Our Beginning | Mickey Altieri

Chapter Thirteen

We arrived back on campus after driving and visiting some places outside of town. We found an abandoned turnpike and stayed there for about an hour or two wandering around, playing games like hide and seek, and talking about our days before leaving college. Derek and Randy went to their dorm, so did Hallie and Sid. Reggie left to go to a different campus he attended and said he'll be back next week for the party. Yes, all of us agreed to go. I know he wanted me to say yes as this could be the perfect opportunity to get in the game.

I placed my cds on a shelf and sat on my bed. There was still some time and we don't start classes until Monday. It's only 7pm, still too early for me. There's no point for me to sleep at this time, why would anyone want to sleep at this hour? I waited patiently with my thoughts about what I should do until Mick disrupted.

"You seem deep in your thoughts. What's up?" I lay my back down on bed, staring at the ceiling.

"There's still time to do stuff. It's 7pm and I feel like doing something at this hour."

"Well, we could go to the theatre and watch that new movie?" I thought about it, but then again, I don't want to. Sid said a lot of people joked around dressing as Ghostface while running around the halls scaring people. Hell, I know there are people going around in the room dressed as them I know it. That's how some are, they get really crazy with true crime films that it scares me.

"I'm good. I don't really trust anyone in that room if we ever went."

"Because there are people dressing up as the killer from true events?" I nodded. "Yeah, fair point. I wouldn't step foot." The two of us laugh.

"How about we go to that nearby drugstore? We can get a milkshake at the soda fountain there or some snacks."

"A milkshake does sound pretty good." I lift myself to a sitting position. "You got the keys?" Mick takes out the keys from the pocket as he spun them around with his finger. I smile once I got off the bed and took his hand to go.

We walked for a while outside campus. Mick playfully bothers, we ran around like kids, and he would hold my hand sometimes in public. Anyone who passes by would stare at the two of us for goofing off. Not my fault I'm just living my life with someone.  The drugstore was not that far as Mick ran towards the door. "Last one in has to pay!" I immediately ran soon after.

Mick won and entered first with me entering a second later. "Damn, looks like you're going to pay for those milkshakes then." I laugh sarcastically and push him away. "Haha, very funny. Let's just get those milkshakes." He snatched my hand and took me to the soda fountain. Once we sat down, a guy, about Mickey's age, walks over to us. He gives Mick a nod and to me a warm smile.

"Hi there, what would you two like?"

Mick asked for a chocolate milkshake while I asked for strawberry. As he left, the two of us chatted for a bit.

"Hey, about my question..." I froze for a bit while I knew he would ask about this. I thought it would still be at the dorm, but I guess not. "Have you had any answer to it?" I took a deep breather before I respond.

"Well, if, let's just say, that I had a crush on you while you admitted that I caught your attention, I would kinda stand a bit dumbfounded while I process what just happened. It just depends whether or not I have a crush."

"So you're saying-"

"That I would feel pretty happy and stupid to think that's it's all a dream while it's not." He chuckles and looks around for a bit before landing his eyes on me. "Is it really true that you never experienced a relationship?" He's really asking a lot, but I don't seem to mind.

"What Reggie said, yes it's true. I never and I mean never had been with a partner. What about you Mick, have you ever been in one?"

"Actually I did." Uncouth silence dropped on me like a waterfall. "It was back in sophomore year, just for almost six months. It was the only relationship I've ever been in." The smile he once had dropped down.

"Hey, hey, it's okay Mick." I scoot closer and rest both my hands between his face. Tears began forming as I wiped them off with my thumb. He smiled lightly and grabbed both my wrists, moving them out. "Sorry, I didn't expect for that memory to appear. It's been four years, four fucking years. I'm over it yet it still comes up."

"Wait, four years?"

"Yeah, I'm a sophomore in Windsor, remember?"

I blink for a few times. "You are?"

"Everyone in the group knows. Even Reggie!"

"I didn't know that...Wait how old are you?"

"I'm twenty-one." I really am dumb, I thought he was eighteen. "How old did you think I was?"

"I thought you were eighteen."

"Okay, I can't look that young," He slightly chuckles. "And you're nineteen, correct?" I nodded. Now I know he's older than me. By the way he acts, I really thought he was younger than me, then I forget that the most immature are the older ones. Mick wipes a tear off him and continues with his topic.

"But yeah, four years. I can't believe I just caught her in that room at the party with who I thought was my best friend. Well, I was wrong." My eyes widened to the fact he just explained what the reason was behind the break-up. From what I heard, people don't like to bring up stuff like this; on the other hand, it depends on whether they feel comfortable sharing that information with someone they want them to know, right?

"She cheated?" I whisper to prevent others from hearing. He just nods and moves his eyes from me. "I'm sorry that happened to you Mick. I don't why anyone could do something that cruel to you behind your back. You have such a sweet and caring personality." I guess from what I said did catch his attention.

"You really meant what you said?" I take both my hands with his. "Mick, in case you didn't know, you are the most caring and loving person I've met in Windsor. You're even charming as well!Sure you are a bother sometimes, but I really do enjoy your company around." A slight blush appears on his cheeks. What I never expected myself to do is to intertwine my hand with his. "I want you to know because it's what I think about you, alright? You're better off without that cheater. She's missing out the good part about you."

Mick stops crying and sends in a small smile. I know inside he feels appreciated. That's what I want him to feel. "Thank you." He whispers as he leans closer to me, our faces inches apart while he caresses my cheek. For the first time in my life, I felt my face heat up. He pulled away once the soda jerk came back with two milkshakes.

"Here you go. Enjoy!"

I started drinking my milkshake until Mick spoke up.

"By the way did I see you blushing just a second ago?"

I slap his arm and turned around, holding my milkshake. "Just shut up and drink." He laughs and takes a sip.