Youth Group Popularity

Chapter 21 - Jealousy Won't Solve A Thing

"Joel, this is Elaine. Elaine, Joel," Danny introduced me to his roommate. The dark haired boy stuck out a hand to me and I gladly shook it.

"Nice to meet you," I smiled and took a seat on Danny's bed.

Joel murmured something to Danny, but Danny elbowed him in his side gently. They both whispered for a few more seconds before Danny walked towards his dresser, leaving Joel holding back a laugh.

"I have to go now, I'm going to hang out with a few friends. I'll be back later. Bye, guys. And nice meeting you, Elaine!" Joel waved at us before leaving.

The room fell silent except for the sound of Danny opening and closing the drawers to his dresser. He went through each messy drawer before finding what he was looking for: A jacket.

"What did he say?" I asked, amusement dancing in my eyes.

"What? Oh, nothing," He smirked, which made me even more curious.

"Uh huh, sure." My sarcastic tone made him roll his eyes.

"Want me to show you around?" He asked, changing the subject as I ran my fingers across his neatly made bed. His messy drawers and neatly made bed told me he cleaned up everything that was in sight and just made his bed so it looked presentable.

"Yeah, sure," I accepted with a grin. I got up and followed him out of the doorway. It's weird, it's like the dorms are almost like apartments, or motel rooms rather than dorms. But they were really nice inside.

"So what was it that you needed to tell me?"

I shrugged my shoulders as I bit my lip. The little voice in my head told me to tell him, but I'd rather have him happy while he shows me around instead of asking question after question the whole visit. I'll just tell him later....

"Let's forget about it for now. I can tell you later, but for now, let's just go."

* * *

"So has your Dad or your Mom come to visit you yet?" I asked Danny as we started walking towards his dorm. The sun was about to set and it was nearly time for me to leave, but Danny told me to come back to the dorm because he had something for me. I decided to go ahead and text Parker to start making his way over here.

"My Mom and my brother have, but my sister and Dad haven't. They were here about a week and a half ago but I only got to have lunch with them."

"Oh okay. Well, at least you got to see them."

"Yeah, that's good."

"And I'm glad that we got to see each other more than we expected while you're here," I added.

"Right? But after you leave, it may be a long time before we get to hang out again. Thanksgiving probably."

"I know, it sucks. But it could be longer."

"That's very true."

"Well, do you have any other friends here?" I asked, trying to spark a conversation.

"Not really.... Well, I guess I have a few friends but I don't really hang out with. There's a girl named Katie and she's pretty cool but I only talk to her in class. But other than Joel, I don't really have any close friends. I'm usually in the room studying and talking to you or in class," He explained as we trotted up the steps of the dorm building.

"Oh wow. Sounds pretty boring," I added and he responded with a shrug.

"I guess it can be sometimes. But I know it's going to give us a better life someday," He replied but then looked away from me in a total other direction. Did he say "us"?