I shrugged. “Pretty much.”
He gawped at me. “We’re at college.”
I glanced around. Yep: definitely a college dorm room. “I know.”
“And you only brought three sets of clothes?”
I shrugged again. “Was I supposed to bring more?”
Keaton huffed out a little sigh. I started to unpack everything and put it in the dresser they’d put in the room. It was way too big for me. I was going to have a lot of space.
“Are you still playing football?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said. I didn’t turn around. “I got a partial scholarship.”
“Great,” Keaton said.
I turned and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah, it is great,” I said. “Thanks.”
I knew he was being sarcastic. I just didn’t get why.
“You only brought three sets of clothes and you’re on a football scholarship,” Keaton said. He had the air of someone explaining something to an annoying little kid. “So I guess this place is going to end up smelling like a locker room all year round.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “I know how to wash, dude.”
“Sure,” Keaton sighed. “Did you bring any books?”
“No.” I set my jaw stubbornly. “They’re expensive.” I’d already had to work all summer – and miss the early practice sessions – just to get here in the first place.
“How are you planning to study?” Keaton demanded.
I shrugged again. “I found a site that does free downloads.”
“And you’re a criminal, too,” Keaton sighed dramatically. A tiny bit of hair fell into his eyes. He shook his head impatiently to clear it away. “Why am I not surprised?”
I had to bite the inside of my cheek hard not to snap back at him. I turned around and stashed my empty backpack under the bed. At least unpacking hadn’t taken long. I took a breath. I needed this to go well.
After all, I’d asked for this.
I wasn’t going to tell him. But there was a reason we were in a room together. It wasn’t a mistake by the college or a coincidence.
I knew he was studying here. I’d put his name down on the forms requesting him as my roommate.
I’d betrayed him before we’d even spent a single day rooming together.
I turned around and glanced over Keaton’s side of the room. It was a huge contrast to mine. His bedsheets were changed into something he’d brought from home. His dresser was stacked with books. I could see that his side of the closet was full of clothes. He had posters and trinkets beside his bed.
All I had was three sets of clothes and some body wash.
He wasn’t looking at me. While he studied his hands in despair I had a chance to try to think of something.
“So,” I said, looking up at the wall. “Ridley Angus, huh? I like his movies.”
Keaton
I looked up at Olly incredulously, wondering what he was doing. Did he really think the situation called for small talk?
“Yeah, sure,” I said, half-laughing. This whole situation was just wild. I felt like I was starting to unravel a bit. “Are we really going to talk about Ridley Angus right now?”
