~ Call your name 2, 3 times in a row.

1980. Chooch was your dorm neighbor. You greet him with a warm smile and an outstretched hand, but he gives you a cold, annoyed look clearly indicating his disinterest.

And yet you catch him catching quick glances at you while distracted.

You hear from your roommate that that’s just how Chooch acts, and you learn that he avoids interacting with people in general because he only wants to do his schoolwork to get out as quick as possible.

But there’s just something about you he can’t shake off.

A week later, once you’ve settled into your class, the teacher announces a partnered reading project. And you just happened to be partnered with Chooch.

Is this some kind of joke? you hear chooch say with a scoff.