CALEB
The common room of DPO looks like a bomb has detonated, filled with textbooks, energy drinks, and desperation. Finals week has hit the fraternity with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball.
I'm tucked into the corner of the room, constitutional law books spread around me in a defensive perimeter. I've been reading the same highlighted paragraph for twenty minutes, my mind stubbornly refusing to focus on anything except replaying that kiss from the snowball fight three days ago.
Three days of awkward glances. Three days of accidentally brushing hands when reaching for coffee and jumping apart like we've been electrocuted. Three days of me wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do now.
"Dude, my printer's possessed again," Marcos groans from across the room, smacking his laptop. "The paper's due in two hours!"
James looks up from his study nest, sighs, and pushes his glasses up. "Did you try turning it off and on again?"
"Yes, I tried turning it off and on again," Marcos mimics, his stress level clearly approaching critical mass.
"Fine. Give me five minutes." James stands, stretches, and heads toward Marcos's technological crisis.
I absolutely do not watch the way his t-shirt rides up slightly as he stretches. Nor do I notice how his jeans fit as he walks away. That would be ridiculous.
"The webmaster to the rescue," Tyler murmurs, nudging my shoulder as he passes by, arms laden with what appears to be half the contents of a coffee shop.
I blink, startled from my definitely-not-staring. Tyler is grinning at me, followed by his boyfriend, Ethan, carrying a cardboard box that smells suspiciously like donuts.
"We come bearing caffeinated salvation," Ethan announces to the room at large.
The effect is immediate. Like zombies scenting fresh brains, every stressed-out fraternity brother abandons their studies to swarm the guys carrying the coffee.
"Holy shit, they've emerged from their love nest!" Gavin booms, wrapping both Tyler and Ethan in a bear hug that lifts them off the ground. "We thought you two might have fused together permanently!"
Tyler laughs, his face slightly flushed. "Finals wait for no man, not even those in new relationships."
"Though we gave it our best shot," Ethan adds with a smirk.
I shift uncomfortably in my seat, uncertain whether to join the group. My history with Tyler and Ethan isn't exactly uncomplicated. Being the guy who helped create doctored photos that temporarily broke them up, even unknowingly, isn't something you move past with a casual "my bad."
Drew appears at the top of the stairs. "Is that coffee I smell? Please tell me there's enough for—" He spots Tyler and Ethan. "Well, look who remembered they have friends! To what do we owe this honour?"
"Survival instinct," Ethan says, setting down the box of donuts. "Tyler has a biomechanics final tomorrow that he was completely ignoring in favour of—" He pauses, glancing around at the varying states of academic distress. "Other activities."
"Don't act like you were objecting," Tyler murmurs, earning himself an elbow to the ribs.
As the group descends on the caffeine and sugar like it's the last meal before execution, I lock eyes with James across the room. He surprises me with a small, almost imperceptible smile before turning back to Marcos's laptop.
That smile shouldn't make my stomach flip. But here we are.
The commotion has shifted to the kitchen, where Tyler is explaining his study strategy to a few of the younger brothers. Ethan steps away from the group and starts sorting through the remaining coffee cups. It's now or never.
Taking a deep breath, I stand and approach him.
"Hey," I say, the one word sounds more awkward than I'd like.
Ethan looks up, surprise flashing across his face before he schools it into a neutral expression. "Hey, Caleb."
"I, uh—" My throat is dry suddenly. "Can I talk to you for a minute? And Tyler too, if that's okay?"
Something in my face must show I'm serious because Ethan nods. "Ty," he calls over the noise. "Got a second?"
Tyler excuses himself from his conversation and joins us, his arm automatically sliding around Ethan's waist. "What's up?"
I'm acutely aware that the room has gotten quieter, brothers pretending to study while eavesdropping. Great.
