Chapter Two: Creative Minds

25th January, 2014.

Micheal arrived at the college, he thanked his driver and exited the taxi. He grabbed his suitcases and looked at the sight before him.

"Woah…" He said in awe as he looked at the college. There were three large buildings, and a massive yard out the front, which hundreds of students were on. Micheal walked onto the yard and looked around. After a few minutes of looking around, Micheal noticed someone sitting beside an easel and holding a pallet.

"Can I see it?" A girl that was beside him asked. The man behind the easel turned it around, revealing an poorly drawn portrait of the girl. Suddenly, the slapped the man across the face and ran off. The man sighed.

"I guess I'm not that much of an artist." He sighed.

Micheal approached the man.

"Hi." He greeted.

"Oh, you scared me. Hello." The man smiled at him. The man wasn't an average human none-the-less, it was a blue jay.

"I'm Micheal, I'm new here." Micheal outstretched his paw. The man shook Micheal's hand and asked him to take a seat.

"Welcome to Macon Art College." The man said.

"Thanks, what's your name?" Micheal asked.

"Mordecai." He answered.

"Mordecai…?" Micheal asked.

"Yes. That's me." He shrugged.

"I have a friend back in my home-town who doesn't stop talking about you." Micheal explained.

"O…kay…? Where do you live?" Mordecai questioned, intrigued by the statement.

"Good ol' New York." Micheal laughed softly.

"New York?" Mordecai seemed surprised.

"Yeah." Micheal plainly said.

"Who knows me?" Mordecai asked.

"Just my-…" Micheal was about to finish before the bell went.

"I gotta go. Nice to meet you Mordecai." Micheal smiled at him and ran off.

"What an interesting man." Mordecai muttered as he packed up his stuff.

"I wonder who he meant." Mordecai contemplated.

"Could it be Rigby…?" Mordecai said to himself, as he glanced at Micheal, who ran into the main building.

"Guess I should hurry to my first lecture." Mordecai finished packing up his stuff.

Four Hours Later…

The bell rang and the students began to spill into the yard, including Micheal and Mordecai. Mordecai noticed Micheal sitting alone and walked over to him.

"Hey Micheal." Mordecai greeted.

"Hi." Micheal said.

"How are you?" Mordecai asked.

"I've been better, but I'm okay." Micheal answered.

"Okay, oh, so can you finish telling me what you were saying earlier?" Mordecai asked.

"Oh, what were we talking about?" Micheal asked.

"About someone in New York knowing me." Mordecai crossed his arms.

"Oh, you mean Rigby? Yeah he's my roommate." Micheal answered.

"Rigby…?" Mordecai seemed surprised.

"So you do know him?" Micheal asked.

"Yeah me and Rigby, we go way back…" Mordecai explained.

"Really?" Micheal questioned.

"Yeah, we've known each other since we both were three." Mordecai continued to explain.

"So why is Rigby in New York and you…wait, where do you live?" Micheal asked.

"Down south, Twin Peaks." Mordecai asked.

"His father had a bit of a problem with me and Rigby being in an intimate relationship, so he took Rigby up north and we haven't seen him since 2011." Mordecai explained.

"An Intimate Relationship? You mean you two…?" Micheal acted surprised.

"Yes. We're both gay." Mordecai plainly answered.

"Well, that isn't too surprising." Micheal said.

"Why?" Mordecai questioned.

"Because I know Rigby's gay and he always talked about you. It's like the only thing he ever talks about." Micheal laughed.

"How long are you going to be here?" Micheal asked.

"Not for too long." Mordecai answered.

"When are you leaving?" Micheal questioned.

"On the 14th of March." Mordecai answered.

"Same as me." Micheal commented.

"At least I know who you are now. When Rigby talked about you back in New York, I didn't understand who he was talking about." Micheal laughed.

"Well, at least it's nice that he remembers me." Mordecai smiled.

"So…who are you?" Mordecai asked.

"What do you mean?" Micheal asked, surprised by the question.

"I mean, who you are. Like, who are you when it comes to living with Rigby." Mordecai explained.

"Well, Rigby and I are friends. We both dropped out of High School last year and Rigby got a job at a nearby Burger King, while I applied for this college. After finally getting accepted I had eleven days left until I left. So Rigby and I played some games which he had in a cardboard box." Micheal explained.

"Let me guess, Skyrim and L.A. Noire?" Mordecai grinned.

"Yeah! How did you know?" Micheal questioned, intrigued.

"Rigby and I used to play L.A. Noire back in 2011. We loved that game." Mordecai answered.

"Well, we have a free period, why don't you tell me about how you know Rigby?" Micheal asked.

"I'd love to." Mordecai replied.

"Hmm…let's see…back in 2001, Rigby and I met in a playground and became friends ever since. After a few years, we both turned fourteen and we moved to Twin Peaks, a town in the south close to here, Macon." Mordecai began.

"Yeah?" Micheal asked, waiting for more.

"Well, after we moved there, we believed we'd have an average life there. But living there was anything but regular." Mordecai explained.

"Why is that?" Micheal questioned.

"Well, we were hunted down by an insane man, taken control of by a deranged lunatic, Rigby's brother died, Rigby stood up for everyone who was being pushed around when he fought off the entire football team, and later that year, a wolf came to us and became our friend, but it turned out he was more than we expected, after resolving that problem, Rigby found out that his parents wanted to move because of the relationship between Rigby and I got stronger. So Rigby moved to New York and then we never saw him again." Mordecai explained.

"That's depressing." Micheal commented.

"I know." Mordecai sighed. A few awkward seconds passed before Mordecai began to talk again.

"Do you have a job?" Mordecai asked.

"Not yet. I'm hoping to get a job in video game producing." Micheal answered.

"Dude, that's perfect." Mordecai said.

"Why?" Micheal asked.

"Because, you know Rockstar Games?" Mordecai asked.

"Yeah, they made a bunch of cool games." Micheal answered.

"Well, one of its southern divisons has been moved to our town; Twin Peaks. Why not come check it out?" Mordecai explained.

"It sounds like a golden opportunity. I'll give it some thought." Micheal said.

"Well, you let me know if you-…" Mordecai began, before he was interrupted.

"I'll go. But that means I have to leave Rigby behind…and he's going through a tough time right now." Micheal sighed.

"Why? What's wrong with him?" Mordecai asked.

"Well, his mother passed away, and his father is in prison for manslaughter." Micheal sighed.

"How did that happen?" Mordecai asked.

"He doesn't like me talking about it." Micheal answered.

"That's understandable, but you don't have to leave him behind, you could, you know, bring him along…" Mordecai said, fumbling with his wings.

"I'll give it some thought, he might not want to come." Micheal sighed.

"Just mention that I'm gonna be there and he'll come." Mordecai chuckled.

"Alright then. I'm gonna go. Cya later Mordecai and thanks for the opportunity." Micheal waved and walked off. Mordecai fist-pumped and muttered a quiet 'ooooohhh' while Micheal walked off.

Two Months Later…

"Hey Rigby! I'm back! Guess what?" Micheal exclaimed, walking into his apartment.

"Rigby?" Micheal called, shutting the door.

"Where is he? He's usually slouched on the couch…" Micheal muttered to himself as he put down his backpack.

"Hey! Rigby! I'm finished Art College! And I graduated!" Micheal shouted.

"Where the hell is he? His car is in the car-park." Micheal muttered to himself as he scanned the rooms. After a few minutes, he walked into the bedroom and noticed Rigby was sitting on the side of the bed, slitting himself with a glass shard.

"Woah, Woah! What the fuck!?" Micheal shouted, scaring the crap out of Rigby.

"What the hell are you doing? Why are you…?" Micheal felt like he was gonna puke.

"I needed…I don't….maybe…" Rigby sighed.

"There is no excuse to harm yourself!" Micheal scolded, grabbing the glass shard and throwing it out.

"Why would you do…this…?" Micheal asked, as he noticed that Rigby was crying.

"Hey, it's alright…don't cry…tell me what's wrong…?" Micheal asked.

"You know…I remember a couple of years ago, my old friend Mordecai sat beside me, while I was laying on a hospital bed, he was complaining about why everything bad was happening to me, and now I finally see it. I'm a worthless piece of trash, my mom was murdered by my father, my brother was killed, and my father is in prison. And my only friend which I knew since I was three is thousands of miles down south and I only have you. I apologize if you take offense, but…I'm just not doing so well…" Rigby explained.

"Got it off your chest?" Micheal questioned.

"I guess." Rigby sighed.

"Look man, something came up. I met someone at Art College…he said that there was a new headquarters for Rockstar games in Twin Peaks…" He began.

"Twin Peaks?" Rigby turned to Micheal.

"This man claimed to know you, he said his name was Mordecai." Micheal explained.

"Mordecai…? My old friend…how is he?" Rigby asked.

"He's doing fine, but he's worried about you. And he said that I could head down to Twin Peaks and get a job at Rockstar games, and because I have enough qualifications, I might get the job." Micheal explained.

"But you don't have a high-school diploma." Rigby stated.

"I know, let's just hope they don't bring up that subject during the interview." Micheal playfully punched Rigby.

"Here, let me get some bandages to cover your slits and cuts on your arms. And if you ever do that again, it won't be the cuts and slits on your arms you will have to worry about." Micheal said, leaving the room.

A few minutes later he returned with some tape and a couple of bandages.

"Sit still." Micheal demanded. Rigby nodded and Micheal wrapped some bandages around his arms and sticky-taped them together so they'd stay still.

"There you go." Micheal said, patting Rigby on the head.

"Thanks…so when're we leaving?" Rigby asked.

"I want to leave sometime this week. But we can't because I don't have a proper permit to drive on the highway." Micheal sighed.

"Neither do I." Rigby replied.

"Wait…I know someone who does." Micheal said.

"Who?" Rigby questioned.

"You know my older brother Zac?" Micheal asked.

"Yes, I do." Rigby answered.

"He turned eighteen and finally got rid of his plates and is now allowed to drive. As an adult would, so…why don't we get him to drive us down there?" Micheal suggested.

"Good idea! But you'll need to schedule the interview at Rockstar games." Rigby replied.

"Good idea. Now you go have a shower. And wash the excess blood off." Micheal demanded. Rigby sighed and stepped out of the room.

"If I come in there and you're cutting yourself, I'm going to kill you." Micheal warned. Rigby gulped in fear and left the room. Micheal pulled out his phone and grabbed the phonebook, then dialed the number for the HQ and put down the phonebook.

"Rockstar Games? My name is Micheal Swayers, I'd like to schedule an interview…"

Thirty Minutes Later…

Rigby came back into the room. "I see you've showered." Micheal commented as he entered. Micheal almost burst out laughing when he noticed that Rigby had entered entirely naked, and his fur was not covering his not-to-be-said regions.

"Dude, coverage!" Micheal covered his eyes.

"Oh! Shit! Give me a second, sorry." Rigby sighed and covered himself up with his excess fur.

"Sorry." Rigby apologized.

"It's fine. So, good news or bad news. What do ya wanna hear first?" Micheal said, putting his phone down.

"Let's get the bad news out of the way first." Rigby said.

"Bad news is, we won't be able to leave until next week, seems Rockstar games is booked in advance for interviews. Though the good news is that Zac has agreed to drive us there. But we need to use your car." Micheal said.

"That's fine. It's not too much of a bomb." Rigby chuckled.

"Good. So we're leaving in a week, got that?" Micheal asked.

"Yes…and Micheal…?" Rigby called, as Micheal was leaving the room.

"Yeah?" Micheal turned around.

"How was Mordecai going?" Rigby asked.

"He seemed happy, though he was very worried about you." Micheal answered.

Rigby nodded wearily and watched Micheal leave.

"I might as well get some sleep…I haven't had much sleep in the last week…" Rigby muttered to himself and laid on his bed. Rigby smiled, thinking about seeing Mordecai again. Rigby began to close his eyes, but not before Rigby muttered to himself;

"I can't wait to see Mordecai…It's been so long…"