Three weeks later...
"Looks like everything seems to be in order Ms. O'Brien. You're cleared for graduation," her counselor said.
Roxanne smiled excessively. A few weeks ago she'd applied for graduation. She already had her senior check and now it was time for the next step.
"Thank God!" she exclaimed.
"You'll receive more information next month," he said, "Be on the lookout for it but if you need anything, let your dean know."
She shook her counselor's hand and put her book bag strap on her shoulder. Graduation, the next phase. The future. It was all a lot to process in one moment but there was so much to think about. She was excited. Who wouldn't be? She'd been job hunting for a while now, ever since the beginning of the semester. She had several interviews for several positions, now all she could do was wait.
It was hard for her to concentrate in class. As her teacher spoke, all she could think about was Jarrett. His smile, his laugh, his perfectly sculpted body. Her favorite moment is when she laid on his chest and felt the way his chest raised slightly as he breathed when he slept. She caught herself in the midst of her reverie. It's a means to an end, she thought to herself.
***********************************
Jarrett sat in the living room with his roommates and sipped his beer. They watched the game as football season was their favorite time of year.
"So what have you been up to Jay? I feel like I haven't seen you in a while," Sean said.
He sat on the couch next to him, eyes glued on the
television.
"Nothing much. Working and classes," Jarrett said.
"How's Roxy?" Sean asked.
"Fine. She's fine. We're fine," he said.
"You sure? You haven't said anything about her in the past couple of weeks. I haven't seen her either."
"That's because he's banging her when we're not home," Max announced from the kitchen.
Sean shot a glance at Jarrett and stared at him. Jarrett couldn't look him in the eye due to his shame. It's not like Sean didn't already know, he just wanted Jarrett to admit it.
"Is this true Jay?" he asked childishly.
Jarrett looked at him sheepishly.
"You sneaky bastard," Sean commented, "For how long?"
"I'm not supposed to tell you," Jarrett admitted.
Max joined the two of them in the living room and sat on the coffee table blocking the TV.
"Trying to watch the game here," Jarrett said irritably.
"Damn the game. I wanna hear about Roxanne," Max said.
"I, too, would like to know," Sean said in amazement.
"I can't," Jarrett said.
"Why not?" Max groaned.
"Because we have rules and one of the rules is non-disclosure."
"She made that one up, didn't she?" Sean asked.
"Of course she did."
"I have to admit I am moderately surprised. The last I heard you two were on good terms after the condom situation," Sean said.
"Yeah, we're good. It just continued from there."
"But you're not dating," Max said.
"Nope. She doesn't want to date."
"Did you ever ask her on a date?" Sean asked.
"No."
"Why?" they asked simultaneously.
"Because I know what she'll say. She'll turn me down and start acting weird and it'll ruin the sex."
"I bet it's great sex," Max said with a smile.
"It's great sex," Jarrett said, "And that's all I'm saying. I like Roxy, I really do, but we're just friends."
Max shook his head.
"I'm not convinced," he said, "Are you convinced, Sean?"
"It's none of my business," Sean said, "I applaud the fact that you're being so cavalier about this."
"About what?"
"The fact that you been infatuated with her for months and you're okay with just being her friend," Max explained.
"I'm not trying to build a relationship with her, Max. Before the sex, we hung out all the time; watching movies, going to games, having dinner. I'm comfortable where we are."
Max stared at him.
"I'm still not convinced," he said.
"Are you sure you're not a girl?" Jarrett teased.
Sean couldn't help spitting out his drink from laughing.
"Oh, you think it's funny, huh?" Max said.
He took a couch pillow and hurled at Sean's head. Before they knew the game didn't matter and war ensued between the two of them. They tackled each other on the couch, choking and wrestling each other on the floor. Jarrett moved out of the way and continued sipping on his beer. He heard a knock on the door. He finished his beer and answered it. Roxanne stood before him with a smile on her face.
"Hey you," she said.
Her curly brown hair was straight and covered by a white cap. Frost escaped her lips as she spoke.
"Hey," he said with a smile.
She peeped her head around his shoulder and watched Sean and Max wrestle each other.
"Are they okay?" she asked, pointing at them.
Jarrett turned around and stared at them.
"Yeah, they're fine. Come on in," he said.
He took her coat and hat and hung it on their coat rack. He cleared his throat loud enough for his roommates to hear and hopefully stop fighting. Sean had Max in a headlock until he tapped out. They smiled.
"It's been a while, stranger," Sean said.
"A while for you," she said, "I'm here all the time."
"I can attest to that," Max said, "I'd say you started hanging around a lot for a month and a half now. I got home late last night, these two were on the couchβsleeping," he said, keeping his eyes on Jarrett's face.
"Well, we're just about to go hang out," Jarrett said.