Fresh Meat

Fall Organization Convention

The next week flew by faster than one could spell "Mississippi" backwards. All of my classes seemed to zip one by one, which would probably turn out to be a bad thing once testing season came around. My COM 112 class had confirmed my suspicions, with each day covering topics relating to the basics of how humans interacted. PSYC 204 had barely improved, with the class becoming more tolerable due to Isabella. She'd introduced me to a few other people, and the course materials were actually intriguing, but I was pretty sure Professor Walsh had it in for me. My other two courses, COM 206 and PSYC 228, had just started picking up my interest, but I had barely made any connections with my peers.

I swiftly grabbed a tote bag, slung it over my shoulder, and locked the door to my room behind me before proceeding to dash down the hallway. It wasn't necessarily a run by any means, but something similar to what suburban mothers would call exercise in the 80's. Jumping down the stairs, I nimbly dodged other students before coming to flat out halt at the front door. Two students were bringing a couch through the door, or at least attempting too. Figuring I was already going to be late, I directed myself to a side door at another end of the building.

"Hey, Nick!" a voice shouted from behind me. My heels screeched as they came to a sudden stop. Turning around, I spotted a short brunette with evergreen-dyed tips approaching me. Her movements were quick, catching up to me in seconds.

"Alexa?" I started, "I didn't know you were in West Bestland."

Alexa Voss was a classmate of mine in PSYC 228. We'd been paired up as partners for our first activity, and the two of us had connected right away. Although she was a sophomore, we had had a lot of similar interests with one another.

"I was supposed to live off campus this year," she replied. "but my boyfriend decided to study abroad in Italy for the first semester, so I couldn't find a housemate."

"Ugh, that sucks." I pushed open the door as we walked outside. We were instantly greeted with a blast of chilled air, something I hadn't expected but should have. Stupid Midwest in September.

"Where are you heading?" I asked.

"Carlson Auditorium."

"Me too!" My response was eager. "Are you attending the convention?"

"Not exactly: I'm working part of it."

"Oh cool," I replied, steering us south. "What organization are you representing?"

"It's the cuisine club here on campus: St. Croix Culinary Arts"

"Really? You know, I would have never pinned you for a chef."

She laughed hard at that, so much so that she had to stop. "Chef? Heck no--I can barely even bake, let alone cook. I'm actually the treasurer, sorting money and assigning budgets. I do however appreciate good food, so it's a pretty sweet gig."

Maneuvering onto a new path, we began merging with other students. A small crowd had assembled outside of the doors to the auditorium, allowing me to assume they were all here to attend the convention as well.

"Nick!" I heard Isabella's voice shout from a distance.

"This is my stop," Alexa smiled, taking a step ahead as I stopped. "Make sure to drop by my booth."

"Sounds good!" I promised as she disappeared among the sea. As soon as she had left my field of vision, Isabella and Keira entered from another direction.

"Are you ready for this thing?" Isabella's tone was extremely enthusiastic. "I can't wait to see everything!"

"I mean, yeah I guess."