Life After Math

"Let's see, you got one, two, three, four, five wrong. Not bad for college algebra!" Scott announced proudly.

Jared smirked. "I only do well because you help me. You got me through high school and that Mrs O'Reilly. Whatta hag she was!" the teens laughed in remembrance. They sat back on their bed in their tiny, shared dorm room.

"Dude, can this room be any smaller?" Jared commented. "We barely fit in this bed together and I can almost reach the desk just laying here." He stretched out his long, tan arm and brushed the handles of the drawers of the student-sized desk.

Scott shrugged his large shoulders. "Eh, it could be worse. At least this way we can tell right away if the other one's home. I kinda like it actually. Can't spend too much time away from you, I'd get withdrawal symptoms."

Jared leaned forward and kissed his lover. He intertwined his long fingers through the young man's thick strands of hair. The sterling silver commitment ring caught the sunlight and shone brightly. "I miss you, too. We used to spend almost every waking hour together."

"Yeah, we did, especially early on. I wanted to get to know who was behind that gorgeous blond, curly hair and brown eyes...and that incredible body of yours."

Jared kissed him again. "Mmm, you're one to talk. Those blue eyes and that thick brown hair of yours had me from the moment we met."

"What a year that was. Who'd have thought looking at us that we'd end up together, going steady and at the same college?" Scott cupped Jared's pointy chin and kissed him again. "You liking college so far?"

"Eh, it's all right, I guess. It's amazing I even got in after turning down that baseball scholarship. My mom is paying in what she can, but it's tough on her. 'Course, my favorite part is that I get to be with my guy. I'm really glad to be away from my father. I miss my mom though," Jared lamented.

Scott held him close. "I miss my folks too. They said they're coming to visit next week. Never thought I'd be counting the days to see them," he said with a grin.

Jared smirked. "Me either. I miss 'em too. Your mom is such a freakin' awesome cook! She 'doesn�t get to do that here, though, we'll just go out for dinner."

"True. Well, holiday break isn't too far off. We'll have Christmas together like we did last year."

"Only this time without the awkwardness?" Jared asked sarcastically.

"Very much so," Scott said in a reassuring tone. "We're in a very different place this year. You're my boyfriend! We need to focus on our future together now. I dream about it all the time, ya know. Getting married, raising adopted kids, and getting a big house together. We'll be together forever!"

Jared smiled at the other man. "Sounds good to me! I can't picture myself with anyone else but you."

Scott leaned in and kissed him. "Me either. I wondered if we could survive living together this first year, but it's going great!"

"Sure is." Jared licked his lips and looked at Scott seductively. "I've got an idea for a little bit of fun. Why don't we play strip algebra? Every problem I get right you lose an item and every one wrong I lose one? I already lost five, which more than uncovers me. You got them all right; I'd say we should both be buck naked right now."

Scott laughed. "You certainly know how to make math exciting now, don't ya?"

"Haven't I always?"