Whaaaat? Writing something other than Legend of Zelda?
Crazy, I know. But I do have other interests. And other ships.
So enjoy the change of scene!
~Stay Beautiful
Chapter 1
Fall Semester
Freshman Year
Edinburgh University
I looked around my room of the new apartment I was renting, approximately 10 minutes from campus. I still had several boxes that I needed to take care of but I had all the essentials, bedding, dishes, and my TV along with Xbox, games, controllers and so on, unpacked.
Classes started in two weeks and I was stoked to begin my college career as an Edinburgh Eagle. I had won several scholarships for football and even some for baseball along with scholarships for my abnormally high ACT score. I had busted my butt for months studying for that shit, knowing that I wanted to earn enough money and walk out of school with as little debt as possible. My parents agreed to help me out with housing and rent me an apartment off campus, which was marginally cheaper than living in a dorm.
I was planning majoring in Sports Administration with a minor in Athletic Coaching. The dream goal was to end up as a district sports director and maybe even coach some baseball. I considered getting a physical education degree so I had a more direct line to coaching but I didn't want to be stuck in a gym or the rest of my life, full of brats that didn't want to be there and teaching them how to kick a ball. So I went the administration route.
As for actual sports itself, I had already done tryouts for the football team and was starting practices already, hence why I was moved in so early before classes starting. I was lined up to be tailback and was told that if I kept at it, I could try my hand at being quarterback for a game or two, next season. I was more than stoked – a freshman coming in as a tailback? That was pretty rad. I hoped I did the position justice. I also planned on trying out for baseball next semester to keep me busy during the spring.
I had an on-campus job where half my paycheck went to my school bill and the other was given to me for spending money. It wasn't anything flashy or extensive, just working the ticket booth for the athletic department but I was hoping to get an insider's look to the athletic department and how it operated, as I could potentially work at a university in the future.
I chugged the rest of my soda and decided it was time to get to work unpacking. I had the next few days off from practice to get myself ready for classes and whatnot, so I decided to use it wisely. Classes would start here soon enough and I didn't want to be living out of boxes when that happened.
The past two weeks flew by as I slowly prepped for classes and as practices began dominating my time. Before I knew it, I was headed for my first college class – General Psychology. Pft, sounds like something the smart dork from the cul-de-sac would enjoy. I kinda wondered where he ended up. We didn't talk much for glaringly obvious reasons but I knew the dude was way too smart to end up anywhere but one of the top schools, probably Ivy League or something far away from Peach Creek. I actually ended up a pretty far distance from the cul-de-sac myself. I stayed within the state but was at the opposite corner essentially. Nazz stayed close to home at the local university, which was a bummer. She and I promised to talk and visit often though. Rolf had no need for furthering his education after graduating high school. Last we spoke, he told me that he planned on working to save enough to buy land to be a Shepard's son…and Shepard livestock, which didn't come as a huge shock to me. But I was glad to hear he was taking strides to becoming more independent. Those were my only two real friends – at least the only two I planned to keep tabs with while I was away. I wasn't too worried about making friends though, since a few guys from the team and I had already hit it off.
I parked my bike into the spot next to a poorly parked Honda – the benefit of driving a motorcycle around instead of a car, I didn't have to worry about dumbasses taking half a spot – and turned it off. I removed my helmet and immediately place my signature red cap on and twisted it backwards. I clipped my helmet onto the motorcycle before dismounting and headed towards the building of my first class.
I flipped open my phone and pulled up my schedule to check the room number of my class – General Psychology. 124…okay, just down the hall then. I opened the door and saw that the room was empty except for one person sitting at the very front. I pulled my phone out again to check my schedule to see if I missed something. General Psych, room 124. I double-checked the number on the door to confirm I was in the right place. I swiped the screen to check the class time. Damnit…class starts at 12:30, not 12. I stood there in the doorway, debating on whether or not I should leave and just come back. I heard the sound of papers shuffling and my eye was drawn to the person sitting in the front of the room. What a second… I stepped further into the room, walking a few steps down the lecture hall aisle towards the front of the room. Very front row, overly prepared, black hat…
"Double Dee?" I questioned, standing a few rows back from the brainiac neighborhood kid. The man in question started, obviously not expecting anyone else to be in class half an hour early. He turned around and sure enough, it was Edd. The scrawny little twerp was actually enrolled in the same university as me. His eyes widened, not expecting to see me of all people.
"K-Kevin?" he stammered and I could see his nervousness about seeing his childhood bully.
"Hey man," I said and I walked down the other steps. "I didn't know you went here," I said as I leaned against the table across the aisle from Double Dee's seat. "Shouldn't you be somewhere like Harvard or Cornell?" I asked. I could see he was shaking a bit – nothing unusual for the overly anxious genius.
"Yes, well, I-I was offered a full ride here," he said, his fingers nervously pressed against one another near his chest.
"Well duh, but weren't you offered a full ride at every Ivy League school in the country?" I asked as Edd smoothed out his cardigan.
"Yes, well, I was offered free tuition at several Ivy Leagues; however they would not pay for my housing so I figured I could go to a less prestige school and exit college with zero doubt. Edinburgh offered me free tuition as well as room and board for my entire undergraduate career. Plus, they have an excellent anthropology program here that I found…intriguing," he said with a small smile. "My mother is also an Edinburgh alumni, which is why I ended up here."
"Choice," I said, putting my hands in my pocket. It felt silent between us for a few moments, neither of us sure what to say. We were at odds throughout elementary and middle school – I found him annoying and he found me terrifying – and mere acquaintances in high school. We'd never really had a lengthy conversation with just the two of us. I cleared my throat and glanced around, not sure if I should leave or stick around.
"Is…Is there a particular reason that selected Edinburgh as you choice for furthering your education?" he asked tentatively. I guess we were going to have an awkward small talk.
"Uhh, yeah. This was one of the few places that offered both my major and minor of choice. That and they offered me several footballs scholarships – more than most universities," I explained.
"Excellent! I had anticipated you would be continuing your athletic career," he said, looking a little less nervous.
"Ha, yeah. Guess that wasn't too difficult to predict," I grinned. "What are you majoring in?" Probably something advanced like engineering.
"I am double majoring in Global History and Anthropology with a minor in Health Communication," he said, a big smile on his face, big enough that I could see the little gap he had between his two front teeth.
"Holy shit dude," I swore. "I mean I know you like learning but damn," I said.
"Please watch your language Kevin," he said, frowning slightly and I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever dude. What do you plan on doing with all those degrees?" He flashed me a quick smile.
"I'd like to travel someday," he said, eyes growing distant. "Travel to far indigenous countries to learn of their cultures and societal inner workings!" He smiled.
"Sounds rad," I said, not really sure what he meant by societal whatever, but the travel part sounded cool.
"May," he cleared his throat, "may I ask you what degree you are majoring in?"
I took my phone from my pocket and checked the time. It was only 12:13. I let my book bag slip to the ground and jumped to sit on the table. Looks like we were doing the conversation thing, so might as well get comfy.
"I'm majoring in Sports Administration with a coaching minor. I plan on becoming an athletic director for school district or somethin'. Maybe even for a university if I can manage that. The dream is do be a professional coach someday, either for football or baseball – depends on how everything unfolds." I shrugged. "I'm just gunna roll with it, ya know?" I asked.
"Fascinating, Kevin. You sound like you are fairly prepared for your future. Very admirable!" I chuckled at his enthusiasm. I removed a hand from my pocket to rub the back of my head.
"Thanks, I guess." More silence.
"May I ask, Kevin, why are you in class so early?" I stuffed my hand back into my pocket.
"Yeeeah, I didn't pay close enough attention to the schedule. I thought we started at 12, not 12:30," I said.
"Oh dear. Best pay better attention in the future, lest you arrive late to a class rather than early," he lectured. Ah, I remember why I was always annoyed with him.
"Right," I said, slightly irritated. "Don't you know everything about psychology already? You use to like it when were kids, I remember."
"You are correct – the mind is a fascinating tool. I am well versed in the knowledge of basic psychology principles. However, I am still required to take certain courses to fulfill core class credit."
"Dude, you can probably just skip classes and show up for exams then," I told him, knowing full well the Double Dork never skipped anything remotely academic in his life. I couldn't help but grin at the shocked look on his face as he admonished me for entertaining such a ludicrous idea.
"Relax dude, I was messin' with ya," I said and laughed when he showed me how much he appreciated that.
"Very funny Kevin," he said. I was still grinning when I heard the door open at the back of the lecture hall. I heard voices float down to where we were as a group of girls entered the room. I check my phone and saw the time was now 12:24. Well that went by kinda fast.
"Well, see ya around, Dork," I said as I picked up my book bag.
"Farewell!" I looked at him, momentarily forgetting the Double Dweeb was born in the wrong era, and headed up the aisle. I chose an aisle seat close to the back of the row and properly slouched to endure what was going to be a very dull class.
"Hey cutie, mind if I sit next to you?" I heard an all too familiar voice behind me. I turned my head to see a fellow football member, Nathan Goldberg, standing in the middle of the aisle with a hand on his hip, lips puckered out and batting his eyelids fluttering.
"Fuck off, ya idiot," I said, snickering slightly at his ridiculous stance. He jumped over the back of the seat and plopped himself next to me.
"Oh mah Gard!" He yelled in a strangely Southern accent, causing everyone else to turn and see who the hell the loudmouth was. "I git tuh sit next tuh thee HANDSOME and WELL-ENDOWNED Kevin Barr?! Oh, mah lucky stars!" He hollered and I had to keep myself from bursting into laughter at the ridiculous gestures he was making, flailing his arms around and throwing his head from side to side.
"Shut up Nat, before I pound ya," I said, punching his arm harshly, sending the teal-haired fiend into a bout of laughter.
"Hey, get a room you queers!" I heard another familiar voice call from the other side of the class. Andy, another team member, was grinning, knowing full well how Nat could be.
"Don't make me kick your ass, Andy. Or worse, I'll sick Nat on ya," I teased back, earning a couple laughs around the room.
"Students…" came a stern voice from the front desk. The professor had apparently arrived. "Let's shut down the ruckus, shall we? It's 12:30, which means it's my time to take over." And with that, my first college class began.