College Life Chapter 2, a victorious fanfic

I rub my eyes with my two fingers behind my glasses.

How many hours have I been working on this? I don't get where the error is coming from at all. I've been rewriting the syntax of the code over and over again. It hardly even looks like how I started it.

"Rob, I'm going out to go get drinks with friends, did you want to come?"

"Dan you know I don't drink," I turn around to see him staring from the doorframe, "So what good would getting one do to me?"

"You need a break from your work, you're like two weeks ahead on assignments dude, you got time to burn."

I let out a deep sigh, "Yeah but as soon as I get off this rhythm of getting work done then I'll get lethargic and sloth, I don't want to get off this good habit y'know?"

Daniel let out a chuckle and scoff, "Rob, I'd hardly call it a good habit when you're working yourself half to death and are forcing yourself to learn a whole unit ahead of the rest of your class." he walked into my room and turned off my PC.

"Hey! I don't know if I saved that!" I yelled out, "What the hell?!"

"We both know it wasn't working anyway and wasn't anywhere near done, you can just program it again when you get your head cleared and relaxed."

I let out an exasperated sigh, "Daniel I really appreciate what you're trying to do but I don't do good in social situations either. I've never been good at small talk." I said defeatedly.

"What? What do you mean you had the whole group laughing the last time you were hanging out with us, you were firing off jokes like there was no Tomorrow dude. You're fine."

"I'm not too sure about that, I was grasping at straws and I felt that a lot of the jokes fell flat on their face." I said, laying my head into my arms on the table.

"Eh… well not everything hits yeah but the group still likes you hanging around, no one's complaining when I asked if it was okay to invite you."

I get up and turn around to face him again, "Alright, I'll relax, but I'm still not going out with you, you guys get drunk way too quick and if I want to relax I'm gonna do it at home where I can have peace."

"Alright dude, just let me know if you wanna drop by, I'll let you know where we are."

"I appreciate that, later Dan."

"Later Rob."

I watch Dan leave and hear him walk down the hallway to the door, with the door clicking shut and locking when he's outside of the apartment.

I make my way to the couch and lay down from the side. It's been a whole two years in college now huh. It hasn't felt like that much time has passed at all, there's been so much to do it's been kinda fun getting things done, the only downside is that it's tiring. I'm not sure Computer Science is something that I really want to do, at least the writing portion is really tedious and boring which makes up most of it, I just like watching my programs run properly but I've hardly had ideas for stuff to make myself. Twenty-three years old and starting to contemplate whether my major is something I want to do can't be a good sign. I turn on the television to watch some shows. I finally scroll to Nick and start watching this new weird show about a girl who goes to a performing arts school, it's really not the greatest show but the music is nice so it's something I can turn my brain off to and just watch until I fall asleep.

Man I really do have down time, Dan isn't wrong, I'm two weeks ahead on assignments, I could just take a break and I'd still be ahead of the class by the end of those two weeks. But what should I even do? Maybe I should meet up with everyone if they're in town? Beck and Jade are starring on this cop show now, surprisingly, despite their forte being more serious acting it's a pretty laid back comedy. Can't imagine how they got wrapped into that or convinced to do that gig but it's really entertaining and funny to watch, a little more funny to watch considering that I knew them back in high school but it's cool to see them on the big screen. Tori and Andre got together too and were a pretty strong power couple in the music industry. With Andre producing for Tori and Tori being a fantastic singer they cranked out music and albums like it was the easiest thing in the world. They're pregnant now and have taken a break out of the limelight, I still remember getting the text about it from Andre about it, they were so happy when they found out that they went to every mountain top screaming about it.

It's been four years since Cat and I broke up now, there's really hardly anything that I'm holding onto… Well, realistically I still hold resentment for her cheating on me but it's water under the bridge now right? I can't just keep holding onto that. But it's also been four years since we've really talked at all. No direct conversations or anything, just a few odd interactions in the group chat that all of us at Hollywood Arts made after a reunion last year to make sure we stayed in touch.

I whip out my phone and check the last messages sent in it. Nobody has really typed in it since Andre announced that him and Tori were pregnant a few months ago.

I might as well ask if any of them are in town to hang out or something.

...

Nah, They're probably busy, all of them are leading some extravagant lives, not really any extra time to hang out or anything.

I throw my phone to the other side of the couch as I watch the episode on TV. The weird nerd of the show is such a strange guy, name is Bobbie and he doesn't shut up with that weird puppet of his, like seriously dude if you have those thoughts just voice them out yourself, hiding behind a puppet like that is just really creepy and cowardly.

… Have I eaten today? Uhhh… I think so? I had cereal. I know that for sure. Did I remember to go grocery shopping though?

I pulled myself off the couch as the episode ended and turned off the TV, making my way to the fridge I noticed a few undone dishes in the sink and decided to just busy myself for a second and finish off washing the rest of the plates.

Getting out the soap from the cupboard… warm water… rinse… rinse… rinse… dry, set aside, repeat. Just going through the motions and getting it all done until I finish… It's kinda nice having a pattern.

I finish doing the rest of the dishes and let them dry and finally make my way to the fridge to check the inside.

Nope, no groceries to speak of here, just a container of milk that's almost empty from eating cereal this morning.

Makes sense as to why Dan went out with friends, nothing to eat at home after all.

I take a deep sigh and grab my keys off of the counter, making my way back to my room to change out of my pajama pants and put on a jacket. It might be California, but it can sometimes still be chilly out at night during autumn.

I stuff my wallet into my pocket and notice how it feels a little lighter than normal.

"Man… I really need to get a job." I said to myself.

I've been living off the savings that I had while working for Cat. Given how successful she was she wanted to pay me a good bit while I worked for her but since I left the job technically speaking, her label saw no reason to give me severance so the amount of money I made realistically should have only lasted me two years but I'm good with saving so I still have some left.

Regardless, what I have is still enough to allow me to live comfortably for a few more months, but I really need to get a job, otherwise I might have bills pile up which is the worst thing for a student in college to have.

I open the door to my apartment and make my way out, making sure the lights are turned off by peeking through the door before I close it. I lock the door when I'm fully out and walk down the hallway to the elevator.

"Elevator or stairs… uhh… I should probably do a bit more activity…"

Yeah, good choice, sitting around on my ass all day programming really won't help me physically, I might as well do my best to get as much physical activity as I can in.

I make my way down three flights of stairs into the lobby of my apartment building and walk out to the loud streets of LA.

It's kind of chilly, but that's just a light breeze.

Autumn LA is really different from anywhere else, of course it smells like a city but the air is also somewhat fresh, kinda crisp, at least in comparison to other metropolitan cities. New York straight up smells like garbage and concrete which… I guess it has its own charms.

I walk down the street, making my way around the block to the local convenience store.

It kind of looks run down at this point, but it has the cheapest prices in town so whatever right?

I realized pretty quickly that always shopping at whole foods and getting the best stuff is going to break my bank fast, there's no point in getting better things, so long as it gets the job done and it's edible.

I walk into the store.

Ah, I can practically feel the linoleum peeling off the walls.

Walking down the isles I pick out the normal stuff.

Bread, more milk, a few vegetables for soup, potatoes for Friday, a few chicken breasts for the freezer and just a few packets of instant coffee for late night work.

I don't normally drink coffee but if there's a deadline that needs to be met then I'll use it.

Actually… Since I'm taking a break I guess I don't need that for now… eh whatever, it's not like it'll expire when I need them, might as well buy them while I remember that I need them.

I put everything into a basket and walked over to the checkout counter.

"Is that all for you Sir?" said an elderly woman behind the counter.

"Yes ma'am." I responded.

I got myself checked out and walked out, making my way back to my apartment building.

I stifle a yawn as I make my way back and rub my face with my free hand as I'm walking.

Stubble.

I should probably shave when I get back.

I forgot to buy blades though… ah whatever, I'll just shave the next time I think about it, besides, a beard would probably be a nice change from my babyface.

As I walk back into the building I can't help but feel super old. All my muscles feel fatigued from just carrying things and I could probably just sleep on the lobby floor.

I pulled myself into the elevator and rested against the side as I waited for it to get to my floor.

Elevator music is… soothing… I'm… so… tired…

DING

I jump back awake.

Getting out of the elevator I look down the hall to see someone fiddling with my door and knocking on it.

Is that Dan?

No that's way too short to be Dan.

A robber?

Do robbers knock?

They probably just have the wrong apartment number.

I make my way closer, "Hello? Can I help you?"

The figure jumps for a bit, "N-no, I'm just here to see a friend, I don't think he's home though," she says. She's pretty, blonde hair and pink lips.

"Oh, I live here, are you sure that you have the right apartment number?"

"I think so… I- this is apartment 243 right?"

"Yeah, are you looking for Dan?" I asked.

"Yes! Yes! I'm looking for Daniel! Do you know him?"

"Yeah he's my roommate. Here, come in for now, you can wait on the couch for him, he's out getting drinks. I'll call him to let you know that you're here." I unlock the door and let her in, taking out my phone as she walks in. "Uhh… What's your name?"
"Melody."

"Gotcha."

I get Dan's number onto my phone and call.

Ring…

No way he's already too blasted to pick up.

Ring…

"Hey! Robbie! I knew you would come around! Come on, we're at the bar down by 4th, get yer ass down here!" He's practically screaming.

I sigh.

"Dan, no. I'm not calling about that." I said.

"Oh- well then what's this about? Am I in trouble? Is this about the groceries because you said you would get them today." He responded.

"No, it's not about the groceries, I just went to go pick them up."

"Oh, then what's up?"

"Girl name Melody is here to see you, do you know who she is?"

"Melody? Yeah that's my ex, how'd she find me?"

"I don't know bro, I just let her in, she seems like she wants to talk to you about something."

"Ah- shoot. Alright I'll be back in a bit."

"Do you need a ride? You're not too drunk right?"

"Nah I'll be fine, I hardly drank, we just got here."

"Ah- sorry then."

"All good, not your fault. I'll be back in twenty."

"Alright, see you then."

"Yeah- buh-bye."

"Later."

I hung up and turned around to see Melody on the couch looking like she was freaking out.

"Hey."

She turned to face me.

"Are you alright? You look on edge." I asked.

"Yeah! Yeah. Yeah I'm fine, I'm all good." She responded.

"Do you want some coffee or tea?"

"Some coffee would be nice."

"Gotcha."

I went over to my grocery bag and grabbed one of the packets of instant coffee. Grabbing a pot, I heat up some water on the stove and set the packets aside.

"So what did you need to talk to Dan about?" I asked.

"Uh- something pretty important."

"Something I shouldn't know about?" I asked behind the kitchen counter.

"I- I don't know whether I should tell you or not, it's kind of private y'know?" she said.

"Yeah for sure, if you're not comfortable talking about it I'm all good."

"Thanks."

"Yeah, of course." I said, trying to push back a yawn. I turn around to the semi-boiling water and put in the packet of instant coffee. Honestly I have no idea how these things work, it's pretty much like magic how easy it is to make coffee these days.

I stir up the water for a bit and then transfer the coffee to a small mug, putting the pot into the sink and turning off the stove.

I walked over to her and set the mug down on the table in front of the couch.

"There you go."

"Thank you."

"No problem… Anyway, I'm gonna get some sleep, you can stay until Daniel comes by."

"Okay… sleep well! Thank you!"

"Yup. Goodnight."

"Goodnight!"

I walk over to my room and close the door, throwing off my jacket to the side and taking off my pants to put on my pajamas. After I put on my comfortable clothes, I thought about taking a shower… I took one this morning, I should be good.

I jump onto the bed and let myself be engulfed by the yawning abyss… ah… it's so nice to stop thinking for a bit.