"Hey!" Chloe's voice greeted me on the phone. "My meeting is finished."
"Alright, I'm done too," I replied calmly. "Let's meet up at my car?"
"Sure, I'll be there," Chloe confirmed before we hung up.
I put my phone away and headed back inside the library.
I headed back inside the library. I quickly switched off the computer, making a note of the time I had used it, before finally leaving and heading towards where I parked my Mustang.
As I approached my car, I saw Chloe standing with her back to it, looking in the direction of my faculty. She seemed lost in thought and didn't expect me to approach her from behind.
"Chloe!"
"OH!" she jumped in surprise as I came up beside her. "Isn't your faculty in this direction?" she pointed, confused.
"I took a quick detour to the library," I explained with a smile, walking around to the driver's side. "Come on, get in."
Chloe nodded and slid into the passenger seat. I got inside as well and started the car. We pulled away from the university campus and drove just a street away before pulling up to the parking lot of Jennings Hall.
"Hey! Are you listening to me?" Chloe's voice sounded.
I glanced at her cute face, a bit dazed and confused, looking into her chocolate eyes.
"I... I'm sorry," I stammered slightly. "My mind is a bit occupied at the moment." I rubbed my forehead.
"Is everything alright?" she asked softly.
"Yes. I just had a bit of a strange conversation with someone earlier. Other than that, the meeting went great. How about yours?"
Chloe smiled, her voice brightening. "Oh, it went well! I got a few phone numbers."
"Girls or guys?"
Chloe shot me a playful stare. "Why? Do you care?"
I chuckled. "Well, in any case, you're going to have it easier whenever you need to make groups."
"Yeah, that's true," she agreed with a nod.
"Now, let me move some stuff to my room." I said.
"Do you need help?" she asked.
"Maybe a little."
We headed inside the building.
The first floor had a small resting area with couches, and I remembered that there was a room for playing ping-pong and table football on the side.
The reception desk was centrally located, where I quickly filled out the necessary paperwork and got the keys to my room.
I stepped back outside, handed Chloe a light box to carry, and grabbed the desk-chair I had brought along.
We walked up the stairs passing a guy in a pair of yellow flip-flops descending the stairs. "Eyo!" he called out and ran further down.
Once we got to the second floor, we turned left and entered the corridor. Shoes were scattered next to the doors, and on the right, there were doors to the floor-wide kitchen. From what I remember, it was pretty well maintained.
As we walked through, a girl suddenly ran out of a room on our left with a shriek. She was wearing just a red t-shirt and, well, panties, I guess, because her t-shirt fell just below her waistline and was long enough to cover them.
She glanced at us in surprise and quickly darted back into her room.
Chloe chuckled softly beside me. "Seems like it's lively. "
Room number 22 was the one the girl ran out of.
We walked a bit further down the corridor until we reached room number 27. I unlocked the door and we stepped inside. What welcomed us was a typical dorm room setup — two beds, two desks, a tiny area with a fridge and a shelf for food and cooking utensils to the right, and doors to the restroom.
Chloe looked around, taking in the room. "You got a double? Do you know who your roommate is?"
"I'll be living alone," I replied, setting down the chair near one of the desks.
"Wait, seriously?" Chloe's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You paid for a double?"
"I wanted to have the room to myself. I don't want to worry about a roommate."
"Hmm, must be costly," Chloe mused, glancing around the room. "Where do you want me to put this stuff?" She gestured to the box she had carried in.
"You can put it on the desk over there." I pointed to the vacant desk.
"What are you going to do with the other bed, then?" Chloe asked.
"I'll kiss the asses of the administration and ask them to store those somewhere for a few years. Then I'll put in a nice big bed in the center and a coffee table to the side." I said this while gesturing to the places I planned to put them.
Then I turned around and looked at Chloe. "Unless you would like to sleep on it?"
"Adorable offer, but I don't want to ruin your plan," Chloe replied with a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I'm sure it'll be cozy."
We continued to unpack a few other things and rearrange them in my new room. Once everything was in place, I closed the door behind us as we left.
We walked back to the car and as I pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards Wahneta, thoughts swirled in my head.
Could there be more changes than just this one insignificant detail that I became aware of?
If culture and history were altered in such small ways, what larger shifts could occur?
What if my knowledge about the future becomes obsolete?
"You seem to be thinking about something very deeply, Jack. Your face looks funny," Chloe remarked, breaking through my thoughts.
I sighed, glancing at her briefly before focusing back on the road. " I am just thinking about... things."
"What things?" Chloe asked curiously.
"I was actually thinking about going to Orlando," I admitted. "It's evening already, but I need to buy a few things, and it's on the way. Plus, we could grab something to eat there."
Chloe considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, but this time I'll pay for myself."
"Deal."
'I need to hasten my plans.' I thought.
If things really start changing, then the sooner I make progress, the better.
I wanted to invite my family for a holiday...
Now I know where we will be going.
'I need a new suit.' I thought.