Letters to Victoria

Chapter 4

Slam!
Michael jolted up from his bed.
"Sorry!" Jack said from a distance, "I didn't realize you had fallen asleep" he walked over to his bed and sat on it, Michael propped himself up into a sitting position. "It's fine," he said groggily, "I probably should've woken up a little while ago." He stretched out a little bit, just to wake himself up.
"So where are you from?" Michael asked, trying to start some type of conversation.
"Oh, I'm from this small town up north, it's called Postum. Not many people have heard of it." Jack rubbed his neck.
"You're kidding? I'm from Postum!" Michael was riddled with excitement.
"Whoa! Small world! Did ya go to Stearns?"
"Yes! Damn, how have we never met?"
"Well, I was pretty quiet in high school. I kinda just kept to myself, plus it probably didn't help that my dad is like the pastor of the town. So, I was kind of just living in his shadow." Jack chuckled.
"Ah, well that explains a lot. Still, I'm surprised I've never seen you. My dad owns The St.James Street Club, so I've gone to quite a number of town functions." Michael stated, trying not to brag. Jack smirked, "ah, so you're one of those spoiled rich kids, huh?" Michael chuckled and rolled his eyes, "That is definitely not how I wanted that to come out. Anyways, the functions are opened to all, so I figured I'd have at least seen you there."
Jack chuckled again, "Nah man, I'm pretty introverted, so functions weren't really my jam. I spent most of my time with my dad, learning about the traditions and ceremonies of the town, and how to keep those alive."
"I didn't even know we had ceremonies in the town!"
"Come on, you've at least gotta know about the Jellicle ball. That's like the main thing our town is known for!"
"Oh, I knew about that. I got my scholarship from that. Well not from that directly, but I got the Jellicle scholarship."
"Oh! Well that's great! But you, do know about the jellicle ball, right?"
"Well kinda, I know that it happens around the autumn equinox, and I know there's like a bunch of ceremonies, but that's about it. I've only been to one, my dad was a featured guest, but after he gave his speech, he took my sister and I home. I haven't been since." Michael looked down, but then brought his attention back to Jack.
Jack gave him a sympathetic smile, "Well I won't bore you with the whole history of it, but basically the ceremonies are supposed to represent change and spiritual rebirth. My dads been leading it for quite some time now." Jack cleared his throat, "So aside from being from Postum, what else can you tell me about yourself?"
Michael perked up.
"Well, if you couldn't tell from the various dance gear scattered around the room, I'm a dancer. I've been dancing for about 12 years, so that's cool I guess." Michael chuckled, "I don't know, what about you?"
Jack smiled, "Well, I am an avid story telling enthusiast. My dad kinda passed it down to me, but it's something I hold very near and dear to my heart."
"Awe!" Michael squealed "That's so precious!" Jack rolled his eyes, "sure."
"No, really. Having something special you share with your family is like super important. I love it!" The two smiled at each other, Jack pushed himself off his bed and grabbed the orientation sheet, he turned to Michael, "Hey, do you wanna go grab some dinner or something, we have an orientation meeting in like an hour." Michael shrugged, "sure!" He slid off of his bed and onto the floor, he shoved his keys and phone into his pocket and swiftly followed Jack to the door.
As soon as they approached the dining hall, the two explored the cafeteria and what they had to offer. Jack immediately found his way to the sandwich line, but Michael was still searching. By the time Jack had gotten his lunch, Michael had settled into the salad line, he fixed his salad and was on his way. The two sat together at a table facing the entrance of the cafeteria, while sitting a red headed woman approached the two of them. "My friends and I noticed you two sitting alone and were wondering if you'd like to sit with us." She gestured back to a table where a young woman and man sat. Jack turned to Michael, as to ask for his approval, Michael nodded in agreement. "Sure." Said Jack, he grabbed his meal and followed her to the table, Michael followed.
"I'm Angie by the way," she turned and gave the boys a large grin, she then gestured to the table, "and this is Demi and Alonzo."
"Very nice to meet you, I'm Jack."
"And I'm Michael."
The three sat down. "So, are you two first years?" Angie questioned.
Both nodded.
"Oh, tight! So are we!" Angie said in excitement. Demi looked over the table, trying to add something to the conversation, "So, are you two from around here?"
"Kinda," Michael said, "we're both from Postum, it's a small town up north."
"Oh! So you two knew each other before hand?" Demi questioned.
"Actually, we just met. Crazy, I know."
"Oh, solid." She said with a smirk.
"Where are you from?" Michael asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Oh, I'm fairly local as well, I'm from Demetrias, it's like 20 minuets south of here." Demi looked to Angie as to signal her to say something. "I'm from Haigh-Wood." Angie smiled, she looked towards Alonzo who was completely zoned out, so she nudged him. "Huh?" He asked. "Lonzie, we're just telling these lovely people where we're from." Angie said, her eyes squinting at Alonzo. "Oh, that's cool." He muttered, not really getting the hint. Angie inhaled sharply and moved in closer to Alonzo, "We're waiting on you to tell us where you're from." She whispered threateningly into his ear. Alonzo pulled back, "Oh, I'm from New Castle." He said warmly, he shifted his attention back to the table, "Sorry, short attention span." He  flashed the table an apologetic smile.
"It happens man." Jack said. The twos eyes met, and Jack was absolutely smitten. Never before in his 18 years of life had he felt the feeling in which he was feeling, he blinked blankly at Alonzo then attempted to divert his attention from him. "What the fuck dude?" Jack thought, he put his focus back on Alonzo, his eyes still focused on him, and the two smiled at each other. "Say something to him! Say anything! Don't just stare at him!" Jack took a deep breath, "So this orientation thing seems pretty interesting." Jacks eyes widened ever so slightly "The fuck was that dude."
Angie chuckled, "I don't know man, how interesting could a group of middle aged people telling us how to make the most of college be?" She flashed Jack a smile. Jack nervously chuckled, "Yeah, I guess you're right. But like isn't it mandatory or something?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm not suggesting we all skip it, I'm just saying it's probably going to be awful." Demi nudged Angie and half-heartedly glared at her. "Don't be so negative about it, I'm sure the hour will go by quickly." Angie rolled her eyes and gave Demi a smirk, "Whatever you need to tell yourself to get through it, doll face." She jokingly blew her a kiss, Demi just rolled her eyes.
***
Orientation was as Angie predicted, awful, but it did go by quickly. The 5 found each other and sat together, all was going well until Tyler appeared.
"Alonzo!" He shouted from a distance. Alonzo turned to him and waved, Tyler made a b-line for them. "Hey, would you guys be cool if I sat with you?" He asked, his attention primarily focused on Alonzo. Alonzo turned to the table as to ask for approval, everyone nodded. Tyler sat down adjacent to Jack. "Pssst. Jack." Tyler loudly whispered, Jack looked up from his phone, he turned bright red, Tyler flashed him a huge smile. "Do you two know each other?" Alonzo asked.
Tyler raised an eyebrow and smirked, Jack squinted. "Yeah," Jack said inhaling deeply, "he's my brother." Tyler flashed yet another gigantic smile. "You say that like it's a bad thing!" Tyler said sarcastically. Jack tried to shift his attention away from Tyler, "do you two know each other?" he asked Alonzo. Alonzo nodded, "He's my roommate."
Jack looked to Tyler, who was still smiling like an idiot, he looked away and faced the stage. The lights dimmed and orientation began.
***
As Michael and Jack had just gotten back to their dorm. "Do you not like your brother?" Michael blurted out, he quickly regretted asking that, but there was no turning back now. "Oh, I love him. He just a knack for showing off, and I loathe it. Ever since we were kids he's had this thing for needing to be the center of attention, it's kinda getting old, but I don't know, there are worse things he could do I guess." Jack said as he began settling in for bed.
"Oh." Michael was surprised! He really thought Jack was going to tear Tyler to shreds, but he didn't. "Well he seems nice." Jack chuckled, "He's great, he's just a giant drama queen. I guess it was just the universes way of evening things out." Jack smiled, "Well I am going to hit the sack, have a good night." He crawled into his bed and shut out his light. Michael stood on his side of the room, still processing what just occurred. He grabbed his pajamas, got changed, brushed his teeth and then went to bed.