Page 41 of Talk to Me

Confused and startled, I pushed through the doors and out of the lecture hall. I shuffled across campus to the dining hall, planning to carry on with my usual Thursday routine. However, when I got in line for food, I noticed that more people were shooting me looks and people were whispering. Looking around the hall, I locked eyes with a friend I’d been sitting with the last few weeks. When the friend looked away quickly, as though afraid I might notice him, the message was clear.

I’m not welcome here.

And I have absolutely no idea why.

Suddenly filled with fiery indignation that I was being singled out as a pariah for no apparent reason, I selected a couple of wrapped sandwiches, a couple bags of chips, and checked out quickly. When I noticed the look of relief on the faces of my friends at the table I typically sat at, I nearly shot them all the finger. However, I composed myself and hurried out of the dining hall.

Dashing across campus, I made it to the dorms in record time. Instead of getting off of the elevator on the fourth floor, I travelled all the way up to the fifth. Once I’d marched down the hall to five-twelve, cradling my food purchases in one arm, I knocked on the door with the other hand. For the briefest of moments, I wondered if I wouldn’t be ignored, but eventually, the door slowly swung open a foot.

My eyes locked with Theo’s in that space. His eyes were red, his hair was mussed, and the room behind him was dark. I didn’t give him a chance to deny me entry, instead pushing my way inside. When I smelled the room, I wondered if Theo’s eyes were red from crying—as I’d initially thought—or from the habits of his roommate.

“It smells like straight up weed and butt crack in here,” I said, waving my hand in front of my face.

Theo sniffed. “Sorry. My roommate—”

“Yeah,” I said, turning to him as he flipped on the light, “I know.”

Looking around the room, I was glad to see that the room was immaculately put together otherwise. So, there was no real health hazard that was causing the smell. Simply illegal activities that would threaten my academic career if I found myself tangled up in it. Even though Theo’s roommate had questionable hobbies, he was a neat freak. I was happy to see that other than the rolled back covers on the bed, Theo’s half of the room was meticulously clean as well.

“I got us some sandwiches and chips,” I said. “But I can’t eat in here. I don’t know how you can sleep in here.”

Waving my hand in front of my face again, Theo managed to give me a tight smile.

“Are you sick?” I asked. “I haven’t seen you all day.”

I gave the room another sniff.

“I’d be sick all the time if I was constantly inhaling this,” I added.

“I’m not sick,” Theo said. “I just…I couldn’t do it today.”

“What’s different about today?” I asked, and I could hear the edge in my own voice.

I sounded fed up and annoyed, which I hated. I wasn’t mad at Theo, or even annoyed with him. Having everyone treat me so strangely for the last several hours had gotten under my skin. I’d never known how easy I was to rile up. And that pissed me off.

Theo was shuffling his feet.

“Theo?” I asked, making sure I regulated my tone. “What is it?”

“Ben,” Theo said. “It’s Ben.”

“Did he die?” I asked gleefully.

Immediately, I realized that the joke was in very poor taste. However, after all the trouble this mysterious Peepers celebrity had caused, I couldn’t help myself. Fortunately, Theo gave a small chuckle, so he understood the intention of my joke.

“He…he dropped a video on Peepers,” Theo explained. Slowly. “Just kind of the same crap, but the comments are brutal. And people are popping into my comments again. I just didn’t want to deal with life today. I’m sorry.”

Hearing Theo explain why he’d taken a day off from classes had me softened up immediately. The looks and whispers over the last few hours were forgotten.

“Ah, man,” I said. “I’m sorry. I knew something was up, but…well, I’m sorry.”

“You see it on Peepers?” Theo asked.

Shaking my head, I said, “No. People were staring and whispering.”

Theo cringed. “Josh, I am so sorry. If I’d known—”

“How would you know?” I laughed bitterly. “No one knows when a psycho is going to post a video. And no one can predict how everyone is going to react to a bunch of unnecessary drama. Don’t worry about it.”