Roommate Roulette

22 | A horse trampled on it

{~Evelyn~}

"I have news." Ezra sang, taking his usual spot beside me.

My anticipation spiked up and I tapped my fingers impatiently. "What is it?" I crossed my fingers under the table, hoping the situation with Noah improved.

"So, he knows that I told you and he has no problem with it. Then  last night we kinda made up and it's official." He let out in one quick breath.

Class didn't start yet, so I had to will to do anything I wanted: I slammed my hands onto the table and stood up, staring at him in disbelief. "What? " I paused to collect myself. "Sorry. Made up as in..?"

"Hooked up." He murmured under his breath. "No need to make this a big deal, but I kinda wanna tell the whole group. We feel bad for keeping this away from them."

Nothing could wipe off the smile displayed on my face. "Yes. Of course. When? It's been killing me that I couldn't tell anyone." Especially Grayson since we live together. Dinners were cutting at me too.

"We were thinking during break. As soon as possible." He stated. "Do you think they'll still..."

My face softened. "Nothing can change what they think about you, Ez." 

The second we were dismissed, Ezra was agitated and jittery. The others gathered at a spot near a fountain on campus and it was beautiful. I wondered why people don't come here more often.

We sat in a circle on the grass, Grayson on my left and Josie on my right. "Did you use some sort of cologne today?" I whispered to Grayson, my eyes still taking in the sight of the fairytale-like fountain.

I could sense his confusion from a mile away. "What?"

"You smell good. It's not your normal scent either."

From the corner of my eyes, his head dipped ever so slightly down towards me. "I appreciate you taking notes of my smell. I didn't even know I had one."

I laughed, glancing at him. "Don't let it get to your head."

He replied, nonetheless. "I did use one."

"Why?" The thought of him wearing it to impress another girl doesn't sit right with me. A heavy weight settled right on top of any butterflies, crushing them.

"Do you need to know?" He teased with a boyish grin, flashing his dimples.

My eyes roamed over his face, taking in each detail to commit it to memory—even with that fading black bruise. "Well, no. But I think you're better off without it." I admitted, catching Noah's eye.

What do I do?  He mouthed to me twice because I didn't catch it the first time. Ezra joined in with, I'm going to go for it. 

I gave them a nod of encouragement. 

Noah glanced around nervously and spoke up to get our attention. "Okay. I have something to say." Everyone turned to him and gave him the green light to continue speaking.

"That you aren't going to call me Seffy anymore?" Yousef guessed.

"Well, no. See, when two people love each other very very  much they tend to—" Noah rambled.

"Noah and I are dating." Ezra blurted out and shut himself up by a hand on his mouth. "Shiiiiit. Did I say that out loud?" He hissed.

I resisted a smile as they processed it. Val was the first to react. "Seriously? When? I want all of the details start to finish." A wave of same  and I should've known  passed through us.