When Mercer Met Cowan

 Mercer felt at ease, making the move to Lincoln. Maybe it was all Cowan's doing. He saw that look of Izzy's as if this might be totally impossible.

"Oh, she's always thinking the worst," Cowan told him. "I know I'm probably too short for her."

"What?" Mercer couldn't help but smile. He liked meeting short people. After all, he was short himself, but he and Cowan were both taller than tiny Izzy.

They'd all met up a couple of days before Mercer and Cade set off for their Paris trip. It was good catching up with Izzy and her new boyfriend. Although, she kept muttering he wasn't her boyfriend.

"Well, you know, I've heard it before," Cowan winced about the matter while Izzy was off in the restroom and Cade was getting everyone ice cream. "You don't date, do you?"

"Huh," Mercer wasn't sure what the drama major was talking about.

"Oh, you know, from those professors and that fraternity of guys who wouldn't let me in to write plays with." Cowan shrugged. It seemed he liked comedy. Especially, old comedy reruns on TV. "I guess they just couldn't take me seriously." It seemed he thought Izzy was that way about him too.

"But..but she was really hurt when Link upped and left," Mercer remembered. "I mean, we all thought they'd always be together."

"I  know." Cowan said she still talked about Link from time to time. "I guess it was just a fluke that I moved in. And yeah, I'm glad we're more than roommates now. I know I'm not the most romantic guy in the world, but.." he cracked up. "She's cute and I feel cute with her..if..if she'll let me."

Mercer guessed he could help. Most of the trip to Paris, he was texting Izzy about everything. Of course, Cowan came up on her end of the texting. Mercer told her he thought Cowan was good for her. And somehow, it all worked out. Mercer would be moving into Cowan's room and she would be with Cowan in her room.

"How did you do it?" Cade wanted to know what Mercer was up to.

"Oh, it wasn't a plan," Mercer said he hadn't even thought of plotting it. "I like Cowan..you know, as in being Izzy's boyfriend."

"Well, tell him, he needs to be more affectionate," Cade recalled how Izzy had told him that Cowan was gay and of course, that worried Cade about Mercer moving in.

Mercer had a good laugh. "You can't be serious," Mercer sighed about the matter. He knew it would all work out, even if it felt he would be the poorest college student around. Still, his parents were glad he'd be at Izzy's. They'd always liked her and the rent would be good. They'd help him out. Even so, he hated to have to count on his parents. Of course, he couldn't drive a car due to his epilepsy. Truly, he didn't want to dwell on his troubles. And he was glad to have Izzy and Cowan around.