Benny moves to the other side of the door. I don’t know how long he’s been there, but eventually, he says, “I think they went inside Jack’s room.” He looks to Rhett. “Can you help me bring Chase back to our room?”

“Not like I can go back,” Rhett says.

Benny hisses.

“I want to hear what they’re talking about,” I say.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Benny says, but I’m already out the door, barreling toward Jack and Rhett’s room.

Pressing my ear against the door, I don’t hear anything. At first. Then:

Callum: “So you’re a fucking fag?”

Jack: “Come on, Cal. That’s messed up.” [crying sounds]

Callum: “Do your parents know?”

Jack: “No, please don’t tell them.”

Callum: “For fuck’s sake, Jack, you’re hooking up with that fat kid and, what, I’m supposed to pretend like it’s no big deal.”

My heart sinks so deep in my chest, it might as well fall out the bottom. Jack will defend me, right? He has to. He loves me.

Callum: “I don’t even know you, bro. But I can’t lie to your parents. I won’t.”

Jack: “You’re my best friend. Please.”

Callum: “Am I?”

Jack: “What does that mean?”

Callum: “I told you when you were fifteen and you tried to kiss me that if you ever pulled that shit again, I would seriously …” [unintelligible words]

Jack: “Cal, come on, we were kids!”

Callum: “Your dad is like my dad. If I didn’t think it’d destroy him to know his son takes it up the ass, I would tell him right now.”

Neither of them says anything for a few minutes. I don’t realize I’m weeping until Benny puts his hand on my shoulder to steady me.

Jack: “I’m the same goddamn person, Cal.”

Callum: “You love him or something?”

That’s when I peel myself away. I can’t listen anymore.

Neither Benny nor Rhett says anything as we walk down the hall.

Rounding the corner toward the exit, we run right into Leila.

I can’t catch a break tonight.

“Chase, oh my god, are you okay?” she says, rushing to me. She looks to Benny and Rhett. “What happened?”

I can’t say it out loud.

“Shit, you’re shook.” She looks me up and down. I want to leave, but there’s something comforting about her being here that I can’t put my finger on. She takes out her phone and holds up a finger in dramatic Leila fashion.

“Hey, girl, yeah, I know it’s been a minute. Listen, I’m not calling for me. It’s Chase. Something happened. I don’t know, but how fast can you get here? Okay. Thanks.” Hanging up, she turns to Benny. “Rae is gonna meet you at your dorm.”