I Chose Nothing

5

     Over the next week, Sage and John spent most of their time, outside of work, together. Marc would come over and get the help that he needed, which was mostly make-up work, but the more they hung out together, the more things in common they had. John introduced Marc to Sage, and soon the trio had exchanged numbers and texted, called, and arranged plans very often. John was very content with himself, the most he has been in a while.

The carnation had began to grow very slowly.

     John watered the carnation and sudden dread washed all over his body, making him freeze in the spot he was in. The essay. Although he had time, he had completely forgotten about the entire project as a whole, it had to be 2,000 words long, and he was allowed to exceed that limit, for it was half of his grade. Marc knocked on his door,  'I have to go get it'  but he couldn't move, the sudden increase of stress weighed him down. Marc knocked again, "John, it's me, is now a bad time?" He said from outside the door. "No." Was all John could say, frozen, he hadn't even started that stupid essay. But without it, he wouldn't be able to graduate. "I'm coming in John, you're acting weird." Marc announced before he walked right in. John heard his front door open, and was suddenly able to move his legs.

     He  opened his bedroom door and saw Marc at his door, holding his fist up to knock. "Dude, are you alright?" Marc asked, he was wearing a college t-shirt and basketball shorts. "I-uh...yeah, I'm just a bit shaken up at the moment." John responded. "Dude, a bit  you're sweating a lot, are you sure you're good?" Marc said, leading him to the edge of Johns bed. Sitting him down. John was ever so grateful for Marc, his concern showed that he cared about him. Something that he hasn't have had in a long while since he began college. "I have an essay to write and I've got no ideas." John stammered out, Marc nodded, "Let me get you a glass of water, but don't worry, keep talking about it, I'll be listening." he reassured as he got up to go fetch John a glass of water. "What's the prompt?" "It's along the lines of 'what is something I live to regret' but the thing is, I have no idea what I regret that is actually significant." John explained, wiping sweat off of his forehead with his sleeve. Marc came back with a glass of water, and turned on the ceiling fan with a switch. "Here, drink some of this." He handed the glass of water over to him, " I get why you're upset man, if I had that prompt I wouldn't have a clue about what would write about too." John took a giant sip from the glass, "Marc," He began, Marc turned towards him, looking at John in his eyes, "The thing is, you do have that prompt." John explained, Marc made a confused face that said it all, "It's for our humanities class Marc, it's due in three and a half months." Marc widened his eyes, and covered his mouth, "No way." John nodded and sighed as his friend threw himself back on the bed, groaning into the navy blue sheets. John got up to put his glass down on the nightstand, "I can't believe you've done this to me, now I have to go and look for the entire assignment, what was it listed under?" Marc rolled over and asked, "It's under Semester 2 Final Project." Marc rolled his eyes, "Amazing." John laughed.

     After calming down a bit by distracting themselves with other conversation topics, another knock was heard at the front door. "I'll get it." John said, getting up and heading towards the front door. Looking through the little peep hole first, and seeing Sage's bright smile, he opened the door. She bolted right in, and headed straight to the kitchen to put down a large tray of cookies. "Dig in and enjoy!" Sage exclaimed happily, Marc left the room to greet Sage. "What's up? John, you're having a party and you didn't invite me?" She teased, as she greeted both of them with a group hug, John shook his head and rolled his eyes. She then bolted to the room, Marc noticed she had a tin can in her hand. The two men just looked at each other and waited to see what crazy idea Sage had come up with.