Meet the Gang
These are the people who matter to me. I did not expect most of them. Some have made Auckland easier. Others have made it louder. A few have done both. I am writing this because they deserve a proper introduction, although several of them will disagree with mine.
DINK
Age: 18
Field of study: Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education
Role: Me
My assessment:
I came to Auckland convinced I could work everything out privately. I could not. I talk too much when I am nervous. When things become serious, I usually make a joke and hope nobody notices. People notice. I am learning to let them. I care more than I admit, especially when admitting it would help.
Rating: 3/5
SOLOMON
Age: 19
Field of study: Sports Science
Role: Boyfriend; originally one of the three people I called Leg Day
My assessment:
I insulted Solomon before I knew his name. This tells you more about me than it does about him. He is confident without needing everyone to notice. He listens properly. He also knows when I am avoiding a real answer. I find this both attractive and deeply inconvenient. He matters to me. I am not discussing how much while he might read this.
Rating: 5/5
JESS
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Not stated
Role: HESA member
My assessment:
Jess pays attention. She says what she means and expects you to do the same. I respect that, even when I would prefer another minute to prepare my defence. She does not hand out trust quickly. Fair enough. Neither do I.
Rating: 4/5
SAFF
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Not stated
Role: My cousin
My assessment:
Saff tells me the truth before checking whether I am ready for it. I complain, then ring her again the next time I need an honest answer. She knows when I am talking nonsense. Worse, she knows why. I trust her with the parts of my life I cannot make funny.
Rating: 1/5
AUNTY MYRA
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Not stated
Role: My aunty; Mum's sister
My assessment:
Aunty Myra cares about presentation. She also wants to know exactly what is happening, preferably before I have decided what I am willing to say. Staying with her is comfortable. Answering her questions is not. She loves us. She simply refuses to make that love quiet or uncomplicated.
Rating: 2/5
BRADEN
Age: 18
Field of study: Bachelor of Music
Role: My identical twin brother
My assessment:
Braden has my face and none of my talent for making a simple situation worse. He plans ahead. I usually realise there should have been a plan afterwards. We know how to hurt each other because we know each other too well. We also know when the other one is not all right. He is my brother. That remains true even when liking him requires effort.
Rating: 4/5
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ETHAN
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Not stated
Role: My friend from the campus gym
My assessment:
Ethan is calm when I am not. He does not force advice on me. He waits until I am ready to hear it, which can take a while. I call him Handsome Man because he is handsome and I believe in accurate records. The important part is that he makes me feel safe without making me feel weak.
Rating: 5/5
HAMISH
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Not stated
Role: HESA member
My assessment:
Hamish has opinions. I know this because he keeps giving them to people. He can make a conversation unpleasant without ever admitting that was his intention. I do not enjoy being around him. That is the assessment. I nearly added more, but he has already received enough attention.
Rating: 1/5
Benji
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Not stated
Role: My friend from the hall
My assessment:
Benji knows who is doing what before the people involved have worked it out. Silence worries him. He is loud, nosy and far more thoughtful than he first appears. I would trust him when something genuinely mattered. I would not trust him with a minor secret on a quiet afternoon.
Rating: 4/5
PERSEPHONE
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Health Sciences
Role: My best friend and study partner
My assessment:
Persephone was the first person in Auckland who made me feel wanted rather than merely included. She works hard and pays attention. She knows when I need help, including the times I insist that I do not. I trust her completely. Please do not tell her I wrote that. She will save a screenshot.
Rating: 5/5
MARCUS
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Not stated
Role: HESA member; part of my life in Book Three
My assessment:
Marcus speaks carefully. He understands what people want to hear and knows when to say it. I listened because some of what he said mattered to me. Some of it still does. He made me think harder about who gets heard and who decides what belonging means. I am keeping the rest of my opinion to myself.
Rating: 2/5
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RAWIRI
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Not stated
Role: My childhood best friend
My assessment:
Rawiri knew me before Auckland changed what I worried about. We share years of history that do not need explaining. That does not make our friendship easy. It makes it important. He can remind me who I used to be, even when neither of us is sure what to do with that person now.
Rating: 4/5
Asher
Age: Not stated
Field of study: Not stated
Role: My best friend
My assessment:
I hate Asher so much that I want to punch him for existing. This is affectionate. Mostly. He knows when I am about to make a bad decision and usually tells me after deciding to watch it happen. He annoys me without effort. He also stays when things stop being funny. That is why he is my best friend, although I deny saying this.
Rating: 0/5