Jump In (boyxboy)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

"How're you doing? You've been off today." Marleigh asks me a few days later after class. We're walking to get coffee then heading back to my dorm so we can study and go over an assignment we have due next week.

"I've been okay, just slumped with class and hockey and work." I tell her, which is an obvious lie but I'm not in the mood for a heart to heart with Marleigh right now.

"You sure it's just that?"

I look down at her and smile kindly. Her bright eyes shine with genuine concern and I can't help but feel grateful for her right now. I'm not surprised that she's picked up on my low spirits. Normally I can pull a decent front, but I don't have the energy for that anymore.

I wonder if she would still want to be my friend if she finds out that I don't feel the same way towards her. That's something that I should probably talk to her about, but it would be weird for me to bring it up. I would seem cocky and just a straight up asshole.

"I don't really want to talk about it, I can't even talk about it." I tell her honestly and she shakes her head in understandment.

"You know you can talk to me about anything, I may not understand but I can promise you that things are always worse in our heads than they are in reality." She explains.

I look at her in awe. Marleigh has always just seemed so surface level to me, I've never had anything remotely close to a deep conversation. Her wisdom surprises me.

"That's a comforting thought, but things are pretty bad." I open the door to Full Cup, a coffee shop I have yet to try on campus.

She follows me inside the shop and we take our place in line, gazing at the menu.

"Enlighten me," She says. "I wonder if the chocolate in the iced coffee is good here."

I laugh, "I don't know, Marleigh."

We order our coffees and leave the shop quickly, eager to not waste any time we could be using to work on our political science assignment.

"Whenever you're ready," She smiles and I grin.

We walk to my dorm building as the sky begins to darken, Marleigh is shaking in the cold weather just as much as I am.

"I grew up here yet I'm still a baby when it comes to the cold."

"It's because you're tiny," I tease and she scowls at me.

"I would argue that point if you weren't right,"

The cold air whisps around us and I sigh. I really hope Finn isn't home when we get there. Seeing him with Deanna these past few days has been hell. She has been over everyday after class for like four days and just her presence pisses me off.

Erika was right when she said that she doesn't have a lot of depth to her. Sometimes she's admittedly funny and other times she'll say a joke that just doesn't land. It's not like she's an airhead, it's just there's not much to her.

I guess I don't know her completely well and my opinion on her is biased since she's hooking up with the guy I like, but still. I think I'm allowed to be resentful towards the girl.

Finn on the other hand, has not warmed up to me whatsoever. He doesn't speak to me unless he has to, so I do the same to him. The tension between us is thick, obvious and cold. My stomach hurts knowing that I'll have to see him at some point tonight.

We quickly step into the building, greeting the rush of warm air with a smile and a breath of relief.

"Warmth, my friend." Marleigh says and pretends to hug the air in front of her.