Chapter 5 Getting To Know You

ROBIN MCAVOY met Ellis Montgomery on his first day of

college. Ellis was waiting to see the registrar, and Rob was in line in front of him. Rob wouldn’t have taken notice at the time except Russell Davenport came out of the office and tripped over his own feet, crashing into Rob and pushing Rob into Ellis. The result was a pile of legs and arms and books and papers, and they all tried to right themselves and sort out the mess before they lost their place in line.

“Nice, Russ! Way to be smooth in front of the ladies,” Rob commented, noticing several girls nearby giggling and pointing.

“Sorry, I told you these shoes were too big.” Russell scrambled to retrieve his papers before passers-by stepped all over them.

“A half inch doesn’t negate agility. You either have it or you don’t.” Rob shook his head and offered a hand to the poor schlep he fell into. “Sorry about that, man. My friend isn’t used to walking on these legs yet.” Rob noticed the guy with hat-shaped black hair glanced at Russell’s legs as he took Rob’s offered assistance to his feet. “It’s a joke; they’re not prosthetics.” Rob snagged a ball cap off the floor and handed it back to him. “I’m Rob McAvoy. This is Russ.” He held out his hand again, more formally this time.

“Ellis Montgomery,” Ellis said, placing his hat on backward before clasping Rob’s hand.

 

“Are you changing classes already?” Rob asked, pointing to the change request form in Ellis’s hand.

 

“Yeah, one class conflicts with the fall soccer schedule. I can’t miss soccer.”

“Soccer? Cool!” Rob was genuinely excited.
“Are you on the team?” Ellis asked.

“Nah, too much running involved. I have asthma. Not bad, but enough to keep me from playing sports. I like to watch, though, or play FIFA for Xbox.”

“You play?” Ellis’s eyes sparked.

“Yeah. Maybe we can get up a tournament sometime. Russ loves to get beaten.” He reached over and rubbed the top of his friend’s head.

Russell shoved his hand away and protested, “Shut up! Just because I can’t get my guy to kick when the ball drops in front of him doesn’t mean I’m inept. It was the controller, not my player!”

“Yeah, yeah. Keep saying that and maybe one day I’ll believe you.” Rob looked to Ellis and asked, “Are you staying in the dorms on campus or the off-campus housing?”

Ellis frowned. “Neither. My parents can’t afford it. I got a partial scholarship for soccer so that covers two-thirds of my classes, but I can’t pay for housing. I’m commuting from my parents’ house.”

“Too bad. Well, anytime you want to crash, drop by. Russ and I are in the residence hall for freshmen.”

 

“Okay.”

“Listen, it’s my turn to go in.” He pointed to the open registrar’s office. “But I’d like to chat some more if you want to grab a cup of coffee with me later. What’cha say we meet outside this building in about thirty minutes?”

Ellis smiled. “Okay.”

 

“Are you so hard up for a date, McAvoy, that you’re asking a guy to meet you for coffee?”

Rob looked in the direction of the voice he recognized. “Bite me, Mike. I’m surprised to see you out and about. I thought you’d be in jail for knocking over that girl in the wheelchair.”

“They couldn’t prove it was intentional,” Mike said proudly.

Rob shook his head in disgust. “One day your malicious nature and aversion to people who aren’t like you is going to bite you in the rear.” To Ellis he said, “Ignore him. Mike’s got a God complex and feels the need to put others down to feel better about himself. Not to mention how jealous he is that I can get a date and he can’t.”

Ellis paled instantly. “W-what? I—”

Rob laughed. “Chill, man. I didn’t mean you. I’m only messing with Mike because I’ve known him forever. I assure you, I’m not gay.”

Mike piped up. “Are you sure about that, Boy Wonder? All those girls you’re friends with, and I hear you’re still a virgin.”

Rob wasn’t laughing with him. “Ha ha. Say whatever you want. But just because I don’t want to desecrate this temple”—Rob gestured to his body with a sweep of his hands—“doesn’t mean I’m homosexual; it just means I have higher standards than you.”

Russell looked positively ill. “Desecrate? Why would you want to desecrate on yourself? That’s disgusting.”

Rob rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in surrender. “Oh my God. I’m surrounded by morons.” He looked right at Russell and explained, “Desecrate… not defecate, Russ. You’re thinking of the word defecate.”

Russell snapped his fingers and smiled. “Oh! I knew that sounded wrong.”

 

Rob looked at Ellis. “These are the people I’m friends with. If you still want to have coffee with me, I’ll see you in thirty.” “Okay.” Ellis nodded in confirmation.

 

ELLIS sipped his coffee and asked, “So you knew Russ before you roomed with him?”

Rob smiled. “Yeah! Best friend since the third grade. Isn’t that cool! And being assigned the same dorm room was totally random.” He grinned and nodded at a girl who walked by. He forgot her name, but he knew she was in his literature class. The coffee house was frequented by most of the college, and being the person he was, Rob recognized many of the patrons. He came here often to have coffee, study, or just chill in a pleasant atmosphere. It was the best hangout spot around.

“That’s cool. I mean, unless you can’t stand being around him that often.”

Ellis seemed like a really easygoing guy, and Rob was really grateful for Russell’s two left feet. “No. It’s fine. Russ and I are together most of the time anyway. We hang out, play Xbox and card games, study, run the campus youth group together, practically everything.”

“Youth group?” Ellis asked.

Rob was used to being questioned about youth group, so he’d figured out quickly that honesty was the best policy and being up front about his life made having friendships easier. “Yup. It’s an oncampus ministry. Russ and I help organize activities for a married couple that lead Bible discussions,” Rob answered openly. “That’s how I know so many people that go here even though this semester just started. I was here a lot in May and June getting acquainted with the campus and learning the ropes from the guy who was graduating. They needed someone new, so Russ and I volunteered.”

“Oh.” Ellis’s eyes darkened. Rob was also used to skeptical confrontation and could tell there was more going on behind that simple grunt. He waited for Ellis to go on. After sipping his coffee, Ellis asked, “Bible? You mean like a Christian thing?”

People milled around the coffee shop and took no note of their conversation.

“Yeah,” Rob said, shrugging like it was no big deal. “But you don’t need to look like you’ve run into a satanic cult. We don’t sacrifice babies, and we don’t require your first born to join. It’s just a discussion group. This is a college campus—lots of people from all walks of life. Sometimes people want to know about Jesus, and I help with a group that facilitates that. No agenda. You come or you don’t—our friendship doesn’t depend on that.” Rob truly meant it, but Ellis still looked doubtful.

“Then… what does it depend on?”

Rob grinned and replied, “Honesty.” He felt the need to explain a little something about himself. “You see, Ellis, I read people. Not like magic or anything, and I don’t believe in clairvoyance. It’s more like I see things, feel things, and sometimes I get a sense of a person by a handshake. I can’t always explain it, but I do think it’s a gift from God. When I helped you up off the floor by the registrar’s office, I got these calm vibes off you, compelling me to get to know you more. I can’t base that on anything but a warm feeling I had in my gut, but trust me—I’m never wrong.” Rob held up his hand when he realized what he said. “I know that makes me sound gay, like Mike said, but I’m not. I just sense things.”

“I guess I can believe that.”

Ellis still looked skeptical, so Rob continued. “People talk to me all the time. Randomly, sometimes. Like, I’ll be standing in line at Walmart and someone will spill their life story and I have no idea why. People trust me. I’m a magnet for things I can’t explain outside of the God equation. I see it that way because I’m also a Christian. I view life from a biblical prospective. I’m not trying to freak you out; I’m just saying this is who I am. I like to be open, and I tend to say what I think. I’m not friends with people just to recruit them into anything, and I never have a hidden agenda. That would be dishonest and cultic. I’m just me. So what I want to offer you is friendship. I know a lot of people on campus, and if you’re a freshman, like I think you are, I can introduce you around.”

Ellis smiled gently and the hard edge to his eyes began to fade. “Okay. I’d like that. I don’t know anybody. But, so you know, I don’t really want to know about the Bible. If that’s okay.”

“Dude, that’s totally fine.” Rob finished his coffee and took the last bite of his scone. “I’m about getting to know people for who they are. I’m a Christian. I’m not going to hide it any more than Mike hides being a douche.”

Ellis shot coffee out his nose.

 

Rob laughed heartily. “See, I knew I could be myself around you.”

Ellis composed himself, wiped his face, and smiled back. “Yeah, I kind of felt like that when you held out your hand to help me off the floor. So what’s the deal with Mike?” Ellis asked. “Why’d he call you ‘Boy Wonder’?”

“Mike gets his jollies through intimidation. He thinks it’s a riot that my name’s Robin. Not Robert.”

 

“Oh. What a jerk. I mean, Robin Williams is a pretty famous person.”

Rob gesticulated. “Exactly. Thank you very much! And if I was half as rich as Robin Williams, no one would jest about my name again.”

Ellis then added, “Besides, Batman and Robin were always my favorite superheroes growing up. I think Robin is a good name.” Rob’s heart warmed. “See? This friendship was meant to be!” Ellis smiled back and nodded in clear agreement.

SINCE then, Rob had seen Ellis almost as often as Russell. He watched many of his soccer games and helped him study. They even went to a few campus bible group outings together. They became close friends during the first two years of college, and Rob was pleased. So when Ellis showed up curbside with his new roommate, Cole, Rob knew something was up.

It wasn’t as if Ellis couldn’t have any other friends. It was that in two years, Rob thought he knew all of Ellis’s friends: Russell, Mike, James, a guy named Geoff on the soccer team, and himself. Ellis had friends in high school, but they all went to different colleges and barely spoke anymore. Ellis was shy by nature. Ellis liked predictability. Ellis had a hard time opening up. Now he’d moved in with Cole and suddenly, in a couple of weeks’ time, Ellis was allowing Cole to sit on his lap for an entire car ride to breakfast? Rob was blown away. True, he kept his shock in check, but he still felt like saying, “What the hell?”

Over breakfast he carefully observed Ellis. He was quieter than usual, like he was nervous. His eyes darted to everyone as if waiting for them to do something uncharacteristic, except it was Ellis who was acting out of character. And he kept looking at Cole with a bemused expression glued in place. Why?

And then the Madonna song came on and Ellis turned ghost white, even before Russell’s comment. Ellis was seriously upset and embarrassed beyond anything when Rob outed him to Cole about his virginity. Why would he care? The guys always ragged on Ellis and Rob about it. It was like a quest they had to get the two of them laid. Ellis never caved to peer pressure, which was one thing Rob admired about him. What was it about Cole that had gotten him shaking on what used to be solid ground?

When they left the restaurant, Rob started gathering the clues.

ROB went to class like usual, but then, instead of hitting the library with Russell, he thought he’d shoot over to Ellis’s. He rang the doorbell and waited.

Cole answered the door and arched his eyebrow up. “Ellis isn’t here.”

 

Rob got straight to the point. “Alright. Can I come in and wait? He’s probably still at practice.”

“I suppose asking you to wait in the corridor would be uncouth.” Cole opened the door wider. “Hold on, you’re not a vampire, are you? If I don’t invite you in, are you forced to remain outside?”

“No.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say. Cole had never joked with him before, and the vampire comment threw him. “Then I guess I’m obligated to bid you enter.” He swept his arm wide. “And wipe your feet, please.”

Rob walked in and felt an unexpected chill. Either Cole was hiding something or he was Satan incarnate. (Rob leaned toward the secretive side since he doubted Cole was Satan.) He wanted to feel him out, but had to think of what to talk about first. “So, Cole, are you going to watch Ellis’s game on Tuesday? It’s a home game.”

“Ah, I guess.” He sounded uncertain. “Ellis didn’t invite me.” Rob wanted to laugh but didn’t. “Ellis doesn’t have to invite you—it’s open to the public. Five bucks to get in for students.” “But what if Ellis doesn’t want me there?” Cole asked, as the door opened behind them.

 

“Doesn’t want you where?” Ellis asked.

 

“Oh, hey, El.” Rob greeted him with a cheery wave. He wished Ellis had been a little slower to return home, but oh well. “Hey.” Ellis nodded, walking right up to Cole. “Want you where?” he asked again.

“At your game,” Cole said.
“Oh,” Ellis answered solemnly.

Rob could swear Ellis looked like he’d been put on the spot about some dire decision. What was the big deal? It was only a soccer game. And Cole seemed nervous. Why? Cole was Ellis’s friend, right? Why wouldn’t he want him to come?

“I assumed he knew. Sorry,” Rob said to Ellis.

 

Ellis flicked his gaze over to Rob. “No, it’s fine. You can come,” he said to Cole.

 

Rob clapped his hands together. “Great! It’s settled. Soccer and then pizza here after you win.”

Ellis grinned. “Don’t be so confident. We’re playing against the best team in our division.” Ellis placed his gym bag on the floor by his bedroom door and headed to the kitchen. Rob followed him.

“So?” Rob shrugged. “You’re awesome. I’ve never seen a striker with as good footwork as you. Plus, when you pass, the ball falls right in front of the wing—that guy doesn’t even need to look up!” Rob pointed to Ellis as he addressed Cole, who had followed them into the kitchen. “I’m telling you, this guy could play professionally. He rocks!”

“Stop.” Ellis blushed. Rob didn’t think he’d ever seen Ellis blush.
AFTER the game, Rob and Russell went back to Ellis’s place with Cole. They waited for him to get back before ordering a pizza. Once Ellis lumbered in, he disappeared into the bathroom for a shower with less than two grunts at his friends.

“I told you this was a bad idea,” Cole grumbled. “I’m a walking black cloud of negative energy, I could have told you he’d lose.”

“No, it wasn’t you,” Rob disagreed. “Ellis said they were good. And this is just what he needs after a loss like that—friends, fun, and pizza. It’ll be here in thirty minutes. In the meantime we can play Uno or Yahtzee?” Rob offered. Ever striving to be a peacekeeper, he prided himself on knowing what would cheer his friends up.

“Yahtzee?” Russell asked. “No one plays Yahtzee. Phase 10, Rummikub, or Chickenfoot is where it’s at.”

 

“Are you a middle-aged housewife now?” Rob joked. “Rummikub?” he scoffed.

 

Russell punched his arm. “Hey! I’ll have you know these games are fun. I play them all the time with my mom.”

 

Rob nodded and looked at Cole. “Who is a middle-aged housewife.”

Cole snickered. “I actually have Phase 10 in my room.” “See?” Russell excitedly pointed.

“And your encouragement will only ensure he never leaves your house. You know that, right? Russ already likes your company.”

Cole winced. “It there an antidote to counter the effects?”

Rob grinned. Cole’s sense of humor was unusual and often dry, but Rob liked his style, even if he came off gruff and unpersonable at times. “You mean a surefire way to keep his Russness at bay?”

“Yeah.”

 

“Hey!” Russell was offended.

 

“Put ketchup on his hotdog and he’ll never grace your presence again.”

 

Russell huffed at Rob. “If he does that, I’m never talking to you again! I mean it!”

 

Cole ignored Russell and kept talking to Rob. “Is he allergic to ketchup?”

“No, he’s a condimentaphobiac.”
Cole’s voice went up in perplexity. “A whaaat?”
“A person who’s afraid of condiments.” Rob explained.

“I’ve never heard of such a thing, and I’ve memorized a long list of phobias.”

 

“Wave a bottle of mustard in front of him and see what happens.”

Russell placed both hands on his hips and scowled at Rob and Cole. “You think you’re funny, don’t you? I’ll have you know that hotdogs are perfect just the way they are, plain, the way God created them! They don’t need sauces or spicy mixtures to hide their doggy goodness.”

“God didn’t create the hotdog, Russ. It was some German guy in the 1800s who sold them on the streets of St. Louis.”

 

“Whatever! You don’t always have to correct me, Rob.”

“I know, but it’s fun.” Rob blew off Russell’s irritation. Just then, Ellis joined them in the living room. None too happy, Ellis’s shoulders slumped and disappointment exuded from him. “Hey, El, you want to play Phase 10?”

He shook his head. “Not really.” He slowly walked to the kitchen. Cole jumped up to follow him, which interested Rob immensely. Something was going on, and Rob was determined to find out.

“I’ll be right back,” he told Russell.
“Get me a Coke while you’re up.”

Rob cringed at Russell’s loud voice. “Okay,” he said, trying to appease his friend but internally hoping he wouldn’t ask for anything else. He slinked across the room while Russell was fiddling with the television and attempted to eavesdrop on Ellis and Cole. He knew it was wrong, but curiosity was wriggling in his stomach like crazy.

“I told you I shouldn’t have gone,” Cole said, as soft as a caress. “Everyone says how terrific you are. I go and you lose for the first time.”

“It’s not your fault. I’m glad you came. I’m only sorry I didn’t invite you sooner. I should have. I liked knowing you were watching, even if I sucked.” Rob couldn’t see Ellis, but his voice was… different.

Rob peeked around the corner carefully and caught a glimpse of Cole tenderly stroking Ellis’s shoulder blade. Then he dared to finger the strands of Ellis’s wet hair. Guys don’t do that! He and Russell were very friendly at times, but something in the way Cole touched Ellis went way beyond the open affection he and Russell shared. It was… tender.

Rob couldn’t see Ellis’s face, but he did see Ellis move his hand and rest it on top of Cole’s where they stood by the sink. His thumb made little circles on the back of Cole’s hand just before Cole cleared his throat, and Ellis pulled his hand away. Rob knew he’d been spotted. He walked into the kitchen boldly, swinging his arms to clasp his hands behind his back. “So,” he said casually, “is it going to be Yahtzee or Xbox?”

Ellis replied, “I think Russ should choose since you gave away his condiment phobia.” Ellis acted as he typically would, but Rob didn’t think the touching he’d secretly witnessed was normal at all.

“Ah! Really?” Rob moaned, throwing his head back in defeat. “Alright.” He wanted to say something about their behavior, but if he pushed, then he might end up alienating his friends. Rob couldn’t handle that. He’d wait and let things play out as they may.

Still, he couldn’t resist the urge to meddle. “Hey, Cole. Do you like camping? There’s a group of us going next weekend if you’re up for it. Ellis is going.”

Cole looked puzzled. “Camping?”
Rob apologized. “I know—squirrel moment—but I was just thinking about how fun it’s going to be and I thought you might like to come.”

Cole seemed unsure how to answer. “I guess.” He darted his gaze to Ellis and then back to Rob. “If you want me to.” “Of course!” Rob confirmed. “It’ll be great! You’ll see. Right, El?” He slapped his buddy on the back.

 

Ellis looked ill briefly, but managed a thin smile. “Yeah, great.”

Rob congratulated himself. Of course he’d allow things to “play out as they may,” but giving a little nudge wasn’t unheard of. If something was going on between Ellis and Cole, he was sure a weekend together would bring it to the surface.