Akina's Reflection

II

Once I unpacked everything, I went out into the hall. There were a lot of people wandering the hallways, looking for their rooms, going to neighboring rooms, or even just hanging around in the hallways.

I had a set goal, as I wandered the hallways. I heard my friend, Paul, is also in this college, and I was set on finding his dorm. I looked around the crowded hallways, looking for my good friend.

A hand clamped down on my shoulder, and I jumped. Paul, who had grabbed my shoulder, chuckled.

"Looking for me, Sayoki? I was behind you for the last five minutes."

"Paul! Why didn't you say anything? You are the worst!"

He laughed again, then had me follow him to his dorm. I groaned.

"Your dorm is directly below mine! I probably passed here a billion times!"

"I think my roommate is out, want to come in?"

I nodded eagerly. Paul unlocked the door, and walked in. His dorm was not to different than mine, except that Paul's things were there. By Paul's things, I mean pottery. Lots and lots of pottery. He had put up a shelf, where little pots sat, and a picture of the two of us together. They also covered the surface of his desk. I had almost stepped on one in the floor.

"You made this place look like home." I commented.

"Yeah, maybe I overdid it. Toby was never the happiest about this."

Toby is Paul's roommate, and a serious gamer. Absorbed in his computer games most of the time, he is surprisingly shy, which is probably why he gave up making videos. Both Paul and Toby have already been here for a year, so they get along okay.

"So, who is your roomy?" Paul asked, sitting on the bed.

"This guy named Aubrey." I replied. "He's a really serious guy, and he seems suspicious of me. I think he's a little weird."

Paul stayed silent for a moment, absorbing what I'm saying. Then he asked me,

"Aubrey... Aubrey Alstein?"

I was surprised.

"Yeah.." I said, slowly. "But how did you know his name? Do you know him?"

"Not exactly. He was in my highschool though, we both lived in Indigo Creek. Actually, he was in one of my classes. Aubrey usually kept to himself, but I've heard many rumors about him."

"Rumors?" I asked, interested. I wanted to learn more about him.

"What type of rumors, Paul?"

"Some kids have seen him around since grade school, and say he was out of school for two years. No one really knows why, but he left around the time his mom died. Some nastier people think he killed his own mom, but at his size, I think it's unlikely. Actually, some say his computer is full of random codes, others say he is mental."

"...So Aubrey is a nutball hacker?" I asked cautiously.

"Maybe. I don't know him very well, I can't say."

Afterwards we did not really talk about Aubrey. We talked about other things, and I admit that we cuddled in the bed together. Paul and I... we are very close... Closer than most friends. If it wasn't for Paul's support, I might not have made it to college.

I snuggled close to Paul, and whispered,

"Thank you, for getting me this far, Paul."

Paul smiled, and pulled me in closer.

"Paul!" Toby groaned, for once speaking up. "Paul, I understand your idea of love interest, but here, of all places?!"

Paul got up, and that was all it took to make Toby quiet.

"When did you tell me that?" Paul asked, teasing.

"Or maybe you did tell me, but you need to speak up!"

Toby quickly nodded, trembling for no real good reason. If told to speak up, the ice blonde is hopeless.

"You ought to get back to your own room," Paul said, then yawned, and checked Toby's laptop for the time. He jumped, and headed to the balcony door.

"Awww... Shit..."

"What is it?" I asked, kind of tired.

"Do you know where you're supposed to go? Sayoki, it's 8:45."

"Morning or night?" I mumbled.

"Morning."

"What!?" I cried, shooting out of bed.

"Oh, no! First period is in fifteen minutes! My stuff is back in my dorm!"

Paul helped me out of bed.

"Get to your dorm, and grab your stuff. Then go straight to class. You know where to go?"

"No!" I said, panicked.