Chapter 139 Chapter 139

Chapter 139 Chapter 139
But still, he felt something deep inside of him hum at the thought. Of standing in a stadium fifty times the size of this one, of facing the best, the very fucking best. 
He loved rugby; the problem was, he loved Denis more.
So Ravi nodded. Repeating to Thomas that it was a big decision, then trailing off. His godfather did not push; instead, he easily started talking about tomorrow’s game. It really wasn’t all that serious, playing against the Huffle team, but it would be good for the university spirit, bringing people together one last time before summer break.
Ravi wondered if he could maybe ask Denis about the summer. He would have nothing to do, nowhere to go. If the blonde would let him, maybe he could be with him. Go for runs when he has meetings, and cook some dinner in the evenings. And in the night, he’d set up a bath for the blonde, would put in that vanilla soap he liked so much, and some salt. He’d make sure Denis got taken care of after his long days, would rub his shoulders, smooth out any lines creasing his forehead. If there was a brewing want – and Ravi thought there would be – he’d take Denis apart sweetly. Would help him unwind until he was dripping off the bed, those endless limbs like liquid.
Maybe he could ask Denis? Maybe he could do that now? 
Mine. Yours.
After a few more words to Thomas, he hurried out, giving his godfather one last hug that was probably just on the wrong side of too tight. Not that the man minded, he just laughed with his whole body, reaching to mess his hair. 
“Off you go, pup.” Thomas smiled at him, a soft one that made his face look quite handsome. 
Ravi almost answered: yes dad. 

Badger's Dormitory is located outside the castle walls, much like Whitman's Dormitory. It's not directly near Whitman's Dormitory, as it's on the other side of the castle, but their foundations are quite similar. Worn on the outside, but clean and cosy on the inside. Dark wooden beams cut through the ceiling in the entrance hall, patchy stone work ran up a wall, and a staircase zigzagged up four storeys. The party was held on the first floor in a common room. The room was large with several scruffy sofas scattered about, as well as a dozen low tables. Each plywood table was chipped at its edges, the legs not quite even. The red cups littering the low tables would fall whenever someone put weight on the side with the short leg, making a right mess. A random eruption of applause would sound whenever someone flipped another cup, the students harmonising in a holler before calling for paper, and fast.
There was a large kitchen along the far-off wall, three stoves, and a long counter running down the middle. Ravi was standing next to the counter, talking to Sam. The girl had jumped up on the fake marble countertop. Her legs were kicking back and forth, her hand clasped around a red cup as she told Ravi about her latest meet-up with Renea.
She said they’d made a habit of meeting up to study, or sometimes to just talk. She was interesting, Sam had proclaimed. Sharp in an unsettling way. The girl could look at people and read their insecurities from the way they held themselves. Today they had lounged by the lake, the sun large as it hung in the sky, the summer bringing the glowing orb closer to earth. Renea had told her about the student council, asking Sam if she wouldn’t apply next year. We could use a stubborn know-it-all like you, she’d said.
Ravi thought it might be a brilliant idea. Sam was hardworking, the brightest girl he’d ever met. If someone were to make good, lasting changes, it would be her. There was no hesitation in his mind; if Sam wanted to try for president of the student council, then prime minister, then conqueror of the world, she would succeed. When she had her mind set on something, she was more frightening than Renea could ever be. 
They were lucky she was one of the good ones. Someone who cared for people more than glory and position. Ravi felt his heart swell knowing he’d somehow made himself worthy to have her as a friend. 
Sebastian joined after a while, the redhead grabbing Ravi around the neck and forcing a kiss on his cheek. His breath smelled of whiskey. He then walked towards Sam, big hands fitting around her waist as he placed himself between her swinging legs. The brown-haired girl just beamed at the drunken redhead, cranking her neck slightly backward to stare into his face.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” Sebastian muttered, a slight drawl to his voice, a clear indication that he was, in fact, quite tipsy. 
Sam laughed as if delighted. Placing her hands on his cheeks before giving him a quick peck on the nose.
“And you are drunk, Sebastian.”
Sebastian pouted. “Not too drunk to snog you.”
“There are children here,” Ravi said loudly, though the smile gracing his face didn’t quite seem to want to leave. “And I will scream.”
“You’re no child.” Sebastian whirled around, pointing a finger in Ravi’s general direction. Scratch tipsy, Sebastian was downright drunk. “And if you are, you're the biggest toddler I’ve seen in my entire life.”
Ravi made a face. Sam’s laughter sounded like a thousand bells. 
He left both of them to their devices. Clearly, they would be that couple making out during a party. Had it been last year, Sam would have never, but now, she seemed a lot freer. He thought again of how Denis had conSherlockd her to drop law, had made her see what everybody else was seeing. Pride flared in his chest, thinking about the blonde; he was something else. 
Meandering around the packed room, he bumped into a broad-shouldered girl, striking up a conversation with her and her friends. They were all quite muscular, and after a minute or two, he figured out they were in the girl’s rugger team, the Huffles. He grinned, telling them they'd better watch out tomorrow. The girls just lowered their eyebrows, sniggering while shooting back that they’d won the last three years. They weren’t about to start losing. 
“Though I must say you lads are kind of frightfully big this year. What the hell do they give you? Steroids for breakfast?”