Cameroon"Are you going to do something tonight?" I asked Evans once we were done with the pizza.Evans grinned. "And by something, you meanโ""Sexual things?" I said."Don't know. What do you have in mind?"The reply surprised me. "You are the master; how am I supposed to suggest?"Evans burst into laughter."You are taking this way too seriously. Alright, I will take you some solace. My roommate will be in the dorm tonight."I felt giddy with excitement. I followed him out as we walked to his car.He stopped by the side of the lake that already shone silver as a full moon hung above. The engine died, and he turned toward Jonathan."Let's take a walk."I nodded and got out of the car."When the weather is hot, people come here for a quick dip," he explained. "But I like it because it's so quiet the rest of the time."Evans kept his hands in his pockets, and we walked side by side, our shoulders almost touching. We stopped inches from the shore."Come here," Evans said to me.He grabb
CameroonThe stars seemed brighter out here, away from the buzz and glow of the city. Evans and I lay side by side on the soft grass, the occasional breeze rustling through the leaves around us. The air smelled faintly of salt and earth, and for once, the silence between us wasnโt strained or awkward. It wasโฆ peaceful.Still, the words heโd said earlier gnawed at me, and before I could stop myself, they tumbled out. โWhat did you mean when you said I was naive?โEvans turned his head slightly to look at me, his face illuminated by the faint silver light of the moon. He chuckled, the sound low and warm. โYou really want to know?โโWould I have asked if I didnโt?โ I shot back, trying to mask the nerves in my voice.He shifted, propping himself up on one elbow as he looked down at me. โYou agreed to do whatever I said, out in the open,โ he said, his tone teasing but laced with something elseโsomething sharper. โWhat if Iโd been trying to record you? Blackmail you? Or what if someone had
CameroonEvans glanced over at me as we cruised down the highway, the soft hum of the car engine mingling with the low thrum of the playlist he'd queued upโan eclectic mix of indie rock and lo-fi beats that somehow suited the mood perfectly. In his hand was a sleek, black Cartier box, and when he flipped it open, the sunlight caught on an intricate necklace with a tiny diamond pendant that was subtle yet stunning.โDo you think your sister will like this?โ he asked casually, like he wasnโt holding a small fortune in his hand.I gasped, nearly spilling my water bottle. โYou bought her Cartier?โHe raised an eyebrow, his calm demeanor unwavering. โIs that a problem?โโProblem? No. Butโโ I stammered, trying to find the right words. โYou didnโt need to buy something so expensive! Itโs a wedding, not the Oscars.โEvans looked genuinely confused. โIsnโt that the point? Weddings are a big deal. You said she was important to you, soโฆโ He trailed off, as if the logic of his actions was so obvi
Cameroon- The rehearsal dinner was exactly the kind of event Sarah would throwโintimate, well-organized, and warm. The room buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses as friends and family shared stories about the bride and groom. Sarah beamed, her fiancรฉ Greg by her side, radiating that glow people always talk about when someoneโs truly happy.I had been roped into making a toast, which wasnโt surprising since Sarah loved to put me on the spot. Standing with my glass raised, I took a deep breath and let the words flow naturally.โSarah has always been the bossy one,โ I began, earning a wave of laughter. โBut itโs only because she cares so much about everyone around her. Greg, youโre a lucky guyโthough youโll soon realize youโre also the second most important man in her life after her old Camry.โ That got another laugh, even from Sarah. โIn all seriousness, Sarah, you deserve all the happiness in the world, and I know Greg is the one whoโs going to give it to you. To Sarah and Greg.โ
Cameroon -โLord Jesus, deliver this boy from the clutches of temptation,โ she intoned, her voice rising in dramatic fervor. โCleanse his soul and restore his path!โEvans blinked, looking more amused than alarmed, though he wisely said nothing. I rolled my eyes so hard it was a miracle I didnโt sprain something. โMom, heโs not possessed. Heโs just here for the wedding and food.""Food?" she repeated, narrowing her eyes at me. โIs that what theyโre calling it these days?โโMom!โโDonโt โMomโ me, Cameroon Ezekiel Anderson!โ She snapped, her voice full of righteous indignation. โThis boy has brought the devilโs temptation into this house, and I will not have it!โโOkay, thatโs enough,โ I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. โEvans isnโt the devil, and you know I am gay. Can you please calm down?โBut she wasnโt having it. โCalm down?โ she echoed, throwing her hands in the air. โYou are sinning. I don't know what to do with you."Thankfully, Sarah swooped in like a true hero, taking my
Cameroon -Evans leaned back in his chair, his drink cradled in one hand as he considered my question. โWhat else do you want to know, Cameroon?โโSomething interesting,โ I challenged, resting my chin on my hand. โLike...whatโs the most unexpected thing about you?โHe smirked. โUnexpected, huh? I once joined a poetry slam in high school.โMy eyebrows shot up. โYou? Poetry?โHe nodded, clearly enjoying my disbelief. โDonโt look so shocked. I didnโt win, but I didnโt completely embarrass myself either.โโOkay, now you have to recite something,โ I teased, leaning closer.โAbsolutely not,โ he said firmly, shaking his head. โThat chapter of my life is closed.โโCome on,โ I prodded. โJust one line. I promise I wonโt laugh.โโYouโre lying. Youโll laugh."โFine,โ I admitted, grinning. โI might laugh, but I won't tell anyone."I made a zipping motion across my lips, doing my best to look serious.Evans straightened in his chair, his expression growing intense as he began:โThe moon whispers se
Cameroon -I was extremely drunk, stumbling around the bar. Eventually I collapsed onto a nearby chair and groaned at Evans."You'll have to drag me." I said. "I can't walk anymore. I can't take it." He laughed."Hop on my back." He said. I sat up and raised my eyebrows at him. I was probably twice his weight. He saw me looking at him dubiously and laughed."What? Don't you trust me?" He said."Dude, there's no way." I stood up and sighed, ready to start walking again. I sighed and hopped on the chair."Give it a go then." I said. He turned his back to me, and I clambered on him, wrapping my legs around his waist. Huh. He didn't immediately collapse. Stronger than he looked. He managed a few steps almost with ease, but I could see a vein on his neck straining, and while I think he was trying to hide it, his breath was getting heavier."Ahh... Evans..." I whispered."Mmm?" He grunted."Would you pretty please put me down if I asked very nicely?""Well." He smiled. "If you ask nicely."
The party was already in full swing when I arrivedโa perfect mix of too loud, too crowded, and somehow still tolerable because I knew most of the faces. It was one of those gatherings where you could barely take a step without running into someone you knew from class or sports or the local cafรฉ down the street. But as was always the case at these gatherings, the people you couldnโt stand also showed up.And of all the people I couldnโt stand, Evans Blake was at the very top of my list.I spotted him the second I walked in. Tall, bespectacled, and every bit as infuriating as he was during our university debates. He stood by the bar, gesticulating wildly to a group of people who were all nodding along to whatever self-important crap he was spewing. God, I hated him.It wasnโt just that we were on the debate team together and that we were constantly butting heads. Evans had a knack to argue about everything. And by "everything," I mean everythingโfrom the theory of utilitarianism to whic
Cameroon -I was extremely drunk, stumbling around the bar. Eventually I collapsed onto a nearby chair and groaned at Evans."You'll have to drag me." I said. "I can't walk anymore. I can't take it." He laughed."Hop on my back." He said. I sat up and raised my eyebrows at him. I was probably twice his weight. He saw me looking at him dubiously and laughed."What? Don't you trust me?" He said."Dude, there's no way." I stood up and sighed, ready to start walking again. I sighed and hopped on the chair."Give it a go then." I said. He turned his back to me, and I clambered on him, wrapping my legs around his waist. Huh. He didn't immediately collapse. Stronger than he looked. He managed a few steps almost with ease, but I could see a vein on his neck straining, and while I think he was trying to hide it, his breath was getting heavier."Ahh... Evans..." I whispered."Mmm?" He grunted."Would you pretty please put me down if I asked very nicely?""Well." He smiled. "If you ask nicely."
Cameroon -Evans leaned back in his chair, his drink cradled in one hand as he considered my question. โWhat else do you want to know, Cameroon?โโSomething interesting,โ I challenged, resting my chin on my hand. โLike...whatโs the most unexpected thing about you?โHe smirked. โUnexpected, huh? I once joined a poetry slam in high school.โMy eyebrows shot up. โYou? Poetry?โHe nodded, clearly enjoying my disbelief. โDonโt look so shocked. I didnโt win, but I didnโt completely embarrass myself either.โโOkay, now you have to recite something,โ I teased, leaning closer.โAbsolutely not,โ he said firmly, shaking his head. โThat chapter of my life is closed.โโCome on,โ I prodded. โJust one line. I promise I wonโt laugh.โโYouโre lying. Youโll laugh."โFine,โ I admitted, grinning. โI might laugh, but I won't tell anyone."I made a zipping motion across my lips, doing my best to look serious.Evans straightened in his chair, his expression growing intense as he began:โThe moon whispers se
Cameroon -โLord Jesus, deliver this boy from the clutches of temptation,โ she intoned, her voice rising in dramatic fervor. โCleanse his soul and restore his path!โEvans blinked, looking more amused than alarmed, though he wisely said nothing. I rolled my eyes so hard it was a miracle I didnโt sprain something. โMom, heโs not possessed. Heโs just here for the wedding and food.""Food?" she repeated, narrowing her eyes at me. โIs that what theyโre calling it these days?โโMom!โโDonโt โMomโ me, Cameroon Ezekiel Anderson!โ She snapped, her voice full of righteous indignation. โThis boy has brought the devilโs temptation into this house, and I will not have it!โโOkay, thatโs enough,โ I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. โEvans isnโt the devil, and you know I am gay. Can you please calm down?โBut she wasnโt having it. โCalm down?โ she echoed, throwing her hands in the air. โYou are sinning. I don't know what to do with you."Thankfully, Sarah swooped in like a true hero, taking my
Cameroon- The rehearsal dinner was exactly the kind of event Sarah would throwโintimate, well-organized, and warm. The room buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses as friends and family shared stories about the bride and groom. Sarah beamed, her fiancรฉ Greg by her side, radiating that glow people always talk about when someoneโs truly happy.I had been roped into making a toast, which wasnโt surprising since Sarah loved to put me on the spot. Standing with my glass raised, I took a deep breath and let the words flow naturally.โSarah has always been the bossy one,โ I began, earning a wave of laughter. โBut itโs only because she cares so much about everyone around her. Greg, youโre a lucky guyโthough youโll soon realize youโre also the second most important man in her life after her old Camry.โ That got another laugh, even from Sarah. โIn all seriousness, Sarah, you deserve all the happiness in the world, and I know Greg is the one whoโs going to give it to you. To Sarah and Greg.โ
CameroonEvans glanced over at me as we cruised down the highway, the soft hum of the car engine mingling with the low thrum of the playlist he'd queued upโan eclectic mix of indie rock and lo-fi beats that somehow suited the mood perfectly. In his hand was a sleek, black Cartier box, and when he flipped it open, the sunlight caught on an intricate necklace with a tiny diamond pendant that was subtle yet stunning.โDo you think your sister will like this?โ he asked casually, like he wasnโt holding a small fortune in his hand.I gasped, nearly spilling my water bottle. โYou bought her Cartier?โHe raised an eyebrow, his calm demeanor unwavering. โIs that a problem?โโProblem? No. Butโโ I stammered, trying to find the right words. โYou didnโt need to buy something so expensive! Itโs a wedding, not the Oscars.โEvans looked genuinely confused. โIsnโt that the point? Weddings are a big deal. You said she was important to you, soโฆโ He trailed off, as if the logic of his actions was so obvi
CameroonThe stars seemed brighter out here, away from the buzz and glow of the city. Evans and I lay side by side on the soft grass, the occasional breeze rustling through the leaves around us. The air smelled faintly of salt and earth, and for once, the silence between us wasnโt strained or awkward. It wasโฆ peaceful.Still, the words heโd said earlier gnawed at me, and before I could stop myself, they tumbled out. โWhat did you mean when you said I was naive?โEvans turned his head slightly to look at me, his face illuminated by the faint silver light of the moon. He chuckled, the sound low and warm. โYou really want to know?โโWould I have asked if I didnโt?โ I shot back, trying to mask the nerves in my voice.He shifted, propping himself up on one elbow as he looked down at me. โYou agreed to do whatever I said, out in the open,โ he said, his tone teasing but laced with something elseโsomething sharper. โWhat if Iโd been trying to record you? Blackmail you? Or what if someone had
Cameroon"Are you going to do something tonight?" I asked Evans once we were done with the pizza.Evans grinned. "And by something, you meanโ""Sexual things?" I said."Don't know. What do you have in mind?"The reply surprised me. "You are the master; how am I supposed to suggest?"Evans burst into laughter."You are taking this way too seriously. Alright, I will take you some solace. My roommate will be in the dorm tonight."I felt giddy with excitement. I followed him out as we walked to his car.He stopped by the side of the lake that already shone silver as a full moon hung above. The engine died, and he turned toward Jonathan."Let's take a walk."I nodded and got out of the car."When the weather is hot, people come here for a quick dip," he explained. "But I like it because it's so quiet the rest of the time."Evans kept his hands in his pockets, and we walked side by side, our shoulders almost touching. We stopped inches from the shore."Come here," Evans said to me.He grabb
Cameroon -Evans opened the door to his dorm, leaning against the frame like he wasnโt the one whoโd summoned me over in the first place. He tilted his head slightly, a faint crease between his brows, and asked, โDid you have dinner?โThe question caught me off guard. Out of all the things I thought he might say. Did you have dinner? wasnโt on my list.โNo,โ I replied after a beat, narrowing my eyes in confusion. โWhy?โHe pushed off the doorframe, like my answer had confirmed some grand suspicion, and pulled the door shut behind him with a firm click. โLetโs eat something,โ he said simply.I blinked. โWhat?โโDinner. Food.โ He gestured vaguely with his hand, like this was the most normal thing in the world. โYou know, so you donโt starve and keel over in the middle of the hallway.โI stared at him. โI wasnโt planning on keeling over anywhere.โHe ignored that, already walking down the hall, leaving me standing there, baffled. โAre you coming, or are you just going to stand there look
Cameroon - โCam, come on! Live a little,โ Dexter pleaded, sprawled dramatically across my bed like he was auditioning for a soap opera. His signature hoodie was half-zipped, and he had a bag of chips in one hand, gesturing with it for emphasis.โIโm serious, Dexter,โ I said, not looking up from my laptop. โI have at least three assignments due this week. If I blow off another day, Iโm doomed.โโAssignments are always due. Youโll be doomed regardless,โ he shot back, crunching a chip. โBut this party? Itโs a once-in-a-lifetime experience.โโEvery party you drag me to is supposedly a once-in-a-lifetime experience,โ I muttered.โBecause it is!โ Dexter argued, sitting up. โWho knows? You might meet the love of your life there.โI snorted. โLove of my life? You mean like Trixie?โDexter tossed a pillow at me, though he was grinning. โHey, donโt knock it! Trixie and I are in a good place right now. Weโre, like, spiritually connected.โโSure,โ I said dryly. โVery spiritually connected, espec