Chapter 3
I yelped as I fell off my bed, my blankets wrapped around me like a straight jacket preventing me from catching myself. The sound of an obnoxiously loud alarm clock blared in the background as I just laid there clutching my, most likely bruised, forehead. Holding back the tears of pain that were dangerously close to spilling out, I picked myself off the flour and saw that the thing that had woken me hadn't even affected Danny, who was snoring away. I reluctantly stood up, throwing the sweat soaked blanket off me, before picking the clock up and throwing it across the room. Rubbing my throbbing head, I turned back to my sleeping room mate and began to try and shake him awake. Shockingly, the next thing I knew I was back on the floor with an angry Danny glaring dangerously at me. My whole body froze in panic at the sudden attack before I watched my friends eyes widen in realization before he was just as quickly jumping off of me as he had pushing me down.
"Oh no...Oh my god Timmy, I'm so sorry. It was out of reflex." he attempted to explain looking on the verge of anxiety. I sat up slowly, still confused as to what just happened.
"What the hell kind of reflex is it to attack some one who is waking you up?" I questioned picking myself off the floor for the second time in the last two minutes. Seeing my room mate's eyes widen pitifully made me sigh loudly to myself before brushing a hand through my hair.
"You know what, forget it. I need coffee before I can deal with anything today." I walked passed the still anxious looking Danny to a box containing most of the clothes I had brought here with me. I picked up a simple purple t-shirt and a pair of jeans before heading to the door.
"I'll be in the shower." Danny nodded, acknowledging that he had heard me, as I went to find the showers in this place. The halls were bare and quiet since most students were probably still in bed, so it was an easy task to find the community showers. I was thankful that no one else was in there due to the fact that letting other's see me naked was not on my to do list. Dumping my change of clothes on a small bench just outside the shower room, I began to peel off the jeans and shirt I had slept in last night. Making sure to switch my cellphone to the new pants I was planning to put on. Stepping into the scolding water was just what I needed, causing me to hum in delight. Once I felt clean enough I turned the spray off and dressed quickly in case some one decided to come in. I picked the dirty clothes off the floor and made my way back to the dorm room in a much better mood. Coffee was still needed though. When I returned, I found Danny was gone and the alarm clock I had thrown was once again on the desk between the beds. I sent a scowl it's way then threw the clothes in an empty box, now dubbed the hamper, before slipping my socks and shoes on. Shutting the door gently, I exited the building and then headed towards the cafeteria. My stomach rumbled at the prospect of breakfast. Maybe that's where Danny had gone to. When I got to the entrance however I was dismayed to find that it was closed. I took my cellphone out of my pocket and was horrified to find that it was only 4:20 A.M. What the hell Danny! Why would you have an alarm set for fucking four in the morning!? I dialed my friends number, since he was the only person I knew was up, and he picked up after a few rings.
"Where are you?" I growled not in the mood to even try to make myself sound pleasant.
"Is it safe for me to tell you?"
"Danny, I am in no mood for jokes. Just tell me where you are and I promise not to strangle you when I get there." I heard his nervous laughter over the speaker in return.
"I'm in our room."
"What? I just left there and you were gone."
"Maybe you just missed me." Feeling a migraine growing rapidly, I released a heavy breath before answering.
"Alright, I'm coming back." I hung up the phone and pocketing it before retracing my steps back to the dorms. As soon as I got back I fell onto my now untidy bed with a huff.
"Not really a morning person are we Timmy?"
"What did I tell you about jokes." I warned resulting in a light chuckle.
"After knowing me for so many years you should know that's an impossible request." I groaned at his unsightly good temperament before rolling over to look my room mate in the face.
"For some one who attacked me not long ago you're in pretty good mood." I smiled at the guilt ridden look that took over his face.
"I really am sorry about that. I get a little jumpy sometimes." was his explanation and I scoffed at it as I buried my face into the pillow. "Are you really mad at me or are you just having morning PMS?"
"Choosing to ignore your wording, it's a little of both. My Aunt and Uncle always point out how terrible my personality is before I get my cup of coffee. They call it morning bi-polar, not PMS." I spat the last part irritated by the very sound of it.
"I'm fairly sure that Sam has that too. Although coffee doesn't help her. She's almost unbearable before eleven in the morning." Normally the fond smile on my friends face would make me happy, but right now it downright pissed me off.
"Just to warn you, don't take anything I say seriously until after I've had my drink. In fact, just to be safe you shouldn't speak at all."
"I'll try my best."
I gulped down the sweet brown liquid with vigor, sighing contently once it was in my system. Tootie beside me with her legs propped up on my lap sipping her own mug of coffee with a blissful smile. Danny sat across from us looking rather conflicted about something. I chose to ignore it for the moment though and indulge in the rich hot drink for as long as I could. Being in such a bad mood all morning really does wear you down.
"So Danny, how did you enjoy meeting Nega Timmy?" Tootie teased crossing her boot clad ankles.
"I think he and Sam should never sleep in the same room. Ever. The death toll in this state would rise dramatically."
"I'm not that bad. You're still standing aren't you?" I defended myself gulping down the remainder of my coffee.
"An amazing feat I have to say." Tootie nodded. "Last time we all had a sleep over he gave Chester a broken nose."
"Is it my fault he just so happened to trip and hit his face on the floor?"
"It is when your foot is what tripped him." I gave my best friend a look of betrayal as she pinched my cheek playfully. "You're lucky to be so short and cute."
"I'm not short! Everyone else is too tall!" I pouted crossing my arms.
"Don't worry Timmy-kins, one day you'll marry some one tall enough to grab things from the top shelve for you." Tootie teased setting her mug down on the table.
"Bitch."
"I love you too." Turning towards Danny, I saw the other was staring looking far too amused at our conversation.
"Anything you'd like to say?" I asked with a glare resulting in my room mate putting his hands up in surrender.
"I value what's left of my life. On another note though, what's the deal with you and Chip Skylark?"
"The deal?"
"Yeah, you know, are you friends now or something?" I thought for a minute about it, which gave Tootie enough time to sit up straight and give him her full attention.
"Well I don't think you can call some one you've only known for a day a friend? A friendly acquaintance maybe?"
"Well even being an acquaintance to a celebrity is no small task. How did you manage to do it?" Tootie asked leaning in even closer.
"All I did was talk to him like a normal person." I replied inching more and more away from my friend. "It was no big deal."
"No big deal is when you get a pimple. This is a huge deal Timmy! You are friends with one of the hottest men in the world and you don't even seem to care!"
"I have to agree with her on the last part. You don't even seem fazed a bit at the fact that you have conversations with a famous celebrity." Danny added and I scrubbed a hand down my face.
"Look, when I met him he was just a normal nice guy who offered to help me out. Why should my opinion change over the fact that he's a little more well known than most people?" Both of them shook their heads clearly in disbelief of my words. With a heavy sigh, I stood from my chair, mug in hand. I needed another cup of coffee.
"So we should totally invite Chip to hang with us." Tootie suggested as soon as I rejoined them at the table.
"That's a little hard with people like you around." In honesty, I should have seen the elbow to the gut coming.
"As long as it's somewhere out of sight we will have nothing to worry about." Danny continued pushing his empty cup around in boredom.
"Let me guess, you want me to ask him?"
"Well you do share three classes with him." Tootie pointed out.
"So does his fan mob." I countered drinking more caffeine. "Besides, he probably has better things to do then hang with people he doesn't really know."
"That's why this is a perfect opportunity for us to get to know each other. It won't hurt to ask." As Tootie whipped out her kicked puppy face I could feel my resolve crumbling.
"You are evil."
"I try my best."
The look of Chip's face was one I had not been expecting. I had planned to see happy, amused, maybe even disinterest. Shock, that was just confusing.
"You want me to hang out with you?"
"Yeah, Tootie wants to do a whole 'get to know you better' thing. You don't have to though. She can be a little pushy sometimes."
"Sure, sounds fun."
"I mean I know...wait...what?" I asked not knowing if I heard right.
"I'd love to hang out with you and your friends. It seems like it be fun." I just looked at the singer completely taken of guard that he said yes. That we seemed fun. "Where are we meeting?"
"Well it has to be somewhere off campus since boys and girls can't go into the other's dorms. Plus, somewhere that you'd be out of the public eye." I pondered.
"We could go to my dorm room. I have my own so it doesn't matter if we bring boys and girls in. As long as no one sees anyway." Chip winked and I once again found myself staring. Bad Timmy, stop looking like an idiot.
"I'll let them know. Where's your room?"
"Let's swap numbers and I'll text you later." at his suggestion we did just that before the teacher entered the room to start class.
"You got his number? Wow, you sure work fast for a virgin." Sam claimed seeming to enjoy my resulting blush.
"Don't make it sound like something it's not. How did you even know I was a virgin?"
"Danny has no secrets from me." I banged my head on the table at her response before remembering I already had a bump there from this morning. "If it's any consolation, I think it's sweet you're waiting for love."
"Just shut up. Why are all my friends evil?"
"Keeps life interesting and from what I heard from Danny you weren't so pleasant yourself earlier today."
"Was that before or after he told you he attacked me?"
"After." the goth shrugged and I looked at her unknowingly.
"So I tell you your boyfriend attacked me and that's all the reaction I get?"
"He's a little...jumpy at times."
"You're explanation sounds suspiciously familiar." I pointed out and Sam just smiled at me.
"Wouldn't it be more suspicious if our replies were different?" I frowned at her retort, tapping my pencil on the piece of paper in front of me.
"Is there a reason you three are picking on me?" At this Sam chuckled before beginning to doodle in her sketch book. "Seriously Sam, I'm getting the feeling you guys are keeping something from me."
"It's just your imagination. We're your friends Timmy, we wouldn't do that." I couldn't argue with the face she was giving me so instead I turned to my own paper and started drawing some comic panels. "But, really, nice job getting Chip Skylark's phone number. When's the fun happening?"
"Tonight, although I won't know where until he texts me his dorm's location."
"I feel like a secret agent with all this hush hush stuff." Sam said.
"Fan girl's are scary." I added smiling as she did the same. "I think the guy deserves a normal collage night."
"How exactly are we classified as normal?"
"Because we are the only ones that don't turn into raving lunatics around him. Tootie does come close though with her gushing over his hot voice and delicious body. Her words, not mine." I clarified seeing the teasing comment beginning to form on the goth's purple lips. She pouted momentarily over the lost opportunity, but quickly recovered.
"There's always one in every group of friends. Danny's and my other best friend, Tucker Fowley, he is about as fan boyish acting as you can get when we meet up with Ember McClain." At this I lost my grip on the pencil and gaped at her.
"You know Ember McClain?" I could see the regret on Sam's face at telling me this fact.
"You...could say she's an old friend."
"Wait a minute, you know Ember and you were making a big deal about me meeting Chip Skylark. Isn't that a little hypocritical?" I complained and this caused her to chuckle at me.
"Like I said, we've known her for so long that she doesn't even seem like a famous person to us any more. The reason we make such a big deal about you meeting Chip is because you act like we do around Ember when you've known the guy for a little over 26 hours." At her explanation I slinked lower in my chair and released a heavy breath.
"Is it really so abnormal? I mean he's really easy to talk to."
"He is an unnaturally happy nice guy for a celebrity. I can see how you'd be able to hang with him like a normal person. Heck, he even made me want to smile and I hate doing that shit. It goes against everything I am." I laughed at her over dramatic joke before her gaze became serious again. "I won't judge you if you end up crushing on the guy."
"Would you stop trying to make it sound like we're going to get together." I groaned, a dull blush coming over my face.
"But your red face is so adorable." she cackled.
"I'm not adorable! That's not something a man likes to be called." I argued and at this she smirked wickedly and I knew I'd dug my own verbal grave.
"Unless it's Chip saying it."
"I'm going to kill you all. Maybe not now, but someday I'm going to snap and murder you all and hide the bodies so they'll never be found."
"Sounds Dismal. I suggest meditation or yoga." She only scoffed at my glare before returning to her sketch. Why did everyone seem to think I had some kind of crush of Chip Skylark? What was I doing to deserve that kind of assumption from my friends? I mean, sure he was funny, nice, had a really great smile, a nice muscular body...oh no, bad thoughts Timmy. Stop! Just stop now! I do not like Chip Skylark! I need to take my mind of this dangerous topic of conversation Sam had started. Just go back to drawing comics. Don't think at all.
"So Sam tells me..." Okay so spinning on my heels and retreated from Danny probably wasn't the best course of action, but I was in no mood to be manipulated again today. I'll just avoid everyone until being forced to hang out later tonight. Yes, that sounds like a great plan. At least it was until a pair of arms trapped me from behind causing me to yelp in fear.
"Well that was rude." My room mate said before lifting me off my feet and lugging me towards the area we had eaten lunch, where Tootie and Sam were already seated.
"Put me down Fenton or I swear I will bite your arms off!" I warned struggling to break free. The other male only laughed at the threat and held me in place. How the hell was this guy so strong when he didn't look any more muscular then I did!?
"Some ones in a mood. Did Chip dump you or something." The urge to really kill my friends was only rising.
"I will not dignify that with a response, now put me down you asshole!"
"He's so cute when he's feisty. Like a little mad hamster." Sam cooed as we neared the group and I hissed at her in hatred.
"You're such a bit..." a hand covered my mouth.
"Can't let you insult my girlfriend." Danny smiled and I licked his hand in retaliation. This gave the desired effect as he made a noise of disgust before finally releasing me from his hold.
"Timmy, just calm down and relax before your next class starts." Tootie urged before flinching at my scowl. "Stop with the cereal killer stare already!"
"Look, we promise not to pick on you about Chip anymore. So can you just sit." Sam promised and I stared at her dis-trustingly, but took a seat on the black blanket anyway.
"I can't believe you licked me, that's so gross." Danny gagged as he joined us in our group circle. I grinned in satisfaction, which earned me a push to the side. As I picked myself up the familiar jingle of my phone filled the air and I dug it out. It was Chip. Opening the text I was shocked to see not just an dorm location, but a whole paragraph.
'Hey, my apartment is located a little outside of the campus boundary. A little ways past the convenience store. I'll wait outside for you guys after classes end. So how has your morning gone? I wish I could eat lunch with you again, but I was cornered after last class and forced into hiding lol. See you next class!'
"Is that Chip?" Tootie questioned causing me to look up from the phone.
"No, it's the president letting me know I have a lecture to give at the white house about the dangers of nuclear testing."
"Someones sarcasm is dangerously high today." I stuck my tongue out at her before turning back to the screen and beginning to type out a reply.
'That sucks :( Sounds like a good a plan as any. I'd rather not discuss this morning.' When he didn't answer I assumed he must be still trying to escape so I re-pocketed my cell.
"He says to meet him outside his dorm after classes." I informed the others as I dug out the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I had swiped from the cafeteria before getting here.
"Are we eating dinner first or is he going to have food?" Danny brought up, taking a bite of his own lunch of pepperoni pizza.
"Didn't say." Tootie narrowed her eyes at me.
"That's kind of important. We don't want to starve Timmy."
"Then get something before we head over, sheesh!" I told her still feeling rather annoyed from earlier. I finished my lunch quickly before standing back up from the blanket.
"We didn't say you could go yet."Sam interrupted stuffing a potato chip into her mouth.
"What are you, my patrol officers." I shot back throwing my back back over my shoulder.
"No, we're your friends who want to help you in your love life."
"I don't need help. I don't even have a love life." I received a raised brow at my remark.
"Is that really something to be bragging about?" Danny teased and I shot a glare his way.
"The point is we think you and Chip would be a good couple and all you two do is flirt every time you see each other." Tootie added.
"We do not! I'm not into men and I never have been. So just drop it." I warned before storming off away from the group. Honestly, what was wrong with those guys? I make a new friend and all of a sudden he's dating material? Not to mention the fact that all m friends seem to think I'm gay for some reason. Have I ever given the impression of being into men? Actually, I'm pretty sure I used to gush about my old crush Trixie Tang to Danny during middle school. I really should just forget about it and get to class. I can't let my grades be effected because my friends are being stupid. Taking a deep breath, I made my way across campus.
"You look like you're in a good mood." Chip commented as he joined me at the same table we stood at yesterday.
"Let's just say my friends and I are having a disagreement."
"Are you still coming over?"
"Pretty sure we are. I'll just be mad at them until then." I explained as I put on my apron for class.
"May I ask why you guys are fighting?"
"I'd rather not talk about it." I mumbled and Chip seemed to sense my displeasure so he didn't question any further. He put his own apron on before the teacher began to speak.
"Today we will be making lemon tarts with powdered sugar topping. All the ingredients and the recipe are already on each of the tables. I'd like to see a finished product by the end of class." As soon as she stopped with instructions every one immediately began to look at the recipe. Not daring to touch anything after what happened yesterday I let Chip take the lead and tried to follow him. Amazingly I managed to not cause a powder explosion this time. In the end my tarts didn't look that great, but at least I'd finished them.
"Those look good." Chip complimented sprinkling the powdered sugar over the top of his own tarts, which were so perfect you'd think a professional made them. Well I guess his mother was one so it made since he would have already had experience making deserts.
"My 8 year old cousin could bake better than this." I pouted pushing one of my disasters across the baking sheet.
"They look fine for your first time." I gave him an unbelieving stare before picking the tart up and holding it out to him.
"Perhaps you'd like to sample one?" I had meant it as a joke, but without batting an eyelash the singer bent down and took a big bite out of the minuscule pastry.
"It's good." he replied licking the crumbs from his lips. I felt a feint blush cross my ears as I set the rest of the tart back on the baking tray. This guy was really too nice. Chip picked up one of his own creations before offering it to me. It would be impolite to pass up so I took it with a thankful nod before having a bite. It was as delicious as it looked and I had to stop myself from stuffing the whole thing into my mouth. How the hell was this guy not owning a famous cafe or something already?
"You are a singer right?"
"Yes."
"Damn." At my remark he chuckled and then finished eating the tart I'd let him have a bite of. I almost felt guilty that he had to eat something that was so obviously inferior to his own dessert. Mrs. Brown made her rounds to every ones tables as she graded them based on taste and presentation. I was presently surprised that I managed to score pretty decent on the taste test with an 82, but my presentation only received a 50. Not that I had expected anything too high on that part, especially when they were seen next to Chip's tarts. After they were graded we were allowed to take them with us to share or eat ourselves later. I didn't really expect anyone to eat mine, but I took them anyway thinking maybe I'd try my own cooking before bed.
"Are we eating Dinner first before going to your place?" I asked as we were both getting ready to head out.
"I do have food at my dorm, but you can eat at the cafeteria if you want." Chip replied shouldering his bag.
"That depends, can you make things other than desserts?" He smiled at me in response.
"Yes I can. Although most of the recipes I know are Italian since that's what I grew up with."
"Your Italian?" I questioned as we walked out the doorway. Luckily there seemed to be not a lot of people in the hallways at the moment.
"Half Italian. My father's Native American."
"Why don't you have an accent? Does your mother not have one?" The singer peeked around the corner cautiously before answering.
"Yes she does. I did have one, but when I became a singer I took lessons to hide it. Some people couldn't understand me when I spoke and that would have made interviews difficult." What a shame. To have such a beautiful accent and have to hide it. Like most people growing up, I had always wished that I'd been able to sound cool like the foreign exchange students. Instead I was stuck with my California accent, which wasn't as thick as some since Dimmsdale was a mixed bag of cultures, but still not cool sounding in the least. The sound of Chip talking again pulled me from my thoughts and I turned back up to him.
"What? Sorry I was lost in thought."
"I asked if you drink. You don't have classes tomorrow right? I don't wither, which means that a little alcohol wouldn't hurt us too bad."
"That whole memorizing my scheduled is still a little creepy, but yes I do drink. My Aunt Wanda loves wine so their was always a couple bottles in the house for meals. I know it's considered a girl thing, but beer always was disgusting to me." Chip smiled knowingly before pulling his hood over his head as we neared the exit of the building.
"There's nothing girly about wine and I agree whole-heartedly about the beer. I love wine too. Red or White?"
"Red." I replied instantly causing him to chuckle and nod in agreement. The sound of my phone ringing caused me to stop in my tracks to dig out the device from my pocket. With a roll of my eyes I explained to Tootie what Chip had said about food before letting her know to meet us in front of the school. Chip and I continued to walk before another text came. This one was from Danny. I wrote the same thing to him before sighing.
"Still not going to tell me why you're mad at your friends?" my companion asked as we crossed the garden rather quickly to avoid any one recognizing him.
"Let's just say they can be pushy about things they thing are right. Very pushy." Chip hummed in reply and we were silent the rest of the way to the meeting spot. Surprisingly, Danny and Sam were already there, but Tootie wasn't.
"Aren't you always late for things?" I pointed out as we approached the couple. Danny blushed slightly at my remark while rubbing the back of his neck.
"I don't try to be. It just sort of happens." Sam patted her boyfriends head comfortingly before sending a smirk in mine and Chips direction. This caused me to almost turn around and leave back to my dorm room. That face did not mean good things for me.
"It's nice to see you again." She greeted the man beside me.
"You too."
"So how was Baking class. Did Timmy blow anything up today?"
"I've never blown anything up!"
"Sure you haven't and Danny has never dropped his pants down in public." Sam responded sarcastically.
"That only happened a few times and it was on accident." Danny's face darkened in color. The sound of approaching footstep interrupted the conversation, thankfully, as we all turned to see my best friend jogging up holding a slice of pizza.
"Sorry I took so long. I decided I couldn't wait to eat so I went to grab something really quick, but the line was super long tonight." She informed as she took another bite of food.
"No problem. Well let's head out." At his word we followed the celebrity out of the school grounds.
