d　his　nose　at　the　disarray。　A　joint　lay　on　the　counter；　a　pizza　box　and　some　random　takeout　containers　were　shoved　in　the　sink；　and　a　pile　of　dirty　shirts　formed　a　messy　trail　from　the　kitchen　to　the　winding　staircase　that　led　to　Nate’s　room。　This　was　what　happened　when　he　was　left　to　his　own　devices。　His　parents　had　gone　on　their　annual　vacation　to　St。　Barts　a　few　days　ago—they’d　postponed　their　trip　because　of　Chips’s　funeral—and　their　maid；　Regina；　was　on　vacation　until　tomorrow。

“What　are　you　doing　here？”　Nate　asked　lamely　as　he　kicked　one　of　the　T…shirts　out　of　the　way。

“Inviting　myself　over　for　a　cocktail？”　Chuck　said　sarcastically。　He　shook　his　head　in　annoyed　frustration；　as　if　he　were　disappointed　in　Nate。　Join　the　club。　Nate　was　disappointed　in　himself。

Chuck　walked　to　the　stainless　steel　Sub…Zero　refrigerator；　pulled　out　a　Corona；　and　pried　the　cap　off　with　his　teeth；　a　trick　all　Deep　Springs　students　learned　their　first　week　on　campus。　“This　will　do；”　he　said；　taking　a　small　sip　and　holding　it　out　to　Nate　in　a　mock　toast。

“Can　I　offer　you　something？”　he　asked　politely；　as　if　Nate　had　just　randomly　shown　up　in　Chuck’s　kitchen。

“No。”　Nate　shook　his　head。　“Listen；　Chuck；　I’m　kind　of　busy。　Why　are　you　here？”

Chuck　raised　an　eyebrow。　“You　know；　Nathaniel；　I’ve　been　thinking　a　lot　about　you；”　he　began；　as　if　he　were　ready　to　barrel　into　a　speech　on　philosophy；　like　he　usually　did　after　a　few　ginger　beers　back　at　Deep　Springs。　“You　won’t　answer　my　calls。　I　saw　you　partying　pretty　hard　on　New　Year’s。　And　you　look　like　you　haven’t　stopped；”　Chuck　said；　taking　note　of　the　empty　cans　on　the　granite　counter。　“What　the　fuck　is　up？”　He　perched　on　one　of　the　stools　and　raised　a　dark　eyebrow。

Nate　sighed。　Chuck　obviously　wasn