“I thought Caleb would move off campus,” Chad
said once they were out of earshot of Leo.
“Totally forgot about Vance.” He sneered. “Now
there are two freaks together. The whole
building feels tainted.”
Ethan stopped abruptly, turning back. “What do
you mean? What’s up with that guy?”
Chad blinked, confused. Then it clicked. “Oh,
right. You’re a straight guy, wouldn’t know. The
guy with Caleb, that’s Leo Vance, a year above
- us. Good–looking, tons of girls chasing him
until…”
Ethan’s brow furrowed. “Get to the point!”
“That’s the point! Don’t rush me,” Chad said,
exasperated. “The chem department’s hottest
girl confessed to him in public. Guess what he
<
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said? He’s into guys! Came out right there and then!”
Ethan’s eyes darkened. He took a deep breath. “He…probably just made that up to reject her,” he said quietly.
“We all thought that at first. But then someone saw him at a gay bar! Confirmed bachelor,” Chad finished, his tone suddenly sly. “Didn’t you hear him? Told Caleb to sleep in his bed
tonight. He’s the only one in 601… Two gay
guys, alone in a room…who knows…” He
nudged Ethan. “Hey, where are you going? Not eating?”
- 11.
My knee was throbbing. I sat heavily on the
lower bunk of the empty bed, wincing. Leo,
initially dismissive of my “drama,” paused when
he saw the blood. He scratched his head. “Are
you made of porcelain? A little scrape and
you’re bleeding?”
I glared. Were all athletic department guys
made of iron?
<
I looked up to retort, but found Leo staring at
my leg, lost in thought. “Leo?”
He blinked, his usual cool demeanor returning.
He pulled a chair over to the bed. “Scoot over,”
he said, “I’ll clean you up. Special stuff, heals
fast, but it stings. Try not to scream.”
How bad could it be? I wondered. The next
second I was yelling. “Ow! Ow! Ow!”
“Hold still!” Leo said, struggling to apply the
liquid. “Spread your legs!”
I flinched away, the pain making me thrash. Leo
grabbed my legs, pinning them against his
waist. “Hold onto my waist if you can’t handle
it.”
I was in too much pain to process how weird
that sounded. I gripped the edge of the bed,
knuckles white. “Easy, man… my thighs are
turning purple… ow!” The antiseptic hit raw
skin, and I shuddered.
Before I could say anything else, the door
slammed open
—
not a knock, but a kick. Leo
and I froze, staring at the doorway. Ethan’s
voice, cold as ice, echoed from the hall. “Caleb.
<
10:58
Open this door. I’ll count to three.”
“One.”
“Two!”
“Three!!”
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- 12.
The word “three” barely left Ethan’s lips before
another, even harder, kick slammed against the
door. Two more like that and it would splinter.
Leo, realizing this, released my legs, stood, and
opened the door.
Ethan stood there, eyes blazing, like he’d
