A/N: Hi guys! Well, I updated earlier than usual as you can see because I wouldn't be able to update it later. Yes, I'll keep posting chapters on Friday night/Saturday morning. Now... I knew that the last chapter was going to be like a bomb, this time I was ready! I prepared an especial costume, I brought my gas mask, I put on my bulletproof vest, my bulletproof helmet and my military boots to be protected. Okay, I get it, I need to stop being so silly. But I was ready to get not so nice reviews and I totally get it because it was not a nice ending! But you know I'm like this, I can be so mean sometimes! Nah, I just... Drama, I need drama! But it wasn't so terrible! The chapter had a lot of lovely things, I think. I just like to combine both things. And... Here we are now, starting the second part of Teenage Dream! In this second part you'll get new things and I'll write about different stuff. In the first part the main topic was bullying; and also some topics such as low self-esteem, how it's like to be in love for the very first time, discrimination, how it feels like to start a new stage in your life, the separation of a family, and more little things; I hope I could accomplish it satisfactorily. In this second part, the main topic is different and possibly you'll get more than only one main topic, but I won't tell you what it is about, you'll find it out while reading the chapters. Okay, I think that's all. Just... Please don't kill me, I'm nice! I'll start answering your reviews!
Victoria Paige: Yes, it's the way I chose it! I know it's not nice! But it's just the last chapter of the 1st part, now you get the 2nd part of the story and with that you'll get a lot of more chapters! With this chapter you'll get an explanation what happened that day. I won't blow it and I'll let you read it!
Ginny Zoey: Aww, I really felt bad when I read your review; not because of what you wrote, don't get me wrong! It's just because you left me thinking... And you're right! That was the last chapter of high school and it was a sad ending! I'll miss the high school part, I liked writing about it; but hey! This second part... I hope you like it. And of course I'll keep posting every Saturday! This is not over, so smile! You haven't gone nuts! I like that you look forward for their marriage! Only that... It won't happen yet, maybe it'll happen someday, maybe not, I'm not there yet! haha. Aww and thank you a lot, Ginny! I can call you Ginny, right? Are you married with Potter? Okay, enough with my silliness. Thank you very much for saying that this is a great story! I hope I can keep it interesting for you!
alicegursk: Thanks god you're far from the meteorite! I've seen the news and it was really scary! I'm so sorry Alice! Let's try this: Place a hand in your chest, right over your heart. Can you feel it beating? Option number 1: Yes. Good! You're still alive and you do have your heart and it's right there! That is cool! Option number 2: No. Oh my wizard god! You're a zombie! I always wanted to meet a zombie, that is cool!. I just want to make you smile; this is my way to apologize to have made you feel bad. In this chapter you'll get an explanation! So you only have to read it! (After reading, please repeat the procedure to place your hand over your heart to check if it is still beating.)
MrsDarrenCriss3: This is the first time I get your review! So, first off, welcome Mrs. Criss! I hope you're enjoying this story despite all the drama and my meanness! I think you should sing: 'Lucy, what can't you see what you're doing to me?' Right! It's Sami instead Lucy. And right now I'm just being a goofball. I'm so sorry, but eventually it'll get better, I promise! And I just updated! And you'll get my updates every Friday night/Saturday morning, depending where you live! Now I'll let you read this second part of the story!
MeMi83: Fairy claps! I totally love that! It seems like magical claps and yes, I like it! Really, you made me smile with that comment, I love everything that has to do with Disney and magic and fairy tales and all! I do think that you know me too well already! I have a serious problem and maybe I should get some help. I don't know why I cannot just write only one chapter in which everything, absolutely everything is alright. Like, I really can't! I always have this need to write something dramatic, a twist, a fight, or whatever. I don't know why. I know, sometimes I feel really bad for Freckles, because... why everything has to happen to her? And I know I'm the writer and I'm the fool who writes that, but well, my hands and my brain are the guilty! And as you can notice I'm in goofball mood today! And... In this chapter you'll know what happened actually!
vicky: Yes, I know! Everything was really fine at the beginning, and then it came the twist! I have this problem that my mind is such a bitch that wouldn't let me to write at least only one chapter in which everything is absolutely fine! Like my brain is all the time yelling: 'Write something dramatic or I'll kill you!' And I don't wanna die yet! In this chapter you'll find out who was at the door and why Darren has done it. And yes, they've been through a lot of wonderful things and that is something that I think neither of them will forget. Now things will be different, for better or worse, I still don't know, you'll see that. And maybe someday Freckles will forgive him, or maybe not; that's other thing you'll find out!
Guest 1: I don't love to torture you! My brain is the asshole! No, really, I don't love that! I'll fix it, yes! I don't know how much it'll take, but I'll fix it, so don't worry. And yes, maybe Darren is not capable to do something like that, but we all are human beings and we all make mistakes. But anyway, you'll get the explanation in this chapter! I swear that I try to write a few chapters in which they're happy all the time, but then my brain betrays me and decides to write something dramatic! I really have that problem, you can call me drama queen, or not. And I won't forgive your emotional outburst, because actually you shouldn't apologize for that! Actually, for me, it's good that you felt that. You know, for a writer is always good to know that you produce any kind of feeling to the readers, because it means that they can feel something while reading! Otherwise, it'd be just boring. And it's really hard to feel something while you're reading; so, for me, the fact that you felt something and the fact that you care about these fictional characters are like a huge accomplishment! So thank you very much! And you said it, this story isn't over and you still have a lot to read, so I wish you can keep reading this, it'd make me really happy! And yes! Omg! You just sang a song of The Beatles and I love them! All you need is love! I believe in that, despite my drama!
SamCollinsHolmes: I like this new name; I think I haven't told you this the last time we talked! Okay, my Sherlock. I already answered you on Twitter and I gave you some presents that you needed, I hope you kept them, otherwise I'm gonna go to a dark cave to cry forever. Well, well, well; Moriarty is gonna take a break because is very tired, but will come back eventually. So, you won't have to bother your friend (that writes subliminal messages) with mysteries to be resolved. Also, I wanted to give you a break, so we can start later again with more energy!
SkittlesPanda: Oh my god! I know that wasn't a happy ending! Maybe I have troubles to distinguish what is a happy ending and what not. Maybe my brain is damaged. Maybe I'm bipolar. Maybe I don't exist and I'm a robot just as Cleverbot told me. Okay, I'll stop saying stupid things that probably you don't want to read! You scolded me! I felt like a little child being scolded by her mother because she's done a mischief! I'll pretend that and I'll answer: 'Okay mommy, I swear I'll explain you that right now! Please, do not take away my candies!' Yes, I know I promised I'll stop saying stupid things but I'm in my usual silly mood. But yes, you'll get an explanation in this chapter! So I'll tell you who forced (or not) Darren. Now. In this chapter.
Kaylacriss332: I must say that I enjoy shitting you because I'm a shit that has been shat by one of the unicorns that was slain by Quirrell so Voldy could drink its blood and return to power. With the tail hair of that unicorn, Ollivander created a wand that will bring Freckles and Darren together; but the problem is that the wand still has no effect because the person that is using it, is not the real owner. But, however, someone has used the horn of that unicorn in a potion that allowed to recreate some scenes or quotes of Harry Potter; recreated in words that were written in a modern version of the Tom Riddle's diary, called Word. It's been written, but the owl that has it hasn't arrived yet, I bet that the owl is Errol. So we'll have to wait.
Guest 2: I really do this to keep you interested on the story, I just don't want to bore you! I've tried to write chapters in which they're absolutely fine but I constantly fail! I have this serious trouble but I'm willing to try harder and write a chapter in which everything is gonna be alright. But it's like I have a demon inside me that is telling me all the time that I should write dramatic things. I know that sometimes I can be really cruel, is a hard work the one of being a drama queen. I guess it's because I've watched thousands of drama movies that affected my brain! But believe me, I'm a nice person, I think! And yes, I want a happy ending for them; but I still want to show that life ain't easy and we often have a lot of troubles and this is about how we sort those troubles and all the things we do to get there; making you notice that sometimes a sad or happy ending or beginning isn't so important, because what really matters is what's in the middle that allows us grow and learn so many things. Am I weird? I only hope that my story affects you but in a positive way despite the drama; I really try to show reality (even though this all is fictional) and sometimes, in between lines, there are things that took me years to learn in my life that I wanted to share with you, a positive message. I really don't wanna make you feel depressed; I mean, I want to make you feel something while reading this story, but not depressed. I try to write beautiful things besides the drama!
caarolineboeira1: Caroline! Do not punch Karen through your screen because you're gonna break your computer and that is not good because you won't be able to keep reading how this story continues! You'll find out in this chapter who the person that was at the door was. Maybe it was Karen, maybe not; maybe Darren wanted to leave Freckles for real, maybe not. Maybe, maybe, maybe. You will see. Be or not to be, this is the question. You waited a week! You could make it! You should feel proud of yourself! And you shouldn't hate me (please don't do that to me!) Okay, I am acting like a fool!
Natasha: You'll understand it in this new chapter! You should grab your popcorn and read this new chapter to find out what Darren was doing and if this was an evil trick by W or not! Are you ready to read the truth of absolute truths?
Nicole: I loved your Starkid reference! We're Starkid fellows and that is totally awesome! I'm really glad that you liked the cliffhanger even if it was a bit tough! And in this new chapter you'll see if Darren really meant to break up and leave Freckles or not! And you'll also find out if this was an evil thing from Karen or not! I hope you can enjoy this new chapter!
Okay, that was all, guys! Oh yeah, I was forgetting... WARNING! There's a sexual part in this chapter, not so intense, but sexual at the end; I'm just warning just in case you don't like to read that stuff. And well, we're now at college, so it means that people are young and independent and are exploring sexuality... SO, in the following chapters you will get more sexual things, both talks and actions. So I'm just warning you guys! Now, I think I said everything... I think. I'll just let you read the first chapter of this second part of Teenage Dream!
Teenage Dream – Chapter 31 – University of Michigan.
AUGUST 2006…
"Hey man!" I pounced on Joey to beat him playfully as soon as I saw him in the University of Michigan North Campus. "How were your summer vacations? Missed my cute face way too much?"
"Get out of here; you damn pain in the ass." Joey said laughing as he beat me also playfully. "Is that even a question? Of course I didn't miss your face. Bud, it was saturating seeing your face every single day last year; I needed to rest; my eyes are hurt."
"Yeah, yeah, shut up!" I said punching his stomach playfully. "You'll have to get something for your eyes then, 'cause guess what? This year, you're gonna share the room with me again, man."
"No way! Oh no, no, no way! I'm not gonna be your roommate again, Criss." Joey said quickly, pretending to be terrified.
"Hey guys!" Meredith yelled in the distance, she was walking to us with Bonnie and Lauren.
"What's up?" Bonnie yelled while laughing and walking.
"Hey, Richter! I heard that you've been traversing the galaxy on intergalactic travels to Pigfarts! Too bad that you thought that Pigfarts was to be locked in a porta-potty." Lauren yelled laughing and Joey frowned but I knew he was amused. "Who looks stupid now? You do!"
"What the devil is going on here?" I asked intrigued and amused when I saw Joey's face.
"Didn't Joey tell you? He was delightfully walking in Chicago when suddenly he wants to poop. There was nothing around but there was a porta-potty. He had no better idea than using it, even though there was a sign that spelled out of service. He pooped and surprise! He couldn't flush the toilet! It wasn't working! Imagine Joey pooping, the delightful smell." Lauren explained making a disgusted face. "So he played fool and tried to get out of there but oh! The door was locked and he couldn't open it. He tried, he tried hard, so hard that the porta-poppy tumbled and crashed to the floor. After a while, a polite man helped him to get out of there because Joey was screaming like a girl. And when he got out of there... Well, you can picture it; he took a bath with poop and chemical fluids. Whoop whoop!" She laughed out loud.
"Oh man! I wish I could have been there." I said laughing out loud.
"One more comment like that and I'm gonna wrap you in a tortilla and then I'll eat you as a snack." Joey said threateningly looking at Lauren, even if he was joking, Lauren replied.
"Oh yeah? Then I'll eat your pillow! You'll be having a dream that you're eating a giant marshmallow and you'll wake up and your favorite goosefeather pillow will be missing!" Lauren said just as threateningly.
"Whatever, whatever!" Joey said mockingly and then he looked at Bonnie. "Hey Bonnie, do you wanna share a room with me this year? I don't wanna share it with Criss." Joey said jokingly and I laughed, shaking my head.
"Not possible, this year I'm sharing the room with Lauren." Bonnie answered amused.
"Oh shit. Hey Mere, what about you?" Joey asked looking at Meredith.
"Oh no, too bad that I already have a roommate." She answered smiling amused.
"Really? Damn! Who? Jaime?" He asked.
"No, Jamie is sharing the room with Julia. I don't know yet the girl who's gonna be my roommate; I think it's her first year here." She answered shrugging.
"Oh cool. Criss, damn you. We'll have to share the room again, 'cause Brian's roommate is Walker and Moses' roommate is Dylan. This time, I'm choosing first the bed." Joey said looking at me.
"No fucking way, Richter!" I answered shaking my head amused.
"Hi ladies." Joe Walker suddenly said behind us, accompanied by Brian and Joe Moses. "How much have you rocked the vacations?"
"Bonnie you look like a crab. What the hell has happened to you?" Brian asked looking at her, who was completely red because obviously she's been sunbathing in an excessive way.
"It's called Caribbean vacation and you totally envy me." She answered raising an eyebrow amused.
"What the hell are you Joey?" Joe Moses asked looking at Joey's blue headband.
"Whoa! Someone has been working out." Lauren exclaimed touching Joe Walker's arm as he looked at her with a cocky smile.
"I'm hungry." Meredith said frowning and everybody looked at her and laughed.
We joked and fooled around for a while before going separate ways to go to our rooms in the Baits Houses, located on North Campus. It was good to be back at college with my new friends that I met last year. They all were hilarious and I always had fun with them; besides they were really good friends. The atmosphere at college was totally different from high school; it was way better. Luckily, I met a lot of cool people, thanks to have lived on campus and to have gotten involved in campus groups. People there were funnier and there didn't exist the bullying thing; of course there still existed the asshole kind of people, but it was nothing compared to high school. College was definitely more work than high school academically; but the cool thing about college was the fact of not having to wake up early five days a week, and all the personal independence I gained. From time to time, I missed my family and Jen who was in Detroit; but fortunately, I got to see them occasionally; usually when I finished a term. Once in a while, when I had time, I went to Detroit to visit Jen and she did the same when she had time; so it wasn't so tough. My parents also invented excuses to come to Ann Arbor and visit me. The problem was Chuck, he was in NYC and I barely could see him, but internet and the social networks were amazing nowadays; so I used to Skype with him occasionally. When I missed them too much, my friends were there always to invite me to hang out to distract me; and I did the same for them.
"Darren, this is my bed! I chose it first!" Joey said throwing his suitcases and running to the bed next to the window, lying down in there to mark his territory.
"Fuck you, Joey! I said that I was going to choose first the bed." I complained while leaving my suitcases on the floor next to the other bed right next to the closet. "I'm gonna revenge, you'll see." I said now lying in my bed.
"I'm trembling with fear." He mocked, pretending being stuttering.
"Sorry, did I just s-stutter?" I made fun of him, laughing softly and then I felt a pillow on my face. "Cool, extra pillow for me now."
"Gimme it back, weiner jacket." He complained and I threw his pillow on his face while laughing. He hugged his pillow and I shook my head still laughing, before placing my arms behind my head to look at the ceiling.
"So, how was your time in Chicago besides that little incident you had with the porta-potty?" I asked giggling amused.
"Was good. I met a lot of new people, it was fun." He answered quietly, also looking at the ceiling with his arms behind his head.
"Uh-huh, that sounds interesting. Have you met any girl?" I asked winking and amused.
"Yeah, I have." He answered smiling amused and that was when I turned to look at him really amused and intrigued.
Last year, everybody tried to find a girl for him, but he refused to be with someone because he said 'I'm not interested on finding a college boring and ordinary girl. I'm cool being with myself and my awesomeness.' No one really knew the real reasons of why he would reject every date we planned to pair him with a girl of college; no one but me. Since Joey and I were roommates, we got along well and we got to be close friends, so he was open to me and he told me the reasons. The thing was that he had to go through a situation similar to that of my brother. He had a girlfriend before coming here last year; but in his high school graduation, at his prom at one point of the party, he went to the bathroom and he found his girlfriend making out with another guy, not a random guy but his best friend. So that was why he didn't want to know anything about having a relationship, any kind of relationship with a girl.
"Tell me, man! I wanna know who the lady is! Do I know her?" I asked intrigued, now sitting on my bed and looking at him as Joey laughed, shaking his head.
"No, you don't know her. It was just a random girl and it was a random thing. Really, not big deal." Joey answered shrugging. "We just hung out few times and well, it happened. It was just a hook up, nothing serious, no relationship involved. That's cool for now."
"I see... And how was it?" I asked looking at him mischievously.
"What do you wanna know, Darren? If she had a damn good ass and boobs? Yeah, hell. If she was amazing in bed? Hell yeah! What else do you wanna know? Maybe I could tell you some of my experiences in bed, like all the exotic sexual positions we practiced." He said amused and chuckling.
"Please, reserve all those surely good experiences for yourself. I don't wanna go into detail. But, do you still talk to her or something?" I asked intrigued.
"Nah. I told you, it was just a hook up. Neither of us wanted to go for more; I don't even have her phone number or her Facebook. It's better this way; I still don't wanna have a relationship, so this year do not even try to plan those stupid dates again." He said looking at me warningly and very serious.
"Alright, alright, won't do!" I said chuckling because he got instantly what was in my mind.
"What about you? How was San Francisco?" Joey asked and I lay down in bed again.
"Good, the usual. You know, seeing the family and hanging out with old friends. Nothing peculiar." I answered monotonously, looking blankly at the ceiling again.
"Yeah... What about Kelly? Have you seen her or talked to her?" He asked intrigued.
"No, I haven't." I answered quietly.
"Why don't you leave her? I mean, you're wasting your time with her." Joey said and I knew he was going to say it because it was what he tried to convince me to do since last year.
"I am not. I like her, she's... She's nice." I answered shrugging, almost indifferent.
"She's not nice. She's a pain in the ass, Darren. Not only she's with half of the guys in college, but also she thinks she has domain on you. You're all the time behind her as if you were a subservient brown noser to her without regard for your own interests; a typical lapdog. She's bossy, haughty and smug. Yeah, she may be pretty and good in bed, but she's a disgusting person. I think there are better girls with who you can be." Joey said aggressively while talking about Kelly. Yeah, he didn't like her at all and he had reasons to not like her.
"Whoa, Joey! Do you wanna insult her a bit more?" I said raising my eyebrows, now looking at him, who seemed to be upset. I sighed and looked at the ceiling again. "I'm not looking for a serious relationship or love affair; so she's perfect."
"And you're a fucking idiot, no offense." Joey said irritated and I looked at him incredulous.
"And you're a damn pain in the ass, no offense." I answered in a jokingly way because I really wanted to talk about something else.
"When will you explain me why you don't want to have a serious relationship with a girl? You kinda avoided it every time we talked about this. I told you my reasons, why wouldn't you tell me yours?" Joey asked what I was afraid to hear. Damn, I needed to avoid it again, but how?
"I told you several times; I came here to study, not for having stupid love affairs. Having a love affair involves having a lot of spare time to spend with her, involves less hours of study and less hours to hang out with friends; involves a lot of shit that I don't wanna do right now. I just want to study and have fun, not to stress with the usual problems of having a girlfriend." I explained the same that I explained to him before, an effective but not so effective excuse to evade the question.
"Tell that shit and lame excuse to someone else, because I do not believe it." Joey said serious and I knew he was fixedly looking at me.
"It's your problem, then. I am telling you the truth and it's simple as that." I answered quiet, shrugging.
"Fine. One day, you'll tell me the real truth. For now, you should leave Kelly, that noisy bitch." He exclaimed irritated.
"Yeah, whatever you say." I answered curtly because I wanted this conversation to end right there and it worked.
Kelly. She was a girl that I met in the first days of college; I met her even first than meeting Joey or any of my friends. We shared a class, Intro Acting I course and she was my first partner. As soon as I saw her, she didn't get my attention; I wasn't really interested on her. Yes, she was a pretty girl with her long red hair and blues eyes, but I didn't find her as attractive as other guys did. She was the one who started flirting with me since the beginning; like excessively flirting. I always ignored her because I was not interested on having something with someone. But then she showed me that she also didn't want anything serious, she only wanted to have fun and she wanted a guy with who she could make out. So I said, why not? After all, I was sure that nothing serious was going to happen with her and that was great. So yeah, we started hanging out with no labels. With time, I found out that she was doing this with other guys, but I didn't mind because, as I said, she really didn't mean so much for me, she was only a girl with who I could have fun. As time passed by, our make out sessions were getting more intense and hot; we only wanted each other to satisfy our urges and needs. And she was my first. After the first time we had sex, we used to have sex as daily basis. But nothing ever got serious; at no moment any of us wanted to set this as a serious relationship. It was something more like friends with benefits which was cool for me. I liked her, but I didn't love her; I just liked her appearance. What Joey said about her was accurate; but I didn't care how she was personally, because I never thought about spending my life with her. No freaking way. It was kind of a relief that I haven't seen her or talked to her while I was in San Francisco, because I wanted to have a break; sometimes she was annoying and very capricious. And the truth was that I didn't want to see her again; I just didn't want to have that kind of vicious life. Maybe Joey was right, maybe I should just leave her. I knew she wouldn't feel bad if I decided to leave her, because I was aware that I meant nothing to her but a fuck buddy. But I still wasn't sure if I wanted to do it, because surely I wouldn't find another girl who wanted the same than me: To have something with no special attachment. I just didn't want to have a girlfriend; I didn't want a love affair. It has been a year, but I still wasn't ready for that.
"Turn off that shit, Darren! Fuck!" Joey exclaimed annoyed when my alarm rang the next morning at 7am. Of course, I did nothing, I was still sleeping and his voice and the music seemed distant. "Oh crap, who has the song Hakuna Matata as an alarm? Oh damn you, Darren."
"Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase. Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze." I sang amused and hoarsely before I finally got up and turned off my alarm. "This is an awesome song, Joey. You should be thankful that you got to listen to it; now you'll start your morning with a lot of energy."
"Run away from here if you don't want me to kick your ass." Joey complained, covering his face with the pillow.
"Whatever, get up! We have to go to class." I said walking to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
"Yeah, yeah..." He said hoarsely still covering his face with the pillow as I heard how he was also singing the song. "It means no worries for the rest of your days. It's our problem-free philosophy. Hakuna Matata."
I laughed when I heard him from the bathroom and when I came back to the bedroom, he was already dressed and he seemed to be in good mood, whistling the song. I looked at him amused, raising an eyebrow and when he noticed this, he looked at me suspiciously.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing; nothing at all." I answered chuckling as I looked for something to wear. "I say Hakuna." I sang loudly while putting on my jeans.
"I say Matata!" Joey sang just as loudly from the bathroom.
We joked a little before we went out to go to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Yeah, I was to going to major in Theater Performance and get a B.F.A. in performance and acting. Now Joey and I had to share this class, Acting I. I knew that many of the guys who I met last year were going to that class too, so I was in a really good mood; I loved that class. When we arrived to our classroom, Meredith was already there, alone. I greeted her with a hug and Joey greeted her with a super tight hug.
"Get out of here, Richter! You're choking me!" Meredith complained, punching softly Joey's arm and he finally let her.
"How are you Mere?" Joey greeted cheerfully.
"I'm doing fine, excited to start this class." She said smiling widely and pouncing. "What about you guys?"
"Bad, too bad because this piece of shit next to me..." Joey said looking fixedly at me before looking at Meredith again. "Woke me up with an absurd song."
"Oh please, that is one of the best songs. Besides, I don't know why you're complaining now if minutes earlier you were singing and dancing that song." I mocked him, chuckling amused.
"What song?" She asked intrigued, looking at as amused.
"Hakuna..." I started saying, looking at Joey.
"Matata!" He yelled in a funny way and Meredith and I burst out laughing.
"That's a great song. We should soon watch a Disney movie. I offer my room to do it." Meredith said excited.
"I'm totally in!" I exclaimed just as excited.
"What would your new roommate say about this?" Joey asked. Oh yeah, I totally forgot that Meredith had a stranger as her roommate.
"I don't know; if we don't try we'll never know." She replied shrugging.
"Yeah, right. How is this girl? Is she cool?" I asked intrigued.
"Is she hot?" Joey asked amused and Meredith laughed as I looked at Joey amused.
"Yeah... I don't know. She's weird." Meredith said frowning.
"Weird in a good way?" I asked intrigued.
"In a way that I still don't know if she's a spiritualist psychopath or if she's nice, funny and just weird in a cool way. I still don't know." She answered still frowning and shrugging. "And answering your question, Joey; yes, she's kind of hot, but she's weird not only personally but also physically. She wears weird and colorful clothes and her hair looks weird; but she's pretty." She said nodding slowly. "Anyway, she won't stay with me all the year, at the end of this term, she's gonna move with another person."
"Oh geez, what have you done Stepien?" I asked amused, frowning.
"She saw my mustache and it terrified her." She said serious and pretending to be thoughtful as Joey and I laughed.
"Poor girl." Joey said still laughing, shaking his head.
"Yeah, poor little girl." She said also shaking her head. "Nah, really. I think she has a friend here, but she couldn't share the room with this person in this term because the guy had already a roommate."
"Oh, so she has a boyfriend. Too bad." Joey said pretending to be anguished.
"Oh no, the guy is only a friend. At least that is what she told me. So do not lose your hopes, Joey." Meredith said winking. "I think you'll like her, Joey. Maybe I could introduce her to you." She said mischievously.
"Oh no, not again!" Joey complained and I shook my head amused. I knew he was going to complain.
"No, really! She's not the normal and ordinary kind of girl. She's kind of silly just like you." Meredith said, now seriously talking.
"So am I silly? Oh good to know!" Joey exclaimed loudly and I laughed.
"Darren!" I heard a woman's voice yelling behind me.
As soon as I heard that voice, I recognized it and I wanted to run away. Joey and Meredith looked at me displeased as I only looked down and bit my lower lip. Damn, I hated this. I knew she was walking to me, but I played dumb and didn't turn around.
"Darren, you and I have to talk!" She said irked. Now she was right next to me and I couldn't play dumb anymore.
"Hey, Kelly." I greeted her pretending that I just heard her. "What's up?" I asked nervously but hiding it, because I knew I was in troubles. For what anyway? But I knew that when she was this annoyed, nothing good could come.
"You fucking idiot!" She yelled angrily as she started beating my back with her bag.
"Hey! Hey! What the hell?" I exclaimed now upset, trying to push her softly away from me.
"You didn't call me!" She complained irritated.
"Oh man, I didn't know I had the obligation to call you." I said looking at her in disbelief.
"You asshole!" She yelled angrily again beating my back with her bag and now Joey and Meredith attempted to stop her, but they didn't and I was glad for it, because this was something only between me and Kelly and I could manage this situation by myself.
"Stop it, Kelly!" I said loudly and bossy, really annoyed, putting her hands and her bag away. "Goddammit!" I exclaimed loudly, still looking at her in disbelief. "As far as I know, we don't have an engagement; so I don't know why you're now reproaching me that I didn't call you. And in any case, you neither called." I said harshly, raising an eyebrow. "And for the record, we're not in high school anymore; so I won't stand those stupid whimsical and temperamental scenes. Grow up for once and all." I said annoyed and harshly. Fuck, I was doing well until she came here.
"What did you say?" She asked menacingly and hysterically.
"You heard me, Kelly." I replied looking away and serious. I should have guessed that she was going to slap me the way she did. "What the fuck, Kelly? What the fuck?" I asked really angry.
"You got what you deserve." She said arrogantly and I shook my head, looking at her disgusted.
"What I deserve?" I asked laughing incredulous. "So tell me, why do I deserve this? Because I still don't know."
"Because you're a jerk. You haven't texted me, you haven't called me; you've disappeared. And now you surely expect to hang out with me again. So what? Do I have to pretend that your absence never existed?" She replied spleenful.
"Listen, we agreed that our relationship wasn't going to have any kind of close attachment. We're just together to have fun and to fool around; if you don't want to take it and you're looking for a serious relationship; well then, I applause you and I wish you luck. But that's not gonna happen with me." I said very serious and she was looking away while she was huffing in annoyance.
"I don't want a serious relationship." She said still looking away.
"So do not reproach me anything and do not expect from me nice and cheesy words. You don't love me and I don't love you, we both know that. We're only friends with benefits, and we aren't even friends because we never shared anything but a bed together." I answered quiet and indifferent. "You wanted that, you proposed me that; I don't know if you remember."
"Yeah, I do remember." She answered prideful, still looking away and her arms crossed.
"Good." I said nodding, raising an eyebrow. "Now if you excuse me, I wanna be with my friends." I said turning around and walking to Meredith and Joey who were serious looking at me.
"Darren?" Kelly said behind me and I turned my face to see her.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Are we fine, right? I mean, we'll still be friends with benefits, right?" She asked looking fixedly at me.
"Yeah, sure." I replied, shrugging.
When she nodded, I turned around again. I saw surreptitiously that she was walking away from me to go with one of her friends or lovers; I didn't know and didn't care. I finally walked to Joey and Meredith with my hands on the pockets of my jeans, pretending to be indifferent. I knew that Joey and Meredith were going to comment something about this and I didn't want to talk about it.
"Why are you with that girl, Darren?" Meredith asked displeased.
"I asked him the same thing last night." Joey said shaking his head in disapproval.
"And you know why I'm with her, Joey. We don't have anything serious, we're just..."
"Fuck buddies." Joey said roundly.
"Yeah, yeah, something like that... I'd prefer call it two people with no strings attached." I said running my fingers through my hair because I didn't like to talk about this and I didn't like how that word sounded.
"Call it whatever you want, Darren. If you don't want to have a serious relationship for whatever your reasons are, it's fine; but you should look for another girl. This girl is just... a bitch." Meredith said serious and I sighed.
"Told him so too." Joey said shrugging.
"Kelly is fine. She doesn't want anything serious and I won't find another girl like that... Girls like her that doesn't want anything serious are with the hot guys." I said in a jokingly way because I didn't want to explain anything else. Anyway, it didn't work because they were still looking at me serious and neither of them laughed.
"I'd introduce you my roommate, but she doesn't seem the kind of girl who wants to have only sex and fun at college; as much as weird and funny she is, she's taking college in a responsible way." Meredith said thoughtful and biting her lower lip.
"Hey! I take college in a responsible way too!" I said amused and Joey and Meredith looked at me raising an eyebrow like saying 'Yeah, sure.' "I don't want to have only sex and fun. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a floozy. It's just that for now, I don't wanna be involved in any love affair." I said now talking in all seriousness. "Besides, your roommate is for Joey, remember?"
"Hell yeah! Joey, really, you'll like her. Besides, she needs to know more people here, won't you help her?" Meredith said excited, smiling widely.
"I thought we were talking about Darren." Joey said frowning, looking away.
"Come on, bud. Give her a chance. Who knows? Maybe she ends up being the love of your life." I said in a cheesy way, laughing amused.
"Maybe she's gonna be the Sam for your Frodo. Really, she kinda looks like a hobbit." Meredith said with eyes wide open.
"Why doesn't it surprise me that you're relating everything with The Lord of the Rings?" I asked amused.
"Deal with it. The Lord of the Rings rocks." She answered amused.
"Well, well; but hold on. If she looks like a hobbit, maybe she should be with Darren, they'll be the hobbit squared." Joey mocked me and I gave him a mockingly smile.
"Yeah, could be. But the girl is for you Joey and it's decided. You won't say no until you give her chance, get it? Get it?" Meredith said almost aggressively.
"Yeah, yeah, get it!" Joey huffed. "Can we talk about Darren again now?"
"Hey, no! Why would you talk about me again? No." I refused strongly.
"I could ask my roommate if she knows a girl for you, Darren. Yeah..." Meredith said thoughtful as if she was planning something.
"Whatever." I replied to end with this conversation.
Finally the other guys arrived and Joey and Meredith started talking about something else before the class finally started. It was a quiet class, like all the first classes of each course. I started thinking what Joey and Meredith said, maybe yeah, I should find someone else, but I didn't want. Yeah, I didn't like at all what Kelly recently did because she was aware that we weren't a couple so she couldn't reproach me anything; but still, she was the only one with who I knew that I was never going to have something else. But yeah, she was starting to annoy me; maybe because I didn't want to be with her anymore, maybe because I didn't like to have a girl with who only have sex; that wasn't me. But also the truth was that I couldn't fall in love; no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't happen. After the class finished, I was really thankful that Kelly didn't come to talk to me; instead, she went away with this guy. When I realized what I was thinking, I realized that I was making bad decisions and I was doing everything wrong; I shouldn't feel like this with someone.
"Hey, Darren. Are you coming with us?" Dylan asked when everybody was leaving.
"Where?" I asked because I wasn't listening what they were talking about.
"We're going to The Blue Apple to get a sandwich." Lauren replied.
"Yeah, because this time I'm not the only one who's hungry." Meredith said.
"Oh yeah, thanks, but I have another class right now." I answered.
"Which one?" Brian asked.
"Costume Design I. Yeah." I replied and I knew I was going to be alone because they already took that course.
"Really? Me too!" Julia exclaimed. "Why don't we go together?"
"Yes, that's so cool. I thought I was going to be alone there." I said looking at her.
"Yes, me too." Julia chuckled. "Alright guys, see you later."
"Yeah, see you later." They answered.
"Wait! Guys, after that class you can go to the Lakewood Nature Area to have an adventure! We'll be there at 4pm." Joe Walker said excited.
"Umm, yeah, sure." I answered wondering what they could have planned now.
So then Julia and I went away to go to our next class. Thankfully she had that course because honestly I didn't want to go alone and that was a course that I should have took in my first year; but I was also studying Musicology, so I couldn't take that course because courses overlapped. We arrived early and we chose the seats back of the classroom. While we were waiting for students and the professor to arrive, Julia and I started talking.
"So, how was the start of this new year here?" Julia asked, smiling friendly.
"It was quite good. I really wanted to come back here. I mean, I missed my family, but last year in here I gained personal independence and when I was at my parents' house, I felt as if I had no privacy. I really got used to have independence and do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted and there you have to respect some schedules and shit." I replied shrugging.
"Yeah, I get it. I felt the same way. Like, I needed my own space." Julia said chuckling. "And how was your encounter with Kelly?"
"Oh man!" I exclaimed in disbelief. "Why everybody talks about Kelly?"
"Because you guys are dating." Julia answered frowning, apparently confused.
"No, we're not dating at all. We just... We don't have any kind of relationship; we just hang out and have fun occasionally. I... I'm not really interested on her." I answered awkwardly.
"Oh, I see. Like fuck buddies?" She asked and I looked at her incredulous. Why everybody said that?
"Yeah, like that." I answered now looking away.
"You don't seem happy to be with her." Julia said after a while.
"Well, maybe I'm not. But whatever, it's just to have fun." I answered still looking away, serious.
"Can I tell you what I think, no offense?" Julia asked politely.
"Sure, shoot." I replied quiet. Julia was with one of the people with who I could talk honestly because she had something in her way of talking that reminded me to Jen. She was friendly and nice, and she always listened to me and had an advice, a good one.
"I think that Kelly once made you happy, because with her you experienced new things." Julia said and I knew what she was talking about, because only she knew that I was virgin before being with Kelly. "But the girl is trying to get something else from you; something that you don't want that is to have a little bit more serious relationship; not as a couple, but yes something stable. I still don't know why you don't want it; but I'm glad you don't want it, not with her. This girl has a lot of lovers and she'll be unfaithful and you deserve more than that; besides, Kelly only cares about her own interests. When was the last time that you were the one deciding what wanted to do instead her?" Julia asked looking at me and I sighed.
"Never happened." I replied curtly.
"Exactly. She's all the time making decisions for you and you barely do what you really want. And that's silly and I know you aren't like that. This girl is turning you into a person you aren't. And I can openly say this because I know you when you aren't with her and you're completely different." She said softly.
"Yeah, it may be like that." I answered gloomy, shrugging.
"See what I say? You're not happy and I do think that you don't want to be with her. You're only used at being with her because you're stuck in something that doesn't exist anymore that is when you used to have fun with her. Let me ask you something... How did you feel when you were in San Francisco, away from her?" Julia asked roundly.
"Relieved and free." I replied honestly.
"There you have." Julia said. "I think you'll have more fun without her than with her. You don't need her. If you let her go, maybe you'll find a worthwhile girl."
"I don't think so. I mean, yeah, maybe you're right when you said I could have more fun without her; but I just don't think I'll meet a worthwhile girl. Not that there aren't worthwhile girls; just that there aren't worthwhile girls for me, for what I want." I answered gloomy again, avoiding Julia's look.
"I think you've been hurt in the past so now you don't believe in true love anymore." She said roundly and now I looked at her astonished. What the hell?
"Maybe..." I answered curtly because now I was feeling uncomfortable and I didn't want to talk anymore.
"But it does exist; sometime you'll see that it does exist." She said kindly.
"Yeah, maybe, sometime." I answered curtly again. "It is weird that the professor didn't arrive yet." I said looking at the door of the classroom, trying to change the topic of conversation.
"Yes, it is." She said frowning, also looking at the door of the classroom. Phew, fortunately she stopped talking about it. Right in that moment, the professor arrived.
"Hello class, I'm Professor Jessica Hahn." The professor greeted. She was pretty and she had about forty years old. And she seemed to be very strict. "This is Costume Design I and in this course you'll learn the art and process of costume design, with strong emphasis on text and character analysis and methods of research. You also will get an introduction to basic drawing skills and other visual options in presenting design ideas..."
"Sorry, is this Costume Design I?" Someone asked, entering the classroom.
Everybody looked at that direction. The first I did was to see the face of the professor who didn't seem to be happy to have been interrupted by someone; she seemed really irked and severe. Then I looked at the door to see who the person that interrupted was. The first thing I saw was something really colorful; but very colorful. It was a girl wearing a dress with the colors of a rainbow; a girl with very short hair and a peculiar presence. From where I was sitting, I couldn't see clearly her face, but her colors caught my attention; I think that her colors caught everybody's attention because no one would stop looking at her.
"Yes it is and you're ten minutes late." The professor answered severely.
"I'm sorry, this is my first class and I was lost, I couldn't find the place." The girl answered well-mannered.
"Alright, only because this is the first class, you can come and sit." The professor said.
"Thank you, professor." The girl replied with a smile, walking, trying to find a seat.
"I won't allow anyone to arrive late in this course. Whoever arrives late, I won't..." The professor started explained but I wasn't listening to her anymore.
I was seeing the girl who was coming closer. She didn't walk to my direction, but I could see more clearly her face now. She seemed very familiar; yeah, very. I started feeling very nervous and my body started trembling because I was in shock; I was astonished and puzzled; it couldn't be; no, it couldn't be Freckles. Why would she be attending this University? Why would she wear colorful clothes and dresses? Why would she have short hair? Which were the chances? No, maybe she was very similar to her; because Freckles didn't look like that as far as I remembered her. She sat away from me and when she sat, I couldn't see her face anymore. Damn, I wanted that girl to look at my direction, to look at me; I needed to check if that girl over there was Freckles or not; probably not, but I needed to be sure. But she never looked at me and I spent all the class looking at that girl. I couldn't remember when was the last time that I felt this way, that I felt my heart beating so fast, that I felt so nervous that my body was shaking. No matter who that girl was, she made me feel that way and now I needed to talk to her; I needed to see her closer. I wanted to stand up and walk to her, but the professor was very strict and I didn't want to have problems the first class; so I decided to wait until the end of the class.
"This was all, students. I'll see you next Monday at the same time in the same classroom. I don't want anybody to arrive late, clear?" The professor said.
I quickly grabbed my bag and stood up. I needed to go right where this girl was. Determined, I started walking to her.
"Darren! Hey, wait. Where are you going?" I heard Julia asking and I turned my face to look at her.
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry. See you later, Julia." I greeted friendly but exasperated because I was nervous.
"But we agreed that we were going to..."
"Sorry, I can't go; later I'll explain." I said hurriedly, interrupting her.
But when I turned around again, it was too late. The girl wasn't there anymore. I ran to the door of the classroom to try to reach that girl. When I got out the classroom, I looked in every direction to try to find her; in the distance, I recognized her because of her colorful dress. She was walking alone, but then a guy started walking next to her, talking to her. The hallway was crowded, but I ran to her anyway. Man, I needed to reach her; I needed to see her face.
"Excuse me! Excuse me!" I started yelling and pushing softly people on my way while I was still trying to run to the girl. "Hey you! You!" I yelled looking at the girl, but she didn't turn around; I didn't know how to call her so she would stop. "Colorful girl! Hey!" I yelled but she didn't turn around.
Then I saw how she left the building and a bunch of people entered the building as I tried to keep running but it was almost impossible. After a while, I finally left the building and I looked around. Oh no, fuck. The campus was enormous and it was crowded; I couldn't find that girl; I couldn't even see the colorful dress.
"Shit!" I yelled frustrated and a group of people looked at me as if I were crazy. I just looked at them. "Have you seen a girl with a colorful dress and short hair?" I asked to them and they replied me only shaking their heads. "Oh crap."
I tried to look for the girl, but then I gave up. I wasn't going to find her. Maybe someday, if I was lucky, I was going to see her again before next Monday. I walked alone to my room in the Baits Houses, feeling very frustrated and weird. That girl really was very similar to Freckles. When I arrived to my room, Joey wasn't there and I was thankful for that; I really wanted to be alone and think about that weird feeling I had during that course of Costume Design. Man, I thought that I was never going to feel that way again. After a few hours, someone knocked the door. Surely it was Joey, he was used to forget his keys; like always. But it wasn't Joey; instead, it was Kelly. I didn't even have the time to greet her or ask her what she was doing here; because she pounced on me, wrapping her arms around my neck to kiss me fiercely, leading me inside the room again and closing the door behind her. She led me directly to my bed and she pulled me there before she got on top of me, kissing me and wrapping her arms around me and intertwining her legs with mine as if she was an octopus or something. She didn't even let me breathe. While still kissing me fiercely and biting my lips, she took off her shirt and then her bra, very abruptly. Then she tried to take my shirt off and she kinda ripped it. Yeah, this was very arousing; but I didn't have my mind in there; at least to fully. She took her jeans off and then she started unbuttoning my jeans and, fiercely and abruptly, she took my jeans off as if she was an expert and she was very desperate. She was kissing me in a way that seemed that she wanted to eat my mouth. It was not long after she put her hand underneath my underwear and started stroking my dick. Oh fuck, no, I couldn't resist this; I was already aroused, so I was already hard. She quickly took off my underwear and she started licking my stomach and from there, she went directly to my penis. O yeah, oh fuck; I couldn't stop moaning. I didn't want to do this, but I couldn't resist the pleasure I was feeling and more when she started giving me a blowjob. She knew when to speed up, slow down, and tease; she was good at this; oh damn, she was going to blow me away. Oh yeah, I was feeling it, I was going to cum. But before I could cum, she stopped giving me a blowjob and stood up to take off her panties and then she got on top of me again.
"Wait, wait..." I moaned weakly when I felt her warm body on me.
"What?" She complained in a moan, while nibbling my earlobe.
"Need a... Need a condom." I tried to say in between moans.
"Forget about it, ugh." She moaned and she tried to make the first move.
"Are you crazy? No, I need it..." I said frowning, pulling her away softly. "It'll just take few seconds..." I said.
So I stood up to walk to the closet and find the condoms as she lay down in bed, with her legs open, waiting for me and looking at me. Crap, where the hell were the condoms? While searching them, a box dropped on the floor and shattered. When I saw what it was in there, I stopped searching the condoms to kneel and see all of that stuff. I stayed silent looking at those things as I started feeling really bad.
"Hurry up, Darren!" Kelly yelled annoyed.
"Please, leave." I said gloomy.
"What?" She asked in disbelief.
"I want you to leave, Kelly." I repeated, this time a bit harsh.
"What? Can't you find a damn condom?" She asked in disbelief.
"No, I do have stupid condoms; but I want you to get out of here. I don't wanna do this; so get out, Kelly." I said harshly.
"What the fuck is wrong with you, Criss?" She asked just as harshly. She was upset, but I didn't care.
"Nothing of your business. So just get dressed and leave." I said roughly.
"Why would I...?" She started complained.
"For fuck's sake, get the fuck out of here! Goddammit!" I yelled really annoyed and toughly.
"Fine, you fucking idiot." She exclaimed gaudily, getting up and starting dressing up quickly and abruptly, bad tempered. "You suck."
"Whatever." I said indifferent and she threw my jeans on my face before she turned around to leave, but I didn't care. I just wanted her to leave.
When I heard how Kelly closed the door, I looked at all the things that were on the floor now. The first thing I grabbed was a photo. It has been more than a year since the last time I saw her; and when I saw the picture that Freckles and I took when we went for a bike ride once, I realized how much I missed her. I stared the photo for a long time as tears started falling down my face and I couldn't help it. We were so young and so happy; she was beautiful. We were so full of hopes, of love, of feelings. I never ever felt as the same way I felt when I was with her, like so complete and fully happy; not even when it was my first time with Kelly. Freckles was the only reason why I didn't want to have a serious relationship; not that I didn't want, I just couldn't. No girl was able to make me feel the way she did; no girl was as Freckles was, no one ever could be the way she was hence no one ever would be as good as she was for me. I was never going to love someone the way I loved her. And all those photos that I was seeing now, all those notes and letters from her; all those unfinished songs that I wrote for her and never had the chance to show them to her; all those songs that I couldn't finish because it broke me whenever I tried to do it when I remembered the reasons why we weren't together anymore. I remembered that day perfectly, the last day I saw her. I was sleeping with her after the best experience I've ever had and then, when she was asleep, Jim showed up in the hotel room. I remembered perfectly how he had a gun and he threatened me with killing her if I didn't write that damn note. And I was so scared that I did it, and it broke me when I left the note there and Jim tied me and forced me to get into his car. I remembered how he drove far away and threw me in the middle of nowhere after punching my face till bleeding. But I didn't care the physical pain, because it was more painful what I was feeling because of what Jim forced me to do. And before leaving me there, Jim threatened me with killing her if I dared to find her, to talk to her, to tell her the truth; he forced me to stay away from her and never see her again if I didn't want him to kill her. Jim was completely mad and that gun was loaded. And then I had to come here, at the University of Michigan; I couldn't even see her and it broke my heart, nothing went as I expected with her. And I swear that I tried to call her; I tried to call her every single damn day of my first term; but apparently she changed her number. I tried to call her sister, her mother; but no one of them had the same phone number. When it was winter, I came back to San Francisco. The first thing I did was to go to her house; I did it even before seeing my family. But no one was at her house; her house had a sign that said for sale. I went to my old high school, but she wasn't there; she never came back since the time she was expelled. I spent my winter holidays searching for her in every single high school in San Francisco; but she wasn't anywhere. I tried to find her father's house, but apparently he wasn't living in San Francisco. I even tried to talk to Brian because I had his number since the time he texted me to give me the video that I still had; but I couldn't talk to him, because it wasn't his number anymore. Freckles was nowhere; as if she suddenly disappeared from the earth. When I came back to Ann Arbor, I still searched for her in internet, to find out where she could be; I got nothing at all. After ten months searching for her, I finally gave up. Even if it broke my heart, I needed to admit that I wasn't going to find her and I needed to forget her. I tried to move on and it was really hard; I tried to forget her by doing other things to distract; and that is when Kelly appeared. I pretended so hard to be doing fine that I ended up believing that lie. And I wasn't aware anymore that it was lie until I saw all those photos, letters and songs again. Damn, how I missed her! Then I saw the video that Brian gave me when I thought that Freckles was W and I grabbed it. I walked to the T.V. and I put the video. When I saw her face and I heard her voice again, I cried; I cried in a way that I haven't cried for a long time. If only I could find her... I spent almost all the night replaying the video to see and hear her while placing the photo of the two of us on my chest. And I fell asleep on the floor, with the photo on my chest and watching the video over and over, as I was singing a song in my head…
I've used hammers made out of wood
I have played games with pieces and rules
I undeciphered tricks at the bar
But now you're gone, I haven't figured out why
I've come up with riddles and jokes about war
I've figured out numbers and what they're for
I've understood feelings and I've understood words
But how could you be taken away?
And wherever you've gone
And wherever we might go
It don't seem fair...today just disappeared
Your light's reflected now, reflected from afar
We were but stones, your light made us stars
With heavy breath, awakened regrets
Back pages and days alone that could have been spent, together..
But we were miles apart
Every inch between us becomes light years now
No time to be void or save up on life
You got to spend it all..
And wherever you've gone
And wherever we might go
It don't seem fair...you seem to like it here
Your light's reflected now, reflected from afar
We were but stones, your light made us stars
And wherever you've gone
And wherever we might go
It don't seem fair...today just disappeared
Your light's reflected now, reflected from afar
We were but stones, your light made us stars.
Next morning I woke up strained and I had contractures. Yeah, I was still on the floor with the photo and the video was still playing over and over. My eyes really hurt and I felt them heavy, they were swollen. I looked around: Joey wasn't there. I checked my phone and I had a text message from him telling me that he wasn't going to sleep in the room because he was going to stay at Brian and Joe Walker's room. I watched the time, it was 8am and of course, I was already late for my first class of the day. Anyway, I wasn't feeling like going to classes; I wasn't feeling good at all. I just stood up and left the photo under my pillow and I stopped the video. I went to the bathroom and I looked in the mirror. Holy shit, I looked sick. My eyes were red and swollen and I had dark circles. I decided to take a shower so maybe that way I was going to feel better; because honestly I was feeling so tired and sick to do something at all; I was just very crestfallen and I had a terrible headache. When I finished taking a shower, I was feeling as same as before; so I walked directly to my bed, grabbing the photo of me and Freckles. I lay down on my side and I placed the photo on the pillow just next to me to stare it. I spent all the morning doing this. My phone buzzed several times, but I didn't even look at it, I didn't want. It was time for lunch, but I wasn't hungry; so I stayed in my bed. My back started aching for being for so long in bed that I had to get up. I saw the things on the floor again and I walked directly to there to grab one of the unfinished songs. Seeing that picture and watching the video, remembering Freckles and all we've shared and lived together, remembering how much we loved each other and remembering all the plans I had for my life with her; made me feel kind of inspired. She was always my muse. I grabbed a pen and my guitar and I sat on my bed to start writing the song to finish it. I wrote the song as if I were writing my name, judging by how fast all my emotions, words and composition came so fluently. Once finished it, I played it with my guitar and I realized that it wasn't going to work with a guitar, it needed to be played with a piano. So I looked for my keyboard and I started playing the song again. Yes, that was the song, the perfect song and melody. Finally I could finish that song that I always wanted to compose for her. When I realized that I was never going to be able to play it to her, I felt really down. Man, I didn't want to feel all of this again; I just wanted to be fine again.
"Darren, what the hell!" Joey said suddenly, entering the room and I shivered because of his sudden appearance. "I've been texting and calling you all the day long! Where the hell is your damn phone?"
"I don't know." I answered shrugging, hiding the lyrics of the song and the picture of me and Freckles under the pillow.
"You don't know! Fuck you, Darren. We were worried and more after Julia told us how you ran away yesterday when your class of Costume Design finished. We didn't know what the hell could have happened to you; you didn't go to classes today and that is weird; you don't reply the text messages, you don't take our calls. Nothing!" Joey exclaimed really upset and concerned.
"Oh please, Joey, you're overreacting. I'm not five; I can take care of myself. And what if I skipped my classes? What? Am I not allowed to do it at least one day? Besides, I haven't skipped all the classes; I'm still on time to take the last class." I replied annoyed.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Do you have a class at 10pm?" Joey asked sarcastically.
"It's not 10pm." I answered but not so sure.
"If you open the window, you'll see that is a wonderful starry night, Criss." Joey said upset and damn, he was right. I spent all the day here, it was night now and I didn't even realize it was this late. "What the hell buddy? Look at your face! You look sick! Have you been crying?"
"What? No! Not at all." I lied, refusing abruptly because suddenly I felt very ashamed. "I just woke up with headache, that's all. And I've been sleeping all day long to get better, that is why I skipped my classes and I didn't text back or take the calls. Sorry, okay?" I finally apologized. Part of what I said was true, but that wasn't the real reason and I wouldn't tell him it all.
"How are you feeling now?" He asked.
"I'm good now; I really am." I lied again.
"Good; so you can come with me tonight." He said looking for clothes in his closet.
"What? Where?" I asked frowning.
"Meredith invited us to go to her room tonight. We'll drink some beers and we'll meet her roommate. It seems that her roommate loves Disney movies and when Meredith asked if she minded if she invited friends, her roommate said that she wanted to meet us and she seemed to be excited about it. Apparently, she is weird in a good way; that is what Meredith said." Joey explained while changing his clothes and I only sighed.
"I'm not feeling like socializing tonight, Joey. I don't wanna go there, maybe another day." I said lying down in bed.
"Please, Darren! Meredith talked to me about this girl and she really seems to be a cool person; maybe with this girl is gonna be different. I really wanna meet her; you were the one to tell me to give her a chance and this is what I'm doing. I'm gonna give her a chance, maybe I'll like her and I could get a real date." Joey said trying to convince me as I looked away.
"Why don't you go alone? You don't have to go with me." I complained.
"Because I'll be alone with Meredith and her roommate. If you go, you can stay with Meredith and that way I'll have the chance to talk to this girl alone." Joey said again trying to convince me.
"What if you go with any of the guys?" I asked. Now that Joey explained me that I didn't want him to go alone, but I really didn't want to go there.
"No, it's impossible. The guys are going at some party of the Fraternity." Joey answered. "Come on buddy, do it for me, only for tonight." He said almost supplicant.
"Alright, alright; I'll go." I finally answered, sighing.
"Oh man! Thank you a lot!" He exclaimed exaggeratedly.
"Yeah, yeah; someday you'll have to return me the favor." I said standing up to change my clothes.
After a while, Joey and I were already ready and now we were waiting for Meredith to open the door of her room. Well, she wasn't in the same housing than us, she was at Bursley Hall housing; so it took time to get there, it wasn't far but we had to walk through the campus. Joey was very excited to meet this girl and if I didn't know him any better, I'd have said that he was nervous. It was funny to see him so exalted and cheerful and it was even funnier to know that it was because of a girl. Finally Joey was open to meet a new girl and I was totally glad for this; I only wished that this girl could be cool enough for him so he wouldn't be disappointed. Meredith finally opened the door. Oh wow, now I was intrigued to see her roommate and I could imagine how intrigued Joey was.
"Hi guys!" Meredith greeted cheerful. "Come on, come in!" She said and both Joey and I got in.
"Oh whoa! What the hell?" I exclaimed loudly, impressed, when I saw her room.
"I know, this is fantastic, isn't it?" Meredith said excited. "My roommate did it all and decorated our room."
But Joey and I weren't listening; we were admiring that room because it was completely awesome. The boring and typical room was very cheerful and colorful with all the drawings and paintings on the wall. The lamps had an original shade and the color was different depending of the room, so the room didn't have only one color. They also had handmade cups and dishes. On the closet there were huge handmade mirrors, also colorful. The funny thing was that the room was very colorful but it didn't look ridiculous; it looked harmonious; and who the hell was able to do it without making a complete disaster and grotesque ambient?
"This is totally awesome." I exclaimed very impressed.
"I wanna live here, man." Joey exclaimed.
"Yeah, she's talented." Meredith said smiling widely.
"Where is she, by the way?" Joey asked intrigued and Meredith laughed.
"She's in the bedroom. Come with me." She said winking.
"Oh no, maybe it's not a good idea. What if she's dressing or something? We'll wait here." I said uncomfortable.
"You'll wait here; I'll go to see the lady." Joey said smiling mischievously and I shook my head as Meredith laughed.
"No, she has dressed up long time ago. She is now painting, that's her favorite place to paint." Meredith answered. "Follow me."
And we did it. Meredith led us to the bedroom and there she was. I thought that she was the same girl I saw in my Costume Design class, because this girl also had short hair and colorful clothes. Yeah, it surely was the same girl. She was giving us her back and she didn't hear us entering the bedroom, then I noticed it was because she had earphones. She was wearing a short and colorful top, so her naked waist was showing; and she was also wearing a pair of low waist torn jeans, very tight jeans that fitted perfectly on her body and highlighted her skinny-fit legs and her firm and toned apple butt. Oh holy crap, she was sexy. I couldn't take my eyes off her.
"Holy dead God! Look at that ass! Oh damn, I need a cold shower." Joey exclaimed in a whisper, open-mouthed, looking fixedly at her ass.
"I know, man. Shit, it's like... Man, I want like to pinch it." I replied, also looking at her ass open-mouthed.
"Guys, I'm still here." Meredith said chuckling. "You're drooling." She mocked us, but we were busy looking at that girl. "She's sexy, isn't she?"
"Sexy? More like supermegafoxyawesomehot." I answered, still admiring that girl.
"Hell yeah." Joey answered and Meredith laughed.
"Okay guys, I'll tell her that you're here; please look up; her eyes aren't on her ass." Meredith said mockingly, now walking to her.
"Darren, that girl is mine." Joey whispered.
"I don't know, man... She's hot..." I whispered back.
"You have the stupid of Kelly, so stay away." Joey whispered again and I punched him softly.
"Screw Kelly, I want this girl." I laughed in a whisper, jokingly. As hot as this girl was, she was for Joey and I was aware of it.
"Hey, my friends are already here." Meredith said, touching her shoulder.
The girl looked at Meredith but I couldn't see her face. I saw how she took off the earphones and left them on a nightstand; still I couldn't see her face, I only could see her ass moving from one place to another. Shit, I needed to stop looking at her butt, I seemed a depraved; but oh damn, it was hard, her butt was very striking. I finally looked up because I didn't want this girl to catch me looking at her ass. I looked at Joey who was still looking at her butt and I nudged him, so he looked up. Well, now I was going to see if the girl only had a hot body or if she also had a pretty face. The girl finally turned around slowly and as soon as I saw her, I froze. Freckles was standing right in front of me, smiling cheerfully.