"Jim?" Matt knocked on Jim's door hesitantly. "Come on, Jim, I know you're in there."
No answer came from within.
Matt sighed. "Jim, come on. Open up your door. Hiding isn't going to make anything better, you know." He waited in silence for a few more moments before trying one last time. "Sy's not dating Aladdin."
A few more seconds passed, then the door slid open. Jim wiped at his eyes with his sleeve. "What do you know."
Matt smiled. "Well now I know that you were pouting because you're jealous." He reached over and hooked his arm around Jim's shoulders, guiding him back into the room. "I think Sy's still a little clueless, though. C'mon man, when are the two of you going to actually talk to each other?"
Jim flopped down onto his bed. Several of his books were strewn about the covers with him. He picked one of them up and started absently flipping through it. "I was going to ask him out Sunday. I dunno now. He's probably not interested."
"You don't know that."
Jim set the book aside and scooped up a different one. "I just don't want to be wrong and make things awkward, you know?" He sighed softly and shut his book. Quietly he started to sing.
"What's a date but any other day,
A number just like all the rest,
What makes it special anyway,
It's really not that unique,
'Cause after all it's just a date,
Just another day of the week.
He's my friend, he's my pal,
Why change that anyhow?
Because it would be a date,
No better than any day of the week."
Matt set his hand on Jim's knee and gave him a small grin. "I'm really rubbing off on you, aren't I. Think that's the first time I've heard you do a solo piece. And was that a refrain on top of it all?"
Jim rolled his eyes and chucked a book at him. "Oh shut up, you brat." He chuckled all the same. "Guess I am being a little bit pathetic, aren't I."
"Hey, you said it, not me." Matt flopped back on Jim's bed and flashed him an easy smile. "Sy's pretty worried about the way you stomped out of dinner earlier. Braxton talked him out of chasing you down, told him you were all worried that Aladdin was cheating on Jasmine."
Jim started to gather up his books from his bed. "Is there anyone that hasn't figured out I like Sy?"
"Well, there's still Sy."
"Ha ha." Jim started to place his books back into his shelf, making certain to organize the parts he cared about. His favorite books went on the top shelf, the rest on the second and third shelves. He liked to group them by author as well, but otherwise everything went wherever it fit best.
Matt took the stack of books out of Jim's arms and set them on top of his shelf. "Do that later. Come on. Everyone's gathered together in Braxton's room. We smuggled some of your abandoned dinner out in our pockets and empty coffee cups. Come with me, yeah? I'll take care of you."
Jim huffed and shoved his hands in his pockets. Even so he allowed Matt to guide him out the door. "I don't need anyone to take care of me."
"Maybe not," Matt agreed gently. "But I'm your friend, so I'm going to do it anyway."
The boys walked in silence together past their classmates' rooms. Occasionally a burst of laughter, shouting, or singing could be heard from behind the sleek doors. Jim nudged Matt's shoulder with his own.
"Hmm?" Matt glanced over and raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks." Jim hunched his shoulders slightly forward. "You know, for coming to get me."
Matt tugged his rat tail gently. "That's what friends do." He pulled Braxton's badge from over his head and flashed it across the scanner to let them in.
"I told you he wasn't going to come," Braxton stated as the door opened. He was laying on his back repeatedly tossing 628 in the air. The other two boys sat cross legged on the floor beside Braxton's full length mirror. Varian watched his reflection as Sy neatly braided his hair against the side of his head.
"Well surprise, surprise, you were wrong, cyborg." Jim answered with a scoff.
"Jim!" Sy shot to his feet, nearly tripping over Varian in his rush to the door. The young first year flung his arms around Jim's chest and squeezed him tightly. "I'm so glad you came to join us! I'm sorry I made you think Aladdin was cheating on his wife! His culture is so beautiful, and fascinating, men hold hands with other men as a sign of friendship, that's all it means, I promise. Aladdin is as faithful to his wife as any man can be!"
"Breathe, Softspot." Braxton sat up and smirked at the two in the doorway.
Jim wrapped his arms around Sy gently and squeezed him close. Over Sy's shoulder, Jim pulled a face at his snickering friends and stuck his tongue out at Braxton. "I overreacted. It's alright, Sy. You didn't do anything wrong. C'mon, let's get out of the doorway."
Sy settled in close as the two of them made their way back towards Varian. Barely louder than a whisper he asked, "Am I still welcome with you tonight?"
Jim gently kissed Sy's temple. "Always," he promised firmly. "You are welcome with me for as long as you want."
Sy smiled up at him one last time before he dropped back down beside Varian once more. "Sorry Vari. Let me start that braid back over again, yeah?"
Together once more, the boys settled in to enjoy their two hours of free time together.