me & tomfoolery

Cold as Ice pt. 2 | Shilo Sanders Short Story

Another Thursday going to shit as Tennessee ran across campus in the rain. She woke up late, she didn't check the weather and now her freshly washed hair was soaked. Product from her wash-n-go dripped down her forehead causing her glasses to cast a shade of milky white.
Everything that could go wrong, was.

She didn't see a campus shuttle in sight as she journeyed past the zombie-esque students who most likely didn't pay for their education in loans. Although her parents were working middle class, her definition was far different from her fair skinned counterparts.

A group of students rushing along bumped into her. The textbook she needed the most now in the mud as she stood on the sidewalk in defeat.

"You have got to be fucking joking." She planned on going home at this point, she would email her professors asking for an extension and spend the next few hours under her covers with a bottle of wine. As she went to pick up the book a pair of boots stepped on it, pushing the binded paper deeper into the soil. They continued to walk, ignoring her presence completely.

"Hey miss, you need help?" Tennessee thought that her day was bad but recognizing the voice she knew it was about to get worse. "No, I'm fine."

"You sure?" Shilo could see that whoever was in front of him definitely needed a hand. "I said I'm fine." She snapped, then turned to him briefly before picking up the soaked book and walking away. Shilo shook his head ultimately walking the opposite way. He didn't get what her problem was but it was not his job to figure it out.

••••

The results from Shilo's exam were instant and he passed, which he expected. The material wasn't hard to understand and it made life better that he was interested in the subject. His next course was the one he shared with Travis and Tennessee. He spent most of the time talking about his life and things he liked because the people in his groups never wanted to share. Dr. Stein would use their topics from the discussion boards to talk in class, otherwise Shilo would keep his mouth shut.

"You still coming to dinner tonight?" Travis asked while locking his phone. Shilo wasn't sure if he wanted to do dinner or even the kickback that his brother had planned. All he wanted was to finish his work and then go to bed. They had a big game this weekend and everyone's priorities were in another place. The season just started and there was alot to prove.

"Just dinner? I'm not trying to be out all night for no reason. I got classes in the morning." He wanted to stay on track this semester. He only had but so much time to spare and he wanted to secure the goals on his list. "We don't plan on going out. So just dinner."

With an open mind Shilo navigated through the rest of his day with his head held high. The rain stopped and it made him realize he didn't see Tennessee in their class together. "You remember where you hid that extra textbook for Rogers class?"

Shedeur thought for a moment and remembered it was in Shelomi's room in a box. They had to hide certain books from their mother or she would take it and never give it back. No one felt the need to replace a book they did not have to. "Ima need that."

"Go head, not like I'm using it and she don't need it until next semester." Shilo made sure to place the book in his bag, he would find a way to give it to Tennessee without the hassle of actuality talking to her. He felt bad but he knew that she would give him hell and he rather his mood not be ruined by Colorado's grinch.

Tennessee found something acceptable to wear to this dinner she wanted to skip. Travis called her an hour ago and reminded her that they were expecting her. She felt a tinge of guilt for wanting to ghost them. She had a terrible day and it wouldn't all of a sudden be better because she decided to sleep it away.