***A/N*** Hey everyone! Thanks for the reviews so far; it means so
much to me that people are reading. I am hoping to update this every
Wednesday, so look out for a new chapter when it rolls around. If not on
Wednesday, I should have the chapter up a few days after. Thanks again!***
"ZEKE! Fuck man! How'd you get in my car?"
His old friend smiled at him, eyes crinkling. "How you doing Casey? That was quite a scream." He pulled a small silver tool out of his pocket. "I broke in."
"Well, yeah." Casey's chest was heaving from being startled. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Zeke held up something that looked very much like a student ID.
Casey gave him a bewildered look, and then his eyes widened.
Zeke's smile grew as Casey started to understand. "Yep."
Casey punched Zeke on the shoulder and then took the ID. "How'd you get in?! When did you enroll? How-"
Zeke took the card back and pocketed it. "I'm working with Eddie on a new project. I got a science scholarship, and if I keep my grades up and keep working with him, I can stay."
Casey looked proud and bemused at the same time. "Where are you living?"
"At home. My parents are somewhere in Italy. But I'm thinking about rushing."
Casey smiled. "And this new project?"
"Is keeping me busy." Zeke didn't offer any more information.
Casey studied his friend for a moment. It was such a turn around that he was quite shocked. Zeke seemed less reserved, less. well, less of a druggie, than he had back in high school. He seemed passionate about being in college.
"Have you heard from anyone?"
Zeke's strained voice broke his concentration. Casey knew what he meant by 'anyone'. He hated to disappoint him, but he rarely did talk to anyone from Herrington, besides Eddie and now Zeke.
"Not really." Casey went on to tell him where everyone had gone to, and then asked about Zeke's romance stint with Ms. Burke.
"We decided it was for the best if we broke it off. Besides, after your girlfriend has changed into an alien, and has beat the crap out of you in front of the entire school, it's kind of hard to tell her you love her."
Casey snorted through his nose and then became silent for a moment.
"Do you think about it a lot?" Casey asked.
"Don't you?"
"I just." Casey sighed. "Afterwards I had dreams, and whenever I was out and heard a strange noise I had to look over my shoulder. Eddie gave me a look when I was tapping my pen on my desk. I think we were more affected than we'll ever admit."
Zeke nodded in understanding, and then reassuringly clapped his friend on the shoulder. "But it's behind us, now. Right?"
Casey shrugged. "I guess I'm just paranoid. My parents never fully trusted me again. I didn't get my computer back until a few months ago, and I think my dad still has my porno." Casey let out a laugh, and Zeke joined in. It was nice seeing old friends; they were so comfortable with each other. They had better be, after everything that had happened.
"So, anyone replacing Ms. Burke then?"
Zeke shrugged. "I have a campus full of women ahead of me. And many bribes to make."
"You're so cocky."
"That's what they say, too."
Casey shook his head. Maybe Zeke wasn't as different as he had thought.
"What about you? Anyone besides De[I]li[/I]lah?"
Casey cringed. He hated the way Zeke said her name. "We broke up. I think she has a new boyfriend now. Paul, or something." Casey's voice trailed off.
Zeke grinned. "Don't avoid the question."
Casey sighed. "I met a girl at a coffee shop today. I guess that counts. She's in my class."
"You miss Delilah?"
"Not really. We were too different. And I think she just liked me because I was famous."
"Yeah your fifteen minutes have been up for awhile."
"Shut up."
Zeke laughed. "So when can I meet this new chick?"
"You want to meet her?"
"Yeah. Is that a problem?"
"No, it's just. why?"
"Casey, I'm an expert with aliens, right? So you know there's gotta be something going on with this girl to be interested in you. Have to check it out, make sure you'll be safe."
Casey rolled his eyes. "I am so glad you decided to come to OSU. A huge campus and you have to bother me."
"Glad you understand." Zeke said. "Now I'm in the mood for coffee. What was the one you went to earlier today?"
Casey groaned. "Forget it, I'm not introducing you. Besides, it's not like we really got together or anything."
Zeke shrugged. "Whatever man. If you don't want to hook up with her, then maybe I do."
Casey was about to protest, but remained silent. No need to provoke him. He knew Zeke was just saying that to rile him. Besides, he didn't care if Zeke wanted to date Riley. He hardly knew her, and she wasn't his type, really. But at the same time, he couldn't help feeling he wanted to keep Zeke as far away from coffee shops and Barnes and Nobles as humanly possible.
"ZEKE! Fuck man! How'd you get in my car?"
His old friend smiled at him, eyes crinkling. "How you doing Casey? That was quite a scream." He pulled a small silver tool out of his pocket. "I broke in."
"Well, yeah." Casey's chest was heaving from being startled. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Zeke held up something that looked very much like a student ID.
Casey gave him a bewildered look, and then his eyes widened.
Zeke's smile grew as Casey started to understand. "Yep."
Casey punched Zeke on the shoulder and then took the ID. "How'd you get in?! When did you enroll? How-"
Zeke took the card back and pocketed it. "I'm working with Eddie on a new project. I got a science scholarship, and if I keep my grades up and keep working with him, I can stay."
Casey looked proud and bemused at the same time. "Where are you living?"
"At home. My parents are somewhere in Italy. But I'm thinking about rushing."
Casey smiled. "And this new project?"
"Is keeping me busy." Zeke didn't offer any more information.
Casey studied his friend for a moment. It was such a turn around that he was quite shocked. Zeke seemed less reserved, less. well, less of a druggie, than he had back in high school. He seemed passionate about being in college.
"Have you heard from anyone?"
Zeke's strained voice broke his concentration. Casey knew what he meant by 'anyone'. He hated to disappoint him, but he rarely did talk to anyone from Herrington, besides Eddie and now Zeke.
"Not really." Casey went on to tell him where everyone had gone to, and then asked about Zeke's romance stint with Ms. Burke.
"We decided it was for the best if we broke it off. Besides, after your girlfriend has changed into an alien, and has beat the crap out of you in front of the entire school, it's kind of hard to tell her you love her."
Casey snorted through his nose and then became silent for a moment.
"Do you think about it a lot?" Casey asked.
"Don't you?"
"I just." Casey sighed. "Afterwards I had dreams, and whenever I was out and heard a strange noise I had to look over my shoulder. Eddie gave me a look when I was tapping my pen on my desk. I think we were more affected than we'll ever admit."
Zeke nodded in understanding, and then reassuringly clapped his friend on the shoulder. "But it's behind us, now. Right?"
Casey shrugged. "I guess I'm just paranoid. My parents never fully trusted me again. I didn't get my computer back until a few months ago, and I think my dad still has my porno." Casey let out a laugh, and Zeke joined in. It was nice seeing old friends; they were so comfortable with each other. They had better be, after everything that had happened.
"So, anyone replacing Ms. Burke then?"
Zeke shrugged. "I have a campus full of women ahead of me. And many bribes to make."
"You're so cocky."
"That's what they say, too."
Casey shook his head. Maybe Zeke wasn't as different as he had thought.
"What about you? Anyone besides De[I]li[/I]lah?"
Casey cringed. He hated the way Zeke said her name. "We broke up. I think she has a new boyfriend now. Paul, or something." Casey's voice trailed off.
Zeke grinned. "Don't avoid the question."
Casey sighed. "I met a girl at a coffee shop today. I guess that counts. She's in my class."
"You miss Delilah?"
"Not really. We were too different. And I think she just liked me because I was famous."
"Yeah your fifteen minutes have been up for awhile."
"Shut up."
Zeke laughed. "So when can I meet this new chick?"
"You want to meet her?"
"Yeah. Is that a problem?"
"No, it's just. why?"
"Casey, I'm an expert with aliens, right? So you know there's gotta be something going on with this girl to be interested in you. Have to check it out, make sure you'll be safe."
Casey rolled his eyes. "I am so glad you decided to come to OSU. A huge campus and you have to bother me."
"Glad you understand." Zeke said. "Now I'm in the mood for coffee. What was the one you went to earlier today?"
Casey groaned. "Forget it, I'm not introducing you. Besides, it's not like we really got together or anything."
Zeke shrugged. "Whatever man. If you don't want to hook up with her, then maybe I do."
Casey was about to protest, but remained silent. No need to provoke him. He knew Zeke was just saying that to rile him. Besides, he didn't care if Zeke wanted to date Riley. He hardly knew her, and she wasn't his type, really. But at the same time, he couldn't help feeling he wanted to keep Zeke as far away from coffee shops and Barnes and Nobles as humanly possible.
