Mom had always said nail biting was disgusting.
Oh…Mom.., Andy sighed but continued chewing.
He had found a quiet spot to think about the new rooming information. It was cheaper to have two roommates than one, a good way to cut down on costs. He wrinkled his nose, he had wanted his own space but with money tight the way it was… Maybe he could room with his new friend Junjin? He didn’t seem so bad.. And he could probably help find someone else to room with them.
A crisp summer breeze ruffled his hair. The sun filtered through the canopy, to his spot on the courtyard bench. The space was quiet and enclosed by a ring of trees. A perfect day for freshmen orientation that he just had to ruin.
Lost in his thoughts, he reached his pinky finger and pulled too hard. He pulled back surprised at the pain and the blood welling from his fingertip.
First mom’s sick and now this.. Today was supposed to be a day to forget. Tears stung his eyes, he angrily wiped them away cursing himself for being weak.
He cried for his mom, their money situation, moving to an foreign place, and even over his pitiful finger. It was upsetting, Andy reasoned, even bordering on ridiculous. He could not believe his pinky had caused him to cry. In public on top of that.
He cowered further when he heard footsteps. It was probably his new friend, Junjin, coming to look for him. He wiped at his face and stuck his pinky in his mouth. He couldn’t show this face to his new friend.
“Are you okay?”
Does it look like I am ? Andy quickly wiped away his tears, no need for this stranger to think him pathetic.
Andy knew he had not known the energetic ‘Double J’ as he insisted on being called for long but he was sure that it could not be him. Even more reason to hide his tears. The bench creaked as the stranger sat down.
“Oh, yeah I’m fine.” Andy lied and gave an unconvincing smile. Will that get him to leave? Andy could not see well, his tears fuzzing his vision. He bitterly wished the stranger away, he preferred to wallow in woe alone. The stranger tilted his head in disbelief,
“So crying is your type of fine?”
“It’s just a cut, I will be fine in a minute.” Andy was irritated with this stranger. He scrunched his face looking up to the newcomer. Tan skin, and a head full of dark hair. No matter how handsome he begrudgingly thought he was.
“I think I have something for that,” the handsome stranger moved to get something from a backpack he had. Now that he had calmed down Andy studied the stranger more carefully.
He was taller than him, and clearly well-built. Arms longer than his, with even longer legs. A fine jawline, with stubble gracing his features. Something Andy couldn’t seem to do. Definitely an upperclassmen.
He sat up holding a band-aid box in hand. Andy stuck his pinky in his mouth, chomping down to halt the blood and pain.
He asked around his finger rolling his eyes, “Do you just carry band-aids around everywhere?”
“I’m here to help, that’s my job as a student leader.”
Andy squinted at the supposed student, “Don’t you have to be a senior to be one?” He held his reddened pinky out.
“A senior in school and one in life. What really made you cry? ” He fixed the Band-Aid around Andy’s finger. A Hello Kitty one at that, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
The stranger smiled, something that would probably make most girls swoon. He didn’t know why he shared, but maybe that smile made him just a bit trustable. Andy sighed,
“Just money problems.. My mom’s in the hospital and I have to pay her bills and school…”
Talking about it made him want to cry even more. Tears pricked his eyes once more and he took a shaky breath, swallowing the lump in his throat,
“But I’ll make it work.”
“You’re in need of money? Have you looked into the work study program?”
Andy gave a joyless laugh, of course he couldn’t actually help.
“No I haven’t but I’ll look into it.” He stood up quickly and tilted his head at the other,
“Thanks for your help but I should get back to my group.” He turned ready to walk away,a hand grabbed his wrist.
Andy turned his head, irritation apparent. The stranger’s face was hard, not giving notice of Andy’s displeasure.
He opened his mouth, “Why don’t we help each other?”
Andy sniffled reply sarcastically, “Unless you have a million dollars I don’t see how you can help.”
The stranger smiled, “Meet me in the library on the first day of class.”
Now he must be really crazy.
Andy walked into the library pondering his sanity and eyes on the lookout for the enigmatic stranger. The heck am I doing here..?
When he told Junjin about the mystery stranger he insisted that he meet him.
He was acting like this was a date with a girl. The energetic “Double J” even did his hair. His horrible now blonde hair.
After getting back to his group they had carried out his punishment for leaving. The punishment? Hair bleaching. Apparently walking around without a guide was against the rules. Junjin had taken particular pleasure in restraining him as the upperclassmen bleached it. At least they had the mercy to tone it.
Absently he scratched his head, wondering if the stranger would even be there. Andy had made nearly a fully circle around the library, the stranger nowhere to be seen. He rounded the periodicals shelf and bumped into a self study desk there. Someone was sitting, no laying across the desk.
He quickly began to apologize, “Excuse me-“
“You showed up! Pull up a chair !” It was the stranger, who quickly had sat up, wiping drool from his cheek.
Andy cringed,“This is a library, please be quiet Self study desks are for one person only.”
“Who cares?” He pretended to look around, “See? No one, now sit.”
Andy sighed but obeyed, better to get it over with quickly.
“Look-“
“Don’t talk.” He interrupted, Andy sat frowning all the while. The stranger ruffled his hair like he was hesitant to begin.
“This isn’t easy to believe but just listen to everything I have to say, okay?”
Andy pressed his lips into a firm line, this kid thought he was all that. A senior is a senior. The least he could do was hear him out before rejecting him.
“Now it’s hard to say now that you’re here…”
Andy crossed his arms, fed up, “If you have nothing to say then I’m going.”
As he moved to stand the stranger grabbed his arm, “Please help me out and be my boyfriend!”
Andy’s brain stopped working. He froze in place in a half crouch from his chair, only a slow blink evidence he was still functioning.
He had asked me to, “WHAT!?”
“Can you keep it down we’re in a library.” He hissed, slapping his hand over Andy’s mouth.
He made angry, muffled protests but his eyes seemed to speak volumes his mouth could not.
“I swear I’ll explain but just hear me out,” Andy looked down at his hand. “No I can’t do that, you need to listen. I’m sure we can help each other. I just need to fool my family for the school year, nothing more nothing less.”
His mind whirled, the hell is wrong with this guy? Did he give off an ‘I’m gay’ vibe? As far as he knew, he wasn’t.
Andy narrowed his eyes, “What’s in it for you?” Andy had to admit he was a good guesser,
“Pay. I’ll pay all your expenses the entire school year we’re together.”
The stranger was frantically searching his eyes, did he think that would help? He his lips, his nervousness was now even more apparent. He carefully removed his hand and sat forward, eager to hear Andy’s reply.
“I don’t even know your name.”
“Of course! I didn’t want you spreading rumors if you didn’t agree.” The stranger smiled, his eyes even crinkling. Andy looked away, biting his lip. This wasn’t something you could simply agree to.
“What do you say?”
He hesitated, “Let me think about it.”
“So have you thought about it?” Junjin was attempting to speak through his mouthful of ramen. Andy grunted in response, wrinkling his nose at his roommate’s lack of manners. He had been thinking about it.
They ate in their dorm room, a shabby one bedroom with a closet for a bathroom. It didn’t even have a proper mirror. Or beds, Junjin had brought in a futon for them to share and Andy had supplied the bed sheets. It was tiny but it was home. After reflecting on their circumstances the offer was tempting, being paid to date someone. But he couldn’t get past one thing..
“What if its just a prank?” Andy picked more noodles from the pot, “It sounds too good to be true. And a guy?”
Junjin shrugged, “What’s so bad about a guy? Plenty of people are into that.” He didn’t even look up from the shared pot.
“But I’m not.” He slurped his share and slowly chewed. Junjin was a considerate guy, thinking his comments through and making valid points. At least while eating he was.
Junjin pointed his chopsticks at him, “You can’t be sure. Have you dated one before?”
“Well no…” Andy trailed off, his cheeks burning. He couldn’t rightly say he had dated anyone for that matter.
“Well then? And what if the offer’s sound? You gonna pass up cash because of your pride?” Junjin greedily leaned over the remaining ramen, making gross sounds.
“Besides it wouldn’t be for long.” Once done he looked up quickly, pointing his chopsticks once more. His eyebrows raised nearly choking on the food in his mouth.
“A contract.” He spat, hurriedly wiping his mouth.
“What?” Andy stood taking the finished pot.
“Write a contract and make him sign it! I’ll even help!”
He stood with the pot in his hands. It did sound like a good idea, set restrictions and stuff. He shook his head, “Let’s do it.”
“In summary, no excessive displays of affection unless needed, no grabby hands anywhere,” At this Andy stopped and gave him a glare, he smirked in return, “you can’t tell anyone at school about our agreement, our private lives will remain separate, and absolutely no form of abuse. Or the contract will be void.” He looked up from the sheet giving the other a proud smile of his work.
They were once again