An annoying squeal rattles Gail's ears as her eyes open involuntarily. The bed is too thin and firm. Her whole body aches from the cheap mattress on top of a bunk in a tiny dorm room. She shoves the alarm clock off a ledge built on her bed as she gets up.
"What the fuck?" a voice from below.
"Sorry. That thing is so loud and annoying."
Gail peeks over the ledge and looks down at the bed below. A head full of curly brown hair with green eyes looking back up at her. A hand creeps out of the blanket and the middle finger straightens up pointing at Gail.
"No thanks. You are not my type, Sage." Gail scoffs as she climbs down the bunk and gets herself ready for the day. First day of classes at University of Toronto. First day of attempting to be a responsible college student. Gail has an Introduction to Criminology course first thing in the morning at 8, before two separate language studies courses in the afternoon. She is definitely not looking forward to this course as it is a compromise with her mother, so she can remain a Language Studies major. Her full ride scholarship is the only weapon she has against her mother for refusing to study Criminology or something similar.
Gail walks to Sage's bed and jolts it with her boot. Sage opens an eye and sneers "What? It better be something important…"
"Don't you have a class at 8 too? Juvenile and Punishment?"
"Is it Monday already?"
"Yes…"
"Oh gimme five more minutes" mutters Sage as she turns around and drag blanket over her head.
Gail shakes her head and decides to leave. Not her problem. Sage will be fine. Gail knows she will find a way to pass her courses while adhering to her "free spirit" lifestyle. They have been best friends since they met in freshman Biology class in high school. Sage may be bit out there, but she always has her back. Gail knows she owes her sanity to Sage and she is already used to Sage's craziness at this point. Before Gail leaves the room, she readjusts the alarm clock and tosses it in Sage's bed.
Gail wanders along a walkway that leads to the building where her class is supposed to be. She is grateful for a small coffee cart parking nearby her dorm building so she can grab a cup although she is pissed about lack of doughnuts or even pastries. She sips coffee and sighs as it spreads warmth through her throat and chest. No way will she ever get through early mornings without this precious black elixir.
The classroom for Intro to Criminology is surprisingly small with just twenty students sitting disjointly from each other. Gail knows she is pretty much a prickly hedgehog with awkward social skills, so she decides to sit way back with at least two desks apart from the nearest student. With ten minutes till class is scheduled to start, Gail takes out the textbook and skims through it even though she pretty much knows the information by heart. That tends to happen to people who are raised in police family, especially the Peck family with at least three generations of police officers. She is not sure if she wants to be a part of that, although she secretly enjoys learning about how to protect the underprivileged kids. There's just something about helping those kids who have to face a harsh reality at such a young age. Learning different languages is a passion of hers though and she just soaks in new words like a sponge. Perhaps she will combine both and bring something new to policing. It is too early to think too much about her future right now as she sips that smooth dark liquid from her cardboard cup.
A heavy textbook slams on the floor right by Gail and startles her. She turns around and burns her sight at the woman who is responsible for the book.
"Sorry, It just slipped from my arm. Are you taking Intro to Criminology? I hope I am in the right classroom."
Gail nods with an unamused look on her face.
The honey skinned woman slowly smirks on her left side and asks, "Mind if I sit next to you? I'm pretty clumsy and since I just embarrassed myself in front of you, I figure we're past the stranger phase already."
Gail really does not want anyone to sit near her, but there is just something about this woman that feels serene. Not that she will ever admit that out loud to anyone, especially her. She begrudgingly removes her backpack from the chair.
"Well, you can sit here if you promise not to chit chat and make attempts to become best friends with me. I am definitely not one of those girly girls who gossip about cute people in the class. I don't even want to be here, so if you are looking for someone to gush with then sit somewhere else," Gail rumbles.
The woman simply laughs and sits down next to Gail, then pulls out a medical textbook and begins to read without a remark.
"What is that book about? You do know this is criminology class not.." Gail looks at the textbook, "Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death? What are you studying? How to get away with murder?"
Gail hears her chuckling and it sounds like music to her hears. She secretly wants to hear that all the time now. However, she will not admit to herself what it really means. Just something to enjoy during this boring class.
"Well I thought you don't do idle chit chat? I am studying forensic science. I am not sure if I want to be a forensic pathologist or an anthropologist or something else. I really enjoy learning about the decomposition process of corpses under different scenarios. I would love to see a body farm and see it happens in person," she rambles.
"Whoa, whoa, why are you saying all these words? I simply asked you about the book and now you are spouting all these words about corpses and farms?"
"Sorry I tend to word vomit. I'll keep it short this time. I am Holly and a third year forensic science major," Holly smiles and offers her hand.
Gail does not take her hand. She does not like to touch people or be touched in general.
"I'm Gail and a first year Language Studies major."
"Language Studies? How come you are taking this class?"
"Let's just say it is a compromise with the parental units."
Holly nods, accepting Gail's vague explanation, and returns to her textbook.
Gail leans back and starts to side-stare at Holly's face as she reads the nerdy book. She notices a dark dot on Holly's left cheek, near her ear. Gail's heart ripples as she gazes at the mole that acts as a potential target for her lips. What is wrong with me? Gail shakes her head as the lecturer enters the room and the class resumes.
Gail tosses her backpack on her desk and slumps next to Sage on her bed. Sage has a magazine flat on her lap and concentrates on making a nice row of herb in a thin rice paper with little purple grape images all over it.
"Are you gonna share that? Today's been shitty." Gail complains.
"Of course. Don't you remember the first rule of secret pothead club? Well its we don't talk about pothead club. Second rule is always share! Spread the love, baby." Sage says as she twirls the paper into a nice, tight joint.
Gail narrows her eyes at Sage as she laughs and lights up the joint.
"Come on, open the window and light that candle over there, then I"ll let you have some."
"So much work." Gail laments as she gets up anyway and heeds to Sage's requests.
"Well if you really don't want, we can always get caught due to the smell and get arrested by your brother, or even better your mother!" Sage exclaims.
Gail chuckles, "Yes that would be awesome. We could have fun being each others prison bitch."
"How did you convince your mom to let you room with me anyway?" Sage asks as she passes the joint to Gail.
"Who said she knows? She probably just assumes I got a random roommate. It's not like she will visit anyway. You know how important she thinks she is at the headquarters." Gail mutters.
Sage just laughs and lays back, then Gail joins next to her.
"Thank to the Spirits it's Friday. Pride hour tonight at Mac's. You coming?"
"Uh no." Gail simply states as she passes the joint back.
"Come on, we just survived the first week. Let's go out and get loose. Find some pretty ladies to dance with… maybe take home for some more good times," Sage nudges Gail's side.
"Still a no. First of all, I don't do dancing. You already know that,"
"Please… I need you by my side tonight. There is actually a girl I'm interested in. I met her at the Rainbow club couple nights ago. You were supposed to go with me by the way. Don't think I forgot about that, you prick,"
"Well I don't really like people so…" Gail waves her hands sarcastically.
"I'm broke-ass but I'll buy your drinks tonight. That's how important tonight is to me."
Gail turns her heads toward to Sage. It is not like Sage to cover drinks unless it is something important.
"You really like that girl?"
"Yeah, we talked for hours that night. She's just gorgeous and brilliant. She's into something sciencey. You gotta see her. Help me out and be my brave wing woman please." Sage begs.
"Alright. Alright. I'll be there for you. Unlimited drinks. No limit."
"No limit" Sage promises and makes a cross on her heart with her index finger.
This woman must be something special if Sage is nervous enough to need Gail by her side tonight. Normally, Sage absolutely has no problem picking up ladies and has a good time. She is full of charm and can come up with random topics to make good conversations out of thin air. Gail is quite the opposite of course. She is awkward around people and just does not bother trying to be nice to anyone. She just feels it is a waste of time when she'll not meet those random chicks again. Gail begins to wonder if she can ever be confident enough to talk to Holly from her Criminology course. Now that woman is gorgeous! Gail has not said another word to her since the first day. She cringes in shame as she remembers how off putting she was to Holly that day.
"What about you? Any girl that catches your eye?"
Gail looks at Sage for a moment then looks back up at her bed above. Holly. Holly Stewart.
"Nah. My standards are high, you know that."
Sage stares at her for a moment then shakes her head.
"Bullshit. I know that face. Come on, tell me about her"
Gail sighs and knows it's futile to deny it. Sage knows her well. Too well.
"Well, maybe, just maybe there is one in a class. I don't know. She's pretty. I know nothing about her though."
"Name? What she looks like?"
"I dunno her name. She's just pretty," Gail lies.
Sage laughs and gets up to smush the roach onto a metal ashtray.
"Fine. I know you like to keep the details to yourself, Gail. Let's go out and grab some grub before we hit the bar."
Sage walks to the bathroom to dispose of the roach in the toilet. Gail covers her eyes with her hands. She is not looking forward to mingling with strangers tonight. Although free booze always makes it easier for her to get through the night. She knows she got to be there for Sage, since she's always got her back. Ever since that godawful summer after sophomore year in high school. Gail shudders as she tries to forget those painful memories.
Time to change clothes and look hot as possible. One thing she is confident about herself is her looks. Might as well make the most out of tonight while Sage allures to her mystery girl.