Freshman: Fall Semester - Volume Two

f r e s h m a n

Fall Semester

Volume Two

Michael

S.

Booker

Copyright © 2012-2015 by Michael S. Booker

Cover Image and Design by Michael S. Booker

1984 Press

All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, in any form or by any other means, without the written permission of the author.

E-Book edition

other titles by Michael S. Booker

the Shadow Series

Shadow

Anomaly

Echo

Whisper

Lullaby

freshman

Freshman: Fall Semester – Volume 1

Freshman: Fall Semester – Volume 2

Freshman: Spring Semester – Volume 3

nsfw series

Not Safe for Work

Busy with Work

part one

seeing different people

1

brandon

It was a few days after Halloween, and the weather in San Diego was strange and moody, just like me. One day, the weather would be bright and sunny, and the next day it was cold and cloudy—like the sky was ready to burst with rain, at any second. It had been a couple of weeks since Chris and I had last seen or talked to each other. There had been more than a few times, where I’d been tempted to call him or text him…but either Summer had warned me not to do it, or I had forced myself to not talk to him. It was hard, not having any contact with Chris at all, even though he was only right across the campus.

I lay in my bed on a cold Sunday afternoon, staring at the ceiling, and thinking about the way things went down, the last time Chris and I last spoke. He’d been drunk and had nearly gotten in a fight with Derek, the R.A. on my floor. If I hadn’t been there to stop Chris, things would’ve gotten a lot more out of control. After my conversation with Chris that night, I had to conclude that things were not working out between us, anymore. I figured that there was really no point in trying to salvage something that couldn’t be saved. As much as I hated to admit that, it just seemed to be the truth. But I wondered if I had been too hard on Chris. I wondered if there was something that I could’ve done to make things better—

No... I promised that I wasn’t going to blame myself. I knew that I’d done everything in my power, to keep things right between Chris and I. Honestly, I felt like I had put a lot more effort into our relationship, than Chris. I wasn’t going to hold myself responsible, for his lack of responsibility.

A big part of me hoped that Chris would call me, text me, or something. He wasn’t allowed access to my dorm building anymore, because of that whole situation with Derek. Still, I felt like he could have made some effort, to see me, if he really wanted to try and make things better between us. It was crazy, but even though we had broken up—and I didn’t even know if that was the right words to describe our relationship status—there was still this lingering hope, that we would get back together soon.

Things are happening the way they’re supposed to happen, Summer said to me, about a week before, while we were eating lunch in the large dining hall, on campus. "You need time to be yourself. You need to be with yourself."

"I have been with myself, I told her. The majority of the time that I’ve been at this school, I’ve been with myself. That’s the problem."

No, you’ve been lonely, waiting for Chris to fit you into his schedule, Summer replied. There’s a big difference.

I don’t really see the difference. Being alone is being alone.

Except that now, you have the chance to investigate other possibilities.

Like?

Brandon don’t act dumb. You know who I’m talking about…Derek.

No. I don’t think that’s a good idea.

Why not? Summer asked.

He’s our R.A. for one thing. And after that whole thing with Chris last week, things have been weird.

Have you still been stalking him in the shower, so you can see him naked?

I made the mistake of telling Summer that Derek and I usually took showers around the same time, in the morning, and ever since, she wouldn’t leave me alone about it.

Wouldn’t call it stalking, I explained. We just happened to be in the same place, at the same time.

Well, you need to be in his bed fucking him, at the same place at the same time…or getting fucked by him...whichever you prefer.

I get the feeling that he’s a bottom, I said. So, I would probably be the one topping him.

That sounds like one hot scenario. I’d pay money, to watch that show.

I swear…you must’ve been a gay man, in a past life.

My mother said that once, Summer responded. But seriously. All this moping about Chris isn’t healthy.

Summer, when’s the last time you’ve ever been in love with someone?

I don’t know, Summer said, curling the ends of her hair with her finger. Fifth grade. Maybe sixth. And then I got bored with that whole love shit, after two weeks.

"That’s my point: if and when you really care about somebody, you don’t get over them in two weeks. And hell, I don’t think I really am over him."

I didn’t say you had to forget about him, Summer said. I just said that you should explore other opportunities. I mean, you’ve been with Chris, since high school. The whole point of college is to try new things. You’re trying to duplicate your high school experience and it’s not working for you.

Yeah, Nick said something like that to me a while ago.

That caught Summer’s interest. She leaned forward on the dining table. "You’re talking to Nick about your love problems now? I thought that was my job."

It’s not like we’re not allowed to talk to each other or something. He’s my roommate.

"Is that all he is?" Summer questioned.

I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest. Here we go with this shit again.

I mean, it just seems like you two are getting really close now. You guys always leave the dorm in the middle night and come back a couple hours later smelling like weed and sex.

We don’t come back smelling like sex, Summer.

Summer shrugged. Figured the two of you were out there fucking in the bushes or something. I wouldn’t mind if you were…just as long as you gave me all the details.

Thanks for your approval, but that’s not what’s going on.

"What is going on? And please don’t give me that whole innocent ‘I don’t know what you mean’ bullshit. You know exactly what I mean, motherfucker."

Such offensive language, I said with a smile.

Details please.

I shrugged. There’s really not much to say, Summer. We kissed that one time at my party, when we were drunk…and we kissed again about a week ago.

Were you two drunk, again?

No. High. He gave me a lot of pot.

And that’s all that happened? No blowjobs? No dick in your ass? He didn’t fuck your brains out?

My brain is still intact, Summer. I also would appreciate it, if everyone here didn’t know what we were talking about.

Summer scoffed. I don’t care if people are listening to us.

Well, I care.

And you keep dodging the questions, Brandon.

There might have been some minor groping action going on. Nothing major though.

Do you think that the two of you will finally go ahead and fuck, one of these days? Summer asked.

Summer, right now that’s not even on my list of priorities. I just broke up with my boyfriend. I don’t have time to worry about my bi-curious roommate and whether he wants to fuck or not. If it happens then it happens…if not, then whatever.

Trust me, it will happen, Summer said. Sooner or later. It’s all just a matter of time.

I thought about that conversation between Summer and I as I lay in bed. Nick and Summer had gone to the movies, giving me the chance to have the room to myself for a couple of hours. They had invited me to come along with, but I declined. I didn’t want to be the Debbie Downer of the group and I also figured it would give Summer the chance to make her move and see if Nick was interested in her.

I was sure that Nick was interested in her. He had made several comments on how hot he thought she was. Also, at my birthday party, before she abruptly left, Nick and Summer seemed like they had good chemistry while dancing. I didn’t know why Nick and Summer hadn’t already just gone ahead and hooked up. I was sure they had not had sex, `cause if they had, Summer would’ve already told me about it. And since Summer was not the modest type, particularly when it came to sex, it must’ve been Nick who was hitting the brakes and taking things slow. But like Summer had told me before, sex was most likely gonna happen between the two of them, sooner or later. I actually hoped they would go ahead and do it, so that way I wouldn’t have to worry if something was going to develop between me and Nick.

Of course, I thought that Nick was attractive as hell, but the last thing I needed to do was get sexually involved with my roommate, especially when he was not sure if guys were something he was really into. My fear, if anything (more) sexual happened between us, was that he would blame me for trying to ‘turn him out’ or pretty much taking advantage of him. He was a great roommate and he was becoming a good friend of mine as well. The last thing I needed was for sex to screw things up.

And then there was the topic of Derek. Unlike Nick, I didn’t have to sleep in the same room as Derek, but I thought about him from time to time. As Summer had mentioned, he was another one of the ‘opportunities’ that was out there for me. Ever since my freshman year had started, there had been a sexual vibe between me and Derek that had gotten stronger the more we interacted. I was sure that Derek was gay and that he was into me. And I was sure that after all the times we had checked each other out after taking showers that he knew that I was into him, too. If it wasn’t for the whole Chris situation and the fact that he was my R.A. I might’ve felt more comfortable with pursuing something with him. On top of his good-looks and his great ass, he was a genuine good person. It was surprising to me that Derek didn’t already have a boyfriend. I guess with all his studies and his R.A. duties that maybe he didn’t have time for a relationship. Maybe he was just holding out for the right person. Or maybe Derek did have a boyfriend and he just didn’t bring him around that often.

There was a knock on my door.

The noise startled me. It couldn’t have been Nick at the door, since he had his own key. It might’ve been Brittany—or Bird as we usually called her—wondering where Summer had gone. I stumbled out of my bed and sauntered over to my door. I was dressed only in a pair of running shorts and a San Diego State T-shirt. I looked through the peephole to see who was on the other side and was slightly shocked to see that it was Derek. I considered whether or not I should put on a pair of pants or not, but it wasn’t like I was naked or something, and I figured he probably wouldn’t care much, since he had seen me dressed in only a towel before.

What does he want?

Slowly, I pulled open the door, partway.

Derek, I said. Hey. What’s up?

Derek was casually dressed in a white shirt that accentuated his bulging biceps and pecs, loose-fitting blue jeans and flip flops. He always managed to look hot, no matter what he wore, while I was sure that I looked like a depressed mess. Yet Derek seemed nervous about something, which in turn made me feel nervous.

It’s something about Chris, I immediately thought.

I figured that he had come by, to tell me that Chris had come over to my dorm building trying to see me again and that he and Derek had gotten into another altercation.

Brandon, can I talk to you for a few minutes? Derek questioned.

His shaky tone of voice made me even more nervous.

Uh, yeah, I replied. Sure.

Is Nick here?

No, he’s out.

It made me curious as to why Derek needed to know if Nick was home or not. I was really confused by the whole situation.

Um…is it cool if I come in for a minute? Derek asked. It won’t take too long.

For a guy as gorgeous as Derek was, it amazed me how sheepish he was towards me.

…Sure, I finally said, moving aside so that Derek could enter. Something wrong?

No, not really, Derek said. Well, I mean…I’m not sure.

I closed the door behind him after Derek stepped inside. This was the closest we’d been in the same room together…well, not counting the wall that separated us while in the shower room.

Just wanted to talk to you about that whole thing with Chris, Derek started. I’m sorry about all of that. I didn’t mean for things to get out of hand the way they did.

I raised an eyebrow. Derek, of all people, you’re not the one that should be apologizing. It’s not your fault that Chris was acting like an ass that night.

Well…I wasn’t sure if you blamed me for it, or if you were mad at me about it.

I shook my head. No, I’m not mad at you about anything. Chris needs to take responsibility for his actions. He should be the one apologizing to you.

It was weird to me that Derek cared if I was at mad at him or not, which I absolutely wasn’t. I was starting to get the impression that Derek was attracted to me on more than just a physical level. Why else would he care so much about my opinion of him?

How are things between you? Derek asked. Are you guys cool?

I didn’t even know how to respond to that question. I was completely at a loss of words and I think it showed on my face.

You know what? Derek said, I shouldn’t have even asked that. It’s none of my business.

We’re not cool, I suddenly said, without even really realizing I was about to say it. We haven’t talked since that night.

Derek looked genuinely contrite. Sorry to hear that.

Thanks, but you don’t have to… I was going to tell Derek that he didn’t have to feel sorry for me, but I just didn’t say it. Thanks.

Derek just stood there for another minute or two, with his hands stuffed in his pockets, rocking on the heels of his feet. Once again, I was taken aback by how shy he was. He seemed to be even more bashful than I was. I could tell there was a lot more that Derek wanted to say, but either he didn’t know how to say it, or he was just afraid to speak what was on his mind.

Guess I should go then… Derek finally said.

A part of me wanted him to stay, but Derek’s bashfulness was starting to rub off on me. I didn’t know what to say to keep him from leaving, and I wasn’t really sure if it was smart for him to stay anyhow.

Derek turned and headed for the door. He opened it and just as he was about to walk out, he stopped and turned back around.

Have you eaten anything today? Derek asked.

…No. Why?

There’s this one Mexican restaurant near Mission Beach that I go to every once in a while, Derek explained. If you’re hungry, I wanted to know if you wanted to come with me.

Shit. He’s asking me out on a date. I didn’t know what to say. My first instinct was to tell him no. I wasn’t hungry, but it would’ve been a good idea for me to eat something, since I hadn’t eaten anything all day. Also, I had just planned to spend the rest of my day being miserable over Chris. I didn’t think I was in the mind-set to be social. However, at the same time, I didn’t want to say no, either. Even if I really wasn’t in the mood for company, maybe it was what I needed. I’d already spent the last few weeks feeling grumpy over the whole Chris thing, so maybe I needed a change. Going out to eat with Derek wouldn’t be that bad.

Yeah, I finally said. We can do that. Just give me about thirty minutes to shower and get dressed.

Derek seemed surprised by my response. I think he was also expecting me to say no. He smiled for a second. Alright, cool. Just give a knock on my door, when you’re ready.

I will, I replied.

Derek smiled again and walked out of my room, closing the door behind him. I stood there for a few moments, contemplating whether or not I had made the right decision. I was still unsure of going out with Derek would be a good idea or not, but since I already told him I would go with him, I didn’t want to be obnoxious and cancel