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Over the next week, I avoided Eric and Adam. That was easy since I was busy with midterms and work. The campus committee about Woodhouse Hall finally reconvened around the same time. The faculty and staff were irritated to have to meet again, even though President Fairfax made it clear that it would only require a couple of meetings before the end of the semester. All she did was update everyone on what had happened. There were no motions to make or voting required.
"How did the alumni get state support to have Woodhouse nominated for the Historical Register?" a faculty member asked after they spent ten minutes complaining about the entitlement of alumni (at least it wasn't the current or future students this time).
"The one who pushed the nomination through and has been the most vocal supporter works for the Massachusetts Historical Board. She used her position to put the nomination forward," President Fairfax explained, a bit irritated that we hadn't been able to focus yet.
"The local board allowed her to do that?"
"They were ignorant of it all. We already had the family's support to tear down the building for a new one. We submitted a notarized letter explaining why we, as the property owners, were refusing the status, but that was ignored too."
"Have you spoken to the National Park Service? Don't they control the register?" Asked an older man from the history department.
"Yes, and they are very aware that there is no local support. The state is arguing that the building is culturally and historically important. The federal government is considering both sides," President Fairfax said, as she calmed down and returned to an appearance of neutrality.
I hadn't been able to meet with the Woodhouse family yet or see their local store, so I kept my mouth shut about their involvement and preferences for the solution. I had another plan in mind, for now.
"The alumni are planning to protest some sports events," she continued.
"I understand they started some type of social media group to organize," one older professor said.
I pulled out my cellphone to see if I could find it online. I did, and it was called "The War for Woodhouse Hall." Joining required approval and answering a few questions, I suspected to prevent spies.
"They seem very well-organized, if slightly misguided," President Fairfax continued. "The protests are the bulk of their action. The historical building proposal isn't expected to be successful, but the Mayor thinks we need a plan."
My request to join the War for Woodhouse Hall group had been approved while President Fairfax was speaking. I scrolled through, seeing, primarily, posts about the historical building in town and meeting minutes. That was where I found more information about the Registry of Historical Buildings information. I tried to read through it and pay attention to the meeting.
"Are there any questions?" President Fairfax said.
I had missed any conversation leading up to this, but I raised my hand.
"Where will the Woodhouse Hall students go if the construction happens?" I asked.
"What do you mean? It will be next year so nobody will be assigned to Woodhouse Hall," Candace, from the housing office, said.
"I mean, the students who would have lived there."
"Anywhere they want."
"What if they can't afford anywhere else? These students are worried about their housing options."
"Then, they can get apartments," she said, dismissing all of my concerns with a sneer.
"So, you're not planning any pricing adjustments for the students who can typically only afford Woodhouse Hall?" I asked. "I want to make sure I can give an accurate report to SGA."
President Fairfax and Candace looked at each other.
"We can discuss this privately. I assume SGA would like to have a meeting about this." President Fairfax said to me.
"We are getting our ducks in a row, but we would," I said with a smile.
I heard groans from the faculty, but President Fairfax and Candice shared resigned looks. I hoped both knew it would be better to deal with me now than angry students later.
***
Adam opened his door a moment before I lifted my arm to knock on it.
"I know things are stressful, but you can pull through," Adam said to the boy leaving his room.
I smiled at the boy as he left, remembering when midterms had come during my first semester and the stress of them. I pulled subs out of my backpack once Adam and I were alone in the room.
"I come with your winnings."
"As long as you don't need advice on dealing with anxiety and stress, you can come anytime, even without winnings."
I watched Adam drop onto his bed and realized how much was on his shoulders. I sat at his desk and unwrapped the subs. I had made sure to pick up his favorite sub: tuna with pickles and onions.
"I'm sorry I ruined the end of the road trip," Adam said when I handed him the sub. "I left you a note about it."
"I got it and know you don't like him. I appreciate you trying to not argue with him as long as you did and for giving him and Jenna a chance to spend some time together. Thank you for apologizing to me."
Adam was already sitting up and stuffing his face. I pulled out chips and water bottles before I unwrapped my own Italian sub and started eating.
"I had to skip lunch to help people today," Adam said after putting away half the sub and burping.
"I thought you had office hours?"
"I underestimated the demand on my time. Professors never seem to be overwhelmed in their offices."
"Yeah, but you're right where they live, and you're not giving them a grade."
"I know it will get quiet again after midterms, but if I spend all my time helping them, then when will I get my work done?"
"You could hold study session as floor events."
He looked at me as he ate. "That's an excellent idea. I need to host more floor events."
I gave him my sweetest smile, this was officially the second idea he had accepted. We spent the next few hours sitting on his bed, making note cards, and drilling each other on terms and ideas that we expected for the midterm in our shared sociology class. I found Jenna in our room when I got back. She had been at a study group when I left but was now trying to continue the effort alone in the room.
"How's studying going?" I asked her.
"I thought it would be easier if I were alone, but there are too many distractions."
"I told you so. I'm sure Adam would be cool with you joining us the next time we study together. He's going to plan some study events for the floor too."
"Well, Bobby and I are planning to study together. We could do that together. We have this calculus class together, and it's a killer."
There was a knock at the door. It was Adam with a basket of candy.
"These are for you two," he said before handing it over to me.
The basket was massive and full of all the candies we had talked about on the car ride. There were other candies too, bags from the Highbury Candle Company. I knew exactly who it was from and passed it off to Jenna when Adam had left. She pulled out an envelope and read the note around.
"Her favorite candies for my favorite girl!" Jenna read out loud.
"From Eric?" I asked.
"Yeah!" Jenna said, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
This only confirmed that he was as interested in her as she was in him. I wanted to find Adam and gloat, but I focused on Jenna. They hadn't sealed the deal yet.
"These are all the candies you said you loved. I knew he was paying attention."
"You can, like, only get some of these online," Jenna said as we unpacked the basket and opened some of the bags.
"We should invite Eric to study with us too. You don't do something like this unless you're into someone."
Jenna didn't say anything, but I was already texting him about it.
***
"I understand Amelia finally has a report about the Woodhouse Hall committee!" Eric said to those at the student government meeting.
He was walking to his chair after spending the first half of the meeting wandering around the room, talking to random people while others were giving reports. He paused behind me, and I felt his hands rest on my shoulders. Startled, I jumped a little at first, and he started awkwardly massaging my shoulders. Unsure how to react, I felt my shoulders rise as my anxiety spiked. This was only our second meeting of the year, and it had only been a week since the first committee meeting. What did he mean by finally!?
"I have a brief update," I said, pushing him off me and getting to my feet. "The committee had its first meeting last week. It wasn't that exciting, but I was able to get approved as part of a social media group for the alumni. I got to see the application to be added to the National Register of Historical Buildings. Their argument is about the building's cultural significance of the Woodhouse family and the architecture of the building. It's a feeble argument, in my opinion."
"Who are the Woodlouse's?" Steve asked.
"The Woodhouses came over with the Pilgrims and own one of the largest fiber companies in the country. They own a lot of the old, local mills, which have been identified as historical places. Crafters might know their yarn. They make their yarn in the region, but they have a flagship store in town. It seems to be the big reason people come to town, other than the university."
Heath's hand shot up in the air. He was dressed for the gym, but his hair was perfectly styled, his clothes and shoes perfectly matched. The impression that struck me was that it was about looking like going to the gym rather than actually getting exercise.
"Do you have a question, Heath?"
"Yep, I was at your meeting in the dorm. How long will all this take?"
"That's a good question, and I don't really know. The state submitted their nomination in July, and someone from the National Park Service has to come out to see the site. I think it could be about five more months if they come out around winter break."
"So," Eric said, "do you think the campus committee is going to continue to meet?"
"They don't want to meet, but they might not have a choice. I mentioned our concerns about affordability," I said with a smile. "The department representative, Candace, obviously didn't do her due diligence last year and I'm sorry I assumed they did. If we want to protest the construction plan, as a campus organization, I suggest this is our best strategy. This isn't about our fond memories of college, but of our immediate needs in selecting an affordable university, which is one of their selling points. We could rally the campus around this issue. The administration is open to meeting with us to discuss it more." There was a sudden silence as I sat down. I didn't know if I should say something about being done.
"I believe we need an ad hoc committee to explore this more," Eric said. "Amelia, can you chair that?"
"Sure," I said with a smile.
Eric winked at me before continuing the meeting.