The beeping of my alarm clock sitting upon the side table next to the bed awoke me from my seemingly endless trance. No, I didn't bother trying to get any sleep, I found it pointless after how many tries it took.
I sat up slowly, shutting off the alarm and hung my legs over the side of my bed. Yes, when I say hung, I mean only the tips of my toes could touch the floor. Even if I'm a guy, I wasn't exactly blessed with the height of one. 5,6 is not very impressive, especially when I'm the same height as Cassidy.
I ran the base of my palms over my eyes with a groan, wanting nothing more than a good nights rest. My pitiful sorrow ended suddenly when I remembered my email. I quickly logged onto my computer and searched my inbox, clicking on the new message.
Dear Calvin Malone,
Thank you for reaching out, even if it is quite late. I apologize for the inconvenience in your regards, and I will send you your schedule as follows:
Monday: Advanced English, 10:20 AM - Poetry Linking, 2:40 PM
Tuesday: Algebraic Calculus, 9:30 AM - Advanced History, 3:10 PM - Creative Writing, 5:30 PM
Wednesday: Advanced English, 10:20 AM - French, 4:30 PM
Thursday: Free periods
Friday: Algebraic Calculus, 9:30 AM - Poetry Linking, 2:40 PM - Creative Writing, 5:30 PM
Dorm House and Number: 7 - 404
Thank you!
I sighed in relief at the response, but the feeling quickly subsided. I was moving?
I looked around my dorm for a moment.
There was no way I was leaving this dorm, after everything I'd done in here. I couldn't bare to leave it all behind, especially if I was going to be living with somebody else. I knew what dorm house 7 was like, filled with raging slackers who could only afford college because they had rich parents that spoiled them rotten. I lowered my head quietly, but rose to my feet.
"I better start packing.." I checked the time. I guess I understand why the schedule change helped students because of the 2 hour break.
I reached beneath my bed to haul my duffel from the shadows, then took the time to unload my clothes from my dresser and place them neatly within the bag. I did the same with some of my scattered belonging along the bathroom and the small kitchen. After I finished up, I set everything on the bed and stepped back. I wouldn't bother moving out just yet. Maybe tonight.
I took the time to change into some fresh new clothes, pulling a hoodie over the top of myself just for the fun of it. I was a hoodie kind of person, even if it wasn't cold outside. I slid into my shoes and headed out the door. I still had a bit of time until class, so I decided to go on a walk down to Cassidy's dorm.
On my way there, I made sure to avoid a specific group of people across the street from me. They were the type of individuals that lived in their own world, thinking that they ruled over every living soul. I disliked how heavily condescending they were to everyone they came in contact with, how stunning they believed they were, how cool they cared to think they acted. I had none of it however, and not just because it was who I feared most in highschool, but also for the fact of the pain their type had put me through. And yes, I could be stereotyping them, and they could actually be very nice people... Who just happened to vape and drink cold beers on a public sidewalk. I rolled my eyes and headed past.
After reaching the 1st dorm house, I noticed a line outside the building. Students all awaiting anxiously to get inside, probably to check into their new dorms. The entire building seemed to be empty however, but Cassidy wasn't in sight. All that walking for nothing, but I chose not to fret, my first class was right around the corner. I headed off back down the path towards the Language Art's building for Advanced English.
Class was going by just like any other. I was excelling through all of it, other than the minor blocks in my abilities to complete projects on time. That always seemed to be a reoccurring problem of mine, I've never finished one school project on time ever before in my life. I guess it's just the timing of it all, I always get them when I have to visit family or when I finally get some break time away from class. On the other hand, I just finished up a project for this class a week and a half ago, so today was an easy free day. My French class would just be reading off sentence frames again, therefore I had nothing to stress over. Everything was going to be just fine..
"This is not okay!" I groaned into my hands, leaning my elbows over the table inside Starbucks.
"It's not that bad, you still have two hours to get out of there before they remove you from the dorm housing list." Cassidy reassured as she took a sip from her iced coffee.
"How are you so calm about this? If I don't check out of that room they're going to kick me from the dorm house listing! I won't have anywhere to live!"
"You already packed up this morning didn't you?" She glanced up at me mindlessly.
"Yes?"
"Then you'll be fine. All you have to do is run back there and pull your things out. The offices will check you out and you'll be good to go." She shrugged, flicking the straw sticking into her plastic cup. "Simple as that."
"Easy for you to say." I rolled my eyes.
A fellow student headed over to our table with a tray of goods.
"Alright, I've got a strawberry milkshake and a maple bar donut." He set them on the table. "Enjoy yourselves." He headed off.
I silently praised the boy as he left. I was starved from all this complaining, and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into the sweetness of the baked treat and the feeling of icy strawberry laced milk running down my parched throat. The feeling was incredible, all until I was finished.
"You seriously don't have a brain freeze from that?" Cassidy cocked her brow, gesturing to my empty cup.
I stared at the plastic longingly, waiting for a painful reaction, but it never came. "Nope. Guess not." I shrugged.
"You're crazy." She rolled her eyes, then grabbed her bag. "I have class to get to, but I hope everything turns out okay with your dorm situation."
"I hope so too." I sighed. I stood up right after her to place down the money for our check.
"I'll see you around." She waved, heading off out the door.
I followed her lead out the door, turning in the opposite direction back towards my dorm. By the time I reached my room, I had a little under and hour to grab my things and check out at the administration office. I scavenged my things, slinging bags over my shoulders and grabbing different items on my way out. I had ten minutes to run a mile down the street to the main office.
"I can make it." I inhaled, taking off like a bullet down the avenue, bags swinging and my light blonde hair blowing wildly with the drifting wind.
I barely had enough time between me and the doors to slow down as I came hurling through them, crashing into an innocent bystander, paired with the weight from my duffel bag, my back pack, and my satchel. With a flail of arms, I latched onto the only thing in reach. When I opened my eyes, I came face to face with a boy, hands clenching his military green t-shirt collar firmly, while our bodies were entwined at an awkward angle. I wouldn't say that I get too flustered easily, but a moment as cringy as this would've made anyone want to bury themselves alive.
A long moment of silence passed as the two of us just stared at each other, before he broke the quiet.
"Are you going to let go of me now?" He asked through a snobby tone.
I shook my head quickly as I released my tight grip. "Right, sorry." I sat myself up and watched as he rose to his feet to fix his tight denim jeans. As a boy, the only thought running through my mind as I watched him pull the fabric away from his back end was how he wasn't uncomfortable in such clothing. Another thought suddenly caught my attention. He was just staring at me while I was sitting on the ground, as if he were expecting me to stand up and face him. I couldn't help but feel offended. Not even giving me a hand?
I stood up quietly to meet his gaze, not daring to speak another word, while my fear of it coming out as a squeak had seized my senses.
"Maybe you should watch where you're going, the next time you decided to come barreling through the front doors of the main office." He laced his arms over his chest.
"I said I was sorry didn't I?" I huffed. This guy was annoying me, he had no sense for common courtesy.
"I don't know.. Did you?" He cocked his brow in a taunting manner.
And that's when it hit me. I knew who this guy was, clear as day. I saw him on my way to Cassidy's dorm house on the side of the street, drinking a beer.
"I know you.. You're one of the guys that hangs around that big group of party animals." I narrowed my gaze.
"You're point is?"
"All you do is drink, party and smoke. You don't even care about your classes, do you?" I crossed my arms.
"Since when did my life become your business?" He spat with vigor. "Is it to make up for your own useless presence?"
"You're such a waste of space." I hissed right on back. "There are perfectly good, eligible, smart people out there that want to go to this college, and you're taking their spot at a happy and successful future-"
"Hold that thought-" He interrupted, lifting his hand out in front of my face.
I caught my breath with a grumble, balling my fists at my side as I looked up at him to meet his gaze while it turned away from mine.
"Hear that?" He asked in a hushed tone.
"What?" I followed his gaze suspiciously.
"How good people feel when you stop talking?"
I narrowed my eyes angrily in return, but before I could make my own snarky comment, he cut me off yet again.
"If you'll excuse me, I have more important things to do." He walked away from me.
I growled with the stamp of my foot, then checked the time. I spent 10 minutes talking to that guy? How is that even possible? I hurried to the front where the woman allowed me to check out of my old dorm room and into my new one.
"Dorm house 7, room 404." She smiled kindly, handing me a key card, then returned to her computer.
I thanked her on my way out, choosing to ignore what I experienced with that jerk only moments earlier on my way to my new dorm.
I walked down the street at a mild pace, reading my schedule over again. Even though I had gotten through my first day of shifted times, I still couldn't wrap my head entirely around the whole idea of forwarded classes, but I pushed past the thought on my way into the 7th housing building. I slumped back in the elevator with a sigh, waiting for floor 4, then stepped out to head to the room. I paused as I realized there was a voice of sorts coming from inside, then knocked at the door quietly just in case I had the wrong room. I didn't get a response of course, and unlocked the door with my keycard, pushing it open. What I was met with instead, confirmed my worst fears.
It was the boy from the administration office.
"You." He glanced at me through a narrowed gaze.
"You." I narrowed my gaze in return.
Oh joy...
-----
I can only imagine how this could turn out. Find out in the next chapter!