Thereâs a light chuckle that escapes the older man, letting his eyes linger on the shirtless male before him for only a few moments before he casts them down to the floor. âYeah, I kind of figured you werenât. I get lost in the house these days, itâs been over twenty years since I lived here, if you could believe that.â Benjamin jokes, looking back up at Oliver and gesturing to the gray in his beards with a smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes, evidence of his age even more. The married older man finds himself slightly disappointed when Oliver puts a shirt back on, but he doesnât dwell on it for too long. After all, he doesnât need to get caught up in the ways of the Beta house, which includes the sex that takes place under the roof among the members of the fraternity.
âSeems like youâre the only one here. Whatâs up with that? You didnât want to go out with the other guys?â Benjamin asks just as he looks down the hallway where the younger male points out his sonâs bedroom, and it was the second option that he was going to try after this one. âOkay. I knew it was either this one or that one. Hopefully next time I donât get too lost.â Benjamin says, looking at the younger male, who was now much closer than he was earlier, the two of them leaning against opposite sides of the door frame. Benjamin is silent for a moment, studying the other as he oftentimes does people, not catching himself until itâs been quite a while of silence. âSorry,â Benjamin says, shaking his head and chuckling, his laugh deep and rich like coffee. âSometimes I find myself staring at people, wondering about their life story and what theyâve been through. Iâm a people person like that, I suppose. Someone whoâs curious, if you will.â Benjamin licks his lips before continuing. âHow are you adjusting to life here in the Beta house so far? Pledging and everything going well for you?â
âWha-?â Oliver feigned shock, clutching his chest in shock. âYou? No, it just couldnât be! Thereâs no way youâre over...twenty-five! And thatâs pushing it honestly.â The young man shot back with an enthusiastic finger pointed in his door-interloperâs direction. âNo, look, in all seriousness this house is such a labyrinth. I wouldnât be surprised if I left my room tomorrow and didnât return for a solid week or so. Maybe if I offer myself to be the houseâs directory, Iâll get an automatic bid. Must be worth a shot, right? That way I could help you out more often, yeah?â Realizing how suggestive it sounded coming out of his mouth, Oliver made quick strides to amend it. âHelp people l-like you, I mean! Lost people! You know,â And int hat moment he wanted nothing more than for Benjamin to leave him in his embarrassed misery. So much time spent in the Beta house and he still hadnât mastered the art of speaking to attractive men. He wasnât quite sure if that day would ever come given his track record thus far.
âOh, yeah. Iâm not much a party-goer, myself. I donât tell them that, though. Donât want them to think Iâm some square or that Iâm not hip. So, I make these excuses of being sick or having all this homework I have to get done. I just donât wanna jeopardize my standing here, so I say what I have to. And what about you, sir? You not much of a social butterfly?â Oliver questioned with a brow raised. Even if if he wasnât, he would find it hard to believe that people wouldnât want him to tag along to all of the Beta events. After all Benjamin was easily one of the most interesting and charismatic people in the house and he really had only had half a conversation with him thus far. Luckily for him, though, he had the manâs attention all to himself. Now mere inches apart from him, he feels nailed tot he spot by Benjaminâs gaze. Hell, it practically pierced his skin. And the jury was still out on whether or not he was into that. Regardless, it certainly left an impression. Gazing back, he snapped back into reality when Benjamin did. âOh, is that all?â Oliver teased with a ghost of a smirk on his lips as he turned back into his room, hips sway slightly as he went back to idly tidying his room. âLook, how about this: I donât think your sonâs gonna be back anytime soon. He left with the other guys. So, you can pop a squat right here,â He ushered to a spot on his bed. âAnd you can ask me all kinds of life story and personal questions you want, alright?â Oliver offered with a friendly and inviting sort of smile. âAs good as it can be. To be honest with you...itâs kind of trying. And really stressful. I just feel really wound up all the time and I havenât really mastered a way to unwind. You get me?â