Mar-Vell College (Valkarol)

Criminology

"I hate you." Carol grumbled from under her covers. It was 7:50 am and Valkyrie had just pulled their curtains across. Daylight flooded into the room causing Carol to retreat under her covers.

"Good morning to you too, lightweight." Valkyrie grinned. Carol peeped out from under the covers so only her squinting eyes were visible.

"What time did we get back last night?"

"12:20." Valkyrie said honestly. "But you fell asleep in the car so you got more sleep." Carol suddenly shot bolt upright in her bed, her bed hair like a lions maine.

"You drove?"

"I didn't have any alcohol." She lied. Carol rubbed her aching temple.

"I thought we played beer pong."

"We did but Smith was terrible so I never had to drink. Walker on the other hand was decent and that's where the drinking began for you." Valkyrie summarised.

"Yeah... Yeah I remember now. Hey, we were pretty good." Carol smiled proudly. "I hadn't even played before."

"You never forget your first time." Valkyrie smirked so Carol threw her pillow at Valkyrie.

"Why would we go on a school night?"

"School night?" Valkyrie grinned.

"College night?"

"Because in college no one cares if you miss a lesson or a full day to ride out your hangovers. "

"Well I don't have a hangover." Carol declared as she got up from her bed.

"Alright but-" she threw a breakfast bar to Carol "breakfast is in the way."

***

Valkyrie sat in the college café patiently waiting for Carol. It seemed busier than usual in the spacious room.

Carol stumbled into the café clumsily giving Valkyrie flashbacks from the night before. She definetly didn't look like she was having a hang over. There was no signature sunglasses glued to her face or lazy walk. If anything she seemed the opposite.

"Hey, lightweight." Valkyrie grinned.

"That's not going away any time soon, is it?" Carol said.

"Nope." Carol sighed and dropped her bag on the floor. "You're looking happy for someone who should be miserable right now."

"I told you: no hang over." Valkyrie leant forward and studied Carol's face.

"What's your secret?" Carol shrugged in response.

"I'm gonna get food."

She returned with food on her tray and sat down opposite to Valkyrie.

"I have practise again tonight." She stated.

"When's your next game?"

"A couple of weeks."

"I wanna come watch." Carol said.

"You're like football?" Valkyrie said sounding surprised.

"Not really, but I like you." Carol smiled and instantly froze when she realised what she said. "I mean-"

"I know what you mean." Valkyrie grinned.

"It's just everyone's saying how good you are and now I'm curious."

"Thanks, I really enjoy it."

"Do you wanna play professionally?" Carol asked.

"I'd love to but..."

"What?"

"My parents would rather I did something less..." She stopped for a moment trying to find the right word. "Butch." She said bluntly.

"Oh." Was all Carol said. She wasn't sure how to respond. "Do they know you're bi?"

"Yeah they're fine with it." Carol couldn't help but feel envious of Valkyrie's parents. They didn't like the choices she'd made but they were OK with the part of her that wasn't a choice. It was more than she could say about her parents.

Valkyrie noticed Carol's change in mood and nudged her arm gently.

"You alright?" She asked sounding concerned.

"Yeah, just zoned out."

"So what about you? What do you want to do once college is over?" Carol shrugged.

"I'm not sure." She said plainly.

"Really?" Valkyrie asked. "You strike me as someone who has it all figured out."

That's what most people think. She thought. "Probably something to do with art. Or maybe if I get through my criminology course something will come up."

"Criminology?"

"That stuff interests me." She said simply, her eyes glued to the floor. Valkyrie could tell there was more but she didn't push. She understood how annoying that could be.