Watching for Comets

Tuesday

The morning brought with it momentary dissociation in which I thought I might be in my dorm room and the body next to me my ex, but again we were both clothed and that pale skin and hair weren't his. I gripped the back of Jason's shirt to ground myself – confirm that this was real. He shifted at the touch, flopping over to drop his arms around me once more.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake—" I whispered, but a series of moans and indecipherable mutterings interrupted me to show that I hadn't after all. Chuckling quietly to myself, I snuggled into his hold and breathed in his unadulterated, morning scent. Outside the room, the clinking of pans was followed by the savory scents of spinach and toast. The promise of breakfast was tempting, but I preferred to stay in Jason's arms for as long as possible. I definitely had no desire to go to class that morning instead.

Gradually, the movements of his hands up and down my back grew more deliberate as he woke. "'Morning," he greeted drowsily, shifting so our faces lined up. I smiled into his sparkling gray eyes. When he moved to kiss me, I held up a hand in between us.

"Not before we brush our teeth," I said with a laugh. His frown was overly dramatic; he kissed my fingers instead.

Far too soon, someone knocked on the door and announced, "Breakfast, lovebirds!" I started at the terminology, hiding my face in the covers; Jason apologized through an embarrassed laugh.

"Are you ready to meet the band?" he asked.

"I take it escaping out the back isn't an option?"

He rolled his eyes. "It'll be fine."

Out in the main area, after we had freshened up, the three other band members were gathered around a serving tray of scrambled eggs and buttered toast. Jason squeezed us onto the bench around the table, thankfully positioning me on the outside so I didn't have to invade the personal space of someone I didn't know. He introduced me to his friends, though apparently they already knew my name. Jen, the drummer, spent the whole meal with a watchful eye on how I interacted with Jason, but at least it wasn't a glare. Meanwhile, Jason kept one hand on my thigh with the occasional reassuring squeeze. I couldn't help but wonder if the reason they didn't ask about my major or career plans, which would have been normal introductory topics for a college student, was because he had warned them it was a sensitive subject.

Afterward, when he walked me to my car, I didn't let him get away without a kiss. He promised to leave the violin behind when he picked me up after class. When I got back to campus, I showered and dressed in clothes that were boringly similar to the ones I had been wearing before. There wasn't enough time before class to start anything substantial, so I decided to head to the classroom early.

No surprise, I was the first one there. I took out the textbook and got a head start on the next day's homework, so I could save time for spending with Jason. When someone sat down across the table from me, I didn't bother looking up; I recognized those hands from the way they had once touched me. They folded themselves together on the table, twiddling thumbs.

I waited.

"So... who's that guy you've been seen around with?" Henry said at last.

I shrugged, trying to act casual. Part of me wished I could spit my new boyfriend back in his face.

"Does he go here?"

"No. He's just in town visiting." I regretted mentioning that detail as soon as the words left my mouth. The relief in his sigh was perfectly audible. His hands crept across the table to poke mine. I recalled the first "date" I had with Jason and the delicacy with which he had stroked my fingers.

"If you're feeling lonely after he leaves..."

"I wouldn't come crying to you, Henry." I snapped a look at him, then at the closed door.