The ringing of the bell told me another grueling day was over. If exams weren’t around the corner I probably would have skipped classes all together and just hibernated in my dorm room, but alas that was a luxury I couldn’t afford today. I just didn’t know what was wrong with me anymore. Ever since Brandon and I had broken up I’ve just been in a funk, nothing was the same.

Once class was over I made the long trip back to the dorms. But first I made a quick stop at the cafeteria so I could pick up a salad. I probably wouldn’t eat it, but I got it just in case.

“Hey Feldman,” came a voice from behind.

I looked around, but didn’t recognize anyone. I turned to leave when a scrawny but cute guy came up to me.

“Hey, Feldman right? It’s Andy,” I struggled to place him but my mind drew a blank. He noticed and graciously helped me fill in the blank “I’m Brandon’s friend we met that one time at the ski resort,” his face seemed hopeful that I would remember him.

I still couldn’t place him, but to make things less awkward I played along, “Yeah hey sorry of course Andy.” His face lit up and I felt so bad that I still couldn’t remember who he was, but hopefully it would come to me. “It’s Mark, you can call me Mark, Brandon was the only one who called me Feldman and we’re no longer together.”

It might have just been me, but for some reason I sensed he was not too upset to hear that Brandon and I had separated. I smiled and started to make my way out the door and he followed close behind.

“Oh sorry to hear that,” his feigned sympathy made me laugh, and he laughed with me although he wasn’t sure why.

“Yeah thanks,” I said sarcastically not sure what else to say to this stranger. “Well I was headed up to my room, so I’ll see you around.” I said.

“Please, hold on a sec,” before I could refuse he rushed off to get his books and together we exited the cafeteria. “I was headed back to the dorms myself, you don’t mind if I walk with you do you?”

His puppy dog eyes were too much for me to resist and so I shook my head yes and we made our way to the dorms. The whole way he didn’t stop talking. He told me about everything, his roommate, his classes, his career goals, anything and everything. I listened content to have a distraction from my heartbreak.

He walked with me all the way to my room. I hesitated at first, but asked him in anyway. I was fortunate to live in one of the singles, although from the look of it you would have thought I had ten guys living here, the place was a total disaster. I apologized for the mess, but he told me not to worry, he understood. Instead of being a jerk about it he was sweet enough to give me a hand in tidying up a little. He opened the blinds and the windows to let fresh air and sunlight in. It was like I was looking at my room for the first time.

Once my room was somewhat presentable, I took my shoes off and sat on my bed, cautiously he joined me and he started talking again. Being so close to him I couldn’t help