"Not sure disappearing for a couple weeks is going to do great things for my ability to transfer."

"Yeah. That might be a problem." 

"I mean, I'm going to pass anyway assuming I show up for finals, my grades were really good because I didn't have anything else to do, but. 'Hits bottom and suddenly runs off to New Orleans to commit sodomy' is probably not a trait desired by the more selective schools."

(Across the room, Kaleva's phone buzzes twice.) 

"I guess." 

Kaleva should probably not rush over to go pick it up.

He is not that good at self-control.

I know you said you're okay and I've been trying not to bother you but kaleva I'm really worried about you 

where are you? 

new orleans

He feels so pathetically grateful that Chen might be concerned about him at all.

okay 

thank you 

I'm glad you're safe 

He shouldn't be, Kaleva is bad--

I'm a sodomite

and I had a crush on you and I was jealous and I'm sorry

you shouldn't talk to me

...where in new orleans 

charlotte labouff's house

I'm staying with a VK

He can't possibly let himself hope--

Maybe Chen just wants to punch him for being a sodomite. That would be fair. Even though it would make Sasha sad.

okay 

thank you 

please stay safe 

That. Does not sound like a message immediately prior to being punched.

I will

good 

And he kisses Ben and gets a ticket to New Orleans for that weekend. 

"I told Chen I was a sodomite."

"What did he say?" 

"He wanted to know where I was and then he told me to stay safe? I kind of thought he was going to punch me but it would be weird to say 'stay safe' if he was planning to punch me."

"So probably he doesn't want to punch you." 

"...It would make you sad if I let him punch me."

"— I mean yeah, probably, but not —" and he doesn't know what comes after that so he hugs Kaleva instead. 

"I want him to because then he would touch me."

He doesn't know what to say. He doesn't let go. 

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I just — don't know how to answer that."