Page 23 of White Hole

“What do you mean?”

Shrugging one shoulder, he put a hand through his short blond hair as he spoke. “I mean, you’re not on a university team. This gym is for student-athletes only. Coach is revoking your access.”

“Are you fucking kidding me, Dan? Because you wouldn’t show any compassion to our little brother?”

“I think it’s time you went to workout with the regular students on campus. It’ll teach you some humility, which iscompassionateof me.” He breezed through the door as I stared at the exit. Dan had been spending too much time around Chief George Turner, Senior.

After showering, I headed to my morning classes, but had a difficult time concentrating. When my quantum physics professor called on me, I spaced out, unable to answer the question. Dr. Schumacher seemed disappointed and moved on to the next student.

By lunch, I was looking forward to shoveling in a large meal before my one afternoon class, then heading home. I’d had enough human interaction for one day already and wanted to be alone in my hole. Maybe I would go to the planetarium for some thinking time.

Grabbing a lunch tray, I filled it with my usual: proteins and some vegetables. The menu showed mac & cheese, which the kitchen made pretty decently. My mouth watered. At least there was mac & cheese… When I got to the dish in the line, the pan was empty.

“Miss? Any chance there’s more mac & cheese coming out?” The cook shook her head and walked to the other end of the serving line. My shoulders slumped.

Shuffling to my regular table where Xavier and some other TRZ guys usually sat, I stopped short. Xavier was sitting with his new girlfriend on his lap. And Kinsley was next to them. Fuck. I did not have the energy to listen to her.

Sliding in, I sat at the table across from Xavier, next to Mason. Xavier gave me a small smile and Kinsley looked away. Good. Maybe she would ignore me.

“’Sup, big guy. George, you need to teach me your ways. I feel like your biceps have grown another two inches since the last time I saw you,” Mason said. If it wasn’t Kinsley running her mouth, it would be Mason.

“Yeah, those must have migrated from his brain,” Kinsley said, and everyone at the table chuckled except Xavier, whose eyes darted from hers to mine. “George here is intimidated by strong, smart women,” she announced to some of the girls at the table. “He isn’t quite sure what to do with himself when he’s around one, right, George?”

Shaking my head, I mumbled under my breath.

“What was that?” She narrowed her eyes at me.

“You’re a white hole.”

The table fell quiet. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If you’d studied your astronomy notes, you’d know. It’s the opposite of a black hole. Nothing gets in your brain. You spew out whatever comes to your mind without a thought.”

Roars of laughter peeled from the table. Everyone said they agreed.

“Dude, sheisa white hole.”

“Kinsley, you never shut up.”

“Ha! It’s funny ‘cause it’s true!”

Kinsley’s face darkened to crimson as she glared at me. She gathered her bag and ran out of the cafeteria, which just made everyone laugh harder. Even tables nearby heard me speak and joined in. That was the thing about being quiet. When you chose to say something, everyone listened.

Finally got her to shut up, at least, but I did start to feel a little guilty. I glanced at her best friend in Xavier’s lap, but the two were busy. Probably fucking under the table.

Throwing away my trash, I walked to my next class early to find some peace. Sitting in the small study area of the science building, I pulled out my senior physics thesis notebook and read over the previous day’s work. While adding to it, my phone vibrated in my pocket. The call came from an unknown number. Thinking it could be Aaron, I answered.

“Hello?”

“You the guy with the Ford F-150 for sale?”

“Uh, no.”

“Oh. Sorry. I saw your sign. That’s not your black Ford F-150 for three thousand?”

I guffawed. “Uh, no. That’s way too low. No, I don’t have a truck for sale.”

“Sorry to bother you.”

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