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clench. “I know. I feel like an idiot for letting it get to me. I thought the days of feeling like crap when some lame guy doesn’t call were over.”
    “It’s not you. I’m sure Ty’s got his own shit going on that has nothing to do with you.” Nina looks suddenly interested at the cars in the street as she says this and I’m a little suspicious. Mitch and Ty are best friends after all.
    “How do you know? Did Mitch say something?” I hate the flicker of hope that runs through me.
    “No. It’s just a feeling I get is all.” She takes out her keys but still won’t meet my eyes. “You need a ride?”
    I hesitate. I could press the issue and see if I can get more info, but that would probably come off as more pathetic than I am now. “No thanks. I’m going to walk to the Union—a friend from home is helping me with a philosophy paper and we’re going to get a bite to eat.”
    “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “See ya.”
    The sun is just starting to set behind the trees as I walk on the path toward the center of campus. This is the best time of year here—hot but not crazy hot during the day and warm at night. The kind of evening that makes me sad for the day I have to leave Texas. There are plenty of people still out, walking home from late classes or toward the library for an all-night study session, a ridiculous amount of them happy-looking couples. Soon the bell-tower looms above me and I climb the steps to the Student Union.
    “Hey miss Jen-na!” Stewart calls from a bench by one of the doors. He always says my name like it’s at least two words and I can’t help but smile. We went to high school together—and middle school and elementary school if you want to get technical—and whenever we hang out it’s a little like being home again.
    “Hey Stew.” I walk up and he gives me a giant hug and a kiss on the cheek as if we haven’t seen each other in years, instead of yesterday in class. Right now, it feels pretty nice.
    Stewart is tall and gorgeous, with thick dark hair and an athlete’s body from so many years on the football field. For years Gram tried to get us together, always dropping hints around Valentine’s Day and just about had a heart attack when he asked me to Homecoming senior year. She says she can’t understand why we couldn’t work it out and in a lot of ways she’s right–Stewart would be the perfect boyfriend. If it wasn’t for the gay. Being openly gay at Garvin State is rough. Being openly gay in Grand Junction is impossible.
    “Why so glum?” he asks, making a sad face.
    “Nothing.”
    “A boy?”
    “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
    “I can tell,” he says, putting one arm around me. “Which is all the more reason why we need to. I think this study session needs a pizza and a pitcher of beer,” he says, opening the door for me. “Philosophy is always so much more meaningful with a buzz on.”
    I lean against him as we walk in the building. This isn’t the first time he’s been the one to help me through a bad date or a bad relationship. I wouldn’t have survived the Jake experience without him. “Men suck.”
    An evil grin crosses Stewart’s face as we head for the stairs. “Oh Sweetie. Only the good ones do.

     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven (Ty)
     
    I’m standing in line at the coffee kiosk when one of the few black guys on campus walks by. I wasn’t totally kidding before—half the football team is black, but other than that, an insane percentage of this school is lily-white, something that’s taken a long time to get used to. I see the guys together in twos and threes sometimes, but I usually avoid them for the same reason I was avoiding Nina. Reflexively, I nod at him, but he looks right through me and I realize with a jolt that he only sees me as another of the thousands of white guys that populate campus. There’s no hint of recognition, no quick handshake like at home. It’s what I’ve been trying to do since I