Adonis Sequence, Chapter 2, #7

“Worse?” said the dude.

“Glasses and everything,” said Grant.

“Excuse me,” I said, “I’m standing right here.”

“That’s pretty obvious,” said the other dude. “This is what I got up early for?”

Grant just shrugged.

“I gotta peace,” the other dude said, pulling on his pants which appeared to have been unceremoniously dumped on the floor. “See you next time,” he said winking at Grant and buttoning up his shirt. Then he turned at me and looked me up and down appraisingly. “As for you,” he said,” we’ll have to see.”

Then he left.

“Who was that?” I said.

“Oh, that was Filmore,” said Grant. “Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s a good fuck, but a personality like a fashion critic. A one-percenter kid, more money than God, but he’s gay so his parents don’t have much to do with him. I’m actually grateful to your ugliness. He usually hangs around all morning and a little of him goes a long way.”

“Well, I’m glad my ugliness was able to help,” I said, dryly, starting to pull things out of the box I’d carried in.

I was kind of hoping my roommate would get dressed or something but he just stood there watching me unpack.

“So,” he said. “Was that first morning a mind blower or what?”

“I suppose,” I admitted reluctantly. “But I haven’t changed that much.”

“Are you kidding?” he said. “Yesterday that nose rocked you. Today, you rock that nose.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my nose,” I snapped.

“Never said there was,” he said. “It’s just that some people rock their funky features, and you’ve got that nose boogying!”

“My nose is not a funky feature,” I said. “I’ve seen pictures of my family going back generations. My great grandfather had this nose, my grandfather, my father and now me. It’s a proud family legacy.”

He just stood there shaking his head. “Then I’d take a picture of it, bro, because I don’t think you’re going to have it very long.”

“Rubish!” I said. 

“And you lost the glasses,” he said.

“Yes… well, I don’t appear to need them anymore,” I said.

“Seriously?” he said. “That’s a new one. I never needed glasses, so that never happened to me. They’re definitely going to want to hear about this at the program.”

“Well, I’m stopping by to see them today. I’ll be sure and mention it,” I said.

“And you’re already busting out of your shirts,” he said.

“I am not busting out of it,” I said. “It’s just a little tight, that’s all.”

“You don’t wanna buy too many new shirts at once. At your stage, they won’t last long. And I’d get something cheap, like t-shirts. I know they give you a clothing allowance, but it’s not unlimited. Also, shorts and flipflops. Seriously, it’s the way to go. It took me a few weeks to figure this stuff out, bro, but I’m giving it to you right at the start.” He spread his arms out like he expected applause. 

“I’m overwhelmed,” I said. It would be a cold day in hell before I wore a t-shirt, shorts and flipflops to class!