refurbished with a modern food court. I looked past the sushi place and the bubble tea shop until I saw Leo standing by a kebab shop with a logo of a man with a moustache. As soon as he caught my eye, he waved enthusiastically.
“Hey,” I said, walking over to him.
“Hi, Eddie.” He gave me a big smile, eyes crinkling, and it hit me right in the chest. “This is the deal I was talking about.” He gestured at a sign on the counter which read ‘buy 1, get 1 half price’. “I considered buying two, but I’m trying to be healthier these days.”
I glanced over him, and despite the baggy shirt he was wearing, it was obvious he had a trim waist. “Why? You already look super fit.” I moved closer to the counter. “It’s been a while since I’ve had one of these. Which sauces should I get…”
In the end, we both got identical HSPs — mixed lamb and beef with cheese and barbecue, sweet chilli and aioli sauce — and sat down at one of the empty plastic tables in the cafeteria. The room was loud with chatter, so I scooted closer to Leo to hear him better.
