Exam week.

This week is a total slodge and a total drag. I feel like my brain is melting out of my ears every time I log onto the computer and open up the exam page. The exam observer walks around the room, making sure no cheating or collusion takes place. Somehow, the time is going both slow and fast at the same time. One exam on Monday, one on Tuesday, two on Thursday. I just know that double is going to kill me. Every exam that gets completed doesn’t mean freedom. It means going to the library and studying even more, staring at another screen or book and trying desperately to absorb any more information that could be useful in the upcoming exam. Monday passes in a blur; I’m not even sure that Tuesday happened. I woke up this morning with a vague recollection of going to the exam room, but honestly, I can’t be sure. The morning I spent with Vi, the intention was to study, but we passed out on the couch and napped for way too long. The evening I spent with Heidi was studying in the library. She was very insistent that we not study in my room.

She sits right next to me while we study, our hands brush a lot more than necessary, and her eyes linger on mine before darting away nervously.

–

I step out into the setting evening sun on Thursday evening. I exhale deeply. Summer is here, thank the fucking lord. I start to make my way towards my dorm, walking through campus, and heading towards me is a familiar pair of faces.

“Oh, hey, Erik. I-I-It’s been a while.”

I reach out and grab Matt’s hand and shake it, he can barely look at me, his eyes glued to the floor. Ellie is different, though. As I shake Matt’s hand, she instinctively bites her lip and looks at me hungrily, her eyes momentarily dropping to my crotch.

“It’s good to see you guys, maybe the four of us can meet again to study again, I definitely would’ve needed some tips before these exams.”

Ellie giggles, “I’m sure Vi has been able to help you out, right?”

I scoff with a laugh and nod, “She definitely tries.”

She bites her lip again. I glance over at Matt, who is just standing there, silent, fidgeting as he looks between us. Interesting.

“Anyway, we have one more exam tomorrow, wish us luck?” Ellie says with the confidence she didn’t have before.

“Good luck, you two,” I say with a smile.

They continue on their way past me, and Ellie does glance back, a glimmer in her eye. I cross the street and continue on my way to my dorm room. Tomorrow night, we take another step. We remove the effect of **** and see if he bites. It’s going to be an intense session at the gym.