Page 38 of Four Letter Feelings

Chapter 15

“So, have you come up with any ideas for what to get your family for Christmas?”

“I told you to ask me on Christmas Eve.”

“Dude. It’s close enough.”

“It’s not even. Ok, fine, it’s like the twentieth. What are you even doing over there? You’ve just finished your last exam for the semester, all of your assignments are handed in, what could you possibly need your laptop for right now.”

Both men were sitting on their beds facing each other as had become routine. They avoided the shared living space on their floor as much as possible due to a high number of their floor-mates getting on their nerves. The last few weeks had been tough, mentally and physically, but they were in the downward slide into Christmas vacation and Jeremy couldn’t wait. He was sure he’d managed to half-ass his assignments enough to scrape the C he needed to continue to play hockey. The team weren’t at the top of the league table, but they also weren’t at the bottom and to top it all off, he’d finished his Christmas shopping. He was exhausted, but feeling good.

“Don’t change the subject. What are you getting your family for Christmas, dude?”

“I have no freakin’ clue. You wanna do my shopping for me?”

“Nope. I’m done.”

“Of course you are. You get those tickets?”

“Yup. Not Godspell tickets, they were sold out, but still at the theater. Their favorite Beatles tribute band are playing there, so I got them tickets, a meal voucher for their dinner and I sorted their hotel for the night, too. That oughta take care of ‘holiday-palooza’. And FYI, I’m looking for an apartment for us to move into.” Jeremy paused and looked up from his laptop to gauge AJ’s reaction.

“You are?”

“Yup.”

“I was actually going to suggest that… before you and that dude across the hall come to blows and you get our asses thrown out of here.”

“He’s a jerk and he keeps stealing our food! Ugh! It’s time. My folks are on board with helping us get out of the contract and covering a down-payment on a lease somewhere until we get our shit together.”

AJ laughed and threw a Skittle into the air catching it in his mouth.

“What’s so funny?”

“My parents said almost that exact same thing.”

“No shit?”

“Yup.”

“Match made in heaven, you and me, Age. I’m so glad you don’t make me homicidal. Well, at least not too often anyway.”

AJ tossed another Skittle into the air and missed his mouth. Swearing he picked it up and tried again, more successfully.

“Ditto, man. I’ve been looking online and I found this place not too far from here. The rent looks reasonable, walking distance to campus, three bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, spacious living area, it seems to be at least partially furnished so we wouldn’t need to drop a ton of cash on furniture. It would have to be quieter than where we are right now… I mean, we could even throw some gym gear in this little space since I’m not sure what its intended purpose is…”

It was Jeremy’s turn to laugh.

“What?”

“That’s the exact house I’ve been looking at.”

“Bull.”

“Blue door?” Jeremy challenged, meeting his friends disbelieving gaze over the top of his laptop.

“Yup.” AJ still sounded unsure.

Jeremy spun the laptop around to show AJ the picture that was open on his screen.

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