Thanks for the reviews everyone! i hope everyone had a good holiday. keep reading! (=

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Beep beep beep beep.

No, it can't be morning already.

Beep beep beep beep.

Dil opened one eye. The red light of his alarm clock was flashing brilliantly in the darkened room.

Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep.

"Ugh." He reached out and swat at the clock until he found the button that shut the shrill noise off. Slowly, he sat up and peered at the other bed just a few feet away. Tangled there in the sheets was his roommate, some dark haired girl, and quite a few beer cans. Dil rubbed his sleep filled eyes and stood up.

He mumbled "Thanks for keeping me up all night." but his sarcasm went unappreciated, as his roommate was sound asleep, maybe even unconscious. He reached into his drawer for some clothes and bath supplies and began the trek out of his dorm room and down the hallway to the most horrible, repugnant place he'd ever set eyes on—the fourth floor community bathroom.

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Where are you?´´

``Um…by a big tree.´´

``Kimi…this place is filled with big trees. How am I supposed to help you if I don't know where you are?´´

``There's this big brick building….´´

Chuck pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed into his cell. ``I can't believe you can't follow simple directions.´´

``Hey, this campus is a lot bigger than mine, ok? And I haven't been here in forever´´

``Excuses, excuses.´´

``Hey, I see you!´´

Chuck whipped around, looking for his sister. ``Are you sure?´´

``No, it's some other big red headed dork. Yes, I'm sure!´´

Click.

``Kimi?´´

``Boo!´´

He jumped as Kimi grabbed him from behind. She burst out laughing. ``Oh, you scaredy cat! It's just little ole me.´´

``I wasn't…scared…´´

´´Yeah, yeah. Let's go! I'm starving!´´

Chuck shifted his backpack and followed Kimi, who was enthusiastically leading. ``What's good nearby?´´

He shrugged. ``There's always pizza.´´

Kimi wrinkled her nose. ``So over done. What else?´´

``Chinese?´´

``Nah.´´

``Kimi! Just make a decision, ok? I really don´t feel like dealing with this crap today.´´

``Ooooh, qué harsh, bro….yeah, Lil said you've been pissy lately.´´

``Wait, what?´´ He stopped walking. ``She said that?´´

´´Well, she said that Tommy said that.´´

Chuck sighed and continued along the brick path. ``I swear, everyone's always talking about everyone behind their backs.´´

``Nah, that's not true....Just Tommy, about you.´´

``Oh, just my best friend. That's all.´´

``Well, you have been a little bitchy lately.´´

He frowned. Kimi took his silence as a reluctant agreement. ``Still no reason for him to complain to other people.´´ he finally mumbled. ``He could always tell me if something's bothering him.´´

´´No, he can't. Boys don't do that. That's what girls are for. We gossip and gossip and, finally, after everyone else knows about your problem, word gets back to you about it, and then you can fix it.´´

``Remind me again why guys even bother with girls.´´

``Because you're pathetic, hormone driven creatures who can't survive without us.´´

´´Oh, yeah.´´

``But, seriously, Chuck…You can talk to Tommy. Or me, you know? I love you. And I'm…well, everyone's, a little worried about you. You seem…you're….you haven't been yourself lately.´´

``You can say it. I seem…depressed.´´

She looked at him questioningly.

´´Is this why you asked me to have lunch with you? So you can interrogate me?´´

Her gaze didn't break.

``I'm not…I'm…just fine.´´ he said, quite unconvincingly.

``Ok, I believe you.´´ she said, just as unconvincingly. ``Just remember. I'm always here for you.´´

``Kimi….´´

She leaned forward expectantly, as though he were about to reveal something of great importance. ``Yeah?´´

``I have something to tell you…´´

``Yeah?´´

``This is probably the most awkward conversation I've ever had.´´

She let out a breath and pushed him. ``Ok, ok, I'll leave you alone. Where do you want to eat?´´

``McDonald's?´´

``I can't eat that crap.´´

´´You're being extra annoying today.´´

´´Well, you're being extra lame today.´´

He was saved from having to think of a comeback, as a girl was stooped on the brick path right in front of them. Apparently, she'd just dropped a stack of books. The wind blew and the pages of the books flew wildly, along with her short dark brown hair. She shot apologetic looks at people as they walked around her, none of them bothering to help. Chuck frowned. He bent down to pick up a few books, which turned out to be much heavier than they looked. He handed them to her. Kimi picked up the last one and gave it to the girl, who, in return, gave them a small smile but didn't say anything.

He wanted to say something to her. He felt that she, like him, was probably often overlooked by others. And she was just standing there in the early afternoon sunlight, clutching her giant stack of books, her eyes shyly averted behind her brown tortoise shell eyeglasses, seemingly waiting for him to say something.

``That's a lot of books.´´ he said.

Kimi rolled her eyes. ``Brilliant observation.´´

The girl bit back a smile and nodded. Then, she turned swiftly and was gone.

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``Excuse me, do you know where the humanities building is?´´

The boy just ignored Dil and kept walking toward his destination.

``Um…ok….Hey! ´Scuse me! Could you help…´´

The blond girl gave Dil a strange look, seemingly in the direction of his ropes of plastic Mardi Gras beads, and kept on.

``Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.´´ Dil reminded himself aloud. A couple passing by glanced at him and then went on, a bit faster than before, the boy's arm around the girl protectively.

He walked down a little further, trying not to stray too far from the student union, as it was one of the few places he recognized. He had to physically stop a dark haired girl who was trying her best to ignore him. He jumped in front of her. ``Excuse me, could you please tell me where I might be able to find the humanities building?´´

The girl took one look at him as he blocked her path, hunched over, goggles hanging from his neck amidst the Mardi Gras beads, and she ran away in the other direction. Dil stood in the middle of the brick plaza and stretched out his arms to the sky. ``I am not an animal!´´ he yelled. ``I am a person and deserve to be treated as such!´´

A few people looked at him, some amused and some definitely scared, but most just continued to ignore him.

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Kimi's phone went off just as she was biting into her gyro. She hurriedly chewed and picked up her phone. As the display lit up, she smiled. She answered. ``Hey, you.´´

Dil replied in an uncharacteristically listless voice. ``Hey.´´

Kimi frowned. ``What's wrong?´´

``Nothing, really…Just…bad first day.´´

``Awww…´´ Kimi covered the mouthpiece and leaned across the table toward Chuck. ``Dil's day didn't go so great.´´

´´Can we hang out?´´ Dil asked. ``I'd love to see you right now, and salvage what's left of this day.´´

``Um…well, I'm at lunch with Chuck, remember? I--´´

Chuck was waving at her and mouthing for her to go.

``Ok, yeah I'll meet up with you.´´

She hung up and stood, looking through her bag for her wallet. Chuck waved her away. ``I got this.´´

``Oh, come on, don't you ever get tired of being so chivalrous?´´

``This was really great. I feel like we're so wrapped up in our own things we never see each other anymore. I'm willing to pay for lunch with you.´´

She looked at him skeptically. ``I mean, this was awesome,´´ he continued. ``We had gyros, we fought over how to pronounce the word gyro, you accused me of being depressed. Good times.´´

She laughed. ``Ok, I'll buy lunch next time.´´

``How about buy me a couple of beers instead?´´

She leaned down and kissed his cheek. ``See you later, Big Brother.´´

As he watched Kimi hurry off to meet her boyfriend, Chuck felt very alone. But there was no point in making her stay. He felt alone when he was with people, too. And he wanted desperately to get out of this rut. Not even for himself, but for others. He felt that it was selfish to behave this way. He tried to flag down the waiter, to no avail. After he got out of there, he would walk around the city. To where, he didn't know. It didn't matter. He just had to get out. Chuck lifted a hand in the air and waved it, but was ignored. ``Invisible.´´ he muttered.

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For the next few days, Chuck looked for the book girl. At first, it was unconscious. When he realized that he was sneaking glances at every girl who crossed his path, he wasn't even sure why he was looking for her. She wasn't particularly beautiful or memorable. She hadn't even said anything to him and the one thing he'd said to her was really (really) stupid. His instinct told him to get out before he embarrassed himself further, yet he felt that there was something about her. So, he found himself scanning the campus as he walked to his classes. Four days later, there was still no sign of her and he had to admit defeat. One of those rare moments had arisen when he really would have gone after something he wanted, and he couldn't find her.

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When Chuck got home from work, Tommy was on the couch with Lil, the tv blaring in the background, completely forgotten. They broke apart quickly, seemingly out of respect for Chuck's feelings. Half annoyed, half amused, Chuck realized that everyone thought he was going to off himself at any moment. ``Hey,´´ he said, with exaggerated enthusiasm. ``What´s up?´´

Lil was running her fingers through her long hair, trying, and failing miserably, to make it look presentable. ``Studying.´´ she said, indicating the stack of books on the table.

``Right.´´

Tommy grinned and reached for his Geology book. ``We really should do our homework, though.´´

Chuck's smile faded. He groaned and covered his face with his hands. ``I don't even want to think about homework. This whole school and job thing is killing me. I'm tired, dammit. I hate my life.´´

Lil pouted and wrapped him in a tight hug. ``Oh, no, you do not. You're just going through a rough patch.´´ Chuck pried her arms from his body and reminded himself not to say anything to worry his friends, even if only in jest.

``Yeah,´´ said Tommy, who was feeling much less resentful toward Chuck lately. ``It's got to suck. All you do is go to school and work. You should relax every now and then.´´ He flipped open his text. ``Which reminds me, pool party this weekend.´´

Chuck grinned. ``Actually, that sounds awesome. I'm not working this weekend at all. Can you believe it?´´ He reached in his backpack for his notebook. ``When and where?´´

``Saturday, at Susie's.´´

Chuck faltered very momentarily, and then continued as if nothing were wrong. ``Oh, cool. I haven't seen her in a while.´´ When no one else said anything, Chuck had to. What should have been a perfectly comfortable silence among friends had the unusual heavy feel of tension. ``Can she even have a pool party? In the apartment complex pool, I mean?´´

Tommy shrugged. ``She's going to. The owners like Susie. They'll let her get away with anything.´´

``Angelica won't be there,´´ said Lil. ``She's going out of town for the weekend.´´ Chuck shrugged and stared at his history notes. ``It's just a coincidence that she won't be there,´´ she continued, ``But I think it's good…I mean…things might be awkward…for you…´´ Chuck just kept staring at his history notes, not really reading but trying his best to appear fascinated by the French Revolution.

Undeterred, Lil kept on. ``I told Tommy I wondered if you'd even seen her since you guys…broke up...´´

``And I told her,´´ cut in Tommy, ``that girls need to learn to mind their own business.´´ Despite the fact that they hadn't been getting along great lately, Chuck was filled with a sudden appreciation for his best friend. He shot Tommy a grateful look and then glanced in Lil´s direction. ``It's not…awkward. I don't really care if I see her or not.´´ Lil gave him a look which plainly said she didn't know whether to believe him or not. Chuck himself didn't know what he felt or believed anymore.

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Susie looked up from her issue of Cosmopolitan. ``Angelica, I really don't think three purses is necessary for two days.´´

``Hey, you never know.´´ Angelica replied cheerily, stuffing her blue Coach bag into her suitcase.

``Hmm.´´ Susie looked back down, flipping the page. Angelica turned toward her vanity and opened up her make-up case. She perused her vast collection, her brow furrowed in concentration. From beneath the vanity, she took out her significantly smaller (albeit still large) travel case and started to fill it with tubes and bottles. Susie watched from the corner of her eye with amusement as her roommate stood with her hands on her hips, biting her lip as though making a life altering decision. ``Do you think I'll need bronzer?´´´

``For a weekend at the beach? No. You'll tan naturally. Duh.´´

Angelica set down the bottle. ``Yeah, you're right.´´

``Wow, I never hear you say that. I'm right, you say?´´ Angelica ignored her.

``Hey, check it,´´ said Susie, sitting up on the bed. She held the magazine open to an article. ``56 ways to make your man beg for more.´´

``I already know them all.´´

``Ha! You ho!´´

Angelica opened her mouth in an `o´ of mock surprise. ``Carmichael! Language, language.´´

``Ho isn't a swear word. And neither is hoochie.´´

Angelica threw a tube of lip gloss at her. ``I'm not a ho or a hoochie.´´

``Number one, use ice to hit his hot spots.´´

``Do you think I need my red Manolos? I already packed the black ones, but I dunno…I might need the red ones…´´

``Oooooh, number 17, satisfy his sweet tooth with chocolate.´´

``Maybe I am overpacking…´´

``He'll gladly skip dessert for--´´

``Susie! You're not listening!´´

Susie rolled her eyes. ``Yes, you are overpacking! You don't need all that crap for two days!´´

``Hmm…I think I'll pack the red ones, too.´´

``You're hopeless, girl.´´

``Which swimsuits.´´

``You only need one.´´

Angelica held up a silvery bikini. After a moment, she put it in her bag. From her closet, she pulled out a white, flowy swimsuit cover, which was spotted with yellow flowers.

``Ooh, can I borrow that?´´

Angelica shrugged and tossed it on the bed. ``It doesn't match this swimsuit anyway.´´

Susie held up the strapless cover to her body. ``I love this. I'm gonna wear it tomorrow.´´

Angelica finally closed the suitcase. Struggling with the zipper, she said, ``I can't believe you're having a pool party without me. How lame.´´

``You'll be at the beach!´´

Angelica panted, a little out of breath from her fight with the suitcase. ``Who's all coming, anyway?´´

``You know, everyone.´´

Angelica sat on the suitcase, willing it to shut. ``Who's everyone?´´

``Phil, Tommy, Lil, Chuck, Kimi, Dil. You know, everyone.´´

Angelica hesitated very briefly but then quickly stood, finally getting her suitcase closed. ``Oh, ok.´´ She walked to the dresser and picked up her cigarettes. She took one out and held it between her fingers daintily. She picked up her lighter.

``Don't smoke that inside.´´

``Course not, Mom.´´

Angelica looked at her, started to say something, but changed her mind and turned to leave.

``Did you wanna say something, Ang?´´

``Yeah,´´ Angelica said as she left, ``If you mess up my swimsuit cover, you die.´´