Reaching for the Stars

Chapter 17: Social Statistics Homework

(Revised 21/10/21)

Warning: This chapter contains some light dub-consensual groping, aka Kevin's gotten horny and poor Tom has to be on its receiving end.

Another long chapter, yeay

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Tom walked out of Andy's car, bags of groceries in hand. He was just done shopping for the supplies he needed this month. Fortunately, it wasn't much since he lived alone.

When he was going home from the supermarket, he met Andy and Nathan who were shopping too. They offered him to go home together—and he helped them carry their groceries—and afterwards, they had some food. Andy bought him a lasagne too because he helped him do another homework.

"Thanks a lot, ya, Di!" he said as he closed the door.

Andy waved his hand at him. "No probs, mate. Just call if thou behove a ride!"

Tom waved back at them as they drove away.

He looked at the darkening sky. It was early spring; the cold was slowly giving way to warmth. His winter fur was slowly shedding, and he was looking forward to going back to a less puffy version of himself who didn't shed everywhere. He walked towards his dorm and took his phone out. It was almost 19.

Nothing like a cup of hot green tea latte to enjoy the night. He had finished his assignments and essays for the next week, so he had some free time. He still had the next meeting tomorrow for the intercultural festival next month, but he'd collected all the reports from the divisions so he would only need to present them.

Wait, he still had one. He hadn't done his Social Statistics homework.

Oh well, nothing like a cup of green tea latte to accompany him doing his homework.

He unlocked the door to his dorm room and walked inside, turning the lamp on and taking his jacket off. It was a bit messy since he hadn't had the time to clean it properly after doing his assignments earlier this afternoon. There were plastic bags and paper cups on his nightstand and several more on his bed. His desk was in chaos and books were everywhere.

Often, he was glad that he lived alone. His roommate moved out during the second semester and he hadn't had a replacement since. He had asked the dorm manager about it, though he didn't know who could be assigned. New students tended to be placed at the newly built north dormitory, so the ones who lived here were mostly old students.

The thought of asking Max or Martin or Kevin—okay, maybe not Kevin—to move here appeared in his mind now and then, but it would be too much work. Besides, living alone meant he could do anything, and no one was there to witness him having one of his breakdowns.

As for now, he put the second bed close to the corner and covered it with a large piece of wood he'd found, making an impromptu kitchen counter where he put his supplies. The other bed was similarly sized. He and Kevin could sleep next to each other on it... er, while cuddling, that was.

He put the paper bags on the counter and took their contents out, arranging them with the others. The new towel was put in the laundry basket to be washed tomorrow. He also took his shirt and trousers off, then shook his body to get the loose fur off, which fortunately wasn't much.

Going to a corner of the room, he took the brush and gave his fur a quick combing. Early spring meant he'd need more time cleaning excess fur from his room. Sometimes, he disliked his rather fluffy fur. It sure made him a lot nicer, and according to Lucy, a lot hotter, especially around his neck, but it was a chore to maintain. He envied Max for having short fur.