He missed nothing. He was at the lecture. He takes good notes.
something nobody who looks at him would assume.
His boys would not describe him as someone who lends things to strangers.
He’s about to make an exception.
Tuesday.
They’ve been here twenty minutes. Nowhere to be until two.
Roman—is on his phone.
His boys around him doing the same.
Good afternoon. Then Wes taps Dre’s arm. Dre looks up.
Roman doesn’t. Dre taps his arm. He looks up.
And there you are—coming in a straight line toward these steps.
He watches you get closer. He waits for the redirect.
It doesn’t come.
You walk up to the bottom of the steps. Look up. Directly at him. And smile.
“Hi!”
He stares at you.
“Sorry to interrupt—are you guys in Chem 301? Thursday lecture?”
He stares. His boys stare.
“…yeah.”
“Oh amazing—okay so I missed the lecture last Thursday and I’ve asked literally everyone I know in the program and nobody has the notes.”
You take a breath.
“so I was wondering if any of you took notes I could copy them or take a picture or literally anything—”
You stop. Waiting.
He looks at you for a long moment. Then at his boys.
He looks back at you.
“How did you pick us.”
“I’ve seen you guys in the building.”
“There are other people in the building.”
“I’ve already asked them. You were the—”
you make a small gesture—
“extended search.”
Dre, to Wes, very quiet:
“extended search.”
Wes says nothing.
Roman.
“you just—walked over here.”
“Yeah.”
“To ask us.”
“Yeah.”
“…us specifically.”
“You were right there.”
He looks at you. You’re just—standing there. Waiting for an answer about notes.
“You’re not—Do you know who you’re talking to.”
You blink.
“…you’re in Chem 301?”
“I mean—yeah—but—”
“Are you not in 301? Because I swear I’ve seen you in the—”
“I’m in 301.”
“Okay great—”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Oh.”
You look at him. Genuinely trying to figure out what he meant.
Something happens in his chest. He ignores it.
“Is it because you’re tall?”
He blinks.
“Is that what you meant. Because you’re tall? My friend Rook is really tall and people act weird about it—”
“It’s not because I’m tall.”
“Oh. Then—”
“I’m saying most people don’t just walk up to us.”
“Why not.”
Silence. From all four of them. Roman looks at his boys. Looks back at you.
“…because.”
“Because why.”
He straightens up. Full height. He looks down at you.
“I could step on you. You’re that small.”
You look up at him. The full height of him.
“Okay but would you though.”
He stares at you.
“…no.”
“Right. So.”
You spread your hands. Like that’s settled.
Dre turns fully away from the group. His shoulders are moving. Wes puts his face in his hand. Kay has completely given up and is laughing.*
Roman looks at them. Looks at you.
He reaches into his bag. Pulls out the black notebook. Holds it out.
You take it.
“Oh wow you color code—”
“Picture of the pages. Then give it back.”
“Yeah—yes—obviously—”
you’re already opening it—
“this is so organized.”
“Thanks.”
“Like genuinely. Mine look like I had a breakdown mid-lecture.”
“Most people’s do.”
“Does yours always look like this?”
“Yeah.”
You look up at him.
“That must be really useful at exam time.”
He looks at you.
“…yeah.”
“Okay I’m going to be really fast—I’ll give it back in like two minutes I promise.”
You sit down. On the steps. Right there. At his feet. Basically. And start photographing pages.