Fall Through

Chapter Three: An agreement and a meeting

To follow the awful regulations at Beaver Dam College, Suzy walked instead of running to see Ricardo, careful not to slip into other students.

By the library, Emily hung out, clearly offended that Suzy was getting time off from her studies and being able to do the finals later than everyone else.

Doing the final tests later than the rest was not exactly what Suzy wanted to be doing, but to put Ricardo's mind and heart at ease, she was going back home to Idaho, to see her siblings.

"Suzy!" Ricardo said happily when she neared him.

She held up one of her suitcases, "So... will I be needing this or not?"

He grinned, "Yes. I'll see you in two weeks."

Two weeks. Suzy blew out a breath, "Or sooner, they might not even want to see me."

Ric fixed his hair with a hand, "Don't lose hope, Su." He reassured her with a squeeze of her shoulder.

"I'll try." She thought of hugging him but dismissed the feeling, she'd see him again soon.

With one more glance around her college and all the students, she began moving to the stairs. Ricardo took both of her suitcases and let her walk first.

By the stairs descending to the bottom floor, Rupert Carter stood, a smirk causing his features to be more outstandingly sharp, "Hey Su."

He said her nickname, which she hadn't said he could use, so differently than Ricardo did.

She frowned at him, "Goodbye Rupert."

She tried to ignore him and just begin going down the stairs, but, Rupert clicked his tongue and slightly grabbed her dress sleeve, "Careful out there Su, you don't want to lose the knowledge that you have here at college." He snickered, "Worthless as it is. You know you won't be able to get a job as a woman."

Ricardo came forward from behind Suzy, "Shut up Rupert. Get lost." He pointed to where the other students huddled.

Rupert made a face, "Gee, calm down. Su here can take care of herself," His brown eyes darkened, "Or is she still the helpless, baby "princess" she was back in grade school?"

Helpless baby princess? She punched him before she even had a chance to think the action through.

Rupert clutched his nose and groaned.

Suzy put her hands on her hips and gave Rupert a smug gaze, "Who's the helpless baby "princess" now?"

Surprisingly, she heard Ricardo laugh behind her.

Rupert, still clutching his nose, stuck out his tongue at both of them and scampered off to another group of students.

Ric looked a little shocked at her still, "I didn't know you had that in you."

Suzy pursed her lips, "He's deserved that even since I first met him."

He watched Rupert closely, "I can tell. I would've delivered it if you hadn't." He began trooping down the stairs, and Su followed.

"How much time do we have to get to the station?" She asked as they reached the end of the flight of stairs.

Ricardo glanced down at his wrist and hurried his pace, cringing, "Only an hour. Come on!" He beckoned for her.