Ket and Cory have been roommates for four years, and best friends even longer. Why do things have to change?
Cory just wants to enjoy his last months of college with his best friend Ket, but Ket suddenly begins dating Mitchell. Ket’s never shown any interest in dating, why is he starting now, when they should be making plans for the future? Does Ket’s future not include Cory?
Ket would rather spend his free time with Cory, but he agreed to do this secret fake-dating favor for a friend. And he wanted to know what dating was like. Ket’s never been interested in sex, but maybe someone, someday, will love him anyway. If only he was funny and good with people, like Cory. What will he do when they graduate and Cory moves on?
Ket wasn’t the best at judging tones of voice but he thought Cory sounded unexcited. Ket thought about how he had felt in the past when Cory dated people. He hadn’t been excited, either. He’d been happy for Cory because Cory seemed pleased. Maybe a little irritated if they were making out on the sofa when Ket came in. He couldn’t remember any strong feelings, but then no particular person had stuck around very long.
What if Cory started dating someone now, so close to graduation? He might be hurt if Cory wanted to spend a lot of time with someone else, when they had such a finite number of days left together. Ket probably wouldn’t say anything, but yeah, he’d be at least a little hurt. “Am I being a bad friend?”
“What?” Cory stopped and turned to frown at him. “You’re never a bad friend, Ket. Never. What are you talking about?”
“I mean I ... I don’t know what your plans are. A friend would know that, wouldn’t he?”
“My plans? I don’t have any plans, except to go to Jayne’s now and then tomorrow finish my assignment.”
“After graduation. I meant.” Ket’s throat felt a little funny, like he was maybe getting a sore throat.
Cory stopped again. “I don’t have plans. What are your plans?”
“I don’t know. I applied for jobs and got some of them, but I haven’t decided. I was ...” I was waiting for you to say something, Ket wanted to say. I want us to sit down and compare our options.
But what if Ket wasn’t a factor in Cory’s decision-making equations? What if asking to be considered made Cory uncomfortable and everything became awkward and weird? Would that be worse than saying nothing and having Cory move away from Ket?
“You were what?” Cory asked.
“I’m. Um. Waiting to hear back from some places.”
Cory began walking again. “Yeah. Nice to have options, right? So, of the current choices, what would be your number one?”
“PosiTronTech, I guess. They’re doing ground-breaking work that I'm really interested in. Or Rensselaer, they have a strong continuing education program.”
“Rensselaer ... in New York?”
“Yes. I’ve never been to the East Coast so that would be different. They offered to pay for me to come visit the campus and talk to faculty.”
“They did? Wow. That sounds like they’re eager to recruit you.”
“It’s a good deal.”
“You’re thinking about saying yes?”
“I don’t know. I like the job and the program, but I don’t really want to live in Troy. It’s cold and far away from ... everyone.”
He watched out of the corner of his eye for Cory’s reaction, but Cory was frowning at his own sneakered feet as they kicked through the damp grass.
“Where are you applying?” Ket asked.
Cory snorted. “Nowhere that matters. Just whatever stupid entry-level positions were open to people with no experience.”
Ket had been hoping for a concrete answer like, “Near my family,” or “Right here in town, we should keep our apartment,” or “I’ve always wanted to live in Paris.” Paris wasn’t ideal but Ket could learn French if that’s what Cory wanted.
He had also hoped that Cory would sound excited about his job prospects, not ... unhappy. He opened his mouth to ask if something was wrong, but heard their names being called.
Adrienne, a friend of Jayne’s, waved to them from the street front of Jayne’s building. She was clearly waiting for them to catch up.
Cory waved back. So much for talking about the future.
Maybe ... maybe Cory didn’t want to plan a future with Ket.
