Work Hard, Love Harder

Sure enough, it read “Carlton Henry – Forrest Hall 607.”

Sh*t.

*****

“You really don’t have to help me. I don’t have all that much stuff anyway.”

“I let you move all your stuff into the wrong room. You have to at least let me help you move all over again.”

“If it makes you feel better. But man, where were you when I was carrying Zoe’s stuff? The girl had an entire suitcase of shoes.”

Femi hefted Colton’s box of pretty much what he decided was “desk stuff” and carried it across the hall—where clearly the good side of the room was already taken. Colton winced as he saw the rip in the mattress cover.

“Ah man, I’m sorry. You got here when we opened and waited in line and still got the sh*t side of the room because I fu*ked up.”

“It’s no big deal. Maybe he got here at like the crack of dawn. There were tons of people ahead of me. Could’ve happened anyway.” Or not. Because Colton knew David said he wasn’t getting up before eleven, but Femi looked so upset about the whole thing he figured it was worth lying about.

“And that’s what I’m going to hear you say when you get up and bang your head because the ceiling’s slanted over the bed on this side?”

“Dude, if there is anyone present to tell you what I say when I get up and bang my head in the morning, I’m not going to be worried about hitting my head.” Colton smiled and noticed Femi relax. There was absolutely nothing to be awkward about.

*****

“Colton!” Zoe’s voice carried through the door followed by way more giggles than Colton thought Zoe should be able to produce alone and crazy pounding.

“Do I really want to admit it’s open?” Colton got his answer as the door flew open and Zoe bounced in followed by two new girls.

“Oh, he is cute!” the first girl pretty much squealed before jumping onto Colton’s bed and making herself comfortable.

“See, Colton! I told you I was worth making friends with.” Zoe grinned and pointed to the girl on his bed. “Meet Clarise from 617 and her roommate, Juliana.”

“I don’t know. I mean, he’s cute, but did you see Femi?” Juliana smiled and hid a little behind her long dark locks as she leaned against Colton’s desk.

“No sh*t. I mean, he wouldn’t even have to do anything. I think I could just watch him get naked and have like org*sms just from that.” Clarise laid back on the bed and writhed on the bed in demonstration. It was unfair such a hot reaction couldn’t be on his behalf.

“Well, that’s good because you spent like twenty minutes trying to hit on him and I’m not sure he’s even interested in getting you off that way.” Zoe wandered to Colton’s desk and started digging around in the drawers.

“Looking for anything in particular?”

“Anything interesting. I mean, somehow it looks like you have all your books for your classes already. That is so lame that I’m embarrassed for you, by the way. It’s all notebooks and pens and pretty much nothing interesting at all. I was hoping for at least a Playboy, but there’s not even Maxim.”

“Oh, Zoe! You just don’t know where to look!” Clarise slid so her head hung over the edge of the bed and pulled a box out from under it.

Even Juliana sat down on the floor to look as Clarise pulled it open.

Colton smirked as she pulled out the first aid kit that his mom forced on him, followed by a book on college cooking and how to survive with just a microwave from his brother.

“Okay, fine. I was wrong.” Clarise pushed the box back under the bed and got up so she could lift the mattress.

“Give up, Clarise. Look at him. He’s not even worried.” Juliana paused, and then cocked her head at Colton like she was reading his mind. “Oh my gosh. I think he actually has no p*rn.”

“You’re insane. Every guy has p*rn.”

Colton was still trying to figure if not having p*rn was a good thing or a bad thing when the door opened.

“Hey, man. You have three hot girls in here and they are talking about p*rn. This year is going to rock!”