Page 11 of Talk to Me

“Anyway, he was wearing a red blouse today,” I said with finality. “Since that seems to matter to you.”

“Don’t be a smart ass. Hmmm. That’s kind of shitty, being rude to you when you tried to be nice.”

“He wasn’t rude,” I said. “Just…not friendly. I mean, I get it. People were whispering and looking at him throughout class. It’s probably tough being, uh, famous or whatever? Is he famous? Infamous? Is internet fame a real thing or what?”

“Oh, he’s infamous, for sure. Everyone hates him. And obviously he deserves it.”

“Why does he deserve it again?” I asked.

“He cheated on Ben!”

“Who is that again?”

“His ex-boyfriend!” Collin squealed. “The Two Gays from Blaze thing I told you about!”

“Sorry,” I said. “The internet’s not a real place and I don’t retain information well if it’s not going to be on a test.”

Collin groaned.

“Well, I hope he trips and stubs his toe for being rude to you!”

“He wasn’t rude. Yet again. He just didn’t squeal and proclaim we’re now besties and should get matching tattoos. I mean, he nodded when I said ‘hi’ to him and stuff.”

“You are too nice, Josh.” Collin chastised me. “You could give someone twenty bucks and apologize that the bill was wrinkled.”

I laughed out loud.

“Anyway, I’m getting back to my weekend with someone who does more than nod when I show interest in being friendly.”

“Ew,” I said. “I’m hanging up before I get any more details.”

Collin was still laughing when I hit the button to end our call.

After he disappeared from my screen and I locked my phone, I finally slid it into my pocket. Leaning over and peering into the box, my eyes landed on a bag of soft-baked Chips Ahoy. I snagged the bag and headed over to my desk.

It was the least Collin could do for making me pick up his mail.

The weekend was spent like most of my weekends while away at university. Friday evening was spent in my room, reading all of the chapters needed for the following week, making notes, and organizing more. On Saturday, I got even crazier and worked ahead, starting some of the worksheets and homework that I knew was going to be assigned, thanks to the syllabus. As Collin loved to point out, my behavior was geeky, but I preferred to think of myself as proactive.

Spending the whole weekend in my room didn’t happen, though. For fear of becoming a social pariah, I went and had breakfast in the dining hall Saturday morning. I met some classmates for an impromptu bring-your-own-food lunch in the quad at noon on Saturday. I even made it out of my room Saturday evening for a free concert thrown by the university band in the evening.

Going to the concert wasn’t so much about the music. In my opinion, when you’ve seen one university marching band, you’ve basically seen them all. However, there were more vendors giving away free crap to lure university students to their booths. I’m savvy enough to not sign up for credit cards, promise my future to the military, or sign on the dotted line. I will, however, except your free merch and “think about what you’ve said.”

A free t-shirt, some pens, a few magnets, a handful of stickers and random drinking vessels are always welcome. Frats and Sororities were also out in full force, attempting to recruit. My smarts were too sharp for that nonsense as well. However, it was kind of fun to watch freshmen fall all over themselves for a chance to make friends with frat boys and sorority girls with ghastly smiles permanently affixed to their faces.

Free food was also a draw for the concert. The lines were long enough to nearly dissuade someone, but free food is free food. I got a hot dog, a hamburger, a basket of French fries, and a funnel cake so small it was gone in three bites. However, the powdered sugar covered dough gave me the energy needed to keep raiding booths for free merch.

Additionally, I got to socialize with various students from all four years, so I was able to say I wasn’t a total shut-in dorm rat. However, when I got back to my dorm around ten o’clock on Saturday night, I was so hopped up on sugar and caffeinated beverages, I couldn’t even think about bed. So, I cracked open the bottled coffee a vendor had shoved at me, and sipped at it while I did a little bit more of my coursework.

Waking up Sunday morning, I felt like I’d been slapped around, shoved into a busy road, and plowed into by an eighteen-wheeler. My brilliant idea to consume even more caffeine and study kept me up until three o’clock in the morning. I slept fitfully, tossing and turning, dreams of running late to class and missing a test or being locked out of the classroom, only to then find out I was also naked, filled my sleeping hours.

Somehow, I managed to pry myself out of bed and go down to the bathrooms for a complete and thorough shower. The Friday and Saturday activities had left me feeling disgusting, so a thorough scrubbing of all the cracks and crevices was a necessity. I’d felt so disgusting I imagined that TLC or Discovery channel might actually contact me about filming a new show. One about shut-ins who only eat junk food, drink garbage caffeinated beverages, and sit in one chair for so long it melds itself to a person’s actual flesh.

Luckily, I felt much more human after my shower. Even more amazing, I returned to the room to find a text from Collin waiting for me.

Pizza Insanity at six? Everyone is coming!

I wasn’t sure who “everyone” was, but going out to eat with friends sounded like the reset I needed for the coming week. Shooting back a text accepting the invitation, I finished my morning grooming ritual. By the time I was done, Collin had confirmed that the invitation wasn’t a joke, and I had my plans set for the evening.