Crimson Academy

SIX

I went back to my dorm and started in on my homework. I'd gotten my grammar paper in English done, so I'd no need to worry about that. I managed the last four problems of my calculus assignment without tearing my hair out, and of course I had my short story to begin.

I sifted through an old notebook, looking for inspiration, though i didn't find any. Disappointed, I set my stuff aside and showered. I'd surely think of something.

After that, my evening went pretty quietly. I ate some ramen, and read a few pages of some old book I'd found at a garage sale during the summer, and then stared at the ceiling for a while.

I was so bored that I closed my eyes for a moment. Once I'd just gotten comfortable a knock sounded on my door.

I drug myself off of the couch and went to the door.

Standing there was some short, goth looking kid, with snake bite piercings and thick, dark blue eyeliner.

"Are you Aaron Green?" He asked.

I nodded.

"There's someone on the phone for you."

"Ok. Give me a minute." I replied.

I went and put a shirt on, and slipped my black slides on my socked feet.

I walked down the first level where the payphone was, and picked up the receiver.

"Dad?"

I'd become worried. I knew my dad would call occasionally, but I didn't expect one so soon.

"Hi son!"

His cheery tone chased my worry away.

"How was your first day?" He asked.

I smiled. "Not too shabby. I really like my classes, and the teachers here are pretty cool too."

I didn't mention Victoria.

"That's really great son. I'm happy for you."

I smiled. "How was your day?"

He cleared his throat. "Oh, it was fine."

Then bad vibes hit me.

"Dad, what happened? Are you ok? What did you do?" I said.

"Calm down Aaron. It's not even that bad, just a sprained wrist." He replied.

"Well what happened?" I asked.

"Well, we were carrying some big, thick slabs of lap board, and the guy that I was doing it with, slipped and dropped it. Instead of letting go, I tried to catch it, and it didn't work out so good."

"Ah." I said. "So how long is it gonna take to heal?"

"Doctor says a couple weeks, and it should be fine. He gave me some high powered pain pills."

I laughed. "Be careful with those."

He chuckled. "I will. I promise."

Silence fell upon us, and that's when we said our goodbyes.

I went back to my room, and shortly after went to bed.

^^^
I woke up the next morning at my alarm and got ready for the day, this time dressing in a short sleeved shirt.

The morning went pretty much how it did the day before.

In the halls, Victoria waved at me once, and any other time she saw me she would send a smile in my direction.

I can't say that it didn't make me feel good to have a really cute girl watching me all day, but I hardly knew her, and didn't plan on talking to her if I didn't have to.

She had saved me a seat in eighth hour, but I didn't take advantage of it. I sat alone because I felt like being alone.

I did this for the rest of the week too.

Saturday came, and it was the first time since I'd been in Oklahoma that there had been a break from the heat; the first of September and I couldn't have been happier.

I had started my short story, but a page into it, I caught writers block and felt empty inside.

I closed my notebook up, and put on a pair of jeans, a purple t-shirt, and a black cotton jacket. I thought I'd take a walk and come back to see if the increased blood flow, and peace would help me at all.

I locked the door behind me and began my adventure. Moving in the direction of the wooded area, I walked for about ten minutes. I found a low tree branch, and went to sit on it. Rubbing my eyes, I closed them.

Thinking! I'm thinking of good ideas. Think, thank, thunk. Ideas for my story. Wonderful ideas.

I kept drawing blanks, and got bored with myself. I got off my ass, and started for the pond.

The sky was clouded with storm clouds. None of them looked too threatening, but I expected rain.

I started walking around the pond, and I think the temperature dropped ten degrees in an instant. Shoving my hands into the pockets of my jacket, I tightened it around my shoulders.

By the time I'd gone the entire way around and was facing the dorm complex, I couldn't stop shivering. To top that off, a drizzle had begun, and it wasn't like it had been the first night I was at The Crim, where it was hot and sultry. No way. This was cold rain. Icy cold rain.

The drizzle became a sprinkle, and that sprinkle turned into a gentle, but heavy (COLD) rain.

I made it back to my dorm, and awaited the comfort I would feel when I walked in. I'd turned the heat on before I'd left, and it was going to be wonderful.

I put my hand in my pocket for my key.

Nothing.

I did so in the other pocket.

Nothing.

Butt pockets.

Nothing.

Jacket pockets.

Not a thing.

I bet in your frustration, you never even picked it up dummy.

"Fuck..."

I stood there a minute, shivering, soaked, and in all honesty, depressed.

I felt alone and exposed too.

What was I to do?

I didn't know.

In that moment, I wished that I had someone to give me some sympathy and some love.

I wanted a friend.

Hey, and don't forget, you've always got a friend in me. If you need something, I live in the third complex, room 25.

I hated to want to go there.

How could I face Vic when I had refused to make contact with her all week? Would she even care at this point?  I could hear her voice in my head.

No. Leave. I tried to be nice to you asshole and you didn't accept my olive branch of peace and friendship. Freeze to death. Starve. I don't need a jerk like you for a friend.

I shook my head.

What else was I going to do?

With that, I turned and headed to complex three, dorm 25.