Page 6 of Septembers

“You can’t bail on the concert!” Theo tried to rein in the whine in his voice. “It’s only the second night of orientation. Where’s your school spirit?”

Jason slouched at the table waiting for his toast to pop, while Caleb sprawled on the couch with a pillow over his head. Dae was dutifully cutting vegetables, pretending none of them existed as steam rose from a giant pot on the stove, filling the apartment with a spicy tang.

“You can’t bail on something you never agreed to.” Jason’s words were low and raspy. “And weren’t you the one who said you’d take it easy tonight?”

“That was before I knew there was a concert.” Theo had come to this school to mine talent, now and they were lining themselves up on his second night. Plus, he never turned down an opportunity to experience live music, even if it was performed by a bunch of probably-drunk students.

“So go.” Caleb’s muffled voice wafted from the couch. “We won’t be insulted.”

Theo usually didn’t mind going places alone, but he wanted to record the acts and he was fully aware of how creepy that would make him seem if he were there solo. “Come on, boys, you can rally. The trick is water. Lots of water.”

Their groans echoed as his phone buzzed. He took it out with the hope it was some miraculous mystery friend who could go with him, but it was just someone liking his social media post.

But wait! New friend!

“Dae.”

“No.” He didn’t even look up.

“I haven’t asked anything yet.”

He put the lid on the pot with a soft clank, turned the stove down, then walked away, shutting his bedroom door behind him.

Jason raised his eyebrows. “Do you guys have an issue?”

At that, Caleb surfaced, propping himself on his elbows, curiosity lighting up his pale face.

“No. Well, maybe,” Theo said, crossing the living room. “I don’t know. It’s possible he didn’t like me in high school, but it’s also possible he didn’t like anyone.” Well, that wasn’t entirely true. There was that artsy girl Theo had seen him with for a while. Not that he’d been hyper-aware of who Dae spent time with or anything.

He knocked softly. “Dae?”

“I’m not here.”

A joke? That was progress.

“It’s not what you think.” Theo took his silence as the go-ahead, opened his bedroom door, and peeked his head in. Dae was sitting at his desk in front of a closed notebook, tapping a pencil against it. “May I come in?” Again, silence. Again, the presumption of permission. Theo sat on his bed, crossing his legs under him. “I’m not asking you to go with me. I just need a name. That guy on your team is saved in my phone as Superior Male Specimen, which is cute, but ultimately unhelpful. The one with the reddish hair and dangerous charm—what’s his name? I never got it, and it’s too late to ask now, what with…”

“His undying devotion?” His voice was flat and his eyelids heavy, but he was engaging, which was a step in the right direction.

“Exactly. So?”

Dae seemed to be wrestling with himself, as if Theo were asking him for nuclear codes. “Matt.”

A perfectly boy-next-door name.

Matt its theo

Keeping my promise

Though i cant pretend Im not allured by those sweet sweet gift cards.

Use them tonight after the concert?

He drummed his hands against his thighs, waiting for a response, and surveyed Dae’s room. It wasn’t as neat as he’d assumed it would be. Clothes were slung over the chair, loose papers littered his desk, and beat-up notebooks were piled on the floor, begging to be snooped in. Dae followed Theo’s gaze then used his foot to shove them under the bed.

“You have to know that only intrigues me more.”

He didn’t respond, but his face screamed at Theo to mind his own business. Theo was about to inform him that minding his own business had never been his strong suit when his phone buzzed.