Athena
It was a warm summer's day and we only have two weeks left before college officially starts. I still find it unbelievable that I'm actually a college freshman. At Princeton.
I was sitting cross-legged up on a chair by my study table as I gazed upon the beauty of the university by the window. It was really that beautiful given that students can actually live in dorms inside the campus. Well, we're actually required since that's what the higher-ups said but still, how crazy amazing is that?
I actually get to live in such a place full of history and gorgeous design, I might actually be one of those people who are actually excited to start classes. Unlike Owen.
He was getting anxious these days about college since he doesn't know for sure how the school would cater to his needs, more so, how the students would perceive him.
IÂ shook my head and turned behind to look at him in all his sleepy, snoozy glory.
He was all slumped against a pillow he had wrapped under his arms as his ever so messy, dark brown hair fell over his forehead. Even from afar his eyelashes were incredibly long. His breathing was at a normal pace and I watched his chest rise up and down every time he inhaled and exhaled.
How adorable.
He has been asleep for a good hour now after we finished off fixing everything in our room. We had only just moved in this huge coed dorm room for two since he does need the space to move and carry on with whatever he wants to do. The perks of having a boyfriend with a disability and having a school that actually cares for people with cases like his sure can be quite a list.
Our dorm room was okay. It was almost as huge as as Aunt Lydia's living room and kitchen combined. The room itself was this pasty light yellow shade and I decorated my side with mood boards, posters and postcards that I got throughout the years. Fairy lights and fake plants even hung from my part of the ceiling. As much as I want to have a functional floor plan of my side of the dorm, I couldn't help but stick little pieces of myself up on the walls. Pinterest taught me well, if I may say.
Owen's side, on the other hand, was plain. The only thing that catches the eye was probably his large collection of books that he brought over from home. He really does love a good book.
Personally, the only reason we got to live in the same dorm was because his mom practically forced the admins to. A little push really can impact hugely.
This way, I can keep an eye on him and never have any problems involving transferring from one room to another if we want to have any special Netflix or book dates.
Owen grunted in his sleep as he continued shuffling and with one eye opened slightly, he turned to look at me and smiled goofily. It was one of the newer things he's shown me and my heart couldn't take it since I found it so cute.
"Good morning." he said coarsely, his voice still fresh from being woken up. I stood from my chair and went over to his bed and sat by his side. I leaned in to give him a small kiss on the cheek and he squirmed a little in bed as he hoisted himself up to sit.
"It's one in the afternoon, dumbass. It's about time you woke up."
Owen rubbed his eyes sleepily and cocked his head to the side, letting a few strands of wavy hair fall over his eyes again.
"If you didn't have to go back and forth from the ODS, you would've napped as well."
The ODS stood for Office of Disability Services here in uni. It was where Owen had to run to these days to fix reasonable accomodations for his classes. He even got a huge map of the campus as a bonus.
Lucky duck.
"Fine. Sleep all you want. I'm gonna go grab something to eat. You coming?" I asked as I patted his arm playfully and stood again, only to grab a rainbow canvas bag I brought with me from Aunt Lydia's.
Owen yawned and stretched his arms as he slumped against the wall and sighed.
"Still sleepy. Give me five minutes." he muttered as he closed his eyes again and crossed his arms over his chest with that goofy smile of his again.
I shook my head.
"No, I won't. You can sleep any time you want but it's food we're talking about. Now, get up and get ready. I'm hungry."
Owen rolled his eyes as he reached for his chair folded neatly by his bed. He unfolded it and patted it down before he transferred from the bed to his wheelchair. I gave him a few good minutes to wear his usual Converses over his maroon socks and his usual hoodie that he still wears despite the warm weather.
"I'm here and all you still think about is burgers. Where are we going to, exactly?" Owen asked as he put stuff into his backpack and slung it over the handles of his chair. This time, he was all set to go.
"I heard there's a good pizza place outside campus. We could try that."
Owen was all settled as he pushed his chair by my side and we were ready to head out. I grabbed the keys as Owen opened the door and as soon as we got out, Charlie, our senior residential college adviser, bumped into us.
"Athena! Owen! You touring the campus again?" he asked goofily.
Charlie was this medium-built chestnut brown brunette with deep brown eyes. His dimples were incredibly deep and from his clothing, I can tell he loves tshirts and khakis more than anything. He was a spirited kind of person and it helped Owen and I adjust well to college.
"Not this time, Charlie. We're out to eat. Some dumbass slept throughout lunch. We kinda missed it." I said.
"I didn't ask you to wait for me. You can eat whenever you want." Owen said, looking away.
"But I want to eat with you. You always pay whenever I leave my wallet somewhere."
"What made you think you want to eat with me?"
Charlie let out a chuckle and shook his head with both of his hands up in surrender.
"I gotta say, if this is the start of another one of your arguments, I want out. See you two around for movie night later?" Charlie asked.
I nodded.
"Sure thing. What movie's playing tonight?"
Charlie put a thumb below his chin and thought for a while before he snapped a finger and beamed.
"Little Women. Rae suggested it, not me if that's what you're thinking."
Charlie was a film student, as far as I know. He has a liking toward books turned movies and I don't know for sure if Owen agrees with those.
"Sounds awesome. We'll go. See you!" I said as I waved.
Charlie put up a hand and went on his way as Owen turned his chair and pushed beside me.
"The book was better." I heard him mutter.
I looked down on Owen as we went out of the building and strolled down the path. I sighed and put a hand on his shoulder as we walked.
"You don't have to say that every time someone mentions a 'book-turned-movie' movie. Little Women is awesome." I admitted, shrugging.
Owen sighed.
"Just because Timothee Chalamet is there doesn't mean it's better than the book." he said, rolling his eyes.
"You do have a point. Why bother looking at Timothee when I have the Walmart version right here?" I said as I playfully pinched his arm and walked faster with a huge smile plastered across my face.
As I turned around when I knew we were at least a few feet apart, Owen was grinning widely and shook his head. He pushed his chair until he caught up to me and laughed.
"Why am I the Walmart version? He might as well be copying my style or something."
I laughed and let out a smirk as we met each other's eyes.
"Dream all you want. If you think you look better than Timothee, ask someone else's opinion for that."
Owen smiled. It was that rare crooked smile he lets out whenever he's amused at something or someone. Eventually, he scoffed and raised a brow at me.
"To think that you're supposed to be my girlfriend."
"Your hot girlfriend, that is. Mind you." I said with a finger pointed towards him.
Owen kept his gaze at me while he continuously pushed his chair and as much as I like catching him staring at me, I was kinda weirded out and terrified for a moment since we're both out and he could possibly run over someone.
"What? Am I suddenly too ugly for you?" I asked.
Owen, out of his daze, immediately shook his head and smiled subtly.
"No. Perhaps I'm still not used to seeing you with shorter hair." he admitted.
Before I went back to the US after my trip back home from Greece, I let my mom chop off my hair. The former boob-length hair now became a bob just above my shoulders. I still kept my bangs even after the scars healed over my forehead since they were that iconic.
"Then I guess you'll be okay with me shaving my hair off once I get tired of this." I joked.
Owen chuckled and shook his head.
"If you want to shave it off, I'm okay with it. I'm in a relationship with you, not with your hair. I couldn't care less if you did something drastic." he said.
I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"Says the person who isn't used to seeing me with hair above my shoulders."
Owen and I continued passing by random students moving in and staff carrying luggages as we strolled our way out of campus. Seeing the buzz og college life sure was exhilarating and I wish Owen felt the same way.
Eventually, after a short ride outside Princeton, we finally arrived at the said pizza place in this part of the country. It was this quaint pizzeria right around campus and it was simple in design with its brick exterior and rustic decor.
Owen opened up the door and held it open for me with one hand. As much as I was amused, I curtsied a little as I entered and shot him a playful smile.
"Your Highness." he said, bowing as he played along.
"It is indeed a pleasure to have entered this fine establishment to which you held the door open."
"Truly, it is."
I laughed a little and smirked subtly as I walked in.
"If Cal were here, he'd be honored to have you as his right-hand knight."
"Now that you've mentioned it, I kinda missed that guy. Wonder how he's doing at Georgetown."
Owen let go of the side of the door and pushed his chair until we were by one of the tables. He removed one of the chairs and set it aside so his actual wheelchair could be positioned up front. I sat down by him and grabbed a menu and my eyes twinkled at the long list of possible food choices.
"Oh no," Owen said as he looked at me with those familiar icy, blue eyes of his.
"What?"
He sighed and diverted his gaze back to his menu.
"It's that sparkle in your eyes again."
"And it means what?"
Owen shook his head and looked back at me intently with that smirk on his face.
"It means that there's going to be an excess of food on the table."
"There ain't gonna be excess if I finish it."
Later on, as soon as Owen and I picked out our food, a waiter came by and took our orders. Thankfully, it's not like that waitress back home at Delta's. I got myself a large portion of penne, Owen got a small spaghetti and we also decided to share a medium pepperoni pizza.
As the waiter left the table, I looked over at Owen who was busy fumbling with his fingerless gloves. His hair was all over his eyes again and his eyelashes fluttered as the cold gust of air-conditioning hit our side of the pizzeria. I sighed loudly enough for him to take notice as he successfully took off his gloves showing his steady hands.
"I know you have a flair to be dramatic but you could just call for my attention normally." he said in his ever so British voice.
"What even is normal? I could just hand you the dictionary definition but personally, it's just so,-- vague."
Owen rested his head upon his palm and sighed dreamily.
"Your inner Psychology major is coming out again. Try to ask that in your philosophy class. Maybe someone might have the answer."
I rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Says the Biochemistry major who took the course just to evade physics."
Owen let out a sly smile and shook his head.
"The truth just can't get any more truthful than that."
I smiled as I fluttered my eyelashes at him dramatically and Owen blurted out a scoff.
"If you want something from me, just say it. You don't have to pretend to be adorable. You already are. "
I was amused at his sudden remark and I daintily put a hand over my chest and pretended to be shocked. Oh sweetie, if only you knew you were the OG adorable one between us. Owen's cute, I'm hot. Periodt.
"Well, we don't have that much to do now that the food's not yet digesting itself in my stomach. We might as well discuss something interesting while we wait." I suggested.
Owen nodded along and narrowed his eyes.
"Like what?"
I wasn't sure myself of what I want to talk about. Damnit, I just want to pass time and now that I realize it, whenever Owen and I weren't busy, we either just watch movies, read the same books or kiss. Mostly kiss.
"Anything, really. Just to pass time."
Owen was at loss for words for a quick moment before he clicked his tongue and swept a few strands of stray hair away from his eyes. Those gorgeous, icy, blue pools couldn't get more icier than they already are.
"What do you want to talk about? Is something wrong?" he asked concerningly.
I swatted a hand at him and scoffed.
"What made you think something's wrong? College hasn't even begun and you're all anxious about nothing. How about you tell me what's wrong." I said, leaning in to him.
Owen looked frazzled at first until he reclaimed his senses and just sighed.
"I have a class in an unaccessible building. The ODS said they'll bring up the matter to the professor but I'm not so sure he'll agree."
I pursed my lips and reached out my hand to grab his. As soon as I have his larger, thicker hand in mine, I squeezed it reassuringly.
"It's gonna be fine. I'm sure he'll make adjustments. I thought uni was all about accessibility and inclusion?"
Owen grunted and shook his head.
"I don't know about that. Charlie says the professor in that class is horrible."
I shook my head and let myself plant a soft kiss on his cheek as I leaned forward a bit more. Owen smiled tightly and nodded.
"You'll be okay. You're amazing at these things. You'll be teacher's pet in no time." I said as I extended my torso to pat his shoulder gently.
Owen eventually shot me a glare and sighed.
"I don't want to be a pet. All I'm asking for is the capability to get to that class normally like any other student."
"Owen," I started concerningly. He just stared at me with his brows scrunched up problematically in the middle and I couldn't help but feel bad for him.
"I know college is gonna be hard for both of us and it's probably gonna be harder for you. If you need any help, just call me, okay?" I said as I tried to regain that former cheer into our conversation.
Owen looked away for a moment and glared at the brick wall that adorned the interior of the pizzeria. He does not look satisfied.
"I don't want to be that guy who calls his girlfriend for help just to get up on a flight of stairs. I want to do things on my own. You know that." he said scornfully.
I reached out my hand and rubbed his back gingerly with a small smile on my face.
"Things will turn out just fine, Owen. You're just overthinking. We still have two weeks before class starts and that professor has all the time to make adjustments."
Finally, Owen allowed the corner of his mouth to turn slightly upward as he returned his gaze back at me.
"There really isn't anything you can't clarify, Athena. Thank you." he said as he turned toward my hand and laid a soft kiss onto it, letting his messy, wavy hair tickle my wrist. I smiled widely as I felt my insides flutter again.
"You're very welcome. Now, when's the food arriving? I'm hungry."