Dead Ends // Hugh Jackman

Chapter 3

It didn't take much convincing for Carlos to get me to agree going to the university with him the following day. After all, he's the only reason I'm in this predicament. Not that it's actually one to begin with, but it surely feels like it.

My heart is beating a mile a minute. At any second, I'm going to pass out from how anxious I am. I haven't gone to college since I graduated back in 2019. I was never planning on coming back, not even for something like this.

I wouldn't say it was a horrible experience as an undergrad. Amazing isn't the word either. I couldn't wait to graduate and move forward with my life. I had all these aspirations, but then the pandemic hit, and everything got put on hold. Some days it still feels like the world has stopped moving, but when I really think about it, I'm the one that's frozen in place.

Not anymore. This is the most progress I've made in months. I took incentive. If I hadn't been trying to research volunteer opportunities, Carlos would have never saw it and helped me get where I am now. Granted, it's not a for sure thing yet. I have to meet the dean of the English department first. That's why I'm nervous. I'm not a great conversationalist. My talents lie elsewhere, but I have to try, and I will to the best of my abilities. No matter how horrible the outcome will probably be.

I trail behind Carlos as he leads the way. The stone path we're on intersects at four main points, creating a rectangular shape each building outskirts on. It's simple to navigate. There's signs in front of every structure and maps scattered across campus. As far as layouts go, it lacks in creativity but it's logical.

We turn off the main path, walking onto one of several smaller pavements that go deeper into the university. If I remember correctly, the english building is closer to the center. One of few that can't be accessed by the stone path.

I suck in a deep breath the shorter our proximity gets. Carlos looks over his shoulder at me, eyeing me carefully. He'd have to be blind to not see how nervous I am. I'm not exactly good at hiding it.

He slows a bit to walk beside me.

"Everything will be fine. Dean Zaks just wants to make sure you're serious about volunteering," he pauses to place his hands in the front pockets of his worn-out jeans. "We've had a lot join us then quit after a week."

Once he says that, my thoughts run.

Why would they volunteer and then stop so soon after? Are the students they help that terrible and hard to work with? Or, is it the other volunteers that make the environment insufferable? Do I really want to be here if either of those two happen to be the case?

I think Carlos senses that what he says doesn't make me feel better because he immediately continues talking.

"It's not because of anything bad. I promise everyone in the English department are good people. Generally anyway. A lot of the volunteers I think expected to not being working so much with not getting paid. Can't exactly blame them, you know?"

I guess he has a point, but they knew beforehand they weren't going to receive any monetary benefits from this. There's so many other assets to gain and improve. Like technical writing skills as well as sharing talent with others. There's also making connections with people and possible networking.

A lot can come out of this. I just hope I don't screw it up.

All I can do is nod in response. Carlos gives me a comforting smile just as we reach the entrance to the building. He opens the door for me like a gentleman, and I go inside.

The treatment is a lot different than how he'd been acting the last couple days towards me. That hostility is gone and replaced with who he is as a person. He's kind and sweet. Unless he's trying to make a move. He's not too good at that, but it's okay.