"So what's the plan?" Leo asks, seeming steadier. "With JP's whole integration thing?"
"Well," JP flips to a new chart page. "I've identified several campus groups that align with our interests but provide broader social exposure?—"
"I want in."
Everyone turns to stare at Elliot, who immediately shrinks back.
"Did... did Elliot just volunteer for social interaction?" Max stage-whispers.
"I want in," Elliot repeats, quieter but firm. "On the operation thing.. I want to find a guy to date too"
"But you're..." Luca gestures vaguely. "You know. You."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, realizing I actually know very little about Elliot beyond his uncanny ability to appear and disappear without sound.
Elliot looks profoundly uncomfortable. "I... I find people hard."
"Join the club," Leo mutters.
"No, I mean..." Elliot pulls his knees up to his chest. "Really hard. You guys are the closest friends I've ever had, and I've been living here for two years."
Max makes a wounded sound and launches himself at Elliot for a hug. To my surprise, Elliot doesn't pull away, just pats Max's back awkwardly.
"I didn't even know you were gay," I admit. "You never talk about... anything. Personal."
"I'm trying to be better," Elliot says into Max's shoulder. "But yeah. Gay. Anxious. Want to maybe try dating someone who isn't a character in my online D&D campaign."
"Oh, you play D&D?" Luca perks up. "What edition?"
"Not the point!" JP waves his arms. "Though we should definitely discuss that later. Elliot, I'm adding you to the operation."
My phone rings again.
"Just answer it," Haru says. "We all know she won't stop."
"We'll be quiet," Max promises, finally releasing Elliot. "None of us wants your mom showing up here again."
Everyone shudders. The Great Interrogation of sophomore year lives in infamy. She reorganized our spice cabinet and made Leo cry with her questions about his vegetable intake.
"Remember when she found Luca's laundry?" Max whispers, like she might hear us talking about her.
Luca goes pale. "She separated my underwear. In front of everyone. Held up the mesh pairs and said, 'These pretty things need a gentle cycle, tesoro.'"
"She asked me when I last had a proper bowel movement," JP adds, traumatized. "Then explained the importance of fiber. With charts she drew on our whiteboard."
"She threw out all our ramen," Haru mourns. "Called it 'sadness in a cup' and made us a week's worth of actual meals. Which were delicious, but..."
"Don't forget the individual vitamin schedules," Elliot mutters. "Color-coded by person."
"Your family really loves you," Max adds softly. "Even if they're intense as fuck."
"Yeah," I sigh, staring at my phone. "They do. Which makes this worse."
"Makes what worse?" JP asks.
The phone rings again.
Me
