Page 8 of You've Found Oliver

I wake up late the next morning, which has become part of my routine.

It’s the start of a new quarter, and I still need to figure out my schedule.

There are a few courses I plan to shop this week.

I’m hoping to get into one of those big lectures where I can sleep in the back row without anyone noticing.

Ethan is awake when I pull back my curtain.

I can hear him through our flex wall, playing video games with music on in the background.

There’s protein powder spilled all over the desk we use as a dining table.

At least his boxers aren’t tossed on the floor again.

But there are plastic bottles everywhere.

I resist the urge to be his maid and clean up after him.

So I leave it all there as I grab my phone and head to the bathroom.

There are a few messages from Julie. Copenhagen is nine hours ahead, making it difficult for us to talk on the phone. But it’s nice to wake up knowing there will be a text from her. Like she’s writing to me from the future.

Just stepped off the plane. Didn’t sleep a wink so I’m exhausted

Have a great first week!

Please don’t do anything you’ll regret

What’s that supposed to mean? If she thinks I can’t survive without her, then she shouldn’t have left.

Admittedly, she has talked me out of a few bad decisions.

Like purchasing an essay from a random website online.

Or texting Nolan back when he wanted to talk things through.

It’s going to be a tough few months without her here.

I send her a response before heading to the shower.

I make no promises

How are the boys there?

Send me videos of your room already

It’s peak cherry blossom season. Petals are falling from the trees as I cut through the quad. I’m walking a little faster than usual. The psychology class I’m shopping starts in a few minutes, and I don’t want to be late on the first day.

I’ve never been in the psychology building before.

The lecture hall is massive, lined with ten rows of seats that are filling up fast. I manage to find a spot in the middle as the professor writes something on the chalkboard.

I don’t have the textbook yet, so I’m just listening as he goes over the syllabus for the course.

I’m not really paying attention though. I keep glancing at my phone, reading the conversation from last night.

I still can’t believe someone else has Sam’s number.

And I don’t even know his name. For some reason, I can’t stop thinking about him.

I wonder what he looks like. Part of me wants to send him another text.

Ask him how his day is going or something.

But that would be weird, right? I mean, we don’t even know each other.

And it’s not like we’re friends or something. I should probably just forget about it.

The class ends a few minutes over. People are packing up while the professor erases the board. I can’t believe there’s already an assignment for next week. I’m not sure if I’m going to stay in the course. But I jot down the pages just in case.

There are a few hours to kill before my next class. Usually, I would meet up with Julie at the library around this time. But I don’t feel like going there alone right now. So I take a stroll through the quad and enjoy the fresh air. Maybe I’ll pick up a sandwich at the to-go bar.

As I turn the corner, my body freezes.

His blond hair always sticks out from the crowd.

Nolan stands near the history building, staring down at his phone.

I would recognize that suede jacket from a mile away.

He wears it everywhere, thinking it brings out the blue in his eyes.

I should probably turn around before he notices me.

But I watch him for a moment, curious if he’s waiting for someone.

Like the way he used to always wait for me.

For a second, I think about saying hi. Would that really be so bad?

Maybe we could be friends at some point.

Truth is, I’m sad about the way things ended.

Despite what happened, I miss hanging with him.

It’s been almost two months since we broke up.

He’s reached out a few times, asking if we can “chat.” Maybe I’m just feeling extra lonely since Julie left, but I miss having someone to see every day.

Julie would be disappointed if she knew I talked to him. I would be disappointed in myself, too.

“After what he’s done, you don’t owe him anything,” she would say.

A church bell goes off in the background, bringing me back to my senses. I head off before I do something I’ll regret later.

Everyone’s out on the grass this afternoon.

Usually, I would look for a spot in the shade to lie down and relax.

Instead, I head to the dining hall to grab a sandwich.

There’s an empty bench outside by the gardens.

To be honest, I haven’t had much of an appetite these past few weeks.

But I force myself to take a few bites of this turkey sandwich anyway.

I wonder how Julie’s first day went. I think about giving her a call, but she’s probably getting ready for bed.

Maybe I’ll head back to my dorm. Hopefully, Ethan has left by now. I finish the sandwich and throw the wrapper away. As I’m walking back, my phone goes off.

There’s a new message from Sam’s number. I open it instantly.

Lady Godiva’s Operation

What the heck does that mean? He must have sent it to me by mistake. I respond with a single question mark and wait for his response.

It’s the name of the song

The one you were asking about

At first, I don’t know what he’s talking about. Then I remember the message I sent yesterday afternoon. About that song that’s been stuck in my head. The one I forgot the name of. “Lady Godiva’s Operation.” That’s what it was called!

omg you’re right

That’s the song!

Was debating if I should tell you

Wasn’t sure if it would be weird

It’s not weird at all

You should have told me sooner. It was torturing me

I had to think about it for a second. Looked up bands with the word violet. Then I realized you meant velvet. It’s by the Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground. No wonder I couldn’t find it.

Yes!! Can’t believe I forgot their name

To be fair, they haven’t been around in a while

I smile at this. We’re texting each other again. It’s a little strange seeing Sam’s name pop up instead. I want the conversation to continue. So I think of something else to say.

How are your classes going?

I’m actually sitting in one right now. But the professor’s running late

So I’m distracting myself

Happy to be your distraction

He hearts the message.

Are you listening to the song? It’s stuck in my head now

About to blast it in my dorm

He sends me a link to some video.

Found this live version online earlier. It’s from their concert in Paris circa 1968

Of course, I heart the video.

Ooo saving this for later. Need the full screen experience

It’s a little grainy. Given it was recorded almost 60 years ago

A second later, he follows up with another text.

Professor just walked in.

Text you later

I stare at his message. Text you later .

Does that mean he wants to keep talking to me?

I see myself reflected in the screen, smiling.

I can’t believe he actually texted me first. And I still don’t even know his name.

I’ll remember to ask him for it next time.

I linger for a moment, taking this all in.

Then I put my earbuds in and look up the song.

“Lady Godiva’s Operation” by the Velvet Underground.

The second the guitar comes in, a memory of Sam plays in my head. I always forced him to change the song when this one came on. But now I listen to it on repeat for the next few hours.

I head home for dinner that evening. The television is on when I come inside.

Mom is cooking in the kitchen. I can smell garlic bread in the toaster oven.

Since I live close to home, I try to stop by as often as I can.

But schoolwork can sometimes keep me away.

That’s why we came up with Thursday night dinners.

It’s the only day of the week she takes off.

Mom works as a waitress at this Greek restaurant outside of town.

It was the first job she could get after we moved out of my stepdad’s place.

“Knock, knock,” I say.

Our kitchen is a little cluttered. Looks like we’re having chicken again. Mom kisses me on the forehead and says, “We’re out of olive oil.”

“I could have picked it up on the way.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll get some from work tomorrow.”

I grab some plates from the cabinet and help set the table.

I always bring out Mom’s favorite ceramic dish.

It’s the one we made together at a pottery class on her birthday.

It also happened to be the night Nolan hooked up with Connor.

But I try not to let that taint the memory.

I know how much the gift meant to Mom. She painted it seafoam green, which she says is the color of my eyes.

There’s a photo of us from that night on the refrigerator.

Mom scoops the potatoes onto my plate. “How was school?”

“Not too bad. Still figuring out my schedule.”

“I hope you’re getting along with your new roommate.”

“Ethan? He’s alright, I guess.” I take a bite of the chicken. “I mean, he’s no prince charming, but he could be worse.”

“As in the prince of Wales?” She shakes her head. “You must not be watching the news. Nothing royal about that family.”

I tell her about the classes I’m shopping. There’s a couple more I’m checking out this week. Mom asks if Julie made it safe to Copenhagen. I let her know she texted me the second she got off the plane. I’m planning to wake up early to call her in the morning.

“Did you visit Sam today?”

I don’t answer this right away. Mom knows how hard this year has been. After all, she watched us grow up together. He came over to our house a thousand times. She would make snacks for us when we played video games in the living room. So I know she misses him, too….

“No, but I did yesterday.”

Mom nods. “I’m sure he appreciates that.” She doesn’t ask me any more questions about it. But he’s all I think about as I finish the rest of my plate.

After dinner, we put on a television show in the living room.

Mom is a big fan of period dramas. It’s nice to sit down with her and make fun of the costumes.

But I can only stay for one episode tonight.

There’s some reading I need to get done before bed.

As usual, Mom wraps up food for me to take back.

She kisses me on the cheek and stands by the front door until I’m out of sight.

It’s always nice to visit home. I know how much Mom appreciates spending time together. She always says I’m the only man left in her life.

It’s 9:05 when I get back to my dorm. The lights are off, which means Ethan is probably out with friends again.

I head to my side of the room and close the curtain.

Then I fall face-first into bed and rest my eyes for a few minutes.

Hopefully, Ethan doesn’t bring a girl back tonight.

I have to get up for a 9:00 am class. I probably wouldn’t bother if I didn’t think the professor was cute—at least by forty-year-old-bald-guy standards. Thankfully, it’s only once a week.

I turn on my side, checking my phone again.

I was hoping to get another text from him.

The guy with Sam’s phone number. Maybe I should change the contact name to something else, since it doesn’t belong to Sam anymore.

I wish I knew his name so I could look him up.

I want to know everything about him. What color is his hair?

Does he have siblings? A dog? My finger hovers over the keyboard as I think of something to write.

I know I should wait until tomorrow. But I can’t help myself.

I send him another message.

How was the rest of your day?

God, I’m so bad at this. I should have said something more interesting. Like mention the song we’ve been talking about. Twenty long minutes go by with no response, making me regret my decision. I bet he deleted my number already. I’ll probably never hear from him again.

Then my phone goes off. There’s a new message.

Hey

I was just thinking about you

I exhale with relief and push myself up. He was thinking about me. What should I say back?

Was thinking about you too

Glad to know you’re not sick of me

of course not haha

Wasn’t expecting to hear from you though

It’s a nice surprise

Sorry, I’m just used to texting this number

Hard to break a habit you know?

To be honest, I’ve gotten used to seeing your number pop up, too

Always wondered if it would stop one day

I think about the messages I sent before. How vulnerable they all were.

I’m still embarrassed about that…

I never thought anyone was reading those messages

You shouldn’t be

Sam was very lucky to have you as a friend

I smile at this.

That really means a lot

What’s your name by the way?

Ben

You?

Oliver

Nice to finally put a name to this number

Same

Did you watch the video?

They also do Sweet Jane too. Was listening to it a second ago

Gonna add it to my playlist right now

But let me know what you think

Have to finish up this assignment before midnight

I will

glad we got to chat again

I am too

It’s nice to know who’s on the other side

The conversation ends. But now we know each other’s names. I’m smiling as I lie back down. I should really get some work done, too. At least read a couple chapters or something. Instead, I play the video he sent and let the music fill the room.

“Ben.”

I whisper his name to myself. The boy with Sam’s phone number. I read over the messages again.

It’s nice to know who’s on the other side.