Racing Andrius

Peter: A Conflict Resurfaced

There it was, Andrius's jet black Triumph TR65 Thunderbird parked in his parking spot. I sighed and looked at the boy's dormitory and watched as lights turned off, all except one.

"Awake again, buddy," I sighed.

I had known Andrius since the start of high school and even back then did he show the makings of a talented racer and scholar. However, six months ago, something happened and the fire that used to light his passion for racing vanished.

I walked through the double doors and down the halls where doors with name tags were evenly spread apart.

"Good evening, Pete," a tall boy waved from down the hall

"Evening Eric," I said

"You should head to sleep, long day tomorrow,"

"Yep, you too,"

"See ya,"

"Night,"

I walked up the stairs and into another hall. Unlike the other halls above us, the second and first floor were spotless. It was required for the first floor to be organized since that is where college visits were most common, but for our floor, we cleaned did it because Andrius lived on this floor. I knocked twice before opening the door.

"Welcome back," Andrius said from his bed but not looking up from his computer.

"Hey Andrius, going to sleep soon?" I said

"Yeah, just finishing an essay,"

"K, I'll go wash up," I said and as I was about to open the door, Andrius said, "Pete,"

"Yeah," I turned

Andrius blinked twice then looked back at his essay and said, "Nothing,"

"Okay? I'll be right back,"

For as long as I could remember, Andrius had always been like that. Always quiet and watching everything go on around him. He was never one to take the first step to get to know anyone nor start a discussion like conversation. There was only one person that could open the doors to Andrius's heart, but that person is long gone. Charlie Pietro had been Andrius's childhood best friend and the only one Andrius really trusted.

I closed the bathroom door and as usual looked at my reflection in the mirror. For a moment I could lie to myself that Charlie was right in front of me since we were identical twins. I closed my eyes and sighed trying to ignore my heavy heart. I knew it was hard for Andrius to have me as a dormmate because he would sometimes call me Charlie, even though the two of us couldn't be more different. I sometimes think to myself what it would have been like if I switched places with Charlie that day...maybe things would be different...