"You gonna go in man?"

Casey looked over at the boy standing next to him. He moved out of the way and let the other guy in, but stayed outside the doors.

It was his first day at Ohio State University. His first class, actually, and although he wasn't the same person he had been back in high school, new situations still made him anxious. There was no reason to be nervous. His first class was plant and animal science, and his high school teacher, Professor Furlong, was teaching the class.

After everything that had happened at Herrington, many of the students had deserted the school, as well as the teachers. The ones that stayed just denied that anything had happened. Some blamed it on a cold, some blamed it on drugs, and some just didn't know what to think.

Professor Furlong had left at the end of the school year though- he had lasted the longest. Ms. Harper had been the first to go, taking all of her medications with her, and then Coach Willis had left after her. He had been offered a coaching job at Penn State, and left as soon as he heard. And, even after saving the world together, he hadn't kept in touch with all of his friends.

He knew Delilah had moved to Boston to pursue a career in journalism, and that Stokely and Stan were continuing their relationship in a college in San Diego. He wasn't sure what had happened to Zeke; he didn't want to go to a college, and he hadn't been sure what job he wanted after he had finally graduated.

He checked his watch. Class would be starting in a few minutes. He hitched his bag up on his back, and walked in. Professor Furlong was already setting up a presentation, and other students already filled many of the seats. He saw an empty seat in the front row. How typical, he thought. He sat down and opened up his notebook.

Professor Furlong turned around and saw him, winking. Casey gave a small smile and tapped his pen on the desk. Professor Furlong saw it and shuddered. Casey didn't notice.

"All right, I think most of you are here, and we're already a few minutes late. I'm Professor Edward Furlong. but since I'm the cool one you can call me Eddie. This is plant and animal science. Not physics, not geology, not chemistry. If you're in the wrong class, I'll ask you to leave now and save yourself the embarrassment." No one got up and left, so Eddie continued.

"Now. We're probably all here for different reasons. Some of you saw the 101 next to the course name, and thought 'hey! This will be easy!'. Some of you might actually be interested in science. And some of you," his eyes turned to Casey, "Might want to learn more about what types of organisms exist, and how they survive. I'm here to teach you everything you ever wanted to know about plants and animals. Get out your notebooks please, it's time to begin."

The class went by quickly after the introduction, and Casey had found it enjoyable. Some people, Casey included, even stayed after the class was over to hear the end of the lecture about parasites and how they find their hosts.

He didn't have a class until later that afternoon, and he had overheard some of his classmates talking about a coffee shop, Tallulah's Joe, that was by campus. He was always ready for anything other than water. Outside the sun kept peeking out from behind the clouds, and everyone was chatting excitedly about their classes.

He walked for a few blocks until he found the place; it was tucked between two other buildings and it's small sign was on it's door. Inside it smelled of incense, and every table had different chairs to go along with it. The wooden floors were slightly run down, but the deep red walls looked like they had painted very recently. Many of the tables were full, and it took Casey a minute before he could find a place to sit.

He set his school bag down and waited for a moment before he got up again. His next class was photography, and he kept absentmindedly taking the lens cap off of his camera. He was jumped back into reality when he heard a crash coming from the back room, and a man cursing at someone. A minute later a girl came through the swinging doors, looking flushed and disheveled. She smiled at the customers standing at the register and apologized for the wait. After the line had died down, Casey stood up and went to order his drink.

"You okay?" He asked once he got to the register.

She looked up at him and nodded. "Just a klutz," she said, smiling. "What can I get you?"

"Milky Way shake. No caffeine."

She walked to the counter behind her and started pouring ingredients into a blender. "That's some nice equipment you have there."

"Excuse me?" He asked, turning slightly pink.

"Your camera," she said, nodding towards his table. "Are you a photography major?"

"No, minor. I'm majoring in computers."

"Oh! Me too! What classes are you taking for it?" She asked.

"Business technologies, graphic design, and multimedia."

"I'm taking multimedia. I have Kramer."

"Me too."

She frowned. "Have you heard anything about him?"

Casey shook his head.

"Well," she said, finishing up his drink, "I heard he's a hard ass. Expects everyone to know everything about computers, and if you don't, he won't help you learn it. I have him in an hour."

Casey sighed, now upset about Kramer. "Me too."

"We'll just have to help each other, then," he said, handing him his drink. She also extended her free hand. "I'm Riley."

"Casey," he said, shaking her hand. "Nice to meet you."

"You too." She said.

"How much is it?"

"It's on the house," she said, waving him off. "I'll see you in Kramer's class. Find us seats nearer the back."

He smiled. "Okay." He walked over to the table, picking up his bag. He left the shop, still smiling, looking more forward to his next class.

"A little early to be hitting on the famous, Riley."

Riley turned her head to a blonde girl standing near her. "Excuse me?"

"That was Casey Connor."

"Who?"

"He was in the news for three months. On the cover of People magazine. helped save his high school."

Riley raised her eyebrows. "From what?"

"No one knows for sure."

Riley started wiping off the counter. "When was this?"

"Last year."

Riley sighed. "I wasn't here. I was with my dad in California, finishing school."

The girl shrugged. "Doesn't matter. He's still probably the only freshman that's going to get any this year."

Riley groaned. "Shut up, Sue." Riley untied her apron and set it on the counter. "I need to get to class."

"Your shift isn't over yet, you still have ten minutes."

"I need to get to class." She said again. She went into the back room and picked up her school bag, then left the shop.

Once she got to class, she found Casey sitting in the second row from the back. She gave him a small wave and he moved the jacket he had used to save the seat.

"Hi," she said, sitting down. "Like the coffee?" She asked, eyeing the empty cup.

"It was excellent," he complimented. He got out his laptop and opened it up. There was a picture of him surrounded by people on the desktop.

"Who are they?" She asked, pointing at the computer.

"Friends from high school." He was silent for a moment. "That's Zeke. On the left is Delilah. There's Stokely and Stan. And that's Gabe."

"Close friends with Delilah?" She asked. The dark haired girl was kissing Casey's cheek in the picture, while Zeke looked on, laughing.

"We were." He said. "I haven't talked to her in awhile."

"You all look so happy."

"It was about time." He said.

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

He became silent, and she didn't press him for any more answers. Kramer walked in three minutes later, slamming his briefcase on his desk.

"There will be no giggling, no stupid questions, no chattering, and there will be one assignment in this class. I don't curve, I fail you, and you'll have to waste your miserable lives over again in my classroom. Get out your laptops."

Riley hadn't been wrong. Within the first twenty minutes Casey was confused, and his screen kept freezing. When Riley tried to share her computer, Kramer yelled at her, and she quickly went back to working by herself.

Their assignment was to make a movie, and edit it on the computer. The topic was to find a news story, and partners were not allowed. By the time class was over, Casey felt exhausted, and Riley looked it; her red hair was falling out of its ponytail and she barely had enough energy to push her glasses back up her nose.

"What are you doing tonight?" She asked, once she had finally picked up her bag.

"My parents wanted me to come home, being my first day and all." He said, picking up his own bag.

"Well," she said, fixing her ponytail, "if those plans fall through. I'll be at Barnes and Noble."

"Ooh, party girl," he teased.

She smacked him lightly on the arm. "Research." She said.

"Maybe another night, then."

She shrugged. "Suit yourself. Just don't expect any more free coffees." She laughed and walked down the stairs. "See you tomorrow."

"See ya," he said. When he got outside, the sun was starting to set, and a cold wind blew past him. He hurried quickly to get to his car. It was a good thing no one else was around. His scream as he got inside his car would have made people curious.