Adonis Sequence, Chapter 2, #9 (Patreon)

I decided to save time and just meet Coley at the canteen again. I was just too hungry to think straight, so the library was just not an option.

“So, Gibbons called on you, like every time!” grinned Coley. “I think you might be her new favorite.”

“I doubt that,” I said. “When I talked to her after class, she did not even know who I was. All semester I’ve been sitting in her class, front and center and raising my hand every time she asked a question. How could she not know who I was?”

“Maybe it was the glasses,” said Coley. “You really do look a lot better without them. Is that why you started wearing contacts?”

I was about to correct him when the waitress stopped by to take our order. Now normally, this wouldn’t be anything to talk about, and it took me a minute to realize it, but this was the first time—ever—I hadn’t had to flag her down to take our order. She wasn’t overly friendly, or anything like that, she was her usual I’d-rather-be-someplace-else self. But still, it was a nice change. Maybe someone had spoken to her?

I ordered 4 burgers, fries and a salad and then she started to walk away.

“Wait a minute,” said Coley, “don’t you want to know what I want?”

The waitress paused and looked a little surprised. “You mean all that food is just for him?” she said.

Okay, so she still needed to work a little on her tact.

“Apparently,” said Coley. “I’ll have the same, except just one burger.”

“Okay,’ she said, scribbling on her pad and then walking off.

“That is a lot of food,” said Coley once she’d left.

“It’s that Adonis Sequence thing,” I said. “It increases your appetite.”

“Messing with your genes,” said Coley. “Never a good idea. I hope you don’t get fat. Is that why your shirt isn’t fitting you?”

“I don’t think it’s fat,” I said. “I think I’m just… bigger.”

“Well, that tight shirt is probably another reason Gibbons was calling on you,” said Coley.

“What do you mean?” I said.

“Come on, dude, she’s a cougar, everyone knows that,” said Coley.

“A cougar?”

“An older woman who like younger guys,” explained Coley. “She’s hot for you, David.”

I laughed out loud. I couldn’t help myself. “That’s ridiculous,” I said.

“What did she say to you after class?” he asked.

“She asked me to be a TA,” I said.

“Oh, David,” laughed Coley. “She’s got her eye on you!”

“Nonsense,” I said. “In class, she simply saw I have a good grasp on the subject. That’s all.”

“I have a good grasp on the subject, too,” said Coley. “She didn’t ask me to be a TA. Maybe I should start wearing tight shirts to class.” He grinned.

“Shut up, Coley,” I said. “We need to start studying now.”