Page 17 of Psync
“And then I panicked when someone new tried to introduce themselves to me.” Eli smiled just thinking about the absurdity of it.
“The sheer nerve of them,” Jace said, deadpanned.
Eli swatted him with his towel. “Right? What were they thinking?”
“I hope you taught them a lesson.” Jace smirked.
“I almost threw up on them, so they’ll definitely think twice before doing it again.”
They both stared at each other and then burst out laughing.
And it was good. It was so, so good to let all the fear and stress and self-loathing go on a wave of laughing his stupid ass off with a friend.
“Jesus.” Eli snorted and wiped away tears of mirth. “I swear, next time this happens I’m coming with you to the gym.”
“Okay, so now I’m put in the awkward position of wanting you to have frequent attacks, so I’ll have a reliable partner.”
Eli tilted his head and gazed at his roommate. Jace was acting like he actually wanted Eli around. “Well, I’d hate to make you feel awkward. I suppose I could just come here with you regularly.” That sounded normal, right?
Jace’s easy smile told Eli he’d nailed it. “What a guy. You’re a real giver.”
“Jace, what poor soul have you suckered into being your partner today?” A young man with damp, sun-streaked brown hair and a dark tan ambled up to them as he rubbed his head with a towel.
Jace lifted an eyebrow at Eli as if to say,Is this okay?
Eli smiled and nodded. He had enough endorphins in him right now for just about anything. Ah, the joyful highs of the bipolar brain.
“This poor soul also happens to be my roommate, god save him.”
“You have my sympathies.” The man doffed an imaginary hat and held it over his chest soulfully. “I’m Ash—”
“Short for Ashley.” Jace injected merrily.
“Because clearly my parents hated me.” Ash finished.
Biting back a smile, Eli nodded. “I’m Eli. Nice to meet you.” And it was nice, which was downright shocking in and of itself. Maybe college wasn’t going to eat him alive after all.
The phone in his pocket buzzed. The screen showed an unknown number and the message:
Unknown:Have you thought about switching classes? –Haruka
Eli covered his face with his hand. But it might just annoy him to death.
???
Later that night, fluffy black hair poked out from the top of a blanket nest as Eli burrowed in, trying to hide himself from the truth.
He’d scrolled though page after page of advice about how to pad a college transcript. He hated to admit it. Loathed it to the very bottom of his soul, but Haruka had been right. Having an amazing GPA was a must—obviously—but every advanced class he took would be another feather in his cap. And if he wanted to work for the UN, he was going to need to stand out. Eli thought he’d been so meticulous when planning out his transcript, too.
This was going to be so annoying . . .
Before he sent the text he’d been putting off all evening, he cheered himself by changing the unknown number in his phone to HotJerk.
Eli:Fine, I’ll do it
HotJerk:Took you long enough
Eli:I’m going to hate every minute of it
