Somewhere Else

Stubborn

Shawn Matherly was a horrible cook. The water had completely boiled out of the pot for which he had been using to make spaghetti. Shawn looked at the uncooked spaghetti on the counter with a sigh. Maybe they could just order out again?

Jacob Davis walked into the kitchen of their apartment and scrunched his nose.

"What did you burn?" Jacob said looking at the empty pot.

"Water?" Shawn shrugged.

Jacob shook his head in disbelief.

"I'll just take Mary out to eat or grab something on my way over," Jacob said grabbing his keys off the table.

Shawn shrugged back at him as he refilled the pot with water. He felt envy rise up in his chest. Jacob had been dating Mary Frost for almost a year now while Shawn had been dating random girls on campus. None of them had quite held his interest.

"I can pick you up something on the way back?" Jacob offered.

"Nah, I'm good," Shawn said shortly. His agitation was brimming over.

Shawn was not cut out to be a college student. The late nights of studying and poor dietary conditions were not what he had imagined.

When he had moved into this posh apartment with Jacob he had envisioned off the wall parties and hot college girls. Instead he got a blind dog, black cat, and a best friend that had eyes for only one high school girl. Shawn liked Mary well enough. She was funny, intelligent and got along well with him. Shawn just felt a jealousy that Jacob seemed to have found the girl of his dreams already.

College was supposed to be about discovery and mistakes and opportunities. Jacob seemed to have already figured that out though. Shawn had yet to declare a major while Jacob quickly enrolled in the Veterinary Science program. 

"It's no trouble. Just text me if you change your mind," Jacob smiled.

Shawn felt a twinge of guilt for having the resentful feelings gnawing at him. Jacob had always been nice to him. He let him stay in the apartment rent free.

"I am not going to let this spaghetti beat me," Shawn told him with a wink. He tried to shake off his negative mood. Shawn blew his blonde hair out of his face. He placed the pot back on the eye of the stove again.

"Suit yourself," Jacob said looking down at his phone with a crooked grin.

"Still good for Will's bonfire this weekend?" Shawn asked as Jacob typed away at his phone. Jacob was no doubt talking to Mary with that goofy grin pulling at his face.

"Yeah, for sure," Jacob nodded moving towards the door.

"Mary too?" Shawn said carefully. It wasn't Mary that Shawn was worrying about seeing though.

"Yeah, I thought she was in that group chat," Jacob said clearly searching his phone for the group conversation. Shawn cringed. Yes, Mary had of course responded to Will but it was Julia Elliot who remained elusive.

"So I guess our whole little camping gang will be there, huh?" Shawn said feeling his heart pick up a beat.

"If Mary can talk Julia into it, I guess so," Jacob said with a mischievous grin.

"Why would she need to talk her into it?" Shawn said quickly. Too quickly.

Jacob's evil grin widened.

"Still got the hots for future Ivy League?" Jacob said leaning against the counter.

"No, just wondering," Shawn said trying to focus on the water that was beginning to emit tiny bubbles.