I always get a little charge after talking to Kristine. It's kind of like motivation. A burst of adrenaline. She gives me purpose. And my purpose now is to get my ass to class.
I took a pen and pencil from the desk and slid them into my pocket. I grabbed my textbook and notebook and plopped them into my dark gray backpack, and zipped it up quick. Tons of students at the university don't use backpacks, they lug their stuff around by hand, but I really like the backpack. Some people with backpacks do that one shoulder strap thing to look real casual. Not me. I use both straps like a backpack is meant to be worn. As I get older I realize plain functionality and practicality is cool. That's why I still wear a watch. I don't waste money on t-shirts with logo's on them, I actually go out of my way to get plain solid colors with no logos. The shirt I'm wearing now is pure white and tagless. If it's good enough for Michael Jordan it's good enough for me. Standard worn blue jeans and a half tattered black belt. Plus my ankle black socks. My most expensive pieces of clothing are my Converse shoes and black Hurley baseball cap. I like the hat cause you can barely see the logo but it's still high quality. That's really the problem nowadays with clothing, it's hard to get the high quality without the logo.
I gave myself a once over in the mirror and adjusted the front bill of the hat upwards so it would show more of my face and hair. I lifted the front collar of my shirt over my nose and took a deep nose inhale from under my shirt. Still smelled good. Old Spice Hawkridge is pretty nice. I don't use that Axe body spray crap. That stuff stinks. If I am going out for the night and want to smell extra special I'll use a single small spritz of Nautica Voyage cologne but that's it. Hair gel can smell pretty nice too. The Axe soaps are nice, but it needs to be in used in conjunction and after using a good old fashioned soap first. Way too many guys use only Axe for everything due to the company's extensive marketing and they end up stinking from 5 feet away. Amateur suckers.
I made a goofy sexy face and give a thumbs up to it in the mirror. Do a quick dance in all my gear so it becomes one with my body, and I'm out the door.
I walked down the hallway over the elevator and hit the "Down" button with my knuckle. My eyes analyzed the digital numbers above the three elevator doors so I could predict which one was going to open up for me. After using these elevators multiple times a day for half a year, I've totally mastered how they function. I saw "5" on the digital screen above the first elevator which means it was one floor below me, but it was moving upwards and I wanted to go down. So I moved myself over to the last elevator which said "12" because I knew it was going to be the one for me. I watched the numbers decrease and pause briefly on "7" which meant someone was getting on or getting off. It got to "6" and I heard the familiar HUM and CLICK. I started walking towards the closed elevator doors and right in stride they opened up and I strolled inside. I had already reached my hand to the side and tapped the "Ground Floor" and "Close Doors" buttons in rapid succession without even seeing them before my second foot was even in the elevator. I could do this with my eyes closed. I bowed my head and placed my hands in my jean pockets as I stood in the direct center of the elevator transporting me to the ground floor.
The elevator stopped on the ground floor and I heard the familiar HUM and CLICK. I lifted my head from its' meditation and strolled towards the closed elevator doors which opened right on stride yet again.
BUMP!
"Ahhh fudge my bad man", I frantically mumbled as I jumped back into the elevator.
"Hey! WATCH IT!", Willy whined.
I looked at Willy and this girl who was with him, bowed my head in shame as they got into the elevator and then I squeezed out briskly.
"Sorry Dude, you OK?", I said sympathetically.
"I'm FINE", Willy scoffed back.
The girl glared at me with a real mean face as the doors closed. I was kind of shocked to see a girl with Willy at all. He was kind of flamboyant if you know what I mean. The girl was pretty chubby like 300 pounds worth. It is just funny cause Willy is really scrawny and on the short side. And here he was taking a girl up to his dorm room. She definitely would squish him. We're allowed to bring one girl in at a time but they need to be accompanied at all times and they have to sign in at the front desk with the security guard.
I walked past the security desk and paused to look at Christopher the man who was operating it today. I didn't say anything to him, but gave a finger point to the elevator where Willy and his girl were just at and mouthed "WTF?". Christopher threw both his arms up in the air, shrugged, and shook his head with a huge grin on it. I grinned back, made a quick hump motion in the air with my arms and pelvis and made Christopher laugh out loud. I gave a quick peace sign goodbye and swiftly walked out the building.
It's important to talk to people. Christopher is a cool guy and we're on a first name basis. When you take the time to befriend people they help you out. Nowadays though, no one talks to nobody. Everybody just kind of ignores each other and acts like they don't want to be bothered while they're being 'social' on their phones. I've found the friendlier you are, especially with people you'll see on a regular basis, a lot easier your life is going to be. Plus having friendly conversations makes life more enjoyable too.
The building with my class is only two blocks away. I make my way to the sidewalk and ease my way into the flow of fast walking pedestrians. It's really weird how fast people walk on city sidewalks. I usually try to find someone with certitude, speed, and confidence in their step and tag along behind them, using them as a guide or a plow. The best for that are the well dressed business women in their 30's or 40's. Everybody parts out of the way for a confident, professional woman. If you look at someones face, they'll usually have this bland model-on-a-runway look in their eyes. Occasionally someone will make eye contact and quickly look away, but every now and then you'll get a nod or slight smile. It feels good to have that brief personal acknowledgement on this otherwise human conveyor belt machine that is a city sidewalk.
I eventually get to my destination building and easily slip off the sidewalk and to the doors that lead inside. The classroom is on the second floor, so I hop over to the stairwell, taking two steps at a time. Who the heck takes an elevator one floor? Apparently most people. I walk into class about 4 minutes early and take a seat right in the center of the room. I've sat here since the first day. One time someone took my seat so I came extra early for awhile to make sure it was known this is my spot. This cute brunette girl sits in front of me. I sat down behind her and she immediately starts fidgeting with her hair. I can't be positive but I think she's into me. I'll watch her as soon as I step into the room. She'll remain motionless but once I sit behind her, she'll start fixing her hair or stretching her arms up, or reaching to the side to get something out of her backup so I see the side of her head, with that blank model-on-a-runway look on her face. She'll pretend she's looking for something important but won't get anything out. Why can't people just be friendly and say 'Hi'?
The professor walks in and starts his lecture. I zone out and watch the brunette girl in front of me as she runs her fingers around the back of her neck and ear.
.
