Page 84 of My Roommate from Hell
I raise a hand and wave. The group walks away, and I open the one from Leeke.
Hi Owen, could you please drop by my office when you get the chance?
I’ve decided to rip off the Band-Aid and head straight to Leeke’s office.
Even though it’s only been a short while since I got the message, I’ve run hundreds of different scenarios through my mind, trying to figure out exactly why she would want to see me. I know she approves of us dating. Or does she? I’m going on the word of the ghoul that haunts our bathroom. How trustworthy is it, really? It doesn’t even have a face.
I wipe my palms on my pants, then knock on her door. When she opens it, her smile is big.
“Owen,” she says, with an amount of warmth I’ve never gotten from her. “Come in.”
I go inside, and sit at the chair I sat in last time I had a meeting with her.
“Thank you for dropping by. How have your classes been today?”
“Really good,” I say.
I know this is preamble before she goes for the jugular. There’s no way she would’ve asked me to come here to ask how my classes have been going.
“I saw the post Zarmenus made last night. I wanted to know if there’s anything you’d like to tell me.”
“Oh, right. Um, yeah, we’re sort of dating.”
Her expression doesn’t change.
I shift in my seat. “Is that a problem?”
“No,” she says. “It’s unexpected, that’s all. It actually works well. Not only did you enjoy living with him, but you fell in love. It’s very sweet.”
I might be imagining it, but I think I’m picking up on a slight knowing tone in her voice. As if she knows that we’re pretending but is running with it. Still, I’m not going to give us away based on that assumption. If she thinks I’m lying, she’s going to need to directly accuse me.
“And how are you handling the attention?” she asks. “It seems like you two are all anyone can talk about today. Did you know you are on the national news?”
I shake my head. “I’m trying not to think about it, to be honest.”
She laughs. “That’s understandable. But I want you to know that you’re doing so well. Your relationship is changing minds worldwide.”
“That’s good,” I say, as I try to wrap my head around that.
“I also have some news for you. My friend who runs the internship program at Google, Janet Lewin, is visiting next week, and said she’d like to meet you.”
“Really?” I say, barely able to contain my excitement. I didn’t think I’d get this chance until after the semester was over and the deal was finished.
“Yes, really. So what do you say, shall I set up a lunch date for you?” She looks at her computer. “I’ve just pulled up yourcalendar—dean privileges—and see you’ve got a few free hours on Thursday afternoon. Does that work?”
“Yeah, that would be perfect.”
“Excellent. And Owen?”
“Yes?”
She turns away from the computer to look me right in the eyes. “Keep it up, all right? You’re doing well, but our deal still stands. It is of vital importance you make it to the end of the semester on good terms with Zarmenus. Do you understand?”
I swallow hard. “I do.”
“On that note,” she says, “I have heard some rumblings around campus that the two of you are only pretending to get along. Would you know anything about that?”
“Really?” I say. “I didn’t know.”
