The next day, it was revealed that Jorgien and Ozu hadn’t found a single thing in the steam vent system. In their Basic Incantations class, Jorgien was giving class time for everyone to make schedules for traveling in groups or pairs.

The few freshmen that didn’t live in dorms (Jasper being one), had to be on a call with someone to and from school.

After a rough Monday, he said goodbye to Maria on his phone and walked into his apartment.

Liz was in the kitchen cutting peppers and humming. It was almost 10pm.

“Don’t you have ballet at like… eight in the morning?” Jasper asked.

“Shoo.” She waved her knife backward. “I just got home on the bus before you.”

Jasper threw his backpack on the table and sat down. He reached his arms around his bag and rested his head on it. 20% comfortable stacks of notebooks and pens. Mmm.

“Is what you’re making…” Jasper trailed.

“Shareable? Yes!” Liz said. “But with a price!”

Jasper groaned.

“Oh, shut it. I just need something shareable from you on Wednesday. And preferably every Wednesday from then on. We can make it a thing!”

“Wednesdays proving that bad for you?” Jasper asked.

“Oh, killer! I have no energy left by that point. And I can buy the groceries for share nights more often. My parents don’t question grocery charges on their card.”

“Wednesdays I’m home around six, so that’s the best day to rope me into something.” Jasper said. “You’re evil.”

“Buuuut?”

“But if it’s some free groceries I’ll take the deal.”

“That’s my Jassy!” she squealed in victory as Jasper’s eye twitched. She threw the peppers into a pan with half-cooked chicken. Jasper watched with one eye as she dazzled random seasoning after random seasoning on top. This would be hit or miss, with how she was eyeing each one and shrugging.

His phone started buzzing, and he pulled it out as the side of his face squished into his backpack.

When he looked at the screen, he shot up immediately.

“Cody’s calling me.” he said.

“Who is that?” Liz asked, stirring sizzles.

“Why is Cody calling me?”

“I don’t know who that is.”

“What do I do?”

“Answer him or me, take your pick.” Liz said.

Jasper forced his thumb down and walked into his room. “Hello?”

Liz shouted some profanity at him, but he was already closing his door.

“Hey, Jasper, uh—”

“What’s up?” Jasper may have jumped the gun with his response. Bygones.

“Well, I’m apparently the only freshmen in a class that no one else is taking. So can you, Josephine and Jorge drop me off and pick me up from that library before and after your algebra class? I’m asking to be nice, but… professor Druk says you have to.”

Hearing the combat professor’s name sent chills up Jasper’s spine. The man was always screaming, every time Jasper witnessed him.

“Yeah! Um, Warrell Library?” Jasper said. “Where you nabbed that trickster?”

“That’s the one.” Cody replied.

“W-what class is in the library?”

“Literary Analysis.”

Jasper about dropped the damn phone.

“And you’re taking that class for fun?” Jasper said sassily, then chastised himself. “Wait— sorry. That was dumb for me to say.” Jasper sat on his bed and bounced a smidge.

He could hear Cody laughing on the other end of the line. “No, you’re good. Most people ask me what I ‘analyzed’ from The Great Gatsby, as if there aren’t millions of other books.”

“That’s… oddly specific.” Jasper said. “Anyone in our class?”

“Marilyn, and Bryan and Claire who happened to find out.”

Jasper narrowed his eyes. “The literal only other straight white people.”

“Marilyn is cool.” Cody said. “But I’m not sure anyone would vouch for the other two.”

“No, not a soul.” Jasper agreed.

“Anyways, thanks.” Cody said. “I’m gonna… formally ask the other two now.”

“Fair warning, Josephine will probably answer with a ‘Why the hell are you calling me you twat prince,’ or something similarly clever.”

Cody laughed. “Noted. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See ya.” A click ended the call.

Jasper stared at his phone for a moment. Yes, Cody was calling all three of them. This was a completely normal situation. There was nothing to worry about.

Yes, this was an average friendship. With a weirdo who calls instead of texts.

Jasper walked back outside his bedroom, and to his kitchen table seat. He sat down in silence.

“You look like a train almost hit you.” Liz said, sautéing her culinary creations. “New romantic prospect?”

“I really don’t think he’s a prospect. He’s just… nice.” Jasper said.

“That’s rare. But your use of the word really makes me question your conviction. It’s over compensation.”

“It’s a heterosexual.”

“Touché.”

“Precipité.”

Liz did a little precipité double kick in place. “I need to stop teaching you dance words.”

“My favorite was croutons!”

“Contretemps? Unbelievable, Jasper!”

His phone gave a single buzz, and he looked.

—————

Cody: Correction, Josephine said, “Why the hell are you calling me, you airbrushed motor pixie.” Whatever that means.

—————

Jasper laughed, then responded.

—————

Jasper: She’s more clever than me. I think it describes you to a T.

Cody: And how, exactly?

—————

He responded super fast. And was Jasper detecting a hint of sass-back?

“You’re smiling.” Liz said.

“Shut up, Liz.” Jasper said. “Go back to pirouetting in the kitchen.”

“Wooooooow.”

Jasper already had his attention glued back on his phone.

—————

Jasper: It’s just a feeling. Trust the vibe. Or literarily analyze the statement. Josephine’s mouth is a treasure trove for someone like you, or anyone, really.

Cody: Are you calling me a simpleton?

Jasper: I’m calling you a closet English-major.

Cody: You just learned about one class I take. That’s a bit drastic.

Jasper: Life is more fun when you make bold assumptions.

Cody: That sounds like a sugarcoated way to describe anxiety.

Jasper: I can’t be cute, funny, AND mentally sound.

Cody: Sounds a bit personal. I’m gonna call Jorge while you figure that out.

Jasper: Yes, in two minutes time I will reflect, realize, and all my mental ailments will disappear.

Cody: Maybe try sleeping them off? That’s what corporate America tells us to do. It’s working so well for society.

Jasper: I know you JUST enough to know this is satire.

Cody: I’ll see you tomorrow.

Jasper: Right-o.

—————

“Right-o? What the fuck, Jasper.” he said to himself.

“Somebody’s got—”

“Don’t even say it, Liz.”