The sprawling campus did nothing to ease my nerves.

A colossal central building stood at the centre. A taller building to my right consisted of the hostel rooms. I wasn't sure if I was going to continue living in the hostel, but for now, it would have to do.

The thought of sharing living space with a stranger was making me nervous. My plan basically consisted of keeping my head low and keeping interaction to a minimum. I followed the admission office sign where I was supposed to deposit the fees and get my schedule. I wasn't sure how different my classes would be as a mature student. I took the staircase up to the first floor where the office was located and found myself in a sleek, long white hall with glass doors on either sides. I started walking and passed a number of rooms, 'Registrar,' 'Accounts', 'Student Welfare'.

I finally reached the glass door with 'Admission Office' labelled on it and took a deep breath. Inside was another sleek white room, the gentle sound of the air conditioner floating in the air. A few closely placed cubicles stood in front of the walls. I walked over to the first one where a middle-aged man with a neatly ironed check shirt was gazing intently at a sheet of paper in his hand.

"Er...I am here for admission," I bit my lip at how lame I sounded.

He gazed at me. "Your name?"

"Xavier Easton."

He reached for his drawer and opened it, searching for something before he took out a manila folder and handed it to me. I deposited the fees as he attached the receipt to my admission letter and handed it back to me. I waited while he went over his computer system. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, trying to take deep steady breaths. This was the normal world. This was a place where I would just be Xavier. I wasn't used to being just Xavier with anyone except Gray.

My heart lurched painfully at the thought of him.

After a few minutes, he handed me the folder and gave me a swift smile. "Your room number is one hundred one. On the eleventh floor."

I nodded and took the file from him as he continued.

"You should proceed to the auditorium. The commencement address will take place soon."

I took my leave and walked straight towards the elevator. No way in hell was I going to be in the public eye any longer than I had to. I pressed the elevator button and walked inside, slumping against the cold metal the moment that the doors shut close. I already hated it.

Everything was so raw. Everyone would know me. I couldn't put up the facade.

The eleventh floor was a long hallway identical to the one I had just returned from. Several doors stood on either side of me. I started walking ahead, my heart thundering in my chest. I hoped that whoever my roommate was, would still be at the orientation and I could wallow in peace. However, my prayers were unanswered.

I took a deep breath and turned the handle of the dark brown door which led to my room. It was locked. A minute later, the door opened and a tall guy beamed at me. "Hey there, Xavier?"

I gave him a weak smile, suddenly shrinking. The guy seemed to be even taller than Gray, who was three inches over six feet. "Yeah," I said. "I'm sorry I didn't check the room allotments."

"Jeremiah Hunt," he said, taking a step back to let me in. "They put the mature students together."

I nodded as I walked into the room. It was painfully small. Smaller that Gray's bedroom and looking even more compact because of the two beds on either side of the walls. Glancing to the left I saw that Jeremiah had already made himself at home. Photographs of some famous video games that I had no idea about were plastered onto the cream coloured walls. A wardrobe stood at the foot of each of our beds and a large shelf had been engraved into the wall near its head. A door stood on the opposite side which was currently shut. Gazing at it I realized that it led to a small balcony overlooking the campus.

I placed my backpack on the bed and the trolley near the foot of the bed. I sat on the mattress and awkwardly gazed around. "Er...nice room."

He started guffawing. His honest, open laughter was a pleasant surprise to me. "I see you're not really used to such kind of an arrangement."

I sighed. "That easy?"

He shrugged, his dark eyes twinkling. "It's alright really. The last time I went to school was elementary so-" he shrugged. "You can't be worse than me."

"Are you in the foundation course as well?" I asked. Not that I was looking to make friends, however, if we did have the same subjects, it might be easier to get along and even gain some support.

"Nope," he answered. "English," he grinned proudly. "I wanna be an author someday hopefully."

"That sounds kinda cool."

Silence fell as I gazed at my sneakers, dragging the toe across the floor. I felt like I had been stripped somehow. Maybe it would take some time for my confidence to return, but the wait was turning out to be excruciating.

"I'll go get some lunch at the cafe. Do you wanna accompany?" he asked hopefully. I felt bad for the guy. He was genuinely trying to help, and all I wanted to do was curl in a ball and think of Grayson and everything I had left behind.

"No, thank's I'm full," I gave him a smile, hoping that I wasn't sounding too rude.

Hi smile faltered a bit but he shook his head and it was back in place. "Alright man, take my number, call me if you change your mind."

Out of politeness I handed him my phone and let him save his number. He threw the phone back to me and gave me another swift smile and a tiny two fingered salute. "Alright, Easton. Will see you around."

He shut the door behind him and I immediately lay on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling. My head was throbbing, my chest empty. I glanced at the time and calculated that it would take at least an hour and a half for Gray to reach home. I shut my eyes, settling onto the mattress which was somehow cold. I had slept alone on my bed for most of my life, but the last few months with Gray had made me forget what an empty bed felt like.

I put on some soothing songs and shut my eyes, deciding to wait for a few hours before I called him. Sleep came mercifully quick and I drifted off. When I woke up, the sun was way past over head. I called Grayson, my heart racing in my chest in anticipation of hearing his voice. His phone rang. Rang. And rang.

Frustrated, I hung up, calling him again. Again. Again.

My blood ran cold. What if my attackers had got him too? I had to find out. I dialled the number for the Eastern Precinct which he had given me for an emergency. In my head, this counted as an emergency. A harsh, female voice answered on the third ring. "East Precinct, Harbour City."

Listening to the gruff voice made my words stumble. What if I was being paranoid? But I decided I was much better off being paranoid than sorry later on.

"Um...may I please speak to Grayson Shelby?"

The line fell quiet before she spoke. "Are you Xavier Easton?"

My heart leapt to my throat, "Yeah," I felt strange that she would know my name, but I wasn't going to waste precious time in talking to some stranger. "Could I please talk-?"

She sighed deeply and I felt a surge of anger. Who the fuck did she think she was?

"Shelby, it's your boyfriend."

My heart hammered in my chest. Did Gray tell them that I was his boyfriend? How else would they know? My blood ran cold when her voice was followed by multiple sniggers.

Grayson's voice answered after a few moments. "Xavier? What happened?"

I stuttered. Straight to the point. No salutation. This wasn't like him at all.

"Where the fuck were you? I called you a hundred times and you didn't pick up the phone." I tried hard to repress the anger in my voice.

I heard movement as he swore under his breath. "Shit, I'm sorry baby. It was on silent and I was having lunch-"

"Why the fuck were your colleagues laughing?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. "When she announced that it was me who called?"

"They're just messing around, Xav. They like to pull my leg," he sighed softly. "Also, you're really not supposed to call here till there's an emergency."

"I was fucking worried!" I said, my voice shaking. "You didn't fucking pick up yo-"

"I know, love," he answered gently. "I'm just telling you for future reference."

I hated his calm demeanour. I hated how understanding he was. I hated how my heart was yearning for him. I hated how much I was missing him. The agony was tangible, ripping me apart.

I bit my lower lip to keep it from trembling.

"Did you settle in?" he asked softly. "How's your roommate? Is he nice?"

I was quiet, turning so I was lying flat on my back and buried my face in the mattress. I was quiet. I had seen him just a few hours ago. Why was I so needy?

"Yeah. He's alright. Name's Jeremiah," I answered, my voice muffled. "Gray...I miss you."

"I miss you too, baby."

I wanted him close. I pressed my phone closer to my ear, hoping to somehow feel his warmth through it. I shut my eyes. "How far is Saturday?"

He chuckled softly. "Once you start classes, you won't know."

I sighed. "I seriously doubt that."

He was quiet. "Xav-"

"Shh."

I lay my face against the mattress, pressing the phone closer. I shut my eyes tightly, trying to listen to his quiet breathing.

"Xav?"

I whispered softly. "Let me listen to you."

He was quiet. I could almost picture his chest rising and falling gently. Like it did when he lay beside me. His hair, soft, tumbling messily on to his forehead. His sharp, defined jaw. My heart lurched painfully at the thought of his eyes.

Emerald that I could gaze into till my last breathe.

"Gray...I love you."

"I love you too, Xavier."

"Okay."

"I have to go, love."

I sucked in a breath. "Okay."

"I'll call you tonight."

"Mhm."

"Be right back."

I smiled softly. It was our rule to never say 'Bye.'

"Be right back."

He hung up and I groaned in frustration, burying my face in the mattress. I took a deep breath. I was in agony. I needed a distraction before the longing gnawed away at my insides and ripped me into pieces.

I called Jeremiah's number. I'd take whatever distraction came my way. He answered on the third ring. I took a deep breath.

"Hey, is your offer still open?"