Signs of the Past

The Roommate - After Summer

I don't see Peter again for the rest of the week. Maybe it's because he's a sophomore and our classes wouldn't line up together, or maybe he's just avoiding me. Either way, it's a relief.

It's a hot day on campus and my roommate Elizabeth and I are laying on the grassy patch by the river. Other students are also doing the same thing, scattered into little groups and couples enjoying the sunshine after a week of rain. Elizabeth has her shirt tied up so her flat and toned stomach can tan on one of the last warm days before fall.

Elizabeth arrived a couple hours after my encounter with Peter on that first night. When she finally showed up the first thing I noticed was that she was alone, no parents to help her move in. Then I noticed her dry sense of humor and quick wit. She was someone that would be easy to get along with. My fears of having a psycho roommate disappeared.

I helped her unpack her boxes and hang photos along her side of the wall. Almost all of her photos were of her gathered with friends, sometimes hiking, sometimes lounging on the beach in bikinis, a lot of selfies. There was only one photo of her parents; all three of them were squeezed together. Elizabeth's smiling but her parents look only moderately amused.

Elizabeth laughed at me as I examined it. "They're you're stereotypical asian parents, everything is always very serious with them."

We went for ice cream that night and I told her about Colleen and my Dad. I even mentioned Vivian, but I didn't tell her about Charlie and Peter. I still haven't. I've come to this conclusion that if I don't talk about them, then it'll be like they never happened.

We bonded over being single and having a full college experience because of it.

"Don't look now but there's a guy totally checking you out over there." Elizabeth declares. She tilts her head toward the left and then looks back forward.

Without thinking I turn my head in the direction she said. At first I don't see anyone looking, but then I see Peter. He's seated with a couple other guys, one of them I recognize from the summer before. Peter's shoulders are relaxed and every so often he laughs at something his friends have said.

I want to wait for him to see me. For our eyes to connect again, but he won't look back over. I turn back towards Elizabeth and she is also staring at him.

"He must be shy, he was practically drilling a hole into your head before. Still, he's really cute. Don't you think?" Elizabeth muses.

I don't know what to say. I debate telling her who he is. I don't like to lie, but I also don't want her to know all the circumstances of our relationship.

I don't say anything to Elizabeth, instead I allow the conversation to switch over to our shared English class. Half an hour later, Peter leaves and when I'm certain that the coast is clear, Elizabeth and I leave too.