Chapter 2

Several weeks later, Nigel found himself enjoying college but not for the reasons that he expected. The classes were good and required a lot of hard work and diligence but they seemed to be dragging on constantly with no other goal than to exist. Nigel found more enjoyment in spending time with Hoagie and Abby. They would share philosophy; talk about current events, and share goals and aspirations and these connections were what helped Nigel cope with the monotony of the status quo.

This particular sunny afternoon they were meeting at Lime Ricky's, a popular student lounge that was across the street from the campus. College students did come for the snack bar, soda fountain and free Wi-Fi but mostly because it was the only hangout within walking distance of the campus.

"Well," Abby said to a cheerful Nigel and Hoagie, "Abby needs to go to the library and get something done today, or she's not going to do well in History of Western Civ."

"Yeah," Hoagie piped up, barely being able to contain himself, "You better…BOOK IT!"

Hoagie practically fell out his booth seat laughing.

"Aw man! Knock that off!" Abby said rolling her eyes. She took her red ball cap off and beat Hoagie over the head with it. "Those puns are getting old!"

Hoagie peered over the edge of the table after shirking in response to the violence.

"You mean," he said chuckling, "OLD HAT!"

Abby rolled her eyes again and stuck her thumb out towards Hoagie. "Make sure he doesn't get into trouble" she said to Nigel, shaking her head. "He's hopeless".

Hoagie kept laughing as she walked off.

"Well, I think I'll try out a chili dog…or two," Hoagie said as he adjusted his aviator hat, "You want one?"

Nigel was already distracted as he noticed a girl with shoulder length golden blond hair across the lounge at a lone table with an open binder full of papers and a small pile of books next to them. She was staring towards Nigel and Hoagie as if she had seen a ghost. Even at such a great distance, the intrigue on her face was very evident. Nigel watched her out of the corner of her eye but acted as if he didn't notice her.

Hoagie saw that Nigel was distracted and quickly looked around inconspicuously. His glance quickly caught the blond haired girl in the back. She was short but carried a commanding presence; her frame was small, but seemed strong; her eyes were soft, but alight with fire. There was something strange about her, but Nigel couldn't quite figure it out.

"It's that same girl, isn't it Nigel? The one that you think has been following you?"

"Maybe" Nigel said, turning his full attention to Hoagie, "I've been seeing her a lot more these last few days. She tries to talk to me but doesn't try to make small talk, she always asks if I recognize her and she acts like we've been old friends or something; quite an unusual issue."

"Trust me man, I know girls" Hoagie said with such confidence that Nigel did a double take. "She's trouble".

Nigel smiled, "I don't know what she is Hoagie, I just don't want to be bothered with it".

Hoagie shrugged and headed of towards the snack bar, searching for his wallet.

"Who?" asked Lizzie, who had suddenly walked up behind Nigel.

Nigel spun around to see Lizzie's disapproving smile. "Oh, hi honey!" he said, still half lost in thought.

"Hey Nigel!" She screeched, sitting down in Hoagie's seat. "Who were you guys talking about?"

Nigel, still wearing his black shades, could see over Lizzie's shoulder and saw Hoagie sticking out right in the open, as per usual, disappointedly trying to find somewhere else to sit. Thankfully, Lizzie didn't see him.

"Oh, we were just talking about some of our classmates. How were your classes today?"

Lizzie started looking around as though that wasn't the answer she was looking for. "My day was good!" She said, "but I wish you and I had more classes together!".

"We have five together," Nigel said with a smile.

"Yeah" she sighed, "but we could have more!" She began to twirl one of her pigtails as she leaned on the table, "Have you met any new friends, Nigh-gey?"

Nigel pushed his shades to the top of his head, "Sure, You've met Abby and Hoagie."

"Yeah, Abby's ok, but she doesn't like the scene or anything though so she probably won't last long anyhow and I don't like Hoagie" she said curtly, "I think being seen with him will damage your reputation Nigh-gey. You're strong, brave and smart and I want people to see that in you. They don't need to see you hanging out with a dork."

Nigel was a little taken aback. "What do you mean? I think that Hoagie is a good influence. He is already helping me with my grades, especially math and science!"

He glanced over at Hoagie who was still awkwardly trying to find a place to sit, garnishing the laughter of those watching him. He seemed to be considering how he might put his tray on top of the trash can lid and eat standing up

"Besides, I don't think I even have a reputation, so what does it matter?"

Lizzie was not amused, "Have you tried out for the football team?"

Nigel was not amused, "FOOTBALL! Are you kidding me babe? Look at me, I can't play football! Football is a game for teenagers anyway!"

"What about all those hikes you take, the canoeing, the rock climbing! I thought the whole point of all that silly stuff was so that you could build up your body up so you could do well at college football?"

Nigel was a little shocked. He had no idea that his Lizzie wanted him to play football. He had nothing against the sport as it was, but he was not athletic in body or mind. He appreciated the talent that it took to play the game but to him it was just a game in the end. He could tell by the look on Lizzie's face that this was pretty important to her. She always had ideas of how Nigel could improve himself and that was one of the things that he really valued about their relationship but he often found a hard time accepting that the things that she suggested were really things which were good for him.

"Well, lovey, if it means that much to you."

"YES!" She gushed, "You should! The quarterback's name is Chad Dickson and I think you should get to know him. He would be a great influence for you; he's got all the coolest people that hang out with him! He's going to be something someday Nigel! He'd be a much better influence than Hoakie!"

Nigel glanced over to see Hoagie desperately trying to keep from spilling his soft drink, which he had filled to the brim as per usual. Shortly after, he witnessed Hoagie fail in this attempt.

Could Lizzie be right? Was the popular and more accepting path the more correct? Anyone could compromise themselves to be like the crowd around them. What about the struggle? What about swimming upstream and forging your own path? Why was there such a bent towards trying to make everyone the same?

"…and that's why they like him so much, I think. What do you think?" Lizzie asked, her chin resting in her clasped hands which were resting on the table.

Nigel had no idea what she had just said. He was lost in evaluating what she had said about being more like the powers that be.

"Were you even listening to me Nigel?" she asked sharply.

Nigel began to stammer.

"What were you thinking about? Is it another girl, Nigel? I knew that this would be trouble! There are so many new and pretty girls here and I knew it would be difficult for you".

"What?" Nigel said, horrified, "No! Lizzie, we've been together for a long time now! I'm not like that? Why would you say that? Don't you trust me? I love you!"

Lizzie batted her eyes towards Nigel, "So…you'll try out for the football team?"

"Hey Lizzie, do you mind handing me my spiral?" Hoagie interrupted.

Hoagie was standing at the end of the table pointing over Lizzie's dramatic act towards his worn spiral which was lying in the booth next to her. "After all," he said, "Should that fall into the wrong hands, who KNOWS what they would use it for!"

Lizzie rolled her eyes, picked up the spiral and launched it across the room. She stood up and stomped away without saying anything.

"Thanks bud," Nigel said.

"No prob," Hoagie smiled.

"You dropped this," said a small and soft voice from behind Hoagie.

Nigel and Hoagie both turned to see that same blond haired girl holding the spiral and smiling ear to ear; her blue eyes were glowing like stars over the ocean at night.

"Oh, thanks" Hoagie said quietly and took the spiral from her.

"No problem Hoagie," she said, turning to Nigel, "Nigel! Do you remember me? We used to play together as kids?"

Nigel straightened up in his seat. "No, I'm afraid I do not remember you. You grew up here in D.C.?"

The girl nodded, keeping her eyes locked into Nigel's.

"Yes, when we were in elementary school. Believe it or not, Hoagie was there also."

Hoagie was standing behind her and at this point started trying not to laugh. They had just met a month, or so, ago when college started. Nigel just ignored his antics and kept listening.

"Anyway, we played together as kids and we actually were part of a club? Does any of that ring a bell?"

Nigel shook his head slowly and stared at her through his dark shades. There was nothing that she was saying that sounded familiar or even made any amount of sense. He had never seen this girl and knew nothing about her except for her having an unusual story, considering that she didn't know his name previous to this or Hoagie's and yet she insisted that they were old colleagues. What if it were true? Could it be possible that here are three seemingly total strangers and yet they were actually friends in elementary school? If it were true, what would that mean that now, suddenly, and indiscriminately they would be meeting back up again? Was it coincidence? Was it more?

Was it destiny?

"I don't have any memory of this and I've only recently met Hoagie, so you must have the wrong person."

She looked at him un-fazed, "You wouldn't necessary remember because your memory would have been erased. Hoagie's would have been erased as well."
Hoagie was really making faces behind her back now.

"Our exploits as children didn't last very long. We didn't have the proper organization; after all we were only kids. Also, our motives and ambitions were good; we were just before our time. The technology wasn't all that great either, so there is a chance that the part of you I'm talking about would be able to power through the memory block. I was hoping that if you recognized me, it would trigger it".

"If our memories would have been erased, how come you supposedly recognize me?" Nigel asked.

"They didn't erase my memory…in case we were ever needed again."

Nigel got up out of the booth and grabbed his books. That was all he needed to hear.

"I don't know you, sorry…."

"…Rachel…" she said softly.

"Yes, sorry Rachel, I don't know and I think you've got the wrong guy" he said as he started walking off. Rachel started to follow after him and so did a bewildered Hoagie. They stepped out into the bright sunlight of the student lounge but as Nigel started to walk faster, Rachel started to get in front of him, blocking his way.

"Listen Nigel, think about it and let me know. I don't live on campus and I don't own a cell phone. However, if you want to get ahold of me, go to the admin office and ask for Fanny Fulbright. She's my best friend and she can let me know you want to talk more."
"She works in the admin office?" he asked, exasperated.

"Yes, she's a paper pusher for the disciplinary counselor. She tracks down the students that need to be expelled."

Nigel nodded and looked around, "Sure", he muttered, "Sure thing".

Lizzie apparently hadn't gone too far when she left because Nigel spotted her about sixty yards away. The last thing Nigel needed was for her to see him with another girl; that never seemed to work out in Nigel's favor, no matter who the other girl was. Nigel could remember an embarrassing time where they were all at the beach and Lizzie was SO sure that Nigel was interested in a red headed girl that was also at the beach. It was true that Nigel was seen with this girl, talking, walking and goofing around. It was also true that this red headed girl was Nigel's cousin. Nigel panicked and tried to turn the other way and noticed that surprisingly the blond headed girl was already walking off.

That was it? That was all she wanted? What was this nonsense about not having cell phones? It was true that Nigel had a deep seated hatred for cell phones because he felt that they prematurely made his life busy. They were a necessary evil…or were they? Certainly they seemed to be, but here was a person who didn't have one. They didn't succumb to the pressures of society and fall in step with the cultural demands. Was that possible? After all, who dictated that people had to constantly be networked and preoccupied? Was it something worse? Was it distraction?

"Who was that Nigh-gey?" said a shrill cooing voice from behind him.

"Oh! Hey Lizzie," Nigel said, whirling around and red in the face, "I don't know, just someone that thought that they knew me".

Lizzie was quiet…for a moment.

"Well," she said, starkly, "Don't go trying to meet any girls around here Nigel. Somehow, we need everyone to know that you're taken."

Nigel started to get frustrated.

"Excuse me? Lizzie, I just said that was someone that thought they knew me. I didn't seek her out, she came to me, and I don't know her anyway, so what's the big deal?" he said exasperated.

"Nigh-ey" Lizzie whined in a high pitched voice, "Since when is our relationship not a big deal? We get to college and suddenly everything is not a big deal? When we were we high school, EVERYTHING was a big deal! There wasn't enough time then and there's not now!"

She stormed off before Nigel had a chance to respond as she often did. Nigel felt bad and wanted to chase her down but he was going to be late to class if he did, so he started to walk across the street to his next class. It was the pressure of everything that they had been through, with a new college agenda and the lack of the freedom that high school provided them. There was a lot to be said for the carefree lifestyle that they had before college; there was a lot more time, energy and…well….dreams.

What ever happened to that? What happened to the dreams that were to be had as a child? Why the haste in growing up? Why the pressure to fall in line and be a cog in the wheel? Why was there a surrender of childhood hopes and dreams? It seemed to be like a whirlpool that was constantly tugging at his ankles; the thought that no matter what happened, there reached an age where we was no longer allowed to look at the world the same way. Morals became skewed, hopes and dreams became childish distractions, and the world became cold, indifferent, and harsh. Was that really the way it is or light spring out of the darkness once again? Justice was an old world concept but was it intangible? Everyone seemed to crave the calm and pleasantness of yesterday but the world was changed simply because "times had changed". Could the clock be reversed?

The world wasn't a lost cause hurling to destruction, it was calling, begging, to be restored. The innocence and honesty found in childhood was the key to restoring the darkness of the world and Nigel would do anything to protect it.

Just as he was having these moments of revelation, the door of his classroom, just out of reach, shut and he was late for class.