Page 124 of My Roommate from Hell
“I went to the gym once,” I say. “Think it worked?”
Seeing him, I’m reminded how I got the crush in the first place. He’s dressed as nicely as he always is, with a plain white shirt under a black jacket, and his hair expertly styled. He looks like the kind of guy the internet would be obsessed with if he were an actor or a musician: total dream boy material. The best thing about him, though, is that he’s not a douchebag like so many of the boys back in high school were. He’s one of the sweetest and nicest people I’ve ever met. His amazing hair and all that stuff might be noteworthy, but things like his kindness and his sense of humor are why I really liked him.
I remember the crush, but it’s gone now. Him telling me that I look good would’ve made my entire day once, but now it’s nothing but a nice compliment, one I could’ve received from anyone. He gives me a hug, clapping me on the back once before we break apart.
“So,” says Ashley. “Where’s Zarmenus?”
“In our room. You can meet him later, but I thought I could show you the campus first?”
“Sounds good,” says Ashley. “But first I need coffee.”
“I know just the place. They make the best matcha lattes. Do you like matcha? I didn’t like it before I got here but now it’s, like, my favorite thing.”
I’m aware I’m rambling, so I stop myself. It’s just that I really want this to go well, and given how many secrets I have, that seems like a pretty huge ask.
“I love matcha,” says Ashley. “Jacks?”
“I will never willingly drink something green, and it’s messed up that you want to. This place sells regular coffee, right?”
“We might have to ask.”
I lead them to the quad. It looks as picturesque as it always does, and it has the effect on them I was hoping it would. The two of them ooh and ahh at all the right moments. We stop in at the coffee shop and each order our coffees, with Ashley and me ordering matchas and Jackson getting a standard cappuccino. Drinks in hand, we explore the library, then I show them my class buildings, including my favorite lecture hall. Our last stop is the Cube.
“So,” I say. “What do you think?”
“I love it so much,” she says. “It’s everything I hoped it would be.”
“It is very pretty,” says Jackson. “I’m starving, though, could we get some food? Ashley always shows me when you send her food pictures, and I’m dying to try the food hall.”
“I’m shocked by this,” I say, making a joke because Jackson is literally always hungry.
We go to the dining hall. I pay for each of them with a swipe of my meal plan card. Of all the places we’ve seen, this is clearly the place that’s impressed Jackson the most.
“It’s all-you-can-eat?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Everything?”
“Yup.”
“We’ve been to buffets before,” says Ashley as she rubs his arm. “You know how they work.”
“I can’t believe you don’t spend all your time here. This isamazing.”
He sets off, leaving Ashley and me at the table. We could get up and find food, but as much as I platonically love Jackson, it’s nice to talk to just her. If things had gone to plan, this, us at the dining hall, probably would’ve been a daily occurrence.
“What do you think?” I ask.
“You know I love a buffet.”
“No, I mean Point.”
“I love it,” she says. “But the best part is seeing how much you love it. You’re so proud of this place.”
I was trying to keep that dialed back, because I don’t want her to think I’m gloating. Not that she seems upset. I guess I’m being overly cautious. If I were in her position, I would want her to love it here as much as I do.
“It’s funny to think that in another life we’d have done this all the time,” she says.
