"Yeah, he's Ethan's bff. He showed up to the frat house in full Hedwig makeup, lookin for Ethan. Blonde wig, ripped fishnets, the whole thing. Thought some of the guys were gonna have a stroke."
His whole body tenses. "How did they react? Were they… bad to him?"
He looks nervous again. Oh, right.Frat houses and their reputation. "Everyone loved it, actually. Well, except Sylas when he saw Tyler carrying Ethan away." I grin at the memory. "The Man is one fierce Queen. I wouldn't want to be on his bad side; he'd geld me with a stiletto."
Sebastian actually laughs at that; his tension melts away. "Yeah, Sylas would 100% do that."
I must look confused at how he's talking about Sylas because he explains, "Sylas is kinda famous on campus. I don't think there's a queer that doesn't know him. He's an amazing performer."
Looking down at his laptop, then at me, he smiles. "Okay, so you understand drag. Good. Related to that, genderfluid means someone whose gender identity isn't fixed and can change."
"Like day to day?"
"Could be. Or over longer periods. Everyone's different."
I nod, adding it to my notes. Then I notice he's shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable.
"So, um. We should probably cover some other terms." He clears his throat. "Like… Top and bottom."
Every drop of blood in my body rockets straight to my face. My pen slips and draws a line across the page. That stupid online quiz flashes in my brain like a neon sign:Your Result: Bottom Energy
"You okay?" Sebastian asks, and fuck, he's watching me with those sharp eyes.
"Yeah. Yep. Great. You were saying?"
He looks suspicious, but continues. "A top is the person who's inserting during anal sex. A bottom is the receptive partner."
My face is actually on fire. This is how I die. In a study room, learning gay vocabulary, while my brain helpfully supplies images I really don't need right now.Seb has the smallest waist… my hands would almost go around him if I was holding… oh no.
"And then there's versatile or vers, which means?—"
"Someone who does both, got it, moving on."
He blinks at my rushed words but keeps going. "There's also pillow princess?—"
I burst out laughing, grateful for the topic change. "Oh, that one! I know that one!"
"You do?"
"Tyler's room is next to mine. The walls are thin. Let's just say Ethan's not exactly quiet and leave it at that."
Sebastian's choking on air. "I didn't need to know that."
"Hey, you're the teacher here. I'm just providing real-world examples."
"That's not—I don't?—"
A knock on the door saves us both. "Yo, you done? We've got the room next."
We're both beet red as we scramble to pack up. Sebastian shoves his laptop in his bag while I grab my notes, and we practically fall over each other getting out.
In the hallway, we stand there awkwardly.
"So, um. Next time you tutor me?" Sebastian says. "Thursday night still work?"
"Yeah. Thursday," My voice comes out weird. "Psychology. Right."
"Right."
