Chapter 16: Diverging Interests

James and I geared up for freshman orientation. This was going to be epic! We meticulously laid out our schedules, double-checking to ensure we wouldn’t miss any important sessions or meetings. Packed with notebooks, pens, and a digital map of the campus, I felt ready to dive into our new academic adventure.

“Are you ready for this, Keily?” James asked. He’d come over to my dorm room so that we could get ready together. I also wondered if he came over because he wanted to get away from Shaggy…

I nodded, a grin spreading across my face. “Absolutely. Bring it on!”

However, as we finalized our preparations, I couldn’t shake the thought of Charlotte. She was always so dedicated to her projects, even before the school year officially began. Yet, right now she was building a robot. It didn’t look like she was preparing for orientation.

“Would you like to join us?” I asked.

“No thanks. I need to work on my ongoing tasks,” she replied. Her blue hair fell into her eyes as she worked and she swiped it away. “But you two go ahead. I’ll catch up with you later.”

I admired Charlotte’s determination. Even though we were just starting out, she was already focused on her goals and driven to succeed. Maybe she and I would be a good influence on each other.

I couldn’t say the same about James and Shaggy.

As James and I made our way to the orientation venue, the butterflies in my stomach acted drunk. Everything felt so new and unfamiliar, yet strangely exhilarating at the same time. We followed the crowd of incoming freshmen, chatting animatedly about our expectations and hopes for the upcoming year.

The first orientation sessions were informative and engaging, covering everything from campus resources to academic policies. As we listened attentively to the speakers, my heart beat quickly. This was the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, and I was determined to make the most of it.

During a break between sessions, James and I took a stroll around the campus, marveling at the architecture and lush greenery. We spotted groups of students chatting and laughing, forming bonds that would undoubtedly last a lifetime.

I felt like I belonged here.

James and I returned from our break. I was ready to dive back into the next orientation session. We found our seats but then James tensed. I followed his gaze and saw Shaggy making his way towards us.

His disheveled appearance and distant gaze immediately gave away his state of mind—he was clearly high. James shot me a sideways glance. His lip curled up in a snarl and his shoulders tensed.

Shaggy sat down next to him.

“Hey, man, what’s up?” Shaggy mumbled.

James forced a polite smile. He was clearly not pleased that Shaggy wanted to sit with him. But he decided to tolerate him nonetheless. It reminded me how much James had grown. He wasn’t mean anymore. He didn’t pick on others or put them down.

“Hey, Shaggy. Just trying to get through orientation, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah, totally,” Shaggy mumbled, his attention already wandering as he fidgeted with his phone.

I could see James balling his fists beside me, clearly not thrilled about Shaggy’s presence. But he remained composed, albeit somewhat guarded, as we shifted our focus back to the session at hand.

Throughout the presentation, Shaggy’s attention wavered. His eyes glazed over as he struggled to stay focused. He was here with us but his mind was elsewhere.

I didn’t focus on him.

Orientation was great!

I found myself swept up in the energy and enthusiasm pulsating through the room. The speakers were engaging. They offered insightful glimpses into the academic opportunities and vibrant campus life. With each presentation, I could feel the butterflies in my stomach soaring.

Oh boy!

But then I noticed a group of girls, sitting a few chairs over to my right. They were not focused on the speakers. They were looking at James. One girl pointed at him and whispered something to her friend. The friend instantly had a smile on her face.

They thought he was hot. Of course they did. Everyone did.

I took James’s hand in mine—to show everyone that we were together. James held my hand back. And only then did I realize how silly it was for me to feel nervous and jealous. I should be proud and happy to have this man as my boyfriend.

But then I looked at James.

While I was practically buzzing with excitement, he seemed more subdued. His shoulders were slightly hunched and his gaze wandered aimlessly. It was as if he was trying to mask his lack of enthusiasm, but I could sense it lingering beneath the surface.

“Hey, James, you doing alright?” I asked, squeezing his hand.

He offered me a half-hearted smile. “Yeah, just taking it all in, you know?”

I nodded. But something was going on with him. Maybe he was bored with this speech we were listening to.

I took his hand and got up.

“You don’t want to stay and listen?” He asked.

“I’ve heard enough,” I said, tugging his arm.

We left Shaggy there, although I don’t think he even noticed us leave. He seemed to be in his own world.

As did James.

As we walked, he looked down. What was he thinking? Determined to lift his spirits, I scanned our surroundings for something that might pique his interest. That’s when I spotted a banner advertising the school’s football program.

James was so good at football.

“Hey, want to check out the football program?” I suggested, gesturing towards the direction of the field.

James hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “Nah, I’m not really into football anymore. But thanks for thinking of me, Keily.”

Huh? James used to enjoy football. He liked playing and he liked watching. I know he didn’t want to pursue it professionally, but I found his sudden disinterest strange. I decided to drop the subject because pushing James to share his feelings with me was hard. He could be so stubborn!

James and I continued walking through the vibrant campus. I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was bothering him. Finally, unable to ignore it any longer, I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him.

“James, are you sure you're okay?” I asked.

He offered me a reassuring smile. “Don't worry about me, Keily. I'm just taking it all in, that's all.”

Though his words were comforting, I felt like there was more to it. But I chose to trust him, knowing that if he needed to talk, he would confide in me. With a nod, I resumed walking alongside him.

And indeed, the rest of our day was fantastic! We met new faces and collected plenty of MIT swag along the way. We walked through the crowd.

Smack!

A girl bumped into me, nearly knocking me off balance. Quick reflexes saved me from tumbling to the ground, with James's steady hands catching me just in time.

“Whoa, sorry about that!” the girl exclaimed, her cheeks turned pink.

“It's okay,” I reassured her with a chuckle. She’d clearly been looking at a flyer in her hand while she walked.

“I’m Vanessa! And I’m not usually this clumsy,” she spoke fast, showing me how bad she felt for bumping into me. “I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of orientation.”

“Don't worry, you're not alone. James here is feeling the same way,” I said, nudging him playfully.

Vanessa laughed, her eyes lighting up with relief. James didn’t laugh though.

“Really? I thought I was the only one. Maybe we can stick together and navigate this crazy place together?” Vanessa said.

I grinned, extending my hand towards her. “Absolutely. I’m Keily and this is James.”

“Nice to meet you. I promise not to knock you over in the future.”

That made me laugh.

“What is it that you were looking at?” I asked.

Vanessa handed me the flyer. I scanned the colorful print, detailing the various after-party events organized for different programs. My heart skipped a beat when I spotted the one for computer science—an opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts in my field.

“Hey, check this out, James!” I exclaimed, pointing to the computer science after-party. “This looks amazing. We should definitely go!”

James’s brow furrowed as he glanced between the flyer and me. “Yeah, that does sound cool. But look, there’s one for anthropology too. I’m kind of interested in that.”

But that meant we’d be in separate places at the same time.

Aw no. I realized that our interests were leading us in different directions. But I quickly pushed the disappointment aside. I was determined to make the most of the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.

“Maybe we can split up for this one,” I suggested. “You go to the anthropology event, and I’ll check out the computer science one. We can get together afterward.”

James hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Yeah, that sounds like a plan.”

“I’m going to the computer science one too!” Vanessa exclaimed.

“Then we should definitely go together,” I replied, handing the flyer back to her.

As I glanced over at James, I noticed the slight downturn of his expression. I bit my lip, not wanting him to feel left out.

“You go on ahead, Keily,” James said, offering me a reassuring smile. “I’ll catch up with you later. Go make some new friends.”

I hesitated for a moment, torn between wanting to stay by James’s side and seizing the opportunity to connect with others in my program. But ultimately, I nodded in agreement, trusting that James would be alright on his own.

“Okay, I’ll see you soon then,” I said, giving him a small wave before turning to follow Vanessa towards the computer science meet-up.

As I hurried along, there was a skip in my step. I looked back to wave at James, but he had turned away.

He looked dejected as he wandered toward his own program’s meetup.

His sudden change in demeanor made some of the butterflies in my stomach die. I made a mental note to check in with him later.

What could be wrong?