That coffee tasted like a used cigarette. It wasn't the best of smilies, but it was the first that Jaune acquired after tasting the burnt coffee from his usual coffeehouse. He criticized how recently their taste, as well as their customer service, has been lacking. It wouldn't be any surprise since the owner of the establishment has set forth on worldly adventures and left her good tithings to her younger brother. Unlike the enthusiastic big sister, the young brother's thoughts were on business, synergy, and micromanagement. In conclusion, the attitude of their baristas reflected their taste of coffee. Like a bad habit of his recent quitting of cigarettes, Jaune tossed the coffee into the trashcan. He pulled out a piece of nicotine gum. He discarded the wrapper to the trashcan as he walked down the stairs into the courtyard. He walked into the crowd of students who were venturing to their next class or were heading back to their dorms from classes. He saw a few students dressed in their work clothes to head to their student job.
He groaned at the thought of obtaining another student job. It wasn't long ago that he was recently released from his job working as a library assistant. Their reason for letting him go wasn't because of his personality. Frankly, the boss enjoyed the blonde child. That was if he showed up or stayed awake long enough to work. The incomprehensible boy spent his evenings partying with his friends and spending latter parts of the early morning cramming for exams or completing overdue homework. He may get a few hours here and there, but it was apparent in his schoolwork. He always told himself that he would get an additional sleep on the weekends, but alas, the weekends were spent partying with friends until the sun shined on Monday morning.
The fallacy of a fallen nineteen-year-old scholar.
He sighed as he grabbed tightly around his book. He was trailing near a D in his Freshman Composition class. He already has an overdue assignment, but his professor and surprisingly former Beacon Academy teacher, Oscar Pine, was grateful enough to give him a week to complete it.
And that was over four days ago.
His goal was to spend the night completing the assignment and slipped it under her door before their test. He was his first class. Hopefully, he won't be in an unpleasant mood.
He put his mind back into focus as he walked across the street to get to his dorm. His hope since his roommate/best friend Lie Ren wouldn't be there since he had late afternoon classes, he would have time to complete his work. He had it all planned.
Step 1: Go into my dorm and turn off all distractions.
Step 2: There is no step 2.
Step 3: Leave a do not disturb sign so I can concentrate.
Step 4: Energy drinks to help cram.
Step 5: Coffee in case energy drinks don't work.
Step 6: Take a ten-minute break every hour.
Step 7: For all that is holy, do not answer the phone unless it is a family member.
Step 8: Keep that mindset until completing this assignment.
Step 9: Just do it, okay?
He checked his watch and saw the clock struck a little after three in the afternoon. He crossed another street and made it to the parking lot of his dormitory. The gravel rock gnashing against his feet reminded him of the thoughts of returning back to those dorms. It reminded him of the subsidized urban housing. He didn't mean offense to those who claim those places home, but he didn't think that the "projects" existed on college campuses. He made it to the dormitory where he used his key fob to open the door. He was welcomed to the scents of mold, hormones, sweat, and amongst other things. Despite his doing laundry, whenever he returned home, the blonde was forced to do laundry again. His mother couldn't stand the scent of "college life," she said to her chagrin. He laughed to himself, knowing that it wasn't long until his next visit home.
With the elevator broken for repairs, again, the frustrated Jaune walked the nine flights of stairs to his room. With each flight, the blonde child was having second thoughts of working on his overdue paper. Along with studying for his other classes and assignments from those other classes, it was going to be a long night.
He was grateful that it was a Friday.
Ten tiresome, exhausting minutes later, he made it to his dorm room. He covered his nose to blockade the scent from the public bathroom. He wouldn't be surprised if someone purposefully defecated on the floor, per usual. Or if someone failed to aim for the toilet, again. He shook his head for the lack of home training from these students. Alas, the detrimental hazards of dormitory life.
He was welcomed to the cool sensation of the air conditioner. Thankful to Lie Ren, he told himself that he would get something for him when he returned back to the campus. He tossed his stuff next to his bed. He turned on the radio to find music he can concentrate. Choosing an alternative jazz radio station, he got himself comfortable for the night ahead.
He sat at his chair where his laptop resided. He never brought his laptop anywhere for risking it would break. He was fortunate for the used tablet his sister Jenna left for him before she made her venture studying abroad with her girlfriend, Penny Polendina.
He opened his laptop and cracked open a bottle of his energy drink. He took a few sips as he searched through his emails. Aside from the trivial stuff of college information, important events, the overdue notices from his English professor, and spam mail. He exited off from his computer. He opened his word document to gather his information to work on his assignment. He was a few sentences into the assignment.
He heard his cell phone ringing.
If it wasn't for the fact that the ringing phone was planted on the sink behind him, then he would have never got up. He scratched his underarms as he walked to the phone. He saw that it was Lie Ren.
Ren is my friend, my best friend. So, it does count for Step 7.
He answered on the fifth ring.
"Hey, Ren. What's up," asked Jaune as he sat back at his desk. "I am in the middle of something. What do you need?"
"Dude," responded Lie Ren loudly. "Get this! There is a mixer going on at the pub tonight."
"Cool," said Jaune. "That sounds like a plan, but…."
"But, what?"
"Look, man, I hate to say this. Let alone think about it, but I won't be attending tonight."
There was a pause on the phone for a moment. "Is this the same Jaune Arc? The one who enjoys going to parties?"
"Listen, man," interjected Jaune. "I just got things to do. I got so much on my plate that it is pitiful. I am hoping to have some downtime to finish this work. But, no, man, not tonight."
Another pause ensued following the conversation. Jaune could hear the tapping from the other end. If Jaune knew Lie Ren like he did, the brunet was formulating a plan. Lie Ren answered. "In regards to the paper, what is the topic?"
"Many people believe that sexualization of cartoon characters has a negative effect on society because it promotes perversion. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your response."
Jaune heard Lie Ren snapped his finger on the other end. "Velvet has taken this class in summer school," he said adamantly. "If you like, I can give her a call and she can do the paper for you. For a price."
"Dude, you know Pine. He is much capable of snooping out things like he did at Beacon," he scoffed. "No way in hell am I going to get in trouble."
"Dude, I am sorry to use this, but here it goes," said Lie Ren as he held his breath before sighing heavily. "I am using the solid you owe."
Jaune almost dropped the phone the moment he heard those words coming from Lie Ren's lips. He tightly gripped his cell phone to assure Lie Ren was aiding his comprehension. "The solid? You are using this now. Now of all days?"
"Sorry, bro. I need you tonight," he said as he tapped the phone. "Blake is going to be there and I need you as my wingman to break the ice."
The solid. An exchange of favors created by the best friends during their high school days in which they helped each other in event of an emergency or a "bro moment." Jaune tried not to ponder the particular solid in question, but he knew that his assignment wouldn't be finished right away.
"I just want to take the opportunity of having some leeway with Blake. I am not asking you to just come and party, I am asking as a friend," said Lie Ren. "I don't want to be alone. I, at least, want a wingman if Blake comes around to speak to me."
Jaune became trapped in limbo. Yes, he valued Lie Ren's friendship. He didn't mind helping out a friend in need. He just wished that it didn't coincide with his pending due assignments. At the same time, he already has one strike on his permanent record. It was by the grace of Oum his dean gave him another chance. He feared dismissal and of course, his partying was inexcusable. He stared onto the blinking line of his word document.
Help a friend? Get my work done? Help my friend to get his middleman worked up? Or get my work done with the chance of my middleman being cut off? Decisions?
He grunted loud enough for Lie Ren to hear. "I will come with you." He heard Lie Ren shout "yes" before Jaune intervened. "Here is the catch. If Blake does come and get with you, you will help me with this assignment. Not Velvet! You and just you."
"Anything, bud."
"I mean, no spending the night with Belladonna. Get in, get out. Come to the dorm, help me out. I scratch yours, you scratch mine."
"Yes, yes. A thousand times, yes!"
"Alright then," said Jaune. "When does this mixer began?"
"Around eight this evening at The Stubbed Toe."
"I know the place," said Jaune. "I will meet you there."
"Great. Once again, thanks!"
"Thanks, my butt. Just help me with this assignment." He hung up the phone while cracking his knuckles. He looked at the clock and saw he had some time to complete the assignment. He stood up to stretch. He began yawning as he was feeling sleepy.
I think I can lie down for a minute. Catch a little of a second wind. And then resume my work. I mean, I can count that as Step 6.
He took off his shoes and lied on the bed. He told himself that he was going to get himself ten minutes to rest.
He was asleep after three minutes.
To be continued….