Short Stories

Mirrors in the Dark (Part 1)

"...And here is your class schedule, Mr. Oakley!"

The perky registration office lady handed me an envelope embellished with "Humboldt State University" on the front. She looked to be about her mid-thirties with very short curly hair and grinning eyes; she seemed very sweet. And apparently, from what she was telling me earlier, she was to be my Biology Professor as well.

"Thank you," I said with a shy grin, "And please just call me Chase."

She smiled in return. "Of course; I look forward to seeing you in class next Monday then."

"I'll be there, Mrs. Nixton," I replied, putting the envelope into my backpack as I turned to go. "Thanks again, have a nice day!"

"You too Chase!" she replied with a polite smile.

I walked out of the Registration Office and strolled across the college grounds, eventually finding my way to the parking lot. I headed in the direction of where I had parked my car and saw that Tara had already made herself comfortable in the passenger seat, nose deep in her favorite book, Life of Pi. I grinned and slide into the driver's seat, shutting the door with a 'thud'.

Tara snapped her attention towards me, then relaxed when she saw who it was.

I laughed amusedly, "Reading that old book again?" I teased her.

She looked at me, closing her book and frowned. "Of course I am." she replied flatly, "It's a very interesting read, and -"

"I was just kidding Tara!" I said, sarcastically adding,"Please don't hurt me, O great one!"

Tara's lips twitched up in a slight grin, "I'll spare you this time peasant," she replied in good humor. "Did you get your schedule?"

I pulled out my schedule and handed it to her, starting up the engine. "Yep, did you get yours?"

"Yeah, so you gonna drop me off and go to the Miller's?" She asked while scanning over my schedule.

I drove out of the parking lot and started driving down the road, "Of course babe, you wanted to be dropped off at that one Barn and no bells store right?"

She laughed playfully and scolded me, "It's Barnes and Noble you blockhead!"

"Oh yeah, the nerd store," I remarked. I love teasing Tara, she's so adorable.

"Well you're a nerd too Chase," she grumbled, turning her attention back to her book.

As she read, I turned on the radio to fill the silence as I reflected the events of the past week. Both Tara and I had enrolled at HSU, Humboldt State University, right after high school She was going into video game design and I was considering my options for going into the medical field. I still wasn't so sure about what I wanted to do. While Tara had decided that she was going to live on campus since she had quite a few scholarships that would cover the fees, I didn't have enough money to cover the price for living on campus so I decided to rent a room at the Miller's house. The Miller's are a nice older couple who my parents have known for about 10 or so years, although my parents warned me that they were odd at times.

"Alright, here is your stop madam," I said pulling up in front of Barnes and Noble.

"Thanks babe," she said giving me a quick kiss on the check. She got out of the car, swinging her bag onto her shoulder as she stepped onto the curb.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow for lunch right?" I said with a grin.

"Yep, see you then, Chase!" she replied.