The Gray Brothers: It's A College Thing

And Away We Go

Maggie

We arrived at the campus in record time, thanks to Nixon’s driving. He took driving lessons from Grammy Gray. He and Kat were in one car. Nash and I were in the other. We loaded the cars to the max.

We pulled up to a house and got out of the car. The house was your typical college rental house. Although the house needed work, it was okay since it was a rental.

“Home sweet home,” Nash said.

“More like rental sweet rental,” Nixon said.

Nash glanced at him.

“What? It’s not our home. It’s a rental.”

Kat and I stood there and watched them.

“Why are you so negative?” Nash asked him.

“I’m not negative, but a realist.” Nixon had a pragmatic viewpoint that threw off people. Although, Nixon needed a new personality.

“It’s the same thing.”

The next four years will be fun living with Nash and Nixon. Oh, did I mention we didn’t tell Nate and Pat about our living situation? No? Oops, that must have slipped my mind.

We grabbed our stuff and took it inside, and met our other roommates, who were guys. Did I miss something?

“The newbies are here,” a guy said.

Another guy walked out of the kitchen without a shirt on. “Sweet!” He strutted over while acting superior.

Kat and my eyes became enormous.

“Jasper and Paul! Don’t give our roommates a hard time,” another guy said.

I stood there, mouth agape, trying to figure out how we had entered an episode of the Twilight Zone. The guy came downstairs and introduced himself.

“Well, hello, nurse! You two are the most delicious people I have ever met,” he told Nash and Nixon.

Kat and I mouthed, “What the hell?”

Nixon looked at him with annoyance. “Hey, pal. I’m not gay and prefer it to stay that way.”

“Well, you’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” He squealed.

My eyes widened. A gay guy hitting on Nixon won’t go over well.

“Marco, stop hitting on the new guys,” another voice said.

Now, I’m confused.

“Jace? What are you doing here?” Nash asked.

We awaited Jace’s answer.

“I figured I’d follow suit and join you guys.”

“Where’s Jaime?” Nixon asked.

“He went to school up north.”

“When I found a rental house, I didn’t expect it’d have anyone but us living here,” Nash said.

We stood there, confused about the whole arrangement.

“Yeah, well, having roommates helps pay the bills,” Jace said.

“Wait. I’m confused. How are we sharing the same house?” I asked.

“Well, Jaime was going to school here and rooming with Nash and Nixon. He changed his mind. So, I took his place. I had to find a good size rental house for us since the other students had rented the other houses. This house was the last one available. It came with three roommates. Paul, who’s not wearing a shirt.”

Paul waved at us.

“Jasper is sitting in the living room.”

Jasper smirked at us.

“Marco is standing next to me.”

“So, is this year their first year?” Nash asked.

“It’s our second year,” Jasper said.

“I hope you guys are better than our last roommates,” Paul said.

“And girls,” Kat said.

“And girls.” Paul rolled his eyes.

Paul was less than thrilled to have two women living here. Oh, well. He’ll get over it.

“How did you convince Uncle Nate and Aunt Pat to allow you four to live together?” Jace pointed at us.

We tried to avoid his obvious question.

“They don’t know, do they?”

“They think the girls are staying in the dorms,” Nixon said.

He chuckled. “This ought to be good.”

“Yeah, and you won’t say anything.”

Jace raised his hands. “They won’t hear it from me.”

“Well, I sense sexual tension. Why don’t I show you to your bedrooms?” Marco asked.

Nixon gave him a disgusted expression. “Dude, he’s our cousin, and I’m not gay!”

“Whatever you say, sweetie. Everyone is in denial at first.” He winked at Nixon.

We couldn’t help but snicker. Marco took our bags and showed us to our rooms. The next four years will be impressive.

*****

After checking out our rooms, we came downstairs and brought in the rest of our stuff with the other guys’ help. Poor Nixon couldn’t shake Marco. Those two will butt heads while we live here. And no, Nixon isn’t gay.

We put our stuff away, and I pulled out my stuffed bear.

“Are you serious? You had to bring Mr. Fluffykins with you?”

“What?" I cuddled the teddy bear. "He’s cuddly.”

“Yeah, well, you have me now.” He took the bear from me, tossed it onto the bed, and pulled me into a kiss.

“Marco, get out!” Nixon said.

“Oh, come on!” Marco said.

“Oh, God. Here we go,” Nash said.

We walked into the hallway. Nixon and Marco were arguing in the hallway next to the bathroom.

“Look, buddy. I told you that I’m not gay! So, trying to sneak a peek when I’m trying to take a piss will earn you a broken nose!”

“Touchy, touchy. I assumed you’d enjoy a gay man like moi, finding you sexy.”

“No, I don’t!”

“Then locked the door.”

Nash leaned into me. “Nixon met his match.”

“Yep.”

We snuck past Nixon and Marco and headed downstairs. We’d left Nixon and Marco to argue without an audience.

“Marco’s having fun with Nixon,” Jasper said.

“I take it, that’s not real?” I asked.

“Nope,” Paul said while entering the room and pulling a shirt over his head.

“So, Marco isn’t gay?”

“Oh, he’s gay. He just enjoys messing with people,” Jasper said.

“Duly noted.”

I tapped my fingertip against my lips. Was Marco colorful with the way he acted, or was it only an act?

Kat shoved Nixon downstairs.

“Thanks a lot, Kat!”

“Oh, shut it, Nix! I don’t need you to beat the hell out of someone we don’t even know!”

They walked past us and left as Marco came down afterward.

“Marco, was it necessary to piss off the new people?” Paul asked.

“Was it necessary? No. Was it fun? Yes.”

“So, are you not flamboyant?” I asked.

He chuckled. “No, that was for show.”

“But you’re gay?”

“Yep.”

“I’m so confused.”

“Not every gay guy is flamboyant. It’s a stereotypical view that the media portrays.”

Wow, he sounded so different when he spoke without a flamboyant voice or mannerisms.

“So, you don’t think that Nixon’s hot.” I had to wonder if he liked Nixon.

“Oh, he’s hot, but not my type.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Yep, the next four years will be exciting because it’s a college thing.