Jack tapped his pencil idly on the book in front of him, trying not to be bothered by Ron, who had his music on loud. He was surprised other students hadn't come pounding on the door demanding that the music be turned down so people could study. But, there was always the possibility that a lot of the students had their own music blaring. The ones that were studying probably got used to it, found their own way to study. Like going outside where it was nice and quiet.
He put his pencil down, counting to ten in his head before he completely lost it and hit Ron. He turned in his seat, his arm over the back of the chair as he looked at Ron. Of course, as soon as Ron saw that Jack's attention was on him, the music was turned down immediately.
"What's up?" Ron asked. Did he not have to study? All he did was sit there playing his music. Jack knew he was an attention whore, but was he also just trying to get on Jack's nerves? He had reason to get back at Jack since Jack had kind of done him wrong back at the ranch. But it had been Ron's fault.
"Don't you have studying to do, too?" Jack asked. He picked up his pencil and pointed at the book. "I need some peace and quiet." At least he didn't have to worry about being nice to a complete stranger as a roommate.
"I don't need to study," Ron said, turning up the music a bit more. He smirked, tapping his finger on the top of his head. "Got enough smarts here for anything."
"Fantastic," Jack said, rolling his eyes as he turned back forward. He gathered up his books and stuff as Ron cranked the music up louder. He turned and stepped out of the dorm, hearing music coming from several different dorms. Students were gathered out in the hall, dancing. He made his way through the crowd and took a deep breath once he was outside. He sat down on a bench and got back to studying.
"Hey."
Jack looked up, his eyebrows lifting in surprise. "Lureen." He had worked for her dad before he had gotten the job at the ranch. Her dad had tried to hook them up more than once despite the fact that they had both said things weren't like that between them. They were barely even friends.
"I thought you said you weren't going to college," Lureen said, sitting down on the bench beside him when he scooted over and offered her a seat. "Stuck your lot in with the Aguirres."
"Yeah, that didn't work out," Jack said, setting his things down beside the bench. "College is the place for me." Wrong college, though. "How've you been?"
"I've been doing great," Lureen said. She smiled. "I get the restaurant at the end of the school year."
"Really?" Jack said, smiling. "Congratulations."
"Thanks," Lureen said. "Dad probably would've never done it if he wasn't opening another restaurant in Dallas."
"Congratulate him for me?"
"You should call him," Lureen said. "It'd make him like you again after you 'abandoned' him and the restaurant." She gave a small laugh with a shake of her head.
"You have his number?"
Lureen looked at him. "I wasn't serious."
"C'mon, Lureen."
Lureen sighed then gave him the number. He pulled out his phone to add the number to his contacts, pausing when he saw a text from Ennis. Miss you. How's it goin? It was sent about three hours ago. He hadn't heard it because of Ron's damn music. He quickly texted back: Great. Sorry for the delay. Miss u too.
"Girlfriend?"
Jack felt ridiculous for forgetting that Lureen was there. "What? No," he said, shaking his head. He looked down at his phone, wondering if he should even say it. Would Ennis be bothered by it? Jack didn't know. If it was up to him, he'd show Ennis off wherever they went. He didn't give a damn what anyone else thought. "He's a friend."
"A friend?" Lureen asked. Sounded like she didn't believe him. "With that smile on your face?" She shook her head. "Hell, no. Definitely someone special."
"Can't I keep my personal life personal?"
"Nope," Lureen said, snatching his phone out of his hand and getting up and away from the bench before he could grab it back. He sat there as she went through his phone. He looked away when he saw the look on her face. "Oh...my...god." She strung out the three words longer than needed.
"Can I have it back now?" Jack asked, looking at her and holding his hand out.
Lureen handed him the phone. "How come you never told me?" she asked. "It would've been more bearable if Dad knew you were gay. He wouldn't have tried to hook us up."
"He still would've tried," Jack said, slipping his phone in his pocket. He grabbed his things as he stood up, deciding he had had enough studying for tonight. "And this is just between you and me, all right?"
"Sure," Lureen said. She smiled and stepped closer to him, lowering her voice. "Where's his dorm?"
"In Iowa."
"Iowa?" Lureen asked. "You sure you wanna do the whole long distance-"
"We're already doin' it," Jack said. "Please just stay out of it."
"When are you seein' him again?"
"Around Christmas."
"What about your folks?"
"They know where I wanna be."
"They know?"
Jack sighed then started walking. Lureen followed after him. He had to admit it was better talking with her than it was with Ron. So he stopped and waited for her to catch up. "Is there anything else you want to know?"
"How'd you two meet?"
Jack looked around then told her about the time on the ranch.
Ennis was in the middle of one of his evening classes when he got a text from Jack. He hadn't been expecting anything, so he hadn't silenced his phone. So the ringtone echoed in the classroom, making everyone turn and look at him. The teacher paused in the middle of her lecture and sent daggers at Ennis. He quickly reached into his pocket and silenced the phone. No one said a word and a moment later, class resumed.
He breathed a sigh of relief then slowly pulled out his phone and looked at the text, smiling to himself and shaking his head. He put his phone away then focused on the lecture. He looked down when a note was placed on the book resting on his lap. The student that handed it over didn't even look at him.
Ennis picked up the note and read it. We've all gone through it. Pete. The only class they had together. The message couldn't have waited until after class? He stuffed the note in his pocket then put his attention back on the teacher.
Pete met up with him after class as they all headed out of the classroom and down the hall to their dorms or out to party for the night. "Gotta study tonight?" Pete asked.
Ennis nodded his head. "Big test next week."
"Already?"
Ennis nodded once more. "Why?"
"Stephanie...y'know, the cheerleader?" Pete asked. "She invited me to a party she and her friends are having. Just thought I'd be nice and invite you along. You stay in the dorm whenever you're not in class and you're really quiet. Maybe a party-"
"Maybe next time," Ennis said then turned a corner and headed off. Pete didn't follow, obviously to go and meet up with the cheerleaders. He had clearly known Ennis would decline. Otherwise he would've pressed the issue further.
Ennis walked into the dorm, glad to be alone for the next few hours. He got ready for bed and grabbed his book as he got in bed. He was just about ready to study when his phone started ringing. He grabbed it and answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey, there."
"Jack." Studying was immediately forgotten.
"Hope it's not too late."
"No, you're fine," Ennis said. "How're things there?" Jack had told him about Ron and Ennis felt bad for him. He had expected to be jealous, but that feeling had never come. He knew exactly how Jack felt about Ron.
"Different than this morning."
"What d'you mean?"
"Ran into Lureen today," Jack said. "I, uh...had to tell her about us."
Ennis wasn't sure how he felt about that. "Why?"
"She took my phone and saw my texts," Jack said. "And she obviously knows the way I smile whenever I think of someone really special."
"So I'm just 'special'?"
"You know you're way more than that."
Ennis cleared his throat, shifting on his bed. "What'd she say about it?"
"I made her promise it was just between us," Jack said. "But God only knows what Ron'll end up doing."
"Wish I was there."
"Don't," Jack said. "Instead, wish I was with you."
"Even better."
"I gotta go," Jack said. "Studying to do."
"Talk to you later."
"I love you."
"Love you, too," Ennis said then hung up.
