Life is but a Fiction...

3- Did you sleep at all last night?

The next morning, I went to art class tired as hell. Marc had called me in the middle of the night, reminding me how much he loved me. I asked him to stop calling, then hung up without saying anything else. He was pissed, but so was I. I was a little harsh, not that he deserved that, but I was trying to have a good start here and he was making it difficult.

Needless to say, getting focused was even harder this morning and the teacher asked us to find a partner to make a group assignment today. I was approached by Zachary, the same guy I met yesterday. We decided to work together, the two of us. Our assignment's goal was to know the reason why our partner chose this major.

"How are you? You look like hell "he said, laughing.

"Exhausted, even though my face already told you that I guess"

"Damn, those college parties must be fun."

I laughed loudly. If only I partied last night...

"If only..." I sighed. "My soon to be ex-boyfriend, who I haven't seen in a really long time called me in the middle of the night, and well, I got angry at him. I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm telling you all of this, you don't wanna know."

"I don't mind at all. I'm sorry you are going through this."

" I don't know where I stand in all this chaos. I fucking can't anymore... Just thinking about it makes me panic."

"You surely fit the tortured artist look."

I laughed again. That man was funny.

"Do I really look that bad?"

"No, you don't. I am joking..."

"Phew. "

"Sort of..." He added, smiling at me. "Well, anyway..." Zachary read the first question on our sheet. " Describe what motivated your partner to choose an art major. You go first."

"No way, you first, I'm embarrassed enough I told you about the chaos in my life, I need to know about yours. Tell me, are you a tortured artist?"

He laughed.

"Kind of."

"Mysterious... I like that. You don't look like the typical college student to be honest."

"Wow, I don't feel the judgment at all. Is it my tattoos? My piercings? You know art students are weirdos right?"

"That is not what I meant." I said, blushing. He was smirking. He was for sure mocking me.

" I just feel you are a person who got your shit together, you know?" I continued. "You seem confident, to have your life under control. Students don't look like that, they seem lost most of the time. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe you just don't care."

"Maybe you are reading me right, maybe I am a little bit of both."

" You look fucking cool by the way. I want to become a tattoo artist."

"Thank you. Do you have any yourself? "

"Not yet. I plan to change that very soon."

The teacher interrupted us as the class ended. He announced we would have to finish our assignment after class, it was due next week.

"I have a thing to go to, but hey, do you wanna meet up tomorrow morning? We could finish this thing and continue our conversation?" He suggested.

"Yeah, I still don't know the first thing about you."

We were walking to our cars in the parking lot. We were next to mine. I stopped. Zachary turned to me.

"So, that's my car. See you tomorrow?"

"Can I ask for your number? In case I wanna wake you up in the middle of the night"

"Very fucking funny."

"I'd really want your number tho."His smile was so freaking charming.

"Give me your phone..." I laughed.

He did give me his phone and I added my number in his contacts.

"Don't know why I'm trusting you with this."

"You won't regret it".

He left after saying goodbye. I went back to my apartment, then my phone rang. I picked it up.

"Yes. "

"Alissa ? Girl, are you really in L.A for good?" I heard a familiar feminine voice.

"Jess, is that you?"

"Yes. It's been so long. How about catching up tonight at the club ? I'm buying."

"Jess, I don't know... I'm so freaking tired tonight."

"Come on..."

It was lonely here in this city, I couldn't pass up this opportunity to get in touch with a friend from high school, who I hadn't seen since prom. Jess quickly moved in L.A. that summer and never looked back. She was the kind of person to live life to the fullest, not stressing too much about anything. She loved music and I remembered her dragging me to one of her rock shows that she liked to go to. We always had fun together.

"Okay, yes, come meet me at my apartment, I'll text you the address. But I'll be back early here, I didn't sleep well last night"

"Yes! Perfect. No problem"

We had a blast. We catched up on our lives, telling each other all about our failing relationships. She was in the middle of breaking up with her current BF, who seemed to be a cheating ass. I offered her to be my roommate, I told her the extra room would be hers anytime, since I was not planning on renting it to a complete stranger. She said she would think about it. I told her all about Marc, that I thought about leaving him, let's be honest, I was fucking miserable. Jess slept at my place, we were both hammered at 1am. She certainly couldn't drive in that state. So much for sleeping early, I certainly would regret my life choices in the morning.

Then my alarm woke me up, too fucking early with a brutal headache. I got up, took some painkillers with a big glass of water. It said 7 on the clock. I then remembered I said to Zachary I would meet him at 9. I showered, did my hair and makeup, had breakfast and headed out the door. Jess left while I was getting ready.

Before getting out of the car, I checked myself in the mirror quickly. I still looked tired. Damn, of course that makeup wouldn't cover that hungover, who was I kidding?

I got in and searched for Zachary. He was in a chair, waiting with a coffee in hand. I walked toward him.

"Woooo, did you sleep at all last night? " He asked.

"No comment, I am hungover, thank you." I responded.

"I got you coffee"

"Thank you, you're so sweet. Maybe that will save me. "

I sat down on the sofa in front of him.