Chapter 25: Origins- First Half

My life went on for another few years with it being almost completely uneventful. Lucy stayed healthy through to her 13th birthday, and I kept training under David's eyes. I soon could go so far as to make a martini with my eyes closed, without being allowed a drop of it. David still stuck to his "no drinking" policy with me, because of course, I was too young. Whatever.

September 2002

I had been in Econ for almost 3 years. My dad agreed that one more year would be an appropriate time for my degree before I became an investor. But there was a problem I hadn't told him: Even after 2 years under David's teachings, Dad still didn't know what I really wanted to do. I found my passion with bartending, and I had plans to start my own bar when I could do it. I only could hope that my knowledge with Econ would help me start the bar. Then again, owning property is revolving around that area.

I was starting my new semester in Econ that day. The whole lecture hall was packed with students, with me in the middle of them. I always wondered how teachers in previous generations could talk so loudly without an intercom or loudspeaker. It was ridiculous.

"Good afternoon, students!" Called the professor after he walked out to the center of the hall. "My name is Professor Davis, and welcome to Econ 101."

Prof. Davis then went through a long and boring speech that I was amazed I was able to stay focused on the whole time, despite not having any sleep last night. Finally, class was approaching it's last half hour, and the professor then spoke up with our work.

"This is only our introduction class, but we are going to try something simple in the next few weeks. I assume a lot of you have played the Stock Game?"

The class groaned, but the professor smiled.

"Now, now. There's a lot of work that goes into this, and to serve as a review. When it starts, you'll be buying, trading, and selling stocks freely of your own accord for 3 weeks. I have a prize waiting for the one who is able to make the most money at the end. Any questions?"

No one raised their hand. I could almost hear a cricket chirping like in those old cartoons.

"Excellent. Now on that note, do your research, and prepare for the trading. Class dismissed"

I left the lecture hall, my hopes high. I had done the stock game before, making the most money in 3 different classes. This should be easy.

"This'll be a piece of cake." I heard someone say.

"Don't jinx it, Mary." Said another. "It's all about finding the right patterns, and picking the ones from the less volatile."

"You focus too much on the numbers, Cindy. You may be good, but it counts to have street smarts as much as skills with numbers."

That girl, Mary was right. It was what made me a great investor: that I knew what was trending when it was. That was why I could tell I was going to win this thing. I was that good.

2 weeks later...

I saw the fingers flying up. Three in one hand, one in another, four going up, six going down. I scribbled down the movements into my note pad. I was at the New York Stock exchange, taking notes on the people on the trading floor. I was up in a waiting area, with a large glass window looking out on the trading floor. Might sound like I'm some kind of psychotic stalker, but what I was taking notes of was what companies they were buying shares from. If I knew that, then I would know which companies were the ones to invest in. So far I had gained almost 5,000 dollars, adding up to the 50 grand of fake money that I was given to start out in. But there had been some losses. I was able to come back from losing 3 grand when my patience wore off and I sold some shares too early. But now, here I was, gaining money from 5 Gs, and rising fast. I felt confident that I had gotten the most out of my shares.

"You taking notes too?" Said a voice.

I looked to my right to see a girl sitting beside me. She had wavy brown hair and eyes. I almost mistook her for an older looking Lucy, but this girl had longer hair. Lucy's hair had regrown back a bit recently, but it still was fairly short. This girl had a notepad with her as well.

"Yeah. I assume you're in Econ at Columbia?" I replied.

"You know it." She said.

I heard something. Her voice sounded familiar. But I just ignored it.

"I'm making a ton of money in this." I bragged. "I think I'm gonna make it pretty damn high."

"Good luck there, sport." She said. "I'm out of here." She got up and walked away, leaving me to continue to write my notes. I looked back down at the floor to see someone buy 3 shares from

Coke.

The day finally came a week later for the final hand ins for the stock portfolios. Prof. Davis said to simply hand in the proof of shares, and a grand total of the amount of money you made. I walked up front with my folder filled with papers on the shares, and my grand total, which I had no doubts was huge.

After looking through the folders, Prof. Davis went up to the front.

"Some of you could have done better at this, but some of you I'm impressed at. I will be calling up the top 20 students in their trades. When I call your name, come on down." He chuckled at the Price is Right reference.

Davis then went down the list, reading off students that I didn't know yet. Then again, I had just started in this class along with a whole bunch of other students.

"Oliver Blake!" He called. "You're up!"

I got up from my seat and made my way to the front of the lecture hall. I knew I had done good.

"Cindy Smith!"

The girl I had seen the other day walked up and stood among others students. So it turned out we were in the same class. I knew she looked familiar.

"Alright! All the rest of you have done a fantastic job, but these are the twenty who made it on top. Some on luck, others on skill. Let's count down to the one who made it to the top."

Professor Davis read off a new list of people. I lasted into the top 15. Then the top 10. Finally, it was only me, Cindy, and 3 other students standing up at the front.

"Nathan Ramirez. You made it to the 5th. Great job!"

That guy nodded, and took his seat. Two others were soon called for 4th and 3rd place. At last, it was down to Cindy and me.

"Oliver, Cindy. You both have made it far in these past few weeks in this trading game. You're being judged solely by the grand total of money you've made in your stocks. Oliver." He looked at me. "You traded stocks in many companies, starting with 50 grand, and you have ended with a total of...$86,753!"

There was applause as I waved in acknowledgement. Cindy rolled her eyes at me.

"Cindy. You, on the other hand, traded quite a small amount, but you invested in the right companies. And your grand total of stock profits is..." He looked at the total, then called it out. "$86,756!"

It took me a second, but then I shouted out. Cindy had beat me by three fricking dollars!

After class I was upset. I had worked so hard on the stocks, and she tore it all down.

She walked up, smiling. "Good game, Oliver."

I scowled. "I wanted to win it. I really did. You took it from me."

Cindy laughed. I guess my harsh words were rolling like water of a duck's back. "I don't think you'd find it was worth it." She said.

"Oh, really? What could all that effort in trading those stocks be worth?"

Cindy held up her prize. "Apparently a voucher for a buy-one-get-one coffee at Starbucks."

I was appalled. "What? That's it?"

Cindy smirked. "He ripped us off, Oliver. The professor doesn't see any value in that kind of effort. I know we only just know each other as classmates, but I'd be willing to split it with you, if you want."

I shrugged. "What the hell."

We started walking. "You know, in a way, I feel better that you beat me." I said.

"What makes you say that?" She asked.

"I'm not meant for this Wall Street bullshit. I never liked it."

"Well then, I'm happy to help." She said smiling. "So then what are you after?"

"I'm gonna start my own bar once I'm of age."

Cindy smirked. "Yeah, that seems like a valid career path." She rolled her eyes again.

"Hey, it may not be easy to own a bar, but it's what I want to do."

"Just sounds like a lot of hard work."

"It's not work when you love doing it." I shot back.

Cindy raised an eyebrow, and smiled. "Well played. You make a good case."

I didn't know yet, but I had just met one of my future best friends for the next few years. That was one half of them. But I had yet to meet the other.