"My teen-angst bullshit now has a bodycount."
Life is Strange
Chapter Two: Hot Water on Wool
Songs of the Chapter:
Arabella by Arctic Monkeys
Bad Reputation by Joan Jett
Calm Before the Storm by Fall Out Boy
Gives You Hell by All-American Rejects
"You mean that guy just ran into you and then he didn't even help you back to your feet?" Lux asked, a hint of anger was in her sweet voice.
Quinn sat on her sheetless mattress while she watched her new friend storm around their room, putting her clothes in her drawer. Her golden eyes also looked throughout the room, seeing the mute, white walls made her sleepy. The blonde had mentioned that they should start decorating as soon as possible before Quinn told her about her encounter with the rude amber-eyed boy.
"Well, yes. I'm pretty sure it was me that ran into him. Anyway, I probably won't even see that guy again. There are over forty-thousand students attending this university, Lux. There is no need to get upset over it." The navy-haired girl gave her friend a small grin.
"Oh, I guess you're right. But you have to at least tell me," the blonde's blue eyes brightened when she looked over to her roommate. She hastily threw a white top into her drawer and slammed it closed with her foot. Quinn jumped back when Lux hopped forward, "Was he at least cute?"
"What," Quinn put her hand over her face.
She didn't really think of the boy's appearance until now. The young artist had to admit that she did have a certain interest in guys with long hair. Also, those amber eyes of his were very beautiful but those thoughts were overshadowed by the fact that he was a total jerk. Although, Quinn had to admit what she thought about him aside from that.
"Yes. He was a total hottie."
"Well, don't get caught up on that, Quinn. There are much more cuter and nicer guys walking this campus right now!" Lux cheered as she ran over to get her flats, "You and I should take a walk and scout out the scene. Maybe the campus tour has some cuties."
"I thought you said you wanted to start decorating our room?" Quinn asked, her eyes gesturing to their suitcases and Quinn's box of knickknacks sitting in a box right beside Lux. The blonde didn't even give the box a single glance.
"We could always do that later," the blonde giggled as she checked her hair in the reflection of of smartphone's screen. She whipped open the door and turned to Quinn who was still struggling to get her cardigan back on. "Get a move on, girl!"
"Wait… my arm… won't go in my sleeve."
Quinn dragged her feet behind the peppy blonde, who was searching around frantically for an ASB member. Their blue shirts were easy to spot in a crowd but she couldn't seem to find any. She raised her hand over eyes, shielding her eyes from the sunlight above them.
"Lux, it's already passed twelve. I think all the members of the ASB are in their own dorms or on their way back home. School doesn't actually start for another week, remember?" The navy-haired girl explained to her friend as she shivered, "Not to mention that it is freezing out here."
The blonde didn't hear her roommate's complaints because she had spotted someone familiar. Lux grabbed Quinn's wrist and pulled her along further onto the campus. Quinn looked around and saw that Lux was leading her into the lounging area in front of school's café. She then spotted two figures sitting within the dimly lit café— it was clearly closed because school was not in session. The two friends hurried inside the warm coffeeshop, Quinn rubbing her arms from the bitter cold that was still nipping at her.
The smell of freshly brewed hot coffee was present in the air. Quinn took in a deep breath, this was indeed one of her favorite scents. The young woman had to admit that she had an addiction to the stuff and this particular brew had something exotic to its smell. Vanilla laced right into the grinds. She would definitely have to come by this café on her own when it was open.
The two mystery people, who Quinn saw were a young lady and a young man, looked over at the door to see who had come in. The woman sitting across from the man had brightly colored magenta hair and she had these menacing eyes— Quinn tried to convince herself it was just her heavy eye make-up. Her golden eyes looked over to the young man, who looked very tall even if he was seated in a chair. He had jet black hair tied into a short ponytail and his face was angular and unshaven— he was very handsome.
"Jarvan! Shyvana! I didn't expect to see you here!" The blonde laughed as ran over to them, throwing her arms around their shoulders. Jarvan chuckled at Shyvana trying to pry the first year off of her. "What are you doing on campus?"
"Your brother texted us to meet him here when he was done with rounding up the kids," Shyvana explained, fixing her magenta-colored hair back into her long ponytail.
"He should be on his way over here right about now," Jarvan added. He turned to look behind him and saw Quinn still standing by the front door. He gave her a rugged smile, "Don't be shy, Lux's friend, come on over!"
Quinn looked over her shoulder as if Jarvan had been speaking to someone else. She blushed slightly before walking over and standing beside Lux.
"Who are you, stranger?"
"I'm Quinn," the navy-haired girl answered.
"I'm Jarvan," he smiled as she reached out to shake Quinn's hand, "And this is my girlfriend, Shyvana."
"Hi, Shyvana." Quinn waved to the woman sitting across from Jarvan. The magenta-haired woman gave her a small nod, her eyes narrowing at Quinn and Jarvan's hands touching. The artist pulled her hand away and Shyvana relaxed when she did so.
"So, why are you two meeting up with my brother?" Lux asked taking a seat beside Shyvana.
"He wanted to get something to eat when he was done with his ASB duties," Jarvan answered before he noticed that Quinn was the only one still standing. "Here, Quinn, take the seat next to me."
"Oh, alright." She said as she sat in the chair Jarvan had pulled out for her. Her golden eyes warily looked up at Shyvana, who was glaring at her.
"So, girls, what are you kids majoring in?" Jarvan asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
"You know me, I'm majoring in chemistry." Lux giggled, "And don't call us kids just because we are first years. Would you like it if I called you a senior citizen because you are a third year?"
"Sorry, Lux." Jarvan gave a hearty laugh, practically shaking the whole coffee shop. His laugh died down when he glanced over to the navy-haired girl next to him, "What about you, Quinn?"
"She's an art major!"
"Really? What do you plan on doing with it?"
"I'm not sure really… still kind of deciding," Quinn shrugged.
"You know, my father is always telling me there are always career opening for courtroom sketch artists. Uh, he is an attorney," Jarvan explained. "When I become one just like him, I would hire you."
"That's really nice but… I don't think sitting in a tense courtroom is for me. I think it would be hard to focus on drawing when you're listening to how someone committed a murder."
"Yes, I do think that would be rather distracting," the young man said as he scratched his chin. He snapped out of his thought and shot the girl a smile, "But you should still think about it."
The group of students looked over to the door when they heard it open. Standing in the doorway out of breath was Garen. Jarvan got out of his seat and walked over to him, both of them exchanging a complicated looking handshake.
"Are you alright?" Jarvan asked him.
"You won't believe who I just saw."
"Was it that redhead you've been crushing on since high school?" Shyvana teased, earning a half-blush half-glare from Garen.
"Well of course I did, she and I are a part of the ASB staff. Although, that is not who I was talking about." Garen paused slightly, everyone could tell he was in a bad mood. "I saw Darius. He was moving into a dorm. His brother is here too."
"What? I thought they were both attending Noxus Capital University?"
"You all know how Darius is the 'greatest' basketball player in all of Runeterra? Averaging over eighty points a game? World record holder for most slam dunks in a single game?" Garen rolled his eyes as he listed of the Noxian's accomplishments, "Apparently, the story is that he was bought."
"Bought?" The two third years in the room repeated.
"Yes," Garen growled, "The coach of our school's basketball team convinced the head of the sports program to buy Darius from NCU. With him on our team, we would win any matchup."
"How much did they pay for that asshole?" Shyvana asked.
"Over ten million dollars," Garen shook his head. "The coach's logic was that with winning every tournament we will get more funds for the sports program, thus Darius pays for himself."
"That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Doesn't he know that no one would fund us when everyone finds out that Darius is the biggest jerkwad in the world?" Shyvana asked, brushing her magenta bangs behind her ear.
"Who is Darius?" Quinn whispered to Lux.
"He and my brother have had a long history," the blonde answered.
"Darius is Garen's rival if you really look at it. The two of them were on their high school's football team. It was a inferno on the field whenever they faced each other. But Darius found his true calling in basketball," Jarvan added.
"Not to mention Darius dated Katarina just to spite our big friend over here," Shyvana chuckled.
"She won't be happy when she finds out that he's here. I don't think she would get over what he did to—"
"Let's leave the past in the past," Garen interrupted Lux. He shook his head clear of his emotions, "I think I need to eat something. Why don't we go to town? I feel like having Ionian grilled chicken."
The three third years made their way towards the door, Lux and Quinn. They exited the café with Shyvana locking the door after everyone was outside. Quinn watched her shove her keys back in her pocket. The magenta-haired woman noticed her staring and she looked over at her.
"What?" She growled.
"You run this café?"
"No, I'm the manager this semester. It's one of my major's perks." She replied before walking over to Jarvan, wrapping her arm around his.
"What's your—"
"Don't ask," Lux stopped her friend. "No one knows what her major is. She keeps it a secret from everyone, only Jarvan knows. Although, I don't know why."
"So, what are you girls going to do now?" Jarvan asked with a smile. Lux glanced at the time on her smartphone and shrugged.
"It's only 12:35," the blonde glanced to her friend, "Do you want to go get something from—"
"Well, look what the cat coughed up," a very loud, very obnoxious voice jeered. The students looked over their shoulder and saw two tall men walking over to them.
The largest of the two had spiked, black hair and tribal-style tattoos going down his muscular arms. His size was very comparable to Garen— strong, tall, and… handsome? The shorter man next to him had long brown hair and a jagged grin. Quinn did think long hair was attractive but not on this guy.
"Who are those—" Quinn began to whisper to Lux but stopped when she saw her friend looking at the men with a shocked expression. She waved her hand in front of the blonde's eyes, unable to snap her out of her trance, "Lux?"
"So, where are you Demacian scum headed?" The tallest man asked with a smirk.
"Why do you care, Darius? Shouldn't you be off shoving a basketball up your—"
"Shyvana…" Jarvan stopped his girlfriend from saying something she would regret. He looked back at the two Noxians, "We were just leaving."
Quinn looked up at Garen, whose eyes were daggers on his rival, and Darius noticed. He walked over to him, poking him hard on the yellow letters of her shirt.
"You're an ASB member. We're new students. Shouldn't you be showing us around?"
"I've been relieved of my shift. If you want help, go to the building just over there. I'm sure there would be someone there willing to assist you." Garen tried his hardest not to be rude to the man inches for his face. Darius gave a small chuckle as he took his finger out of Garen's chest.
"Actually, I don't care anymore. All I really need to know is where the gymnasium is. You know, because I'm your newest star?" Darius took a few steps back but never took his eyes off of Garen. "Let's go, Draven."
Just like that, they were gone as fast as they came. Quinn looked around to the third years, who were still glaring at the two Noxians. She glanced back to Lux and she too was still stuck in her trance. The navy-haired girl snapped her fingers in front of her eyes, waking her.
"Huh?!" Lux shook her head, "Was I staring?"
"A little bit," Quinn chuckled lightly.
"God, what is that guy's problem?" Shyvana spat.
"Who cares. Noxians always have that kind of attitude. Come on, let's get out of here. I'm starving." Jarvan said as he wrapped his arm around Shyvana and they slowly walked on. Garen turned to his sister and Quinn, signing.
"Try and steer clear of those two guys. They're bad news," He warned. "You two should head back up to your dorm room."
"Lux, you've been quiet the whole walk over here. Are you okay," Quinn asked, locking their door. She took off her cardigan and watched her friend sit in the edge of her bed with a blank expression.
"I'm confused," she replied as she ran her fingers through her long blonde hair. She took her headband off and laid flat on the sheetless mattress. Quinn walked over to sit beside her, patting her shoulder.
"What are you confused about?"
"I have these feelings. I've been hiding them for a while."
"You're going to need to explain."
"I'm in love, Quinn!" Lux shot up, scaring her friend. "I've been in love with Darius since high school!"
"W-What? I thought you all hated that guy?"
"Just my brother, Jarvan, and Shyvana. Not me." Lux sighed, dropping her face into her hands. "When I was a freshman, Darius and my brother were seniors and deep into their heated rivalry with football.
I would never go to my brother's games because I was so busy with my advanced placement class work. But when the last game of the season came, which was Demacia High and Noxus Capital High, I would always go. Not because it was the last game, I went went because I wanted to see Darius. Later that year, there was a rumor that Darius had gotten onto his high school's basketball team. I went disguised to one of his games… he was great. I went to every game after that, even the Runeterra-wide championship."
"I don't mean to be insensitive but why would you like a jerk like that?" Quinn asked, her nose scrunching up in disgust.
"Have you seen him? He is so tall, so muscular, so handsome!" Lux squealed.
"Do you think liking him has something to do with him and Garen hating each other? Maybe you want him as a certain type of rebellion?" Quinn smirked when the blonde ceased her noise making.
"N-No!" Lux's shouted, her face turning a blazing red.
"I'm just pulling your leg," Quinn laughed. "Why don't you and I get started on decorating our new room to take our minds off these dumb boys," the navy-haired girl said as she got up to grab her box of knick knacks. Lux let out a low sigh before stood. She watched Quinn pull things like framed photographs, stacks of books, and rolled up posters.
"Hey, Quinn?" Lux rubbed her arm in embarrassment, "Do mind if we kept this little conversation between us?"
"Of course. You and I are friends, Lux." The artist relied with a huge grin, "Would you be alright if I put up some of my favorite movie posters up? They are a bit odd."
"Only if you don't mind me hanging up this," Lux giggled as she unrolled a poster with a blonde animated character with a crescent moon on her forehead. Quinn took a second before she recognized the famous anime character and she laughed along with her blonde friend.
Notes: What is Shyvana's major? I don't know, I didn't want to ask her. Bad things happen to people who ask... Also, damn Lux is into Sailor Moon, who would have guessed. One more thing, Dunkmaster Darius is best Darius.
Thank you all for your feedback. I was so happy to read all your reviews and PMs. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and the songs I put along with it— they tie into the chapters c:
See you next chapter!
