Where The Time Goes

Monday September 18th, 2016

"DON'T WAKE ME UUUUUUP!" Byron's ironic alarm blares from the iPad on his bedside table. He groggily rolls over and haphazardly places a finger over the home button groaning as the sensor takes three more tries before unlocking the tablet and shutting off the alarm. He' s never been one to wake up easily but after partying late last night he didn't get much sleep anyways. He feels movement and hears a sleepy moan from the other side of the bed. He turns his head to see a waking blond boy slowly open his eyes. He glances down to see some chiseled abs and a sizable tent in the covers. "Shit what was his name?" he thinks as he simultaneously commends himself for pulling in such a catch.

Byron was a bit of a man-whore and he knew it. He never had the drop dead gorgeous looks of the guys he went after, but he looked good enough to not be considered ugly. "Good morning babe," the blond said. His voice had the sexy after effects of slumber laced within it but all Byron could focus on was his choice of words. "Babe?" he questioned in his head. Instantly, red flags started going up and he knew he needed to evacuate the situation. He looked at his desk clock for the time and remembered that he had English at 10. It was already 9:15. He quickly jumped up and started throwing on the least wrinkled clothes he could find in his closet.

"Hey sorry I've got English at 10 and its my week to pick up the Starbucks before class so if you're not gonna be ready in a few minutes just lock the door behind you and um don't steal anything?" he explained as he started packing his bag.  The boy rolled out of the bed and started getting dressed. He said, "Yeah sure I should be ready in a minute. I don't have class till 1 so I'll just head back to my dorm." Byron breathed a sigh of relief as he tied his shoes. A minute later they both grabbed their things and head out the door. "I'll see you around I guess." said the guy. "Um yeah, sure." responded Byron. The guy quickly gave him a kiss then turned around and walked away. Byron had to admit, he looked great even from behind. If he wasn't so emotionally lost Byron might have considered cuffing the cute guy. But he knew, any time he got into a relationship, he would soon loose interest and then break up with the guy. As he shook his head from his thoughts, he locked the door and rushed downstairs to his car.

Byron lives in nice condo in the heart of Orlando right by the Florida Central University. As he hopped into his all black Ford Expedition he quickly sent a message to his friends' group message letting them know he was on the way. He swung by the campus Starbucks before coming to class and picked up four drinks for him and his friends. He checked the time and saw that it was already 9:50 so he rushed across the courtyard to the Language Arts building. As he slid into his seat Professor Evans was just opening his PowerPoint. He quickly gave his friends Caitlin and Gabrielle their drinks and a hug while being greeted with mutterings of, "Took you long enough fuck face," and "OMG I love you bae!" Then he turned to Jackson and gave him an awkward side hug and handed him his drink. Just as Byron got his laptop powered on and logged in, Evans began his lecture.

As the lesson came to a close, the Professor began telling the class about the paper due next month. Every day, until October 18th, they were to all write diary entries about their days. At the end of the one month period they were to write a reflection about what they had discovered about themselves through their writing. Byron, being an avid writer and reader took the assignment in stride and didn't show any sign of annoyance at such a task. Little did he know, this assignment would bring him more than just an A in class.

After class, Byron and his friends jumped into his Ford and went downtown to their favorite restaurant, Denny's, for lunch. They always got a booth, and ever since the first time they went, back in high school, Jack sat with Gabby while Cait sat with Byron. The history of the group always confused Byron.

Back in high school, Byron would always get approached by Cait or Jack about what the other said or did. Jack, who was apparently "madly in love" with Cait, was stuck deep in the friend zone. She seemed oblivious to the way he felt even though it was obvious to any outsider. As their junior year progressed, with some help from Byron and Gabby, the two began to get a bit closer. Then, seemingly out if the blue, Cait pulled back. From that point, she became somewhat bitter towards the poor fool. What always confused Byron was how she could turn him down. Jack was no average looking guy, at least to Byron. With short blond hair and nice blue eyes, he was also a football player. On top of his looks, he was a great guy. Especially towards Caitlin. He would do literally anything for her. Whenever the group hung out Byron would see him gazing at her with the saddest look in his eyes. It made Byron want to backhand Cait sometimes the way she treated him but he knew that the situation couldn't be helped. She was just too...something.

As Byron was just returning from his thoughts, the waitress came to take their drink orders. When she left to get their drinks, they all started talking about the assignment they all just got. "This is bullshit oh my gawwwd!" exclaimed Caitlin. She was always groaning and complaining about school work but still got it done. "You do realize that you're a journalism major right?" asked Gabby. "Besides, the assignment is easy enough, I used to write a diary when I was younger. It's not that hard."

"Idk about all you bitches," chimed in Byron, "but I'm gonna slay the fuck out of this. Evans is gonna love my diary." The group sarcastically gasped at him and Gabby said, "Yeah he'll love it, especially the part where you think about bending him over a table every ten minutes." The group erupted in laughter. Byron started blushing a bit as he explained, "OMG I do not think about that! I mean yeah he's hot as hell but he's my professor. Geesh I may be a man whore but I'm not that bad."

"My ass!" yelled Gabby. Thankfully for Byron, the waitress returns with the drinks then. She begins taking their orders then leaves the table again. "Babe what are we doing this weekend?" asked Cait. "Whaat? Caitlin hasn't already got it planned out to the second?" asked Byron sarcastically. "Shut up." she responded. "Idk I heard that there was gonna be a Rocky Horror show at the community theater or we can go to that new Celebration Station they just opened up." said Byron. Gabby chimed in, "Well I have no money soooooooo..."

"Baeeee I gotcha." responded Byron. Out of the group, Byron was the one that always had money. A year prior, his favorite uncle struck gold in the stock market and almost overnight became a millionaire. He decided to give all his nephews and nieces sizable shares of it to help them start their lives as adults. Byron took his phone out see how much the Rocky Horror show charged to get in.

Right after he pulled the page up, he started telling the group, "If you want to get in without buying the show props it's $20 but with props it's $30. The times are..." He trailed off when he looked up. Just striding in through the door was a face he hadn't seen in months. He kneed Cait and glanced at the door, signaling her to look. Her mouth dropped open. As the rest of the group caught on they all looked at the door. When Gabby realized who it was, she breathed, "Oh shit." As they man made his way towards the table after making eye contact with them, Gabby jumped up and raced to the bathroom on the verge of tears.