Play Pretend

6: College

6: College

Connor Rogers

It was the day.

Today was the day.

“Connor, your tie’s wonky,” Carrie pointed out, moving forwards to fix my striped tie again for the umpteenth time.

“It’s fine, Carrie, I’m–” I coughed as she gagged me with the material around my neck, “–suffocating.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she replied sheepishly, stepping back to take a look at me again, “fine, you look great.”

I looked twice the age I was. When Carrie had received news of me entering college, she practically had me stuffed into a black suit and a white shirt, completed with a grey and black tie and leather shoes.

I was pretty sure I was overdressed.

“I still can’t believe you’re actually going back to school,” Carrie gasped, looking like a mother on her son’s prom night, “I’m so proud.”

“Stop tearing up, Carrie,” I responded with a scowl, “it’s creeping me out.”

“I’m sorry okay?!” She defended, “it’s just that… I never thought this day would come.”

“Gee, thanks for having so much confidence in me.”

“Come on now,” she ushered me out of the house, “go kick some ass!”

“You’re overdressed, Connor,” Leila was the first to state the obvious, her eyebrows raised as she took in my sophisticated look.

We were now outside the university gate, and I had to bear the fact that Max was hollering in laughter at my outfit. Even TJ was sniggering uncontrollably behind his hands.

“Don’t start, Lei,” I sighed, my shirt slowly soaking up in my sweat, “I have my sister to thank.”

“Take off the tux, man,” Jason instructed, and I quickly chucked the jacket into the car.

“Here, take this,” he handed me his leather jacket, a spare pair of jeans and a pair of worn out sneakers, “now take off the tie and get changed in the car.”

“You always come prepared don’t you?” I questioned after I had looked normal again.

“I knew you would somehow embarrass yourself,” he earned a glare from me, “so I had to provide some backup.”

"What's with everyone disbelieving with the fact that I'm going into college?!" I exploded, "first Carrie, now you, who's next?!"

"Whoa, chill dude," Max said quickly, "we were just messing with you."

“Okay guys, here’re your fake IDs,” Leila interrupted quickly, handing out some cards among us. I took mine from her and glanced at my name – Cole Rogers. I couldn’t believe that I actually liked that name.

“Marcus Levin, seriously?” Max asked, looking incredulously at Leila.

“I don’t know, Aaron made these up. I’m Lily, so don’t complain,” she scowled at her card.

“Come on guys, seriously? I actually like my name,” Jason pouted.

“I like mine too; what’s yours?” I asked. He showed me his card – Jacob Wong.

“TJ, what you got?” Max asked TJ, who was just standing quiet at the side.

He raised his card – Troy Joseph Steinfield.

“Wait, isn’t that your original name?” Max wondered, frowning, “so we can still call you TJ?”

“Aaron said I have to be a Troy,” TJ whispered.