Simon took a deep breath of the wonderful spring air as he walked out outside. No more classes this year; it was a strange thing to wrap his head around. Simon was glad he'd come back to this university for his second year. He'd found a new friend in Jordan, kept up with old friends, and enjoyed the familiar feel of the school. His only school related problem at this point was choosing a major. Simon had thought about majoring in something musical, but how was he supposed to get a job with that after grad? It wasn't like rockstar was an actual career option with a great chance of success, right? Beside, even if it was, being good enough to play in his mom's garage, and being good enough to do it for a living were two very different things. Simon was going to keep music as his hobby. It was best this way, since he worried that if music ever became job like, he'd end up resenting it. To try and solve this problem, Simon had taken some of those 'what should I major in' online quizzes, but to no avail. The only ones that didn't give him ridiculous ideas, had told him to go into human resources, but Simon wasn't so sure about that. He technically didn't have to declare until the beginning of next year, right? So in theory, he had all summer to dither. Which was kinda of how Simon thought about his exams. He had three whole days before his first exam, and Simon fully intended to spend at least one of them slacking off, and in no way studying.

Entering the dorm building, Simon walked down the halls until he reached his room. Moving past the door, Simon collapsed on his bed, reveling in his peaceful class-free moment. Half done University… at least once the exams were over, but he couldn't fail any of his courses, even if he didn't turn up for the exam, so he wasn't going to worry. Of course, if he did not show up or study for his exams, his marks would suck, but that was beside the point.

Rolling over, Simon looked up at the ceiling. He missed Izzy, though he knew he'd done the right thing in breaking off their arrangement. He'd learnt his lesson. How did the saying go; fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. He wasn't going to fall in love with another woman who couldn't love him back. Simon knew his limits, and that was one of them. He couldn't do it again. If all Izzy could offer was friends with benefits, then Simon couldn't have any of it.

The one great thing that had come of his realizing he liked Isabelle as more than a friend, was being able to spend time with Clary again. He'd thought a lot about it after breaking things off with Izzy, and realized that thanks to her, he had more emotional distance from his failed previous relationship, and had been able to see her without pain. Counting Clary among his friends again was wonderful.

Simon heard the door open and close, but he didn't sit up to look who it was. The sound of a school bag falling to the floor made him sure it was Jordan.

"Hey," his roommate's voice double, confirmed his presence.

"Hi," Simon replied, lifting his hand to wave in the general direction that Jordan's voice had come from.

"What are your plans for summer break?" Jordan asked.

"Maybe get a job. Maybe slack off at home," Simon did his best to shrug while laying on his back in bed. "Not sure. Mom wants me home, but I'm thinking, cooling my heels in my home town for four months is gonna be boring. Why, what are your plans?"

"No clue," Jordan groaned. "I can't afford rent without a roommate, and I can't stay in dorms."

"Why don't you just go home for the summer?" Simon asked.

"Not an option," Jordan said, with a sigh. Simon heard the desk chair move, and assumed Jordan had sat down.

"Would it be nosy of me to ask why?" Simon replied, still staring at the ceiling.

"Yes," Jordan said. "But it's okay. I don't mind telling you." He paused, taking a deep breath then continued. "See, I might be at this school against my parents wishes, and by might, I mean I am."

"That's… weird," Simon said. "I mean don't parents want their kids to go to University?"

"Oh they wanted me to go to University, alright," Jordan said. "Just not this one."

"Again, I find myself endlessly curious," Simon said. "Why?"

"Well, I kinda got into Harvard," Jordan confessed.

"You what?" Simon exclaimed, sitting up abruptly to stare at his friend. "Why the hell are you here then?"

"Maia," Jordan replied simply. It was such a simple thing, and yet it held so much meaning. The expression on Jordan's face was one Simon knew well, but had managed to remove from his own expression over time. It was that look that meant you'd do anything, move any mountain for the sake of your heart.

"So let me get this straight," Simon said slowly. "You fall in love with a girl in high school, and all things are coming up roses till graduation when your parents try to send you to Harvard, but you wanted to come to here because Maia was coming here?" Jordan nodded. "And somehow this lead to you two breaking up, and her coming here on her own, only to have you follow her a year later to stalk her through the halls?" Jordan nodded again, looking awkwardly at his feet, confirming Simon's every word.

"Well shit," Simon said, laying back down on the bed for emphasis. And he thought he'd had it bad!

"I never told Maia I got into Harvard," Jordan said, a little defensively, which Simon didn't understand at all.

"Why not?" Simon exclaimed, sitting up again and throwing his hands in the air with exasperation. At this rate, he was going to get dizzy.

"Because she would have told me to forget about her and go, with a smile on her face," Jordan explained. "I didn't want to hear her say it. It would have meant losing her."

"Yeah, well you lost her anyway," Simon sighed. "So I don't see how the smile-goodbye would have been so bad? At least you guys would have ended on good terms, right?"

"I didn't want her to have to make that choice," Jordan said. "I didn't care where I went to school, and she did so..."

"You know telling Maia now would probably mean a lot to her," Simon added. "It would give her a more solid reason for your split."

"She got over me," Jordan replied. "She doesn't love me the way I love her. I messed it all up, and I know that."

"Why not go to harvard then?" Simon asked.

"I didn't want to be a lawyer," Jordan said, waving his hand dismissively.

"I see," Simon replied. "And I'm guessing it's this attitude that is why you can't go home?"

Jordan nodded. "When I found out that mom and dad got between me and Maia, I blew up at them, said screw Harvard and came here. I haven't spoken to them since."

"Well you never know," Simon said. "They might have calmed down by now."

"Yeah, but they are still going to be all law school, law school, law school," Jordan groaned. "And I want to study computer science."

"Just great," Simon sighed. "The first year knows his major, and I still don't."

"Hey, I'd take your problems over mine any day," Jordan said. "'Can't pick a major' beats 'never going to find love, and most likely to end up homeless.'"

"I can't help you with the love issues," Simon said. "Since I haven't yet managed to figure that one out myself, but for the rest I can."

"What do you mean?" he asked, clearly confused.

"Why don't we get an apartment together for the summer. Maybe next year even?"

"That would be great!" Jordan said, gratefully.

"Though, I will have to teach you what cleaning is," Simon said thoughtfully. "But it will be good practice for when Maia takes you back, and you need to impress her with how much you've grown up."

"Maia will never take me back," Jordan smiled. "But thanks for the enthusiasm."

"Don't be so pessimistic," Simon replied. "She agreed to the study dates, didn't she?"

"They aren't dates," Jordan said. "And even if they were, they are pity dates."

"Trust me," Simon laughed. "Maia doesn't do pity anything."

"Maybe its for the best," Jordan sighed. "My family never liked her, and if she was stuck with me, she'd have to deal with their stupidity."

"It seems to me like you've rejected your family," Simon replied. "So why would that be the case."

"You can never get rid of family all together," Jordan explained. Laughing he added, "What was it Maia used to say: 'Family, you can't live without them, and you can't murder them.'"

"Doesn't the phrase go 'you can't live with them, and you can't live without them?'" Simon laughed.

"Oh you can live without them," Jordan replied, with a smile. "It just requires murder. Hence the problem"

"I see," Simon chuckled. After that, Simon got out his laptop and started apartment hunting with Jordan. They choose a couple places to check out later in the week, and then Simon ended up in a two hour phone conversation with his mother explaining that he wasn't coming home for the holidays. There were tears, and only one minor guilt trip before he hung up the phone. Simon wished his mother would date. He worried about her being alone so much of the time. Simon then called his sister to ask if she'd check on their mom, and to also tell her he wasn't going home. Becky said she totally understood, and hoped - if their new place had space or even a couch - that she could come visit him. Simon was thrilled by this idea. All in all, it was working out rather better than Simon had thought… now if only he could decided what he wanted to dedicate the next two years of his life to, then he'd really have things figured out.

As it was, Simon didn't have any luck in that department. The next few days were a blur of sorta studying for his exams, playing videos games, generally slacking off, and occasionally applying for summer jobs. Simon hadn't really worked before, so he was going for entry level stuff with high turnover rates like fast food and retail jobs. After all, he just needed enough for rent. He knew Jordan also had no work experience, so the two of them were applying to all the same places. A small part of Simon was hoping they'd both end up working at the same place so he'd be guaranteed at least one friend on the first day, but then again, did he really want to both live and work with Jordan? Then again, it was out of his control, so Simon would cross that bridge when he came to it.

"Ready for your exam tomorrow?" Jordan asked, the evening before his first exam.

"No," Simon laughed. "Are you?"

"Always," Jordan replied, grinning.

"Maia is right about you, isn't she," Simon narrowed his eyes at his friend. "You can ace anything without trying."

"Well, I do have to show up," Jordan disagreed.

"I kinda hate you right now," Simon whined. He was sitting at his desk, surrounded by textbooks, and wishing he'd started studying about three days ago. The whole thing was putting him in a bad mood.

"Just wing it," Jordan suggested. "Come play video games with me. Maybe we can beat the boss this time."

"I wish," Simon groaned, turning back to his books and muttering under his breath. "Stupid test."

Less than a quarter of an hour later, they were interrupted by a knock at the door. Welcoming any excuse to stop reading for a few minutes, Simon went to answer the door. To his great surprise, it was Isabelle standing before him.

"Hi, Simon," Izzy said, smiling at him.

"Hey," Simon replied, stunned.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Sure," Simon said, taking a step to the side to give her room to enter.

"Umm…" Jordan said as he noticed who it was. "I think I'm gonna go hang out in the common room for a bit."

"You don't have to leave," Simon said exasperated.

"Ah, yes I do," Jordan disagreed. "Bye." He grinned as he made a quick exit. Had Simon told Jordan they'd stopped having sex? Simon couldn't remember.

"Don't mind him," Simon said. "He's just being… well him. What's up?"

"Brother's engaged," Izzy said slowly.

"Oh that's great," Simon smiled. "Glad those crazy kids figured things out."

"Yeah," Izzy spoke softly. She took a step closer, and Simon felt his heart skip a beat. Why the hell was she here!? Simon took a step back.

"Is there something you needed?" Simon asked.

"Engagement party," Izzy said. "Saturday after exam week. You wanna come?"

"I'll be there," Simon replied. "Thanks. Should I bring a gift?"

"Nah," Izzy replied with a wave of her hand. "It's okay."

"You sure?" he asked.

"Yep," Izzy said.

"Okay," Simon replied. Was it just him, or was this a very strange conversation?

"I-" Izzy began, taking another step closer to him. Then before Simon could move another muscle, she was kissing him. Too stunned to think, Simon kissed her back for a second, pulling his hand at her waist. Then his mind seemed to turn back on, and he pulled away rather sharply.

"You can't just come here whenever you want and do that!" Simon exclaimed, taking another step back, his heart pounding. "I know I shouldn't have texted you to tell you, and I'm sorry about that, but that doesn't mean I am just going to change my mind if you kiss me."

Izzy just stared back at him for a moment, then she turned and ran down the hall.

I have been thinking of adding another pov... *awkward emoji* What do you guys think? Do you want to see the world though Jordan's eye?

Wasn't my sneak peek misleading? hehe. I do have fun picking them out *evil grin* ... it seems we are back to tiny author's notes again... maybe I'm feeling lazy today or something. Do you guys have any questions for me? I am always surprised that any of you care at all about my personal life. Ask away if you are curious. I don't mind. Or if you want to ask about the story that's cool too. I am a super chatty person which might be why I like dialogue so much but either way ask away. :)

Court Review:
Personally, I also prefer the less smutty chapters. I like focusing on the plot more, and I love this story.

My Reply
That's great to hear! Honestly I haven't been into writing them lately like I used to be so I you might see less of them in future, unless sometimes required for plot.

Sneak Peek Chapter 89

"Even more reason not to drink alone," the man replied. Izzy looked him up and down. Rationally, she knew this was what she usually did. In fact her, for lack of a better word, vulnerable state was acting like a honey trap, saving her the bother of hunting down the bees. Izzy was pretty sure the bartender was gay, but every other guy in this bar had checked her out at least once since she'd sat down. If Izzy had known about this trick before she would have had a way easier time, but Izzy had never been like this before. She'd never been pathetic and she hated it.

"See usually I'd jump your bones about now," Izzy told him. She got off the stool and teasingly hiked her leg up onto him as she spoke. "Drag you off and-" She trailed her fingers down his bare arms. The guy was wearing a muscle shirt which was in part how she'd been sure about his excellent abs. Izzy moved forward to whisper against the skin of his neck. "Have my way with you."

"But there is just one problem with this plan," Izzy whispered leaning even closer, both her hands dancing over his skin.

"What's that?" the guy whispered back, breathlessly.