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The warm air washes over Art as he runs out his front door and bolts towards the bus stop. His backpack is hanging loosely off of one shoulder and two large textbooks are tucked to his chest. Art almost regrets agreeing to moving into an off campus apartment with Hank and Clementine. When he and Hank roomed together freshman year, Hank’s alarm clock would have both of them wide awake at 8:30. Now, with two separate rooms and thick apartment walls, Art is left with his own alarm that does nothing to wake him up.
He reaches the bus stop as the bus pulls up. He tags his student ID and stumbles towards a seat in the back of the bus.
A few seats away from him is a guy. Brown skin, long dark hair, dressed in jeans with a few paint stains and a hoodie with the logo of the college Art attends. He’s wearing headphones and drawing in a sketchbook. Art can’t tell what the guy is drawing. He rolls up his sleeves, revealing a few tattoos, opens up his bag, and pulls out a few expensive looking colored pencils.
The guy turns to look at Art, smiles, and then looks back down at his sketchbook.
Art runs through the dining hall, eyes scanning the room until he finds his group seated at their normal table. He runs over to them and Hank is the first to see him.
“Oh, he’s actually here!” exclaims Hank.
Art slides between Hank and Gary and places a hand on his chest. His heart is beating uncomfortably fast. He gasps and then swallows, trying to catch his breath.
“If you pass out I’m not calling 911,” says Gary. “If you throw up I’ll punch you.”
“It’s a relief you’re not planning to go to med school,” Art replies.
“You look exhausted, Baker. What’s going on?” asks Pete.
Art looks across the booth and frowns when he realizes Ray is absent. Pete looks wrong without Ray glued to his side. Regardless of Gary’s past snide remarks, Art has to agree that Pete basically looks naked if Ray isn’t with him.
“Late for class and had a physics final. I might’ve failed.”
“You didn’t fail,” Clementine says. “Hank and I have seen you studying constantly for the past week. I’m sure you did wonderfully.”
“Thanks, Clem,” says Art. “Pete, where’s your other half?”
“Oh, he’s with a friend,”
Art looks around the table. No one else in their group is absent. Richard begins to count everyone at the booth, muttering names quietly to himself.
“So he’s cheating,” says Gary, not looking away from his computer screen.
“You’re going to hurt your eyes if you don’t take a break from looking at your computer,” says Stebbins.
“Okay dad,” Gary replies but doesn’t look away from his screen.
Art looks over at Gary’s screen to see him editing a few photos of Hank and Clementine.
“It’s Hank and Clem’s engagement photos,” says Art.
“I’m not charging either so I better get to take leftover food home from the reception,” Gary says.
“Fine by me. Lord knows you need the extra calories.” Hank tells him.
Gary scowls but doesn’t say anything.
“Ray’s not cheating. He met a new friend in his mythology class.” Pete says.
“Who?” asks Stebbins.
Pete shrugs, “Didn’t say. They both have research essays due before Spring Break. I think they might be in the library right now. Ray said they might come by to get some lunch.”
It’s not impossible to imagine Ray with a new friend. He just seems to attract people, like a moth to a flame or a lost ship to a lighthouse. Ray doesn’t talk much about his mythology class. It’s a course that’s satisfying a remaining few units he needs to complete his literature minor. He has a lot of really specific complaints about the professor and a few of his classmates. Though Ray does tend to switch from hating the professor to talking about needing to be their ‘best friend’, so who knows what’s actually going on in that class.
“Oh, here comes Ray,” says Richard.
They all look up. Ray’s walking towards them while talking with a guy; the guy Art saw on the bus this morning. His sleeves are still rolled up but now there are some drying streaks of paint on his skin. His headphones are resting around his neck and his hair is tied back.
“Hey guys!” exclaims Ray. “This is Collie Parker.”
Ray sits down next to Pete and Collie next to Ray. Collie’s thumb is rubbing the top of a ring he’s wearing on his other hand. “Hi.”
“Hi!” Clementine exclaims. “I’m Clementine, this is my fiancée Hank. It’s nice to meet you. What are you studying?”
“Double majoring in anthropology and studio art,” answers Collie. “The mythology class can fulfill my cultural anthropology requirements.”
“Should’ve taken another class,” Ray says. “Our professor was horrific today.”
“Two days ago you said she was the nicest woman you’ve ever met,” says Art.
“That’s because she yelled at that dickhead in our that keeps on interrupting Collie whenever he speaks,” Ray explains.
Collie laughs, “It was like we were finally validated after eight weeks of dealing with that guy.”
Collie has a pretty laugh.
“What are you doing for Spring Break, Collie?” asks Pete.
“Flying back home,” Collie answers. “My sister just had her baby two weeks ago.”
“Damn. I was gonna invite you to our annual Spring Break camping trip.” Pete replies.
Collie shakes his head, “I wouldn’t have gone either way. I don’t like camping.”
“Oh, do you have pictures of the baby?” asks Clementine.
Collie nods and pulls out his phone from his back pocket. After a few moments of scrolling, he turns his phone screen so it’s facing everyone.
“Holy shit, that’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen,” says Hank.
“Aww, she has a full head of hair,” coos Clementine.
Collie looks up at Art as his phone is passed around so everyone can look at the photos of Collie’s niece, “Saw you on the bus today.”
“Yeah. Funny coincidence. I guess you live pretty close to me.”
“Two stops,”
Collie flinches when Gary reaches out to scratch at the dried paint on his arm, “Hey!”
“What? Did the water finally stop running in the art building?” asks Gary.
“Yes, actually. The power went out this morning too.”
“Motherfucker,” groans Gary. “I need to get my photos - shit.”
“If you show your student ID at the UPS store, they’ll give you a discount to print your photos,” says Collie.
Gary looks at Collie and smiles awkwardly, “You’re the only helpful person I’ve ever met at this entire school, Parker.”
“Hey!” exclaims Hank. “Remember when I helped you get your tire onto your shitty car last month?”
“No, you drove Stebbins over so he could get my tire onto my shitty car. Clearly Clem wears the pants in the relationship, Olson.” Gary retorts.
“I’m going to hit you,” Hank deadpans.
“I’d like to see you try,” Gary says, sticking out his tongue.
Collie looks back at Art, “If our schedules line up, we could take the bus together.”
Art nods, “Yeah, that sounds nice.”
Collie grabs his phone from Richard and passes it to Art, “Your number?”
The day after meeting Collie, he texts Art when he’s at a science museum in the next town over. Collie frequents museums since one of his professors offers extra credit assignments for students who visit museums or small exhibits and then submits a one-page paper about what they learned.
hey, it’s collie. can you translate all of this space science jargon?
The text is accompanied by a photo of a plaque describing the scientific equations used in an old NASA project. Art smiles and does so without hesitation. The next day, Collie gifts Art a plush moon key chain with a smiley face stitched on.
“As a thank you,” Collie tells him when Art tries to deny the gift. “For helping me.”
They don’t see Collie much on campus. Gary sees him a few times while going to his photo editing class. ‘Sees’ probably isn’t the best term since the power is still out in the art building. It’s more like he’s able to make out a Collie shaped silhouette in one of the empty classrooms. Apparently he’s swamped with work and personal projects he wants to finish before break.
Art and Collie agree to ride the bus together Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Art’s Friday class, a painful three hour long astronomy lecture ends five minutes after Collie’s shift at the campus bookstore ends.
They usually sit in silence in the back of the bus, but Art has caught Collie reading over his astronomy or physics textbooks, eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
On Thursday, Collie asks Art if he would like to join him for a study session in the art building. The power is still out but Collie has splurged to get some candles. Art agrees.
Every classroom in the art building is freezing cold. Even with the blinds pushed back to allow the sunlight in, the room they’re in is still cold and poorly lit. Art luckily only has to do work on his computer. He’s sitting at a desk, thumbing the cross around his neck, reciting prayers in his head as he looks over the various equations.
Collie is on the other side of the room, sitting in a cushioned, spinning chair. His legs are crossed underneath him and his computer is resting on his lap. His sleeves are rolled down this time and his hood is up, leaving his twin braids peeking out. Apparently Collie has a test after break for his archeology class that he’s been stressed about for awhile now.
“Do you know anything about astrophysics?” ask Art.
Collie snorts, “Who do you think I am?”
Art shrugs, “Worth a shot.”
Collie stands up and places his computer on his chair. He walks over to Art and leans down to look at Art’s computer.
“Jesus Christ,” says Collie. “What are they making you do?”
“Astrophysics,” Art says. He looks up at the ceiling to see the smoke detector. “Hey, those don’t work cause the power is out, right?”
“They don’t work at all. It’s definitely a safety hazard.” Collie answers.
Art leans down and digs his cigarettes and lighter out of his bag. He lights one and hands the lighter and cigarette pack out to Collie. “You smoke?”
Collie shakes his head, “Nope. Sorry to disappoint. Hey, isn’t smoking a sin or something?”
“There’s not a single thing about smoking in the Bible. So, I figure God wouldn’t say anything about it.”
Collie shrugs and walks back to his own seat. Art leans back and watches Collie. He cracks his knuckles often. It seems unconscious, like it’s just as natural as breathing for Collie. At some point, Collie looks back at Art and smiles before looking back down at his computer.
Art drops his cigarette on the floor and crushes it with his shoe.
On the Friday before Spring Break begins, Art leaves his lecture to find Collie waiting from him, carrying two smoothies in his hands.
“Here,” says Collie, handing Art the orange colored smoothie.
“Thank you,” Art says, taking a sip.
Mango and pineapple.
“My coworker got them and they gave her an extra one,”
“What’d you get?” asks Art, looking down at Collie’s smoothie.
“Green tea smoothie,” answers Collie.
“Lemme try,” Art says.
Collie hesitates for a moment but passes his smoothie to Art. He brings his lips to the straw and takes a sip. He passes the smoothie back to Collie and nods. “That’s good.”
“Right? My coworkers think I’ve lost my mind.”
As they walk towards the bus stop, they end up passing by Stebbins, Gary, and Richard. Gary and Stebbins are half-arguing while Richards stands a few feet away, looking like he would be anywhere else. When he sees them, he runs over to them and pushes past Collie to stand between him and Art.
“Watch it, Harkness!” snaps Collie. “Gonna make me drop my lunch.”
“What are they talking about?” asks Art, looking back at Stebbins and Gary.
Richard places his hand on Art’s jaw and turns his head so he’s looking away from their arguing friends, “I have no clue but if you look at them, they’re going to make you their witness. Made the mistake of saying hi. I was stuck listening to them for thirty minutes.”
“They better not be arguing tomorrow,” says Collie. “Stebbins is giving me a ride to the airport.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’ll ask Stebbins about it when he gets back to the apartment tomorrow.”
Richard tears away from them to walk towards the parking garage. Collie and Art eventually reach the bus stop. Collie rolls up his hoodie sleeves and rubs his arms. His nails scratch at some of the drying paint on his skin and he hisses when the paint pulls at his arm hairs.
“You could use towels to wipe off your paint,” says Art.
“It’s mainly for skin color,” Collie says. “I’ve been working on a portrait for my sister.”
“Of your niece?” asks Art.
Collie nods, “It’s nothing big.”
“You’ll have to show me once you’re done,” Art says.
The bus pulls up and they board, tagging their IDs and they walk to the back. Collie puts on his headphones and is automatically pulled into his work. Art smiles and pulls out his astronomy textbook and begins to read. He knows he should probably finish reading this chapter before Sunday because he knows he’s not going to do any reading while on break.
About ten minutes into the bus ride, Art notices Collie looking down at his textbook. He looks between the textbook and his own sketchbook. When Art takes a closer look, he realizes Collie is trying to draw the satellite that the chapter is about. The blurry photo of the satellite in the textbook probably isn’t the best reference, but Collie is doing a damn good job.
Art smiles and turns to the next page in his textbook when he sees that Collie is done drawing the satellite.
The next day, when Collie lands back in Sioux Falls, he texts their group chat the ugliest .5 photo of his niece with a text that says: my darling niece <3
Art laughs as he pushes the six pack of beers into the fridge. Clementine is sitting on the counter, laughing at the photo. The group chat lights up with texts from the others, most of them from Ray and Richard scolding Collie for taking an ugly photo of his niece. He replies with another photo of him standing up, wearing a blank expression, and holding out his niece in front of him, who is clearly enjoying the attention from her uncle.
“Are you and Hank all packed for tomorrow?” asks Art.
“Yep! It’s a shame Collie couldn’t come.” Clementine says. She then frowns. “I guess he wouldn’t have wanted to go camping with us anyway.”
Art looks down at his phone to see Collie texted him. He clicks on the message.
gary came with stebbins to drop me off at the airport and they argued during the drive. good luck camping with them :)
Art groans and texts Collie a quick ‘Thank you’. He places his phone on the kitchen counter and finishes putting away all of the food they’re going to bring with them into the fridge.
“What?” asks Clementine.
“Stebbins and Gary are still arguing,”
Hank comes walking out of his and Clementine’s bedroom, carrying a duffelbag. He sets the bag down next to the couch and then sits down on the couch.
“I hate packing,” says Hank.
“We’re only going to be gone for four days,” says Clementine. “We’re not moving out of the apartment.”
“I still hate it,” replies Hank. “Hey, did Collie get to South Dakota alright?”
Art nods.
“That’s good. We can’t have our newest Musketeer dying in a horrible, fiery plane crash.”
“Is Collie a Musketeer?” asks Art, raising an eyebrow.
Hank shrugs, “Figured he would be now.”
Camping with the others is always a fun time. The first day is spent arguing at gas stations because someone always forgets either hotdog buns or plastic utensils. After that, things are usually calm. When they reach the site, they pitch their tents and Stebbins disappears to go on a hike alone.
Art is sitting in Hank’s car, charging his phone while texting Collie, who had just finished Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. His only review was ‘holy fucking shit she was right. i’ll lend you my copies.’
Then, Collie calls him. Art answers.
“Hey,” says Art. “We don’t have the best service out here. The call might end.”
“That’s okay,” Collie says. “Just wanted to see how you were doing.”
Art smiles, “I’m doing good. Driving up to the site was nice, always is. I’ll send you photos later. How’s your family doing?”
“They’re doing good. My parents watched the kid last night so my sisters and I could go out and get dinner.”
“Anything fancy?”
“Just a pizza spot. Two dollar slices.”
Art whistles, “Nice deal. Maybe I’ll take you out to some place nice after break.”
Collie goes quiet for a second and Art hears him breathe just a tad bit louder.
“Collie?” asks Art.
“It’s a date,” Collie says quickly.
“Art!” yells Hank.
“Shoot,” mutters Art and quickly locks the car doors. “I’m in Hank’s car.”
“I’m guessing he doesn’t want you in his car,”
Hank runs over and pulls on the door handle, “Get the fuck outta my car, Baker. I swear to God.”
“I’m talking to Collie,” Art says.
“I don’t care! Out! Out! Out!”
Collie laughs and Art’s heart skips a beat. Collie really does have a pretty laugh.
“I’ll talk to you later, Art. Bye.”
“Bye,”
The call ends and Art unlocks the door. Hank pulls it open and grabs Art’s phone.
“Hey!” exclaims Art.
“This is family time, Arthur Baker. It’s rude to ignore those closest to you to chat with your friends.” Hank scolds playfully.
Hank drags Art out of his car and towards the others. Richard, Ray, Pete, and Clementine are playing a card game. Gary is pacing back and forth, chewing on a fingernail.
“You okay, Barko?” asks Art.
“Fuck off, Baker,” snaps Gary.
“Leave him. He’s been in a weird mood for a few days now.” says Richard, looking at Art.
“Who were you talking to?” asks Ray.
“Collie,” answers Art.
Ray raises an eyebrow, “You two talk a lot.”
Art hums. They do talk a lot. It’s usually Collie initiating conversations. They don’t talk at all really when on the bus together. Collie draws and Art reads while pretending he doesn’t notice Collie leaning over to look at Art’s textbooks.
“I suppose. Collie sometimes texts me physics and astronomy questions.”
“Why?” asks Ray.
“Oh, for his extra credit papers,”
“For his cultural anthropology classes?” asks Ray. “The papers and the museums have to be related to the class in some way. Doesn’t make sense for him to be asking you about astronomy.”
Pete looks at Art and laughs. He wraps an arm around him and tugs him close. “Oh Art Baker! Darling Art Baker! He likes you.”
“What?” Art pushes Pete away. “No. We’re friends.”
“Uh-huh, sure pal,” Pete says.
Hank passes Art back his phone and squeezes his shoulder, “You’re an idiot.”
“What?” Art looks down at his phone to see the most recent text from Collie.
don’t forget to pick a nice restaurant, art. looking forward to seeing you after break :)
“What is it?” asks Clementine.
“He has a date,” Hank says.
“Oh, that’s exciting!”
“It’s not a date,” Art argues.
Collie’s response to when Art had offered to take Collie out to a nice restaurant after break.
It’s a date.
Art’s eyes go wide and both Pete and Hank laugh. Clementine claps her hands excitedly and Richard says something about having to ‘write down this momentous occasion’. Ray smiles and sends Art a thumbs up.
When Art gets back to the apartment after the trip, he calls Collie, who picks up right away.
“Hey, are you back in town?” asks Art.
“Yeah. My plane landed a few hours ago. Why?”
There’s a hint of anticipation in Collie’s tone that’s hard to miss.
“There’s this nice sushi restaurant. We should go on Tuesday.”
“That sounds great. It’s a date.”
“It’s a date,”
The call ends and Art backs up against the wall and buries his head in his hands.
He has a date on Tuesday.
The sushi restaurant is quiet. Collie is humming a song while staring at the menu. Their bowls of miso soup are hot and Art stirs his with his spoon, transfixed on the steam rising up. It’s weird seeing Collie without his hoodie. He’s dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt with a logo to a local band back in Sioux Falls. The shirt is cut so it’s cropped. He’s also wearing his normal jewellery; necklace, bracelets, and two rings.
Art tears his gaze away to look at Collie and forces himself to speak, “How was your break?”
Collie smiles, “It was good. It was great being back home. I was accepted for an internship for a museum here. I’m gonna be the tour guide and help with the setup for some of the temporary exhibits.”
“That’s great, Collie. I’ve been trying to get an internship but I can’t find anything. I might apply to be a TA for one of the lower division classes next semester.”
“Oh, you wanna grade papers? Is that your calling?” teases Collie.
“Hey, I’m pretty good with numbers. Maybe it’s the perfect fit.”
Their server comes over, notebook in hand, “You boys ready to order?”
Collie nods and then looks at Art, “I am. You?”
“Yeah. You go first.”
Collie orders and then Art does. Their server takes their menus and leaves. Collie looks back at Art.
“If you’re not gonna be doing anything over the summer, you should stop by the museum during my shifts. I’ll give you a personal tour. Free of charge, of course.”
“I’ll still be working,” Art says and he’s suddenly filled with dread at the thought of the summer chaos at the coffee shop off campus.
“Not 24/7,” says Collie. “Come by on your breaks. Free tours in exchange for free coffee.”
“Deal,”
“Ray said something funny during the camping trip,”
“Uh-huh,” says Collie. “He does have some great jokes.”
“He told me that your papers for extra credit have to be related to your class. Science museums don’t count.”
“Our scientific advancements have had a great effect on human culture and society. It’s part of human evolution.” shrugs Collie.
“Sure,” says Art.
Collie smiles and nudges Art’s leg with his foot, “Maybe I just wanted to talk to you.”
“You bought me a keychain,”
Collie looks at Art’s bag where the moon keychain is hanging, “You seem to like the keychain.”
“I do,” Art says. “Hey, are you busy tonight?”
Collie tilts his head to the side and shakes his head, “No I am not.”
The elevator dings and the doors open. Collie whistles when they begin to walk through the hallways of the science building’s top floor. Art laughs and grabs Collie’s hand and leads him down the hallway and towards a small set of stairs. They climb up the metal stairs and Art pushes open the doors. A cool breeze hits them as they walk onto the roof of the science building. Gravel crunches underneath Collie’s shoes as he looks out at the view ahead of him.
“Look up,” says Art.
Collie does. The sky is clear and many stars are visible.
“They’re hard to make out because of the light pollution but that’s the Libra constellation,” says Art, pointing up at the sky. “It’s easier to see with a telescope.”
“Do you own one?” asks Collie.
Art shakes his head, “The astronomy department owns a few. I can ask the department head about renting one for the night. Could be a nice second date.”
“So I’m guessing our first one was a success?” asks Collie.
“Yeah, it was,” replies Art.
Collie looks back at Art and steps a bit closer into his space. He grabs Art’s hand, which catches his attention. Art looks at Collie and smiles. “Hi.”
“Can I kiss you?” asks Collie.
Brief shock washes over Art and he nods. Collie leans in and kisses him.
The kiss is slow, soft, and sweet. It’s a bit shy like Collie isn’t one hundred percent sure that the kiss is welcomed. It’s very welcomed. Art deepens the kiss and brings a hand to Collie’s cheek. Collie smiles against the kiss and rests one of his hands on the back of Art’s neck and the other on his chest. A cool gust of wind blankets them and Collie grips Art’s shirt, sighing into the kiss.
Eventually, they pull away.
“Hey,” says Collie, dazed.
“Hey,” says Art, thumb stroking Collie’s cheek. “Can I kiss you again?”
Collie nods and Art pull him in for another kiss.
Art’s bed is warm. Collie groans when he feels how cold his bare legs are and curls into Art’s solid figure.
“Morning,” says Art. He pulls the blankets over them and wraps an arm around Collie. “You sleep well?”
“Very,” Collie responds.
Art’s bedroom swings open and Collie groans again.
“Morning, love birds,” Hank says.
“Fuck off, Olson,” Collie says.
“Not in my own apartment, Parker. Richie just texted me. Apparently Gary and Stebbins have been sleeping together for a few weeks now.”
Art and Collie sit up quickly, looking at Hank.
“What?” asks Art.
“Yeah, that’s why they’ve been so pissed off at each other recently. Ray’s probably gonna lecture them both about communication and-” Hank laughs and then snorts. “I’d hate to be on the receiving end of a ‘Ray Garraty Lecture’. Oh, Art, can you go to the store today? We’re out of all of the basics, including salt. I didn’t even know that was fucking possible.”
“All of the basics?” asks Art.
“Oh yeah. Bread, cereal, butter, milk. The four jars of peanut butter that Clementine bought from Costco have finally been used up too. I’ll text you the list. Clem and I will pay you back our share when you get back.” Hank turns to Collie. “You allergic to peanut butter? Clem’s making peanut butter cookies today and she always makes a few dozen.”
“No, I’m not,” says Collie.
“Good. Get more plastic food containers at the store too.”
“Send me the list,” says Art.
“Copy that! Have fun grocery shopping, love birds.”
He leaves Art’s room and shuts the door. Art laughs and lays back down. Collie rests his head on Art’s chest and hums when Art wraps an arm around him.
“Wanna go to the store with me?” asks Art.
“Yeah,” says Collie. “You’re comfortable.”
Art kisses the top of Collie’s head. Collie laughs like he’s embarrassed or shy so Art does it again just for good measure. Another soft laugh fills the comfortable silence and Art smiles to himself.
Collie really does have a pretty laugh.