Lydia Nyx - Finals.pdf

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Finals | Lydia Nyx
2
“Y OU know, you’d probably have a better time if you
exchanged that for a bottle of this,” Vince said as he shook
his half-empty bottle at Connor. The golden fluid inside the
bottle sloshed against its glass prison and left sludgy white
foam up the sides.
“Get that out of my face.” Connor waved a hand, the
other around his can of Diet Coke. “It’s cheap piss.”
“It’s imported!”
“It’s piss.”
The thick air inside the bar formed a buzzing cocoon of
voices and music around them. Their closest friends were
nearby, at various tables and standing about; further out
were people Connor knew by face, but very few by name. The
whole university was there, it seemed. Now that finals were
over, everybody was going out for a drink or ten to relax.
“Why have you been in such a bad mood?” Vince asked.
“I’m not in a bad mood! Why do you always assume if
I’m not rolling around on the floor drunk or lighting
something on fire I’m in a bad mood?”
“You aren’t upset about it, are you? I mean, you’re not
just humoring me, are you?” Vince was gazing at him in
concern, worry glinting in his eyes.
Finals | Lydia Nyx
3
“I told you I have no problem with it. I’m happy for you.
I don’t give two shits who you fuck. I really don’t care what
they are, either.”
Vince snorted. “ What they are. You make him sound like
an animal.”
“Well, he can be a huge ass.”
Vince grinned. They’d had this conversation no less
than three times in as many days, and Vince seemed to
remain convinced Connor’s odd disposition had something to
do with Vince’s confessiona confession Connor hadn’t been
surprised by at all. The subject of Vince’s recently cracked-
open secret sat across the room, and neither of them had
looked at each other for the past twenty minutes. They did a
lot of that, not looking at each other; perhaps because their
faces lit up like summer when their eyes did meet and no
one in the vicinity had to wonder.
Connor, on the other hand, couldn’t quit staring, just
over Vince’s left shoulder, toward the bar.
“I just don’t want you to feel odd around me,” Vince
said.
Connor sighed. “I swear to sweet Uncle Jesus if you
continue to worry over this, I’m going to kick you in the nuts
and take your wallet.”
Vince laughed. “I’m going to get another beer. You want
some more diet cocaine?”
“No, I’m good.” Connor drummed his fingers against the
can.
Finals | Lydia Nyx
4
Vince got up and made his way to the bar, waylaid
numerous times by drunken friends. When he finally did get
there, he glanced toward the young man across the room
with the mop of curly dark hair and their eyes met for a
moment, faces lighting up with secretive grins. Connor
smiled as well, propping his chin on his hand, and redirected
his stare to its original roost.
The object of Connor’s watchful gaze finally turned away
from the bar, tall and lanky, wearing a blue button-down
shirt beneath his black peacoat. Thick, dark-blond hair fell
across his forehead and framed a pale, delicately-structured
face. As he crossed the room, he glanced at Connor, their
gazes meeting for a moment, making the pool of Diet Coke in
Connor’s stomach churn. The other man looked away and
pushed through the crowd, disappearing toward the
bathrooms.
An hour later ,Vince announced he was suitably bored
enough with the bar to call it quits. Connor followed him out,
caught in a whirlwind of smoke and lively chatter from
smokers hanging around outside as they stepped into the
wintry night. Vince’s boyfriend, Paul, came with them.
Connor saw Vince’s hand brush against Paul’s under the
cuffs of their coats before they took a step away from each
other.
“More partying?” Vince asked. “Back at the dorm?”
“Count me out,” Connor said.
“You know I’m in,” Paul said.
Connor was just about to head for his car when he felt
Finals | Lydia Nyx
5
someone brush past his shoulder. He glanced over to see a
black peacoat and blond hair fluttering against a smooth,
elegant throat. Connor watched him go, insulated by his
cadre of friends and a cousin who had come to visit him
during Christmas break.
“Wet blanket,” Vince chided Connor. “I’m going at it
until I pass out.”
Back at the dorm, Connor made his apologies.
“I’m wiped out from all the studying this past week.”
Connor pulled against Vince’s fingers digging into his arm
and against his even more iron-gripped pout.
“Just for a bit?” Vince asked. “Who’s going to hold my
hair while I puke?”
“I think you have someone to do that for you now.”
“Who’s going to hold his hair while he pukes?”
“You can hold each other’s. You know, puke in stereo.
Just try to time it.”
Vince squeezed his arm tighter. “All right. You really
aren’t strange?”
Connor grabbed him and attempted to get a knee up
against his nut sac. Vince laughed wildly.
“I mean it,” Connor said. “I’ll take your wallet!”
Vince hugged him and kissed his cheek firmly. “Thank
you,” he whispered. “Dear friend.”
“Be good, stupid,” Connor told him.

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