Jose is slouched across the table opposite Eric in the Christie library, an array of texts spread between them. They work companionably on their respective essays, sometimes reading, sometimes making notes, sometimes passing texts back and forth.
Quentin is in a corner study carrel, watching a movie under headphones. Every now and again he’ll snort, laugh, or tap the desk, prompting chuckles or remarks from Jose or Eric.
Oscar and Krystal occupy carrels to the left of Quentin’s. Oscar is curled around the partition more often than not, explaining things to Krystal, who is not really paying attention since she’s focused instead on Jose over Oscar’s shoulder. Oscar loses patience.
“You need to get your mind on this or moon over the lad, one or the other. Just now your sharp little brain is reduced to jelly and I am wasting my time because the carpet understands more of what I say than you do.”
“I’m sorry Oz, it’s just that …”
“I know what it’s just. Ask him out? He’ll say yes or he’ll say no. Either way you’ll know and you get on with your life.”
She turns away, “It’s not that simple, Oz. Besides, you’re one to talk.”
Suddenly a ringing cellphone disrupts the hush of normal ambient library sound. The librarian glares from the front desk as Eric dives for his laptop bag and mutes the phone. Jose is chuckling as Eric gets up and walks away from the table trying to find a good spot to have a private phone conversation.
“Hello. Yes, I’m in the library so of course texting would have been better. We were together almost two months and you don’t know I’m in the library every Thursday? And that doesn’t tell you anything?”
Eric paces, obviously uncomfortable as he listens. “No, you look. It’s done. There isn’t anything to talk about.” Eric angrily snaps his phone closed and pockets it.
Returning to the table, in a foul mood now, Eric stares unseeing at the material spread out, then he gives his head a shake and starts packing up.
Jose shoots him a questioning look. “I didn’t think you were done yet.”
“Oh I’m done alright. My concentration is screwed. I’m going to grab a beer at the pub. Coming?”
“Sure.” Jose stuffs his stuff into his bag. “You ever hear me turn down a beer? Never happen.”
Eric grins. “Yeah.” noticing the librarian is still glaring lasers at him across the room. “Lets get out of here before the dragon lady has us barred for life.”
They pass by the main desk, Eric smiles winningly at the glowering librarian as they walk by. “Sorry Mrs. Jones, I didn’t realize it was turned on.”
The librarian nods, looking a little mollified. “Just make sure it’s not next time, young man.”
From across the room Krystal wistfully watches Jose’s abrupt departure.
Once outside in the crisp night air Jose tells Eric, “I can’t believe you man. What you wanna suck up to the old bat for?” Shaking his head, “Man I thought you had balls.”
Eric stops and looks at Jose. Then he jumps up and down. And again.
Puzzled, Jose asks, “What are you doing man?”
“Just checking. They’re still there.”
Jose just stares at Eric. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t hear ’em clanking.”
Jose breaks out laughing. “You’re too much, man.”
They start walking again and Eric tells him, “She’s just doing her job. And I know how much I want to kill the asshole whose cellphone goes off in the library and screws up my concentration.”
Jose laughs. “Yeah I know what you mean. Some people are just assholes, eh?”
“Hey, let’s swing by the Book Store. It’s around closing so maybe Amelia will come get a beer with us.”
Jose looks at him. “Didn’t know you and Amelia were getting it on. A comedown after Elsie, huh?”
“Naw, she’d be a step up if you ask me.”
“I dunno, man, I could’ve gone to town with that redhead of yours. Clouds of kinky red hair, man.”
“Elsie wasn’t worth the aggro, tell the truth.” They walk in silence for a bit before Eric just has to ask. “You mean you didn’t?”
“What?” Jose looks over at Eric and immediately understands. “You’re asking did I boff the red when you were with her? No way man.” Jose shakes his head. “No way.”
“Don’t tell me she didn’t come on to you.”
“Uh, well, yeah, she did a couple of times.”
“She did? And you really didn’t?”
“Come on Eric, You’re a friend. I wouldn’t do that.”
“Wow. I guess I just assumed everybody got a piece.”
“Lets just say it wasn’t easy to turn down, but you don’t mess around with a friend’s woman, that’s all.”
“Thanks, Jose.”
“So what about this Amelia? How long has this been going on? Chick ain’t as hot as the red but probably isn’t banging the football team at lunch either.”
“Let’s not go there.”
“Sorry.”
“I don’t need to talk about it, and I’m not mixing it up with anyone either. Amelia and I are just friends.”
“Friends? With a girl? You gotta be kidding.”
“Why not? I thought you were friends with Mouse.”
“Talk about urban legends. You can’t be friends with women.” Jose shakes his head ruefully, “Mouse is a smoking buddy. She goes with the party but her real friend is the weed.”
“Oh, hey, my mistake.” They walk in silence for a bit, then Eric asks, “What about Barbie?”
Jose snaps, “Don’t talk to me about that Barbie man.”
“Oh. Okay, okay. I didn’t know that went south on you.” Eric says. “This is different with Amelia. This isn’t dating, this is friendship. I mean I’ve had girlfriends before but I never had a girl for a friend before. And even though it’s a little weird it’s kind of interesting.”
They walk in silence some more, then Eric continues, “Sometimes hearing what’s going on in her head is kind of like making contact with an alien culture. Or being initiated into a secret society, you know?”
Jose shrugs. “No, I don’t. I can’t even imagine anything like it, but you’re a weirdo anyway, so that’s OK.”
Weirdo. Eric laughs too. “You think it was Boris?”
Jose looks at him. “Now what are you talking about?”
“Some people are saying they think Boris raped Natasha.”
Jose looks surprised. He turns the idea over but then shakes his head. “No way, man. Probably one of those stranger deals, you know. Bo doesn’t have it in him.”
Eric nods. “That’s what I think too.”
“He’ll be okay. You should have seen the babe he hooked up with at the pub last night. Girl was some hot.”
“Good for him.”
Rounding the bend they come in sight of the Art Centre. Without saying a word, like a couple of little kids they erupt in a foot race that takes them across the Oval and up the steps to the Campus Book Store. Jose arrives first and dances a victory jig, waving his arms in the air like a victorious prizefighter. Eric chuckles and tries the door, only to find it locked. Pressing his face to the glass Eric cups his eyes with his hands to try to see inside.
“It’s all closed up.” says Jose. “It’s just the night lights.”
Eric nods. “Yeah, guess she’s gone already. So on to the pub. I can hear a bottle of beer calling my name.”
As they head back down the steps to the path, Jose asks, “Eric, what do you see yourself doing in ten years?”
“Me? I just want to be an English professor with leather elbow patches and lots of co-eds to oggle.”
Jose laughs again. “Bullshit. Anybody dumb enough to be an English major secretly wants to be Hemingway.”
“Not me, ” laughs Eric. Then suddenly serious, “I want to be as great as Steinbeck.”
“But Hemingway got all the babes.”
“Hemingway? He was gay, what did he need babes for?”
“That’s bullshit. No way Hemingway was gay. Hemingway ran with the bulls, man. He was macho.”
“Hemingway only acted macho so nobody would know.”
“Bullshit, Hemingway wasn’t gay, you must mean Chandler.”
Eric grins, “Get real, it’s practically sacrilege to mention Chandler in the same breath with Hemingway.”
