Chapter 22

OLIVER

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Noah’s eyes were especially blue today. They looked like furnished sapphire that were so bright you could see them from space. He was adorned in a decrepit, old grey jacket and rugged jeans. However, none of that could take away his beauty which was evidenced by the fact that a few girls sitting next to him sighed, all attention diverted from Mr. Damocles.

He removed only a pen and a small notebook before slouching in his chair and spreading his legs apart. He grinned and turned to me,”Hey Oliver. What’s going on? Are they cutting off tacos in the cafeteria again?”

His stunning blue eyes always reminded me of when we first met. Admission day. My first day on Hillsburry Campus.

I had just gotten admitted when a guy in scraggly blonde hair and stark blue eyes, a bit taller than me, around 5’8 approached me with a large suitcase and said with a slightly crazy smile, “Hey. Can you help me smuggle some cocaine to my dorm? I’m new here.”

I only had time to stare at him, completely dumbfounded before stating that I was also new here and skeddadling out of there before I was arrested.
That is, until he grabbed my arm, “Relax. Ohmygod, you look like you were birthed from a deer. It was a joke.” He extended his hand. “My name is Noah.”

I shook his hand but didn’t disclose my name, afraid I was going to end up in the law enforcement registry for smuggling illegal goods or something.

Are these the nutcases I am going to encounter here? I thought.

Noah seemed to pick on my thoughts. He laughed. “Everyone seems to think I’m crazy these days. I promise you I don’t do drugs. Well, the illegal kind.”
He nodded towards the campus buildings and rubbed his neck sheepishly, “I know we’re both new here  but…could you help me find my way to my dorm? It’s called Olympus. Room 49. Plus…” He pointed at his back and that’s when I realised I was staring too much at his eyes that I didn’t notice he had 2 other suitcases loaded with a bunch of clothes.

“My friends left me these. We were supposed to meet up here but I don’t know where they are.”

“Is this a trick?” I suddenly remembered something I saw on the news about hiw robbers can masquerade as someone in need carrying lots of stuff to lure someone. I took a step back. “Are you going to rob me?”

The guy-Noah- laughed again. “No, I won’t. We’re on school grounds, which I’m pretty sure have tons of CCTV and other surveillance. Are you always this distrustful of people?”

I didn’t answer.

Noah let out a chuckle. “Damn, must be these clothes. I look like a robber, huh.” He pointed at his white T-shirt, which had tiny brown spots. Weirdly enough, he smelt really nice-a mixture of cinnamon and something a bit feminine, probably floral – a juxtaposition that was at odds with the state of his shirt.

He sighed. “Fine. I’ll find somebody else to help me carry these death cargo.” He started to turn, but I suddenly said, “Wait.”

He glanced at me, a hopeful gleam in his eyes that made them even more blue.

“I’ll help you carry them.”

“Great. I could hug you right now. Can I hug you?”

Before I could tell him to respect my titanium personal bubble, he embraced me in a tightening hug that left me scrambling for air for a second. Up close, I could definitely smell him now. It was cinammon, saffron and a bit of lavender.

He pulled back. “Sorry. I get excited really easily.” He appraised me. “You smell really good. Very feminine. Is it honeysuckle?”

My cheeks began to burn. “Uh, yeah.”

“I should try that one of these days. Is your lipgloss also honeysuckle? Can I taste it?

I smiled, “No, it’s caramel. I’m also trying something new. I recently tried rose but it’s too tacky. I don’t even know why it’s so popular and…” My smile faltered as the last part of his statement registered in my mind.

Noah threw his head back and giggled ferociously. “I’m messing with you. Now,” he handed me one of the suitcases behind him. “Come on. Lets head to my dorm. You can hit me there as I know you’re dying to.”

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We searched for his dorm like we searching for the lost city of Atlantis. Whenever we asked for directions, other students would shrug and some would completely ignore us. Even the security guards had no idea where it was.

I was beginning to think this was all a trick and he was indeed going to rob me. I remembered a lot of my true crime documentaries stating that you should never go to the second location. I also remembered that a lot of serial killers and psychopaths were extremely charming and persuasive.

All these facts amalgamated to a sense of growing fear that prickled under my skin. My eyes strayed to Noah who was humming freely while asking for directions from a senior.

I should start screaming. Maybe the senior will save me.

I was about to utter a death-shattering cry before the senior said, “Dorm Olympus? Oh, that’s the new dorm after your next right. Just follow this hallway
,turn and you’ll see it. It’s this white building with white trim on its windows. Can’t miss it.”

The guy’s eyes strayed to me, taking me in for the first time. His eyebrows quirked and looked at Noah. “Is this your girlfriend? She’s pretty. Might have a tomboyish style but damn.”

It took me a minute to get over my shock before I rolled my eyes.

Noah chuckled nervously, “Uh, this is Oliver. He’s not a…”

The senior at least had the nerve to looke embarrased. He muttered a quick ‘sorry’ before scampering away.

Noah turned to me, his cheeks blooming red. “Sorry for that. I didn’t know he was going to say that.”

I shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

Silence ensued. Before the air could begin to reek of awkwardness, I smiled and hefted a suitcase in my arms. “Come on. Let’s take you to your dorm.”

True to that weirdo’s word, the next right on the corridor led to a white building with blue and gold lining past a pristine pond full of manicured lawns and stunning trees. Was this truly Olympus?

I marvelled at the magnificence of it all. I was a commuter, but suddenly, I wanted to persuade my mom to switch me to this dorm. I stared at the building, completely awestruck. I allowed my thoughts to wonder to all the mythology books I have read: the Song of Achilles and Percy Jackson series. Maybe I could become a demigod if I lived here…

Noah looked deep in thought. A part of me wondered if he was in dreamworld like I was. I wanted to share all my aspirations and desires to be a demigod right then and there. I wanted to-

Noah’s head suddenly whipped towards me.

“Are you gay?”