You Are My Friend
[Memory, March, Sophomore Year]
Lyn felt like a fish out of the water in the library hall where the spring honors mixer was being held. Although he had met posher and more pretentious fuckers in his life, the mix of envy and forced politeness between the sophomores and the seniors that behaved like they owned the place made him feel like he’d just been dropped into a den of lions.
He and Alexander weren’t the only students with a competitive spirit. However, while he had been studying hard and pouring his soul into every term paper and essay, Lyn barely had the time to notice the other people who strove for the same goal he did. Now, he was forced to look them in the eye, and frankly there was way too much eye contact between attendees to begin with.
The only saving grace was that no one paid any attention to him. Lyn liked to believe that his quiet, subdued nature worked to his advantage. He could spend hours in the same room with his peers, and most wouldn’t remember he’d been there. It had happened too many times already not to see a pattern.
Not everyone was lucky enough to share his peace and quiet. Lyn observed Alexander from afar. Standing near one of the tall, mullioned windows that seemed to dominate the attendees with their height, Alexander was surrounded by a mix of second-year students, as well as a few juniors and seniors. Obviously, they all knew who he was, unlike Lyn about whom they didn’t give a damn.
His friend wore a charcoal sweater and a blasé attitude Lyn could detect even if Alexander had his back turned toward him. Although the others were trying to get him involved in their conversation, the words appeared to be gliding around him as if he were a solid boulder in the middle of a flowing river.
Someone needed saving, Lyn thought. Most likely his intervention would not be welcomed, but it wasn’t like he usually gave a damn about such things when a friend of his was in need. He liked to believe that Brad and Alexander would do the same thing for him if their roles were reversed. Not that Brad had enough capability of observation in him to detect such troubles, even when they were happening before his very eyes. Alexander didn’t lack the same ability, but he enjoyed watching people suffer. No, not people, Lyn corrected himself. Just him. Yeah, Alexander always looked so amused when people tried to dominate Lyn in conversation or were acting rude. At the same time, there was no denying that Alexander bestowed one of his pleased, open smiles whenever Lyn got on top of the situation and punished his opponents accordingly through his unbeatable arguments. That surely felt like winning.
“Damn, I’m so disgusted by people like that.”
Lyn quirked an eyebrow when he heard someone talking, close to his left. Two seniors were gesturing with their plastic cups filled with cheap wine in Alexander’s direction, although their odd position suggested that they were already part of the guy’s outer circle. Most likely, they didn’t even notice Lyn.
“I mean,” the same senior, a guy with a weasel-like face, added, “once you have money, status, and the right name, an academic scholarship is just optional, right?”
Lyn squared his shoulders and moved closer to the two last-year students. “Strange,” he said, locking eyes with weasel face, “that’s a damn lot of shade coming from a guy standing in someone else’s spotlight.”
He hadn’t meant to say the words loud enough to draw more attention than needed, but part of the room fell silent. The senior student gave him a displeased look. “Did anyone ask for your opinion? And who are you, anyway?”
Lyn was about to reply to the guy with a sharp retort, but a warm hand came to rest on his shoulder.
“Lynton Calloway. Remember the name. He’s going to make history by revolutionizing law as we know it.”
He had to press his lips together not to laugh. Alexander liked to exaggerate way too much.
“Alexander,” the senior student began, obviously aware of having been caught red-handed.
But Alexander, as was his usual style, took Lyn away, without sparing the guy a second glance. “Don’t waste your breath on him. He’s not a worthy opponent.”
Lyn was more than happy to quicken his steps as Alexander pushed him out of the stuffy room, overripe with pretentiousness. A few outraged gasps and silence followed them, as they walked out, Alexander definitely doing so with a lot more grace and dignity than his friend.
***
The pleasant early spring air, still fresh with a sharp tang, felt good on his face. Lyn had to admit that while he did enjoy getting into battles, it always hit him after the fact that he was, actually, not brave at all.
Alexander leaned against the stone balustrade and gave him a long, meaningful grin. “I suppose that made you a hit among the seniors and a few professors just now.”
Lyn snorted and moved near, his hands in the pockets of his coat. “Yeah, I might not make the honors list this year. Sometimes, you just have to do what you have to do.”
“That was exquisite, Lynton. His face just freaking fell. It looks like you have a flair for the dramatic.”
“I suppose. Wait, do you actually use cuss words?”
“On occasion. You didn’t have to do that.” Alexander’s eyes set on Lyn’s face, honest and open, without a trace of teasing in them.
“I know, but you are my friend. When it comes to throwing shade, I’m the only guy who’s allowed to do that kind of thing to you.”
Alexander’s pleased smile reminded Lyn of a tomcat, ready to play with an unsuspecting mouse. “Who gave you permission?” He leaned forward. Their faces were so close, Lyn worried how they might look to someone who saw them from afar. But this was Alexander, and explaining personal space to him would be in vain.
“I took it upon myself,” Lyn replied promptly. “You’d never admit to needing help, so I’m willing to cross your half of the road, too, to get to you.”
Alexander’s eyes turned softer now. Lyn felt slightly dizzy. His friend was so handsome, beautiful even. And his eyes had depths. Even as the evening was falling, Lyn could read so much into them. But it was like trying to decipher a text written in a foreign language; the words made no sense and more practice was needed.
“Are you two done with your boring mixer?” Brad shouted at them from across the quad.
Lyn straightened up and moved away from Alexander. “Yeah, this guy saved my ass from a real kicking,” he shouted back.
“What the hell, man?” Brad complained, sauntering over to them. “How do you two manage to have fun even during the most blah events in college life? Now I need details.”
Lyn knew better than to describe to Brad what had happened. It was maybe silly of him, but he wanted to protect Alexander, even from their mutual friend. It was easy to believe he was strong because of his situation, but Lyn had met all kinds of people while accompanying his mom to various events in the world of the wealthy and affluential.
“Nah, it would bore you,” he said quickly.
Brad was now close and pulled Lyn into a tight hug. They had seen each other only hours ago, yet he still liked to act like they had been apart for weeks. Not that Lyn disliked it. He didn’t like it, actually, either, because it left him tortured and unsatisfied. Brad would never know what these hugs did to him. He’d think Lyn was fucked up in the head.
“It is enough to say,” Alexander intervened, accepting Brad’s hug with studied boredom, “that if Lynton doesn’t make it through pre-law, he might just consider working in public relations.”
Lyn guffawed at that. “Yeah, right.”
“What’s so funny?” Brad asked. “Come on, dudes, stop keeping secrets.”
“Alexander is joking. I’d obviously do better getting into duels at dawn, let’s say.”
Brad laughed out loud. “You, getting into a fight? Nah, that’s impossible.”
“Hey, I’ve been known for using my tongue as a sharp sword and I’ve gotten into enough verbal sparring to last me a lifetime. All in just two years of college,” Lyn explained.
“Ha-ha, sword fighting,” Brad commented, showing that most of Lyn’s subtlety just went over his head.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Lyn tried to backpedal.
“Yeah, sure.” Brad’s eyes glinted shamelessly, while he gave Lyn a long once-over.
He’d never have the guts to ask what was with those looks. Brad had never mentioned that kiss from the party last October, but he couldn’t have forgotten about it. And he definitely liked to tease Lyn from time to time, although he didn’t employ Alexander’s precision torture techniques.
“Anyways, how about I buy you two a real dinner?” Brad asked, grabbing them each by the shoulder.
“A real dinner means hamburgers and soda in your book,” Alexander reminded him.
“Well, Your Majesty, if you want to invite us to some five-star Michelin restaurant--”
“There are only three--” Alexander started, but Lyn put a hand over his friend’s mouth.
“Hamburgers and soda are fine,” Lyn said. “Stop picking on Brad, Alexander. He just doesn’t care about such things and shouldn’t, anyway.”
Alexander gave him a murderous look until Lyn moved his hand away. Brad found their entire interaction too funny to do anything but snicker.
“Are you willing to defend just anyone?” Alexander asked in an accusatory tone.
“It’s basically why I’m studying so hard and what I’m training for,” Lyn said promptly, annoyed with the veiled reproach. “And you and Brad aren’t just anyone. You’re my best friends. For life.”
“Preach it, brother,” Brad said and patted Lyn’s back hard. “Come on, stop fighting and follow me. You’re obviously hangry, the both of you. You just need some real food, that’s all.”
Alexander seemed to be in too much of a mood to move, so Lyn grabbed his hand. No, he tried to, because Brad was faster and he just ended placing his hand over his.
“Move, Your Majesty,” Brad ordered. “Lyn always gets sad when you act up.”
“He does?” Alexander asked, perking up at the mention of any sort of suffering he could inflict upon his friend.
“Yeah. He’s like a puppy without a master when you’re not around,” Brad continued to exaggerate, wrapping his arm around Lyn and silencing him with his hand to stifle any protests. “You should see him.”
“I definitely should,” Alexander said, locking eyes with Lyn. “I suppose our dear Lynton Calloway is full of surprises, after all.”
TBC
Thank you for reading!
@Derek - thank you for your ongoing interest! Yeah, I agree, Lyn thinks so many things that aren't true, and Alexander, despite his personality and good upbringing, can still be so petty, lol!
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