Page 22 of Dream a Little Dream

“Nice hair.” Bloke took the tablet back and Aaron assumed he was complimentinghimand not Mel on her jet black twisted bunches. “Taylor, I’m the chairman. Third year here. Second year on the course.” He winced through his radiant smile, an accent suggesting he was from the northern end of the country. “Failed my first year. Advice to you, don’t go outtoomuch.”

“What course are you doing?” Mel asked.

“Journalism and Digital Media. I know, I know, how can I fail that?” He lowered his voice, leaning forward, bearing his eyes into Aaron. “By drinking. Dancing. Dating.” He held out the tablet to Aaron. “Not to be too bold, but I’m sensing you belong to us, whether you sign up or not.”

“Cause I have gay written on my forehead?”

“No.” Taylor tilted his neck. “Maybe I’m just hoping. Although if you want to know what gave it away.” He pointed at the symbol on Aaron’s neck that had, thankfully, cleared of the bruising. “Nice tatt. If you’re trying to remain ambiguous, that doesn’t help.”

“It’s Mars.”

“It’s also masculine.”

“As am I.”

“I can see.” Taylor bit his lip. He waggled the tablet. “So, are you signing up?”

“What am I signing up for?”Orgies?

“We arrange trips to LGBT friendly bars. Organise gay nights at the union. Protest for better rights for the trans community. Run rallies. Demonstrations. Organise the UofR Pride festival. And if there’s anything we don’t do that you’d like us to, we’ll do it.”

“Really?” Aaron arched an eyebrow.

“Name it.”

God, he was a flirt.

“I’ll think about it.” Not too hard, though.

“How about you just give me your Insta instead, then?” Taylor winked. “Let me convince you privately.”

“Don’t peak too soon, you might get a better offer come along in a minute.”

Taylor laughed, clutching the tablet to his chest. “Been at this desk since Monday, and no one has got my attention like you have in the last three years.”

Aaron picked up one of the rainbow heart lollipops from the pot on the desk, ripped off the wrapper, and popped it in his mouth. “I bite.”

“Don’t doubt it.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Aaron shuffled away with Mel tailing after.

“He was so into you!” She looped her arm through his. “And damn fucking hot.”

Aaron shrugged, and they meandered around the rest of the fair, Mel signing up for this, that and the other.

“Oh my god, they have a LARPing society!” She pulled on his arm. “Come on, you can’t tell me you’ve never role played? Been an elf or something.”

Aaron laughed. “Not me, but someone I know back home was an elf once. Scored from it too.” But as he played a role every day, he didn’t need to do it in his spare time. Wearing the mask the authorities gave him wore him down enough.

“Shame, bet you’d make a kick-arse sorcerer or something with your hair.”

Aaron ran a hand through it. “Go on, I know you wanna sign up.”

Mel did. And Aaron eventually put his name down for the Pole Dancing Society. Mostly to appease Jervine and also because he quite fancied seeing if he could actually do it, plus he wanted to get the hell out of there before Mel made him sign up to the Extreme Ironing Society just so she could fulfil her goal of having Aaron enjoy the student experience. At least it meant they got to leave the basketball hall, which brought them out into the Sports Centre reception.

“Oh my god, look!” Mel clamped her arm with his, tightening their unit. “It’s Dr Lyons!” She pointed to the large windows looking in on the gym.

Aaron’s heart defied him by beating. Hard. Kenny was sprinting on the treadmill, sweat dripping from every pore, shorts and vest clammy and baggy, allowing Aaron to feast on a mature body scattered with dark hair. Kenny was a beast. And Aaron had a thing for monsters. But he slowed his pace, ripped a towel from the machine and wiped his face, signifying the end to his workout and Aaron’s feasting.

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