It had been a few weeks since Arthur and I had sex for the first time. I had been super busy getting ready for finals and staying up with homework. In high school, I almost never studied for tests, but I wasn’t about to take that risk in college. Chani and I still hang out every day, whether it be in person or over a game of Overwatch 2 or Apex, talking on Discord, even though she’s only a few doors down.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKZHnkNtW8
I barely hear from Alice, but she texted me a few days ago asking if I wanted to go shopping with her for her secret Santa gift. Our floor decided to do a secret Santa gift exchange, and despite her never being in the dorm, she apparently agreed to do it. Having not yet broken the news to Alice, I asked if I could invite Chani with us, where I planned to tell her about our relationship. Chani wasn’t exactly thrilled that I was letting Alice back into my life, but what can I say? I still care for her regardless of how she has treated me.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTQNFzKQB2
So, here we are, at Cherry Creek mall, getting out of the car.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOZmiE9vyF
“Alice.” I jogged to catch up with her. “We wanted to tell you something.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDFaYxtNTL
“Hm?” She raised her perfectly manicured eyebrow.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S8DW3ZjRT
“Chani and I are now in a relationship.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkRxTxw3WH
“Oh?” She glanced behind us at Chani.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTOJwG1LEi
“We made it official during Fall break.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcq0oEobU0
“Why her?” Alice lowered her voice slightly so Chani couldn’t hear.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtrbsmvE48
I looked at her in confusion. “Why not her? Chani’s great. You just haven’t gotten to really know her.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1jPBivMBK
“I don’t mean to be that guy, but how will your parents feel about this? First to know you’re gay, then to find out it’s with a black girl?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDEh8JzqD3
“Alice!” My eyes widened. “First of all, why does her skin color matter? My parents shouldn’t care, and if they do, I don’t want anything to do with them anymore. And second, I’m bi, Alice. Well, pan, actually, but bi’s just easier to explain to people…” I trailed off, watching as Alice watched me with disinterest. “What?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ5fVPTy0W
“I’m just saying.” She shrugged slightly, stopping at the door and waiting for me to open it for her. I did and stayed there, waiting on Chani to pass.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr3AsMMROb
“You okay?” She asked as soon as she caught up. “You don’t look okay.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtQWe7esSG
“I told Alice about us, and she just…” I sighed. “I’ll tell you what she said later. But I think going out with her was a mistake.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05Rwui2kUc
“We can go home now. I can call us an Uber.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8lEBE6j7K
“That’ll just piss her off.” I stopped a few paces away from Alice was who surveying the mall’s map. “I’ll just get through today and cut contact again.” I shrugged weakly.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPisVnKiaqU
Chani slipped her hand into mine, squeezing lightly. I squeezed her hand back, feeling a bit better knowing she was here for me.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9vkT4CrSc
“Come on.” Alice motioned for us to follow. We were now caught up to her, no longer having space to talk without her. “So, Alice, what have you been doing?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4NG7mbMEI
“Sorority stuff.” She shrugged. “I’m moving into the house next semester.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIxpFUZ00t
“Oh. Okay.” If you had told me at the beginning of the year that Alice would be moving out of our dorm room, I’d have been devastated, but now I was nearly indifferent, as she had such little contact recently.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgE4yycaZt
“Are you coming home with me for Christmas?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6ZgU7ZuAJ
“I guess I haven’t told you yet.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Arthur’s taking me to Europe for Christmas.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJte7XHqPrd
“What?” She turned on her heel, turning to face me. “You? Going to Europe?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZYWeQmtO1
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Arthur planned the whole thing for us. I’m leaving soon, right after my last final.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgFQzxDIR1
She didn’t look happy receiving this news. I couldn’t help but to think she was jealous of it. She had gone with her parents plenty of times, usually during Winter or Summer breaks from school, but me finally getting to go really seemed to irk her.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9a7AAmK82
“Cool.” She turned back around and started walking off towards whichever store she was going to again.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGzgs3eZj9
“She does not seem happy about that.” Chani whispered to me. Once again, there was a divide between us, I suppose in life as much as in personal space.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjLeg9IdM9
“Yeah.” I nervously picked at a scab on my arm.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI4Wces6jJ
“Don’t let her get you down, Mali.” Chani placed her hand on my arm, stopping the picking.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJCKHwh4tP
“Oh.” Alice looked back at us with a large smile on her face. “Look.” She pointed towards the Santa in the center of the mall. She waited for us to catch up before telling us what he wanted to do involving him. “We should go to take pictures with him and whisper dirty things. See if we can get him hard.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5LnZ73uEw
“That seems kinda wrong, Alice.” I stated quietly. “With all the kids around, I mean. Plus, look how long the line is.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbCYrt2Kq5
She crossed her arms over her chest, lowering her chin, glaring at me. “Why do you always have to be such a killjoy now, Malia? You used to be fun, well, at least more fun than this.” She turned on her heel and walked off again.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe3ufFW3aI
“Alice.” I called after her, but it was too late, as she didn’t respond. “Let--let’s just do some shopping by ourselves and meet up with her afterward.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtZ7ZXpIQx
“Sure.” Chani nodded. “Just remember we can’t be here too long since we have dinner with Arthur.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsPspeabOt
“I’d never forget.” I smiled. “Are you nervous to meet him?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHnrlwLipU
“Nah.” She shrugged as we started off in search of a Hot Topic. “He’s just some old white guy, seen plenty of those before.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wNXhyomwY
I laughed, shaking my head. “Just some white guy, huh?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskYYZsNJL0
“Yep.” She looked over at me, becoming more serious. “You doing okay with all the Alice stuff?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0dfeu62Wh
I took a deep breath before answering. “I guess it doesn’t really bother me. Not anymore, at least. I kinda got used to not having her around and in a way, I liked it, the consistency, at least.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRbEe02B26
“Makes sense.” She nodded. “Sorry, Mal.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5fYnO52dw
“Not your fault.” I shook my head. “Besides, we can still have a good time here without her, just pretend like she isn’t here.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw1xkVqrQG
Chani smiled slightly. “Sure. We might even find you a new dress to wear for tonight.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT53EZm094
“I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEESlUNJ3nL
“Good. Let’s find you something then.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFnHQ1buOf
I pulled down the dress as it had ridden up in the car. Chani and I were heading to the restaurant to meet up with Arthur. We ended up taking an Uber home after Alice didn’t respond to numerous calls. She can be a real jerk when she wants to be, that’s for sure.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyVQplncqS
“Arthur’s here.” I nodded toward him. He was currently sitting down in the waiting area on his phone, likely playing a game of sudoku, like usual. “Hey.” I greeted him as we neared. He looked up and locked his phone before standing up.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNeZMfymJE
“Hey, Mal.” He wrapped his large arms around me, squeezing me tightly in a hug. He pulled back, not kissing me, though I didn’t blame him for not wanting to do it in front of Chani.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqThpT9Mn5
“Arthur, this is Chani.” I motioned towards her.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJkPYs8EQD
“Nice to finally meet you.” Arthur held his hand out to her. She shook it with a small smile. “Malia has told me a lot about you.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPpaPrzBRf
“Same.” Chani responded, stepping back by me.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKYFRYBCds
“Let’s get a table.” Arthur suggested, walking over to the maître d. He got us a table, which we sat down at. After ordering our meal, we began chatting.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcBPNLDp7M
“Thanks for taking us out, Arthur.” I smiled at him, dipping my bread in the olive oil and herbs.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5UNDHwCmz
“Of course. I’m glad to finally get to meet Chani. Malia’s told me a lot about you, but all good, I assure you.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Un5kLqj9O
“I’d hope so.” Chani laughed quietly, looking over at me.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbfnvZYKfP
“You two go to the same college, but I don’t think Malia’s told me your major. Or perhaps I just don’t remember.” He shrugged gently.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNm6W49TtN
“Art history.” Chani answered.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUTvworatR
“It’s more fun than mine.” I added. “At least from what she’s told me.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9f3Nu7ik5i
Arthur chuckled, shaking his head. “Then maybe you should take it instead.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkmrToeVyZ
“Maybe.” I shrugged slightly. I had also told Chani about my struggles to find interest in my degree and my hopes to have an antiques shop one day. She had told me maybe I should go into business instead then and see if Arthur will help me pay for the shop. Sometimes I can’t help but to feel as if she only sees him as a source of money for me.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwJZ5j6tpn
“Or business.” Chani suggested again.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOtuHEsDz0
“We’ll see, we’ll see.” I put my hands up in surrender.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55QsfAg8HX
“Mali’s told me that you haven’t told her much about your trip to Europe. Care to share anything now, so I don’t assume you’re just taking her out of the States to harvest her organs?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAYrKHCj8J
“Chani.” I looked over at her in shock, but Arthur’s chuckle seemed to ease the tension.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg29qqELwX
“I still would like for it to be a surprise, but I suppose I can share a bit. We’re going on a Christmas-themed river cruise.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMRBqiAwoM
“Bleh.” Chani stuck her tongue out.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZaSuthDj7
“She hates Christmas. She’s basically a Grinch.” I explained to Arthur. “But that sounds awesome to me.” I turned to Chani. “He hadn’t told me about the cruise part, so I’m stoked!”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZgQDtSRZ0
“I’m glad it’s a river cruise and not an ocean one. I’ve been Poseidon before, so that’d leave me worrying about you the whole time.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNmbUfW7TF
“Cruises are plenty safe.” Arthur tried to reassure her.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lY0zvj1Gr
“If you say so.” She shrugged.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WX2VWVXpF
We turned our attention to the waiter as he brought our food over. Every place I had been dining with Arthur was nice, this place included.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd1E9Gc9Lz
“Do you travel much, Arthur?” Chani asked.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4z1ZgMLCv
“Not anymore.” He shook his head. “I use to some for work and my ex and I use to travel for pleasure rather often.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEnbhqWcIM
“Your ex-wife, right?” Chani asked and Arthur nodded. “Why’d you end things?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFkjnx76ek
“Chani.” I looked over at her again. Even I hadn’t really asked about his ex.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nerLJpiRS
“It’s alright, Mal.” Arthur reassured me with a soft smile. “Things just didn’t work out. We had been married for seventeen years and had just gotten tired of each other.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizbrDLnY9d
“Are you going to get tired of Malia eventually, then?” Chain crossed her arms. I watched her with surprise, but after looking over at Arthur who didn’t seem to mind, I let them keep speaking.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gbenOfj1p
“I don’t have intentions to, no.” Arthur shook his head. “But both of you have barely even lived as long as I was married. Once you get to my age, perhaps you’ll understand.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaTDFdFtPb
“Why date someone so young, then?” Chani was really grilling him. She could’ve at least given me a warning, but at the same time, I appreciated her asking questions I was too scared to ask.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplHXGlm64o
“I didn’t seek someone young out. I just happened upon Malia. Which I consider myself lucky for.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvFxnJ3vjR
“Hm.” Chani made a noise of understanding, seemingly ending her barrage of questions.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEceY2hFoRh
“Soup’s good.” I finally spoke up as neither of them continued.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvXWtzvnwb
“I’m glad to hear it.” Arthur smiled. “How are you liking your food, Chani?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeFx2xX54L
“It’s good.” She shrugged casually.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQiEkLpGKO
We talked through the rest of our meal, taking about some of our favorite meals as well as the reasons we had gone vegetarian, which Arthur seemed to find interesting. After finishing our meal and Arthur paying, we said our goodbyes and headed back to our cars.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuNSsxjH3O
“Could’ve warned me, Chani.” I spoke quietly as she dropped into the driver’s seat.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMPLLQVCRg
“Sorry, Mali.” She looked over at me. “I didn’t mean to do that really. Just heat of the moment it felt necessary.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu44QNxHsi
“It’s okay.” I shook my head. “Just warn me next time, okay?”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmc4JBOMPQh
“Alright. I will.” She nodded. “Promise.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QSlrrKLl6
“You worried about your finals? Cause I am.” I rubbed my arm as we drove out of the parking lot.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrViykfh0U
“A bit, but not too much. I have a feeling they’re not nearly as complicated as some of yours are going to be.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yES1mxEAb
“Probably.” I agreed though I was unsure. I am sure her classes expect the same amount of memorization.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KYzHKUusg
“You’ll do fine, I’m sure. You just need to get through them, and then you get to go to Europe. On an expensive, I’m sure, river cruise.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3BGAaASZY
“The thought is what matters more.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0yvYDLBEE
“Yeah.” She nodded in agreement.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzwO4ZvZ0r
“But I am excited. Really excited. I’ve never been out of the country before.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSjEc9lLmO
“I’ll just have to find a god to pray to while you’re on that damn plane. Shit scares me.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGLjb0j1vC
“I’ll be fine.” I rolled my eyes with a small smile.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRfKRGIWri
“You better be or else I’ll piss on your grave.”
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMZa7BnsAj
“Thanks, Chani.” I laughed, shaking my head.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQyrfNR813
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEKfJ0NFt1
