Page 88 of Talk to Me

Putting up less than half the fight I had in me, I tried to break free from Theo, but finally gave up as he snuggled me on the bed, holding me against him as he lay behind me. Finally, realizing that fighting him would only chase away any sleepiness and make it hard to drift off, I gave up.

“Fine,” I said. “I give up.”

“That’s because you like it,” Theo spoke directly into my ear. “You looooooooove snuggles.”

Laughing, I turned my head to look at him over my shoulder. Theo was grinning widely as he held me. Our eyes connected and I was suddenly aware how correct Theo had been. I didn’t mind being snuggled by him at all. Something of that must have shown on my face, because Theo’s smile melted away. It didn’t drift away from doubt. It seemed to transform into something that no longer held the playfulness from moments before.

His gaze was more intense. Penetrating. Theo was suddenly staring intensely into my eyes. I stared back for a moment, then turned my head around to lay it on the pillow.

“Well,” I said, my voice cracking slightly, “at least if the blankets aren’t enough, you’ll keep me warm.”

Theo said nothing for a moment, then finally, clearing his throat, he chuckled.

“Yeah,” he said simply.

He let go of me to pull the covers up and over us. I expected that once we were covered and he was laid behind me again, he would turn and face the other direction. Once we were under the covers, Theo tentatively slid his arm over me again, wrapping it around my middle. When he pulled me slightly back against him, I didn’t argue.

Theo laid his head down behind mine on the pillow, his breath warm on my neck.

“Goodnight,” he said quietly.

I cleared my throat. “Goodnight.”

I reached over and hit the switch for the tableside lamp. Theo’s arm seemed to tighten around me. Before I could stop myself, I laid an arm over his, my fingers tempted to twine with his. Instead, I sighed and forced myself to focus on sleep. Before long, I heard Theo’s breathing change, and I knew he was asleep. So, I twisted my fingers through his gently, and drifted off.

Routine is important for the entirety of a student’s university career. Keeping a regular schedule for doing homework, working on projects, attending classes, going to study groups, hitting the library and labs—not to mention sleeping, dining, and bathing—is important. I’ve always done my best to make sure that I keep a fairly consistent and healthy routine. Though one can never be perfect since life and school are unpredictable at times, I’m fairly consistent with my routine.

In regard to friendships, I’ve never worried about anything being routine. I’ve always spent time with my friends as time allowed, fitting in coffee dates, dinners, and hang outs as time permitted. School, dining, and sleep came before anything else. I’ve never been one to worry about whether or not I make enough time for my friends since all of my friends are adults. Adults will tell you if they need your attention. Your semester project for Economics of Information will not speak up if you leave it sitting on your desk, neglected, for six weeks.

So, when Theo and I fell into a routine, I didn’t notice it at first. After our awkward Friday together, we spent Saturday getting coffee, studying, having lunch, studying some more, then going to Pizza Insanity. After a long day, we fell into my bed in the dorm, Theo cuddling up behind me once again. Sunday was the same, except Theo spent the night in his room so that he could get ready for classes easily Monday morning.

The weekdays were similar. We’d meet up before classes to get coffee at Midway Roasters. Then we’d go to classes—sit with or near each other in the classes we had together—and then meet up in the dining hall for lunch. In the afternoons we’d study and do our homework, then end the evening by lounging on my bed and watching some stupid movie or T.V. show before Theo went down to his room. The next day would start the routine over.

Of course, the part of our routine I disliked the most was waiting in line for coffee each morning. At least a handful of people wanted to talk to Theo about Peepers, being on his channel, or simply wanted to make comments about his videos. After he posted the video of the barista over the weekend, both he and the barista were bombarded with comments and questions each day. Theo was handling it well, but I felt for the barista who struggled to do her job and listen to everyone’s questions and comments as she worked. I was fairly certain that her coworkers were not impressed with the way it interfered with their work flow.

Otherwise, things were fine, I suppose.

Unfortunately, as routines go, once one is established, something always comes up to throw a wrench in the works. The following Friday was an Administration Conference Day, so all of the professors and administrative staff were in conferences, meetings, and presentations, meaning all classes for the day were cancelled. Instead of attending American Literature together and then getting to spend a few hours in the morning at Midway Roasters while it was empty, we found that it was packed.

The good news was that since it was a long weekend, a party was planned in the field out by the big parking lot—and almost everyone on campus made it clear they planned to attend. Theo and I realized that meant we’d have an entire evening to enjoy Midway Roasters mostly to ourselves. There’d probably be a few other people with the same idea as us, but the coffee shop would be relatively empty while the festivities in the field by the parking lot were going on.

Our plan worked for an hour. When the sun set and everyone took off for the field, Theo and I slipped into Midway Roasters that evening. However, when the rain came in from out of nowhere an hour later, Midway Roasters began to fill up with sodden, upset Midway students. Laughing at our luck, Theo and I made our way out of the coffee shop, to-go cups in hand.

“We were kind of asking for it,” Theo said as we huddled together under the awning outside of the university bookstore next door. “When something sounds too good to be true—”

“God will send a rain shower?” I quipped, holding my cup in both hands to help keep them warm.

“How is there some snow on the ground, it’s nearly freezing, and we get…rain?” Theo grumbled, though he was smiling. “What is it with this state?”

“If you live here long enough, you get used to it,” I replied. “Iowa has its charms.”

Theo slipped an arm around me, holding me close and looked down at me, cocking his head to the side. After a moment, he finally spoke.

“For sure it does,” he said.

I stared at him a moment, then chuckling nervously, I gently pulled away and moved to look around. Theo cleared his throat and sipped his coffee. Trying to ignore Theo’s comment and pushing the way he had pulled me close to him so easily out of my head, I focused on other things. Thinking about Theo’s behavior was too much for my brain to process.

“I think if we’re careful,” I said casually, “meaning we don’t slip and kill ourselves in the process, we can dash from building to building and stay mostly dry. Of course, once we get to the dining hall, it’ll be a long dash from there to the dorms, and—”