Page 86 of Psync
If no one had been around, he would have spun in circles all around the pond Maria Von Trapp-style. Instead, he sat by the pond and enjoyed drinking a coffee he didn’t have to worry about someone taking from him and replacing with a piece of fruit.
At first, he was able to ignore the stares. He’d gotten used to being around someone who was on the receiving end of tons of them, but after having to turn down three invitations to eat in a row, he started to get suspicious.
“No, really, I have to get to class.” Eli said as he gathered his things.
A bushy-haired English major, who’d introduced himself as Forrest, trailed after him. “I can walk you to class, if you want.”
Eli turned to look at him just as the wind kicked up and blew his hood back.
Forrest’s eyes zeroed in on Eli’s neck. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.”
“Realize what?” Eli pulled his hood back up.
“That you’re not available. You’re seeing someone, right?”
“Kinda, yeah.” He was definitely doing something with someone, at the very least. They still hadn’t managed to actually talk about it yet.
Forrest gave him a sad smile. “Figures.” Then he turned and walked away—minus the spring in his step he’d had when he’d first approached Eli.
How had he known . . .?
Eli’s hand slapped over his neck.
Fucking hell.
He ran for the nearest bathroom and looked in the mirror.
Christ! He looked like he’d gotten attacked by a vacuum cleaner. The only reason his friends hadn’t seen it was because his morning class had the windows open, and he’d kept his hood up to keep from freezing to death.
He tightened his hoodie strings and walked to his next class hunched over his phone, searching for ways to get rid of hickeys.
Haruka picked him up at the end of class, and they went to meet his friends for a late lunch.
“Eli, I forgot to mention it, but you didn’t get all of the sequins off from yesterday. Did they give you trouble?” Alice used her sandwich to point at Eli’s face.
“No, I got distracted and fell asleep before getting them all.” He resisted the urge to shoot a dirty look at said distraction.
“Haruka, you’ve got one in your hair . . . Actually, you have several. Oh, and one on your neck.” Alice pressed her hands to her mouth. “Holy shit, did you two . . .?”
“Don’t say it, Alice, I’m begging you.” Eli rubbed his newly throbbing forehead. He touched a knee to Haruka’s and thought :I’m not ready for this yet!:
Haruka looked off to the side and whistled innocently.
:You are just the worst!:
Alice balled her hands up and made a little squeaking sound.
“Can we talk about this another time?” Next fall sounded great to Eli.
“Yes!” Alice punched a fist in the air. “I mean, yes. Yes, we can.”
Nate continued to eat calmly through the entire conversation like he wasn’t even surprised.
Eli wrinkled his forehead. How had he known?
???
“Are you embarrassed by me?”
