“Chris,” Ian shouted from his open door. “How was your meeting with your advisor?”

  Chris stopped in the middle of the hallway. He looked into Ian’s room to see him wearing a white tank top and a pair of green gym shorts. Ian had a slim build—not scrawny but not massive. His body was fit but not muscular. His dark armpit hair crept out of his underarms contrasting with his bleached hair. As he got off his bed, Chris was able to see one of Ian’s dark red nipples peek out. Chris took a gulp feeling like he had seen something he was not meant to see even though he had seen countless nipples in the locker room. Chris could feel the tingle he felt the other day when he first met Ian.

  “It was fine,” Chris said stopping as Ian approached him eagerly. Ian smelled like freshly excreted sweat brimming with male pheromones. The August heat of Southern Illinois made the dorm a little warmer than he was used to. Chris detected another scent on Ian—a scent that was familiar, yet Chris couldn’t place it.

  “Who’s your advisor?” Ian smiling.

  “Dr. Anderson?” Chris asked more than said.

  “I had him for English 101. He’s cool as fuck,” Ian said.

  “What are you taking?” Ian stepped away from the door indicating to Chris that Ian wanted him to enter his room.

  Chris stepped in and sat down in Ian’s chair. Ian walked back over to his bed and reclined leisurely as his room fan rotated slowly. The air conditioning on their side of the dorm must have been broken.

  “Let’s see,” Chris said looking off as if to read from an imaginary chalkboard. “I’ve got Latin, English, History, and Biology.”

  “Whoa, that’s an intense load,” Ian said chuckling. He knew Chris was going to have a lot of work to do.

  “Yeah, I know,” Chris said looking at Ian. “It’s what Dr. Anderson suggested.”

  “I suppose it’s better to get the gen ed classes out of the way first,” Ian said. There was a gap in the legs of Ian’s gym shorts exposing a glimpse of his privates to Chris. Chris quickly looked away even though every fabric in him wanted to stare.

  Ian picked up on his unintentional exposure and tightened his shorts. “Sorry about that.”

  “No problem,” Chris said. He was embarrassed that he had seen so much of Ian within the past few minutes. He had only met him a few days ago.

  “It’s just so fucking hot in here,” Ian said and sat up on his bed in lotus position as to ensure no further accidental flashing.

  “Have you registered for classes yet?” Chris said changing the subject.

  “Oh, yeah,” Ian said. “I did that before summer break last year.”

  “What are you taking?” Chris asked.

  “I’ve got my 200 level French, Poli Sci, Calculus, and a psychology class,” Ian spouted out.

  “Oh yeah?” Chris asked eagerly.

  “Social Psychology,” Ian said.

  “Cool,” Chris replied.

  Ian looked at Chris straight on. “Listen, I’ve been wanting to talk to you. I hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable the other day.”

  Chris gave a puzzled look. “Uncomfortable about what?”

  “About the whole gay conversation we had,” Ian said. Chris blushed. “I’m happy that you are so open about all that.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Of course I am,” Chris said.

  “It’s just that I was going through a lot of realization about myself and my sexuality last year. It was a tough time. It took a lot of drinking to make me uninhibited enough to come out—however awkwardly I could,” Ian chuckled.

  “I know,” Chris said. “My two friends who were dating each other seemed to go through the same sort of thing. Being in the closet and all.”

  “Yeah,” Ian said. “It’s hard to come to terms with being different.”

  “I get a feeling this place is more conservative than I thought,” Chris said. Coming to terms with being different… The phrase hit Chris hard. He was beginning to realize he was more different than he thought.

  “It can be,” Ian replied. “I think it’s not so much about being gay as it is how I went about it—making a complete ass of myself.”

  “You were going through some intense shit,” Chris responded with empathy.

  “True, but I made a name for myself for sure,” Ian laughed awkwardly.

  “You can be yourself with me,” Chris said smiling.

  “Thanks, I really appreciate that,” Ian said. “Isn’t this a twist? The advisor turning to the advisee.”

  “Sometimes it happens like that,” Chris said. Ian and Chris stared at each other for a moment. Ian cleared his throat.

  “And I didn’t mean to imply that your feelings weren’t just as valid,” Ian said.

  “What do you mean?” Chris asked.

  “You said you are curious and then I said it’s more than curiosity,” Ian said. “I made it seem like I was discounting your curiosity.”

  “Oh, I didn’t take it like that at all,” Chris replied.

  “Well, in any case, I just wanted to you know that your feelings are just as valid as mine,” Ian said looking at the ground.

  “I appreciate it,” Chris said.

  “Are you really curious?” Ian asked still looking at the floor.

  Chris felt a little panic rush over him. No one had ever asked him about his curiosity. It paled in comparison to his friends’ open, gay relationship in high school. That took front and center in his small-town high school. No one bothered to ask Chris what was going on inside.

  “I mean…” Chris looked around the room. “Sure.”

  “Nice,” Ian said quietly.

  “But I’d probably chicken out,” Chris laughed nervously.

  “I did several times,” Ian replied looking up at Chris. Ian noticed how Chris’s light brown hair had dirty blond highlights naturally made by the sun. His hazel eyes contrasted perfectly with his dark brown eyebrows.

  “So, you’ve done stuff with guys?” Chris asked.

  “Just a couple. One was a one-time thing. The other, we messed around a few times over summer,” Ian replied. His face started to blush. He was a little embarrassed to confess his sexual encounters with other guys, especially to someone he had just met.

  “Were they guys you knew well?” Chris asked.

  “The one-time guy was an acquaintance. The other guy was a friend from back home,” Ian said.

  “Was?” Chris replied.

  “Well, I guess it got too awkward for him,” Ian said looking at the floor.

  “Man, I’m sorry to hear that,” Chris said as he ran his fingers through his hair.

  “Yeah,” Ian said looking up at Chris. “I saw him around town a few times after that, but he seemed to run off before I could say anything.”

  “What are you bitches talking about?” a voice said from the doorway. It was Joe. Both Ian and Chris were startled to see him standing there.

  “Shit, dude,” Chris said. “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Just now,” Joe said entering the room. “What’s up?”

  “Not much,” Ian said and patted on the bed to indicate for Joe to sit down. Joe sat down beside him.

  “I actually came to complain about the air,” Joe said.

  “Yeah, I made a call to maintenance already,” Ian replied.

  Joe nodded. Joe was the human embodiment of an anime character. He was not wearing his bucket hat. His light brown hair was parted in the middle and laid flat below his eyes. He had big blue eyes and small red lips. He was wearing a Vans t-shirt and a pair of loose leg shorts that hung low on his hips. His small frame and shorter than average height made him look like he was 15.

  “So, I signed up for classes,” Joe said.

  “And?” Chris asked.

  “I’ve got English, History, Calculus, and Spanish. All mornings so I’ll be done with my day before lunch,” Joe replied.

  “That’s not a bad situation,” Ian said.

  “What about you guys?” Joe asked.

  “I’m taking French, Poli Sci, Calculus, and psychology,” Ian replied.

  “Who do you have for Calc?” Joe asked.

  “Dr. Tyler,” Ian replied.

  “Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9?” Joe asked. Ian nodded. “Dude! We’ve got a class together!”

  “Good!” Ian sighed. “I’m going to need some help.” Joe laughed.

  “What about you?” Joe asked as he looked over at Chris.

  “I’m taking English, History, Latin, and Biology,” Chris replied.

  “Latin? Why?” Joe asked in a puzzled manner.

  “I thought it might come in handy with biology,” Chris responded.

  “Maybe if you are naming new creatures but you don’t have to learn the language,” Joe said.

  “Well,” Chris said. “I’ve also been kinda fascinated with the Romans?”

  Joe shrugged. “I hear it’s tough as hell.”

  “I can drop it if I hate it,” Chris said. Joe and Ian nodded.

  “Do you guys know your way around campus?” Ian asked after a slight lull in the conversation.

  “Not really,” Chris said. Joe nodded in agreement that he was not familiar with the layout.

  “Let me drive you around and show you where everything is. I’ll crank up the air,” Ian said.

  Chris and Joe did not need any further convincing after Ian said “air”.