Chapter 3

And when the class was over, Mr. Birch himself was waiting in the hallway, stopping me. "Hank was saying you were being noisy at night and refused to bring your roommates breakfast. I know you have good grades, Carl, but read the room."

"That’s all just based on what he said?" I shot back.

"Zac said that you're behaving poorly too. That's two out of three roommates—I can’t just turn a blind eye."

Zac, who was nearby, threw his hands up right then. "I didn't say that, sir. I just said that he was in a bad mood and inconsiderate, so the peace in the room was affected."

I wheeled on him. "What do you mean inconsiderate?"

Zac rolled his eyes. "Calm down, I'm defending you here. And Mr. Birch isn't scolding you—he's just giving advice."

"Mr. Birch!"

Hank quickly chimed as he arrived, "Carl is always bragging about his scholarship, telling us to obey him because he's the overachiever in the room! He would snap at us if we made a sound, and I asked him to help buy me breakfast, but he refused, even dumping his Coke all over!"

"You did that," I growled.

Zac snorted. "Do you have proof? Don't run your mouth if you don't. You bought that can, and it's on you."

Mr. Birch was left rubbing his brow. "Alright, it's no big deal. Carl, just be a friend and play nice with your roommates. It's going to stay that way for a while, so don't make a fuss."

So, they didn't even have to plan their lie—they just had to make it sound true, and the rest was me caving to their whims.

As we left the building, Zac chased after me and hissed, "Why did you have to talk back to Mr. Birch? Just play along, and there won't be any issue."

I snorted. "And why did you take Hank's side?"

"I'm not taking sides. I was just stating facts—you were affecting the peace in the room."

"And you didn't mention him cranking up the volume on his speakers past midnight."

"Would that solve anything?" he replied, shrugging but averting his eyes. "Hank's a hothead, and you know that. Tolerance is the best solution to all problems. And don't you see? Has your stubbornness done you anything good?"

I kept staring at him. "Then why don't you tolerate him?"

"I have no quarrel with him. I'm really doing this for your sake, and you had better learn soon."

-

In the evening, Hank took everyone to an expensive restaurant outside campus, saying he was giving me a chance to make peace.

Taking the menu, he quickly ordered, "Grilled branzino, rack of lamb, clam chowder, and four beers. Oh, and a plate of beef ribs."

Ben asked softly, "Isn't that too much?"

"So what?"

I snatched the menu out of his hands. "Says who?"

Hank slouched in his chair and snorted. "You're affecting the room. Shouldn't you do that much? What, are you trying to play dumb when Mr. Birch just chewed you out?"

Zac snatched the menu back. "Don't make this awkward. With this dinner, everyone can make peace—it's much better than being chewed out again."

"I paid for the dinner before too. None of you paid me back."

"That again. Don't you get bored of mentioning it for six months, buzzkill? Don't you get tired of living like this?"

And before long, the dishes were served, Hank gorged himself on the most expensive ones and ordered two more plates of it halfway.

He then spat out fish bones and beckoned at the waiter. "He's paying. Don't bother me."

I didn't move as I said, "We're splitting the check."

"Don't you start," Hank snorted, waving his glass at me. "You're the one apologizing, and you want us to pay?"

"I didn't do anything wrong."

"No? Even the counselor said you're affecting the room. So pay up, and do what I say from now on, then we can put everything behind us."

Ben then slammed his fork down. "Carl, I need to retake my exams tomorrow, and I don't need this nonsense. Just apologize now—anything else can wait."

"So not sleeping last night was my fault too?"

He pointedly avoided my eyes. "Quit fussing over the past."

Hank then held his glass in my face. "There! Mr. Scholarship is learning to behave. Cheers!"

I could feel my stomach getting queasy.

Still, he'd better remember this…