Marcus' update.

I bounce my foot rapidly as I slurp on the expertly crafted ramen. My free hand scrolls through social media, letting the algorithm melt my brain and undoubtedly causing major deficits to my attention span. I look around at the few familiar faces, other people from uni enjoying the summer, hanging with friends and partners. Sai and Ari have gone to his parents' holiday house for the week, and Vi is at some event at the library. I constantly have to remind myself that despite it all. Vi is a massive nerd.

“Hey, dude!” I glance to my right.
Marcus? He points at the seat next to me.
“Can I sit?” I nod.

“How’s your summer, man?” I nod politely and put the chopsticks on the rim of the bowl.
“Chill as fuck, thank god.” He chuckles and sits next to me, turning in the seat to face me almost directly.
“You heard from Mrs Revers yet?” I shake my head.
“Nah mate, have you?” I ask in turn.
He grimaces. “Nah, I haven’t. I was a bit worried she was ghosting me.” Ghosting?
I slurp some noodles. “Nah, she’s probably doing all her students before getting to us.”
He nods. “So true. How’d you find her exam?”
I think for a moment. “It was…. Rough… But, ironically, her sessions helped heaps.”

He bangs on the table lightly. “Right! I actually had moments of like ‘Oh shit, Mrs Revers showed me this!’” I laugh awkwardly as he speaks a bit too loudly, getting glances from other patrons.
He puts a hand on the desk, glancing towards the kitchen. I didn't even notice him placing an order
“Did you get her email?”
I nod. “Said she would contact me soon, she asked for my phone number for easier contact since students don’t tend to check their school emails.”
His face loses some of its colour, “What the fuck?” He pulls his phone out and, after some taps, he nods. “Ah. I got the email as well.”
“Yeah, you were CC’d.”
“You think she will send us nudes now that she has our numbers?”

This guy man... But... It's not out of the question, the way things are shaping up.

He has a stupid smile on his face as a waiter brings him a bowl of steaming broth and noodles. He doesn’t wait for an answer before continuing his barrage.
“You reckon she'll ask us to come at the same time or individually?”
“Probably individually? We’ll probably do better in different areas if the sessions so far are anything to go by.”
“Oh yeah, good point.” He sips his Coke. “Wait.”
I glance up again. Man. I kinda wanted to eat lunch in peace.
“Do you think she’ll make us go to uni or to her place?”
“I don’t think professors are allowed to ask students to come to their homes. It’s definitely illegal.”
He shrugs. “So? It should be illegal to have tits like that on a teacher? Am I right?”
I give him a bemused smile and a half-committed, ‘That’s a good point. ’I say farewell to Marcus after unceremoniously wolfing down the rest of my food, the thought of going to her home hadn't even crossed my mind… Surely not? Not that it matters to me. I’m still at the dorms regardless.

--

Cars zoom past me as I walk down the long main road towards the dorms. Indie rock is playing in my ears. Is it basic? Yes. But I didn’t ask. I also could have driven, but it's a rare, not boiling hot summer day, so I decided to actually just enjoy the sun and get some steps in.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. The contact that shows up sends nothing but confusion through me.
Huh?
I tentatively put the phone against my ear.
“What uni do you go to again? What’s it called? Where is it? Answer.”
"Maki? Why?"
"Just answer pindick."
"Be nice, and I will. I don’t even have a pindick, I can't believe you still call me that." I say exasperated.
"I WILL kill myself and I’ll tell everyone it was because my pervy stepbrother kept threatening me to show me his pindick."
"Jesus fuck. Alright. University College on the East Coast. You could’ve asked Anya, she knows."
"Fuck Yes. Good. Perfect. Thanks pindick"

The line cuts suddenly.

What the fuck? I start to type out a text message, trying to get any sort of information from her, but think better of it when she sends a message herself.
A magic image that I shake my head at after tapping to reveal.

She’s such a freak. I never understood her when we all lived together, and I doubt that has changed now. I shove the phone back into my pocket.