Chapitre 5: Chapter 4
The next day Graham was headed back to the Student Union for dinner with his housemates again. He shook his head realizing that it had been a week since he saw Georgina, the girl with a face he still couldn't place. It still seemed to be just beyond reach. At least this week he was on time.
Graham took a seat on the end. Lucas, Elijah and John were already there.
"Hey guys." Graham said.
"What's up?" John answered while Lucas and Elijah lifted their chins in acknowledgement.
"Just glad I'm not late again. I don't want to be the one buying the drinks this time." Graham said. It was their rule that the last one who arrived had to buy the beer, because a meal at Der Rathskeller wasn't complete without it and they'd been coming here almost every week since John's 21 birthday. He was the last to be legal.
The other three nodded in agreement, they were usually there earlier so they could avoid it as well. Noah was usually the last person and Graham was pretty sure he did it on purpose. As much as he joked with them about their housing situation he didn't really flaunt that his family had money but he did things like showing up last since he knew he could pay and didn't mind doing it. It was Noah's suggestion in the first place that started the rule, and there were only a handful of times that he wasn't the last one since then. Sure enough, Oliver came in next just on time and then Noah strolled in 5 minutes late.
The waitress came and got their orders, and as usual most of them got the signature burger with their preferred side. Noah was the only one who ordered something different and he got the Southwest black bean burger.
After the waitress left Noah said, "you can make fun of me for eating that but I'll be the one without clogged arteries when we're older."
"Says the guy waiting to get into Med School." John quipped.
"Practice what you preach, how can I tell others to eat healthier if I don't?" Noah asked.
"So guys, guess what you missed shortly before you arrived?" John asked. Lucas and Elijah looked a bit apprehensive at this comment.
"What?" Several of them said at the same time.
That table over there, they're celebrating their engagement. Apparently they met here a year ago and decided it would be a great place to celebrate. I think they make a good couple." John said leaning his head toward a table where two guys were deep in happy conversation.
"Good for them." Noah said.
"Yey for love!" Oliver cheered.
"They look good together." Graham said.
"They do," Lucas agreed then added turning to Graham, "but I never thought I'd hear you say that."
"Why?" Graham was confused.
"When we were freshman it made you uncomfortable to see that. I guess we took that to mean you didn't approve." Elijah remarked.
"It's not something I ever saw in my small town, and I was a bit thrown by it. But then a lot of things made me uncomfortable because it was new, you know? I think it just took me a bit to get use to it. I'm not against it and I'm sorry if I ever made it seem that way. I guess we never really talk about it or you'd have known, eh?" Graham felt bad, he wondered if his housemate had ever felt uncomfortable with his incorrect understanding of Graham's views. He didn't know how it had been a misunderstanding for 4 plus years though.
Lucas and Elijah seemed surprised by this. And Graham wondered if both he and his Noah were right about their guesses.
"We overheard you talking to someone on our floor Freshman year and they said that it was wrong and you looked like you agreed." Elijah said flatly. So actually five years of them thinking he was a homophobe, Graham thought.
"I probably wasn't so sure at that point and didn't want to contradict the person talking. You know how out of place I felt then and didn't want to make waves. I know a lot of people where I grew up believe it's wrong, but I never knew anyone personally before coming here. But I've gotten to know some great people who are LGB and they're pretty great people so that's helped shape my views. So you didn't know the wedding I went to over Christmas was a guy from my program and his groom?"
"No, you just mentioned a wedding." Lucas said. "I guess we misjudged you man."
"I'm sorry I gave you reason to." Graham meant it.
Their food arrived, and they started eating.
"So we good?" Graham asked
"Sure bro, just processing that we were wrong." Elijah said.
"Wait, who is all included in this 'we'?" Graham inquired.
"Well, me, Lucas and John." Elijah answered.
"But I thought John was straight, we were just discussing what girls were his type last week." Noah blurted out.
"I am! But I'm on the same floor as the lovebirds over there." John said motioning to Lucas and Elijah. "Kind of hard to not know something's up."
"Wait what do you mean by singling out John and not asking about me or Lucas?" Elijah asked.
"Oh, Graham and I guessed about you and Lucas already, but didn't want to say anything in case you weren't ready, or we were wrong. But we had no idea you were together." Noah explained.
Oliver had just been listening, surprised by all the new developments. "So you've all been holding out on me?"
"You're always studying dude!" John said. "Plus they asked me not to say anything until they were ready."
"So is Graham, but he found time to speculate with Noah." Oliver complained.
"That was just yesterday, on our way back from lunch with Emma and her friends." Graham said.
"But why did you move in with us and keep it secret?"
"Well I wasn't sure myself at that point and I thought you were all decent guys." Lucas said.
"I liked Lucas and he was moving in and I wanted to be closer to him for when he figured it out. Plus we liked hanging out with you guys and free rent." Elijah shrugged. "But you need to tell us about this Lunch with Emma and her friends. I didn't miss how you tried to evade that subject." Everyone else agreed. So Noah and Graham told the story of their lunch the day before, Noah leaving out the part of Graham's agreeing to the DNA testing.
"So you knew I thought Georgina was hot and didn't invite me to go with you?" John accused.
"We weren't even sure it was the same group! But Noah did invite them all over for dinner on Saturday, so hopefully she'll come then." Graham said. "Have you heard back yet Noah?"
"Emma said she, Audrey, Lauren and Georgina will be coming, Lilliana and Tiffany live in a different apartment, so it's just the roommates that are coming." Noah answered.
"Wait, when we're you going to tell us we are having guests over?" Oliver complained.
"Tonight." Noah answered. "I figured we'd all be here and it would be the perfect time. Plus it gives us a few days to try to make sure the living areas are clean."
"They're clean enough." Oliver said. "You never let us get too dirty. Plus the cleaning service your parents hire is great."
"But since they just cleaned today we need to be sure to upkeep until Saturday so it stays clean." Noah said.
"And no alcohol on Saturday since they're Sophomores and underage." Graham said. "It's been a hot minute since we had to worry about that."
"You're right, it's been almost two years, isn't it your birthday next week John?" Elijah asked.
"Yep. February 24, someone has to be the youngest! It wasn't my fault that I was born last!" John complained.
"I'm sure you'll love gloating about being younger in 20 years. Just like we loved goading you about being underage last year." Oliver said.
"You better believe I'm going to all you each on your birthday and ask what it's like to be old when you turn 50." John joked.
"So what are we having for dinner on Saturday?" Lucas asked.
"We just ate at Ian's yesterday so probably not Pizza." Graham answered.
"We could make something, that would surprise them." Elijah exclaimed.
"Not me unless it's ramen but no one wants that." Graham said.
"I didn't mean you, we know you can't cook!" Elijah agreed.
"Elijah and I will come up with a great dinner." Lucas said.
"We can finally cook as a couple now everyone here knows." Elijah smiled at Lucas.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone