Going with a little shorter story tonight. The goal is to get a full night’s sleep – especially since it feels like the heat might actually have lifted!

As I approached my dorm room at the end of the long corridor, I was grateful to see light coming from under the door – Aiden was still up. Not surprising – I was expecting him to be studying, what with midterms coming up.

I unlocked the door and let myself in. “Hey buddy,” I said.

“Hey Jacob,” he said over his shoulder as he sat at his desk.

“Sorry I’ve been a shitty roommate, bro. It’s just…”

“Ella,” he said with a smile. “Dude, I can’t blame you. Why would you hang out here when you could hang out with her?”

“I know, but I feel bad – we haven’t hung out in like a week.” I dropped the small duffel on my bed and started putting the dirty clothes in my hamper.

“Dude, seriously, it’s cool,” he turned completely in his chair.

“Let’s do something this weekend,” I offered. “Just the two of us – you want to drive up the coast and hit that surf spot off the point?”

“I’d like that,” Aiden said, turning to look at his surfboard leaned up against his bureau. Then added, “I need to see if I’m available, though.”

I laughed. “See if you’re available? Should I check with your secretary?”

“Screw you, man, I’ve got, you know, stuff…”

I stopped and turned to face him. “Stuff?”

“Stuff,” he said flatly.

A grin spread across my face. “Dude, what’s her name?”

“Who?”

“Whoever it is you’re going to see this weekend instead of surfing. You tell me!”

Aiden chuckled. “There’s no one…”

I was going to press him, but his demeanor had changed, he looked sad. “Alright, man. Text me, okay?”

“I will.”

I nodded at the book on his desk. “O chem?”

Aiden rolled his eyes. “Ugh,” he groaned.

“I’m telling you, man, Comp Sci doesn’t require O chem,” I threw a couple clean shirts in the duffel and grabbed some clean-ish underwear.

“I know…”

A knock came at the door.

Aiden and I looked at each other. “Expecting anyone?” I asked.

Aiden shook his head.

I shrugged and moved to the door. Opening it, I saw Mason, one of our RAs. “Hey Mason, what’s up man?”

His face was drawn, his eyes serious.

“Bro, what’s up?”

“I… I saw the light and hoped you were here. I didn’t want to text you…”

The look on his face started to make me nervous. “Dude, what’s up?”

“You haven’t heard?” he looked incredulous, his expression falling further.

“Heard what?”

“Aiden was in an accident. He was killed by a drunk driver two days ago.”

“The hell?” I said, confused. I turned to ask Aiden what Mason was talking about, but Aiden’s chair was empty, desk light off. I stared at the dark desk, at the empty chair…

“Daniel?” Mason asked gently.

I turned back to him, “I… he… We were just…”

“I’m sorry, man, I thought you already knew…”

I stared at Mason wordlessly, my brain unable to process.

Behind me came a crash that made both of us jump as Aiden’s surfboard crashed to the floor.