There she was. A modern building for the modern English language. Her architecture was sharp and pointed. The ceiling edges made proper use of complex triangles and the lighting within was bright and exquisite. The large glass front doors would lead way to a general lobby area, affixed with lounging couches, scripts and portraits amongst the walls, and large, bold names to memorialize those who fronted the money to make such a magnificent accomplishment happen.
Some people really had SO much money. Seeing what could be accomplished with it, however, made me question my own assumptions as to how I might spend that money. How many students had these benefactors impacted by...
"You lost?" a voice rang out.
I focused my eyes on the source of the confrontation and away from the distractions surrounding my amazement.
'Oh God', my face fell flush.
It was Levi.
I had already been forced to get one of my friends off and now here stood another. Life really was cruel and sadistic this way. It couldn't have just been some hot stranger or literally anyone with which I didn't know or had never met before. No. It had to be people close to me.
"I don't think I recognize you," he continued, "are you new here?"
Since when did Levi care about new students? He'd always just hung out with us in the group and never once departed to go talk to most folks.
"Uh, yeah. I transferred from another University." I answered, glancing down in hopes that if I didn't make eye contact, he might not press me to be with him.
'But with Jackie and the other boys in the dorm I could sense it.'
I glanced back up and directly at him instead, having become more inquisitive than shy at the revelation. There was no interest. Genuinely. I looked at his face, down at his crotch, to his feet, and then back up to his eyes.
Zero. No racing heartbeat, no desire.
That wasn't right. This was Levi we're talking about here. The motherfucker always had something to say about this girl or that one. He practically couldn't keep his expression of interest to himself whatsoever.
"That's cool. Do you need any help finding your class?" Levi asked.
"Uh, no, that's ok, but thank you!" I responded.
'When did Levi get so nonchalant, relaxed, and completely unbothered.
I stared at him as he turned, said it was nice to meet me, and then went back to sitting on one of the couches with a large group of people. They were all working on individual papers, most likely as a last-ditch effort to finish their assignments for Professor Hardass' Origins of Language class. It also appeared as though Levi was... reading them? I couldn't recall just about anything regarding Levi outside of the fact that he was a close friend, or possibly a cousin, of Gabe's.
We'd always had plenty of one-on-one opportunities before, and here I was without the faintest clue about him or anything pertaining to his life or interests. Having sensed an unsolicited rejection now, I had become unequivocally curious. He had always tried to be my friend, always made it a point to bond with me over people in the yard, and always seemed to exude this kind of little brother type energy. Had I misinterpreted him?
I shook my head about to clear my brain. We were only a few minutes out from class starting soon and I needed to stay focused on the mission at hand. I jolted across the lobby and toward the bathroom entrances. A quick facewash of cold water was just what I needed to keep me awake and aware for what I was going to attempt to pull off.
I walked in, turning the corner only to see another student standing in front of the urinal. I watched as he carefully side eyed the entrance, then abruptly performed a double take and swung his whole head toward me and the entrance.
"I think you've got the wrong bathroom, miss!" he exclaimed, his face reddening as he stepped closer into the urinal stall as a means to provide more concealment.
I felt my own face redden as I realized exactly what I'd just done. Everything about the past ten seconds had initially felt completely natural. With the awkwardness brewing between the two of us here now, I felt dumber than ever.
"Sorry!" I squeaked, pivoting and exiting the men's room as fast as I could.
I launched myself through the women's door, ran to one of the stalls, and locked it behind me. I sat down on the toilet to enjoy the first moment all day where I'd had some semblance of privacy.