"Oh,you'rethe roommate? Well! That's a whole different beast, then," Mr. Mercer said, his face brightening so quickly Logan couldn't help but wonder what stories Oz had told them. "You should come visit some weekend. Bring Oz, too. I'm starting to suspect it’s the only way we’ll see him during the school year, except for events like this."
"Dad!" Oz groaned.
"What'd I do? Oh, there's Ken Robbinson! I haven't seen him in a decade. Do you mind if I — " Mr. Mercer made a little 'over there' gesture, to which Mrs. Mercer made a little shooing motion.
"Oh, go on," she laughed. "Go play with your friends."
"C'mon," Mr. Mercer said. "I'll introduce you boys."
"You go ahead. I need to go take care of something really quick." Logan told him, seeing Noah lurking by the doorway. But at Oz's disappointed look, Logan flashed a smile. "I'll catch up with you in a minute. I promise."
Logan startled as Mrs. Mercer laid her hand on his arm.
"You really should come by with Oz some weekend," she told him with the same cheerfully determined expression Logan was used to seeing Oz wear. "We so rarely get to meet any of Oz's friends. It would be lovely to have you come visit."
"Oh, um. Yeah." Logan grinned. "I mean, if Oz wants me to tag along."
Mrs. Mercer smiled. "Oh, I don't think that will be a problem. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm being summoned."
From the way Mr. Mercer was waving his arms to get their attention, Logan had no doubt.
As she left, Logan made a beeline for the sulky profile of Noah, still by the chapter room door.
As soon as he got close enough, Logan snapped his fingers at Noah to get his attention.
“Hand it over,” Logan told him, holding out his palm impatiently.
"Hand what over?" Noah scoffed, pretending to be incredibly interested in the ancient wood paneling covering the wall.
"The award, Noah. You know it's Oz's."
"Nuh-uh!" Noah said. "It's only intermission. Maybe someone in the second round will beat him. Hell, youhaven't gone yet."
"With nine hundred to beat?" Logan scoffed. "Unlikely. Besides, you know he's supposed to be the one to wear it until then. Now, you either hand it over so I can deliver it to him, or I cantakeit from you. What's it going to be?"
Scowling, Noah pulled the blue ribbon of the award over hishead, slapping it in Logan's palm with a desultory, 'Fine.Here.'
"Thanks, man," Logan beamed at him. "It's for a good cause, right?"
Noah huffed, eyes narrowing like he was about to start. But Logan was already turning away, not bothering to listen.
He scanned the crowded room for Oz and his family, finally spotting them in a knot of alumni; Oz talking excitedly about something or another as his dad and two others listened intently, occasionally interjecting something here and there.
Take that, Ashton.Logan smirked, hand curling around the award Oz had won. Told you he's Minotaur House material
"You two seem to be… good friends," Walter said, coming up on Logan's other side.
Logan nodded. "Didn't use to be, back in high school," he admitted. "But Oz has been helping me study, and we've… we've figured out how to get along."
"Funny how that works," Walter smiled, shooting Logan a sidelong glance as his mouth curved up in a small grin. "I noticed your roommate had several figures from thoseA Sunless Landbooks on his shelves," he said, changing the subject abruptly.
Logan hesitated a moment, then nodded. Oz had told him a little about the little collection of queer-led fantasy books he kept on his shelf. And if Walter already knew about some of them... What was the use of denying what Walter had already seen? "He likes that series," Logan replied neutrally.
"Me too," Walter grinned. "I was thinking your roommate might like to meet the author, have lunch with us as my plus-one to fulfill his portion of the auction 'date'.
"God, he'd love that." Logan blinked. "You really know the author?"
"We're old friends." Walter chuckled. "Unfortunately, my flight leaves out in the morning, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to get out this way again. If I make the arrangements, can I trust you to take my place and see that — Oz, right? — that Oz has a good time?"
