Hello once again, everyone! Here's another chapter. Only disclaimer here is that the character of Thalia is mine, as well as Ferin. Well, please enjoy!

St. Lunar University wasn't an enormous school. There were about 6,000 students in this campus, with the dorm-dwellers packed into 10 major buildings, the senior students taking up the apartment-style housing, and anyone with a good enough income staying in the city. The most common majors were related to science and engineering, with social work and visual arts coming in as close seconds. It was normal to see students out and about at all times of day, whether they were relaxing with friends, visiting small-time shops on campus or working on community projects together. The facilities were as grand as a small school could afford to make them. There were few sports besides the most popular ones, with the exception of the swim team. Its existence was most likely due to St. Lunar's proximity to the coast.

The main building of the school had the cafeteria, the school store, and a number of offices and club rooms. Sandy was sticking close to me as we walked through the open lobby, and I avoided any eye contact with the few people lounging inside. We went through the cafeteria doors and were greeted with the smell of coffee and the sizzle of omelets and bacon. Some students were there already, moving through lines and milling about around tables. Sandy smiled at me and went over to the plate rack. I, however, moved over to the coffee machines and poured the steaming black liquid into a Styrofoam cup. Sandy looked surprised that I wasn't getting anything to eat, and he set me with such a fierce glare that my legs moved on their own. I stood with him at the back of the line, and he handed me a smaller plate. At least he wasn't forcing me to get something heavy.

I ended up getting a few red grapes and a bagel spread with jam. Sandy and I sat near the windows, and though I didn't like the influx of light I could tell that my new friend was happy.

Friend…I looked at Sandy across the table. He was chewing on pancakes and taking in every sight, as if he'd never seen them before. The thought occurred to me…I still knew nothing about him, really. He was my roommate, a young man who shared my grade level, and someone who liked video games. What else was there?

"Sandy, what classes do you have?" I asked. Sandy looked back to me and woke up his phone. He tapped something out and turned it around for me to see.

I've got Physics and Zoology courses, mostly. Plus some arts

"Zoology? So you like animals?" I wanted to slap myself for such a painfully obvious question. Sandy nodded happily and typed another message in the phone memo before handing it back.

I want to do either veterinary work or marine bio.

And then, the dreaded question came.

What about you?

I froze with the rest of my bagel halfway to my mouth. I set it down and picked up my coffee instead, turning to look out the window as I sipped the bitter drink.

What, aren't you going to tell him?

Panic was beginning to set into my heart again. I put my coffee down and looked at him, only to shiver at his curious, concerned expression.

Go on, say it. See if he laughs.

"I…" my voice caught in my throat. A part of me wanted to duck away, be on my own again. But Sandy was keeping me grounded. Whether he knew it or not, his eyes had rooted me to my seat with a feeling of guilt that I couldn't figure out why I had.

Looks like you're still a coward.

"I'm undecided, okay?!"

I hadn't meant to blurt it out. Immediately, I looked back to the window and fought my embarrassed blush. I didn't want to see if Sandy was looking at me. He didn't tap my arm and my phone didn't buzz. My heart sank.

"Ohmigosh, Sandy?"

The table shook a few seconds after the bubbly voice caught both our attention. I was met with the sight of Sandy being engulfed in a hug from a girl. Something inside me hurt at that. The girl released him, her blonde ponytail swinging. I moved my coffee back.

"Little sand dollar, you didn't tell me you were going here!" the girl smiled. "What are you up to?"

Sandy was smiling contentedly. He picked up his phone and typed out a message for this girl. Another pang at my heart.

Why are you surprised?

The voice in my head again. I cringed and looked away from the scene before me.

He's got friends. And a pretty girl, no less. What's wrong, Pitch? You didn't really try to bring him down to your friendless, antisocial level, did you?

How bold. How pathetic.

I hastily excused myself and dumped my half-finished breakfast. I stormed back to the dorm and packed up my work things before rushing to the Liberal Arts building. I was the first student in the English classroom and, after an hour of grammar and essay discussion, the first one to leave. I didn't have another class for an hour and was sulking under a tree behind the LA building when my phone buzzed.

Where r u?

I hesitated. Despite my anxiousness, I typed out a curt response.

Behind liberal arts

My phone didn't buzz again. After a few minutes, Sandy rounded the corner, looking flustered. He stopped a few feet away from me and sent me another text.

I'm sorry about breakfast. That was Thalia -_-; She's srry 2 4 interrupting

"Who's Thalia?" I didn't care that my voice sounded snappish, and that made me feel guilty.

Freshman here. On the swim team. We were in the same HS classes.

"I…thought you were a sophomore?" I asked. Sandy suddenly looked embarrassed.

Went through this program that mirrored college courses. You get an official diploma for that program along with ur HS one if you pass its exams. Some unis take u as a sophomore then.

"Oh…"

And idc that ur undecided. It's okay d(^_^)b

"I…" I couldn't say anything. I felt too embarrassed.

We can talk l8r if u want. I have to get to class so ttyl~ (\(^3^)/)

Thalia is just a friend btw. It's not like that.

I looked back up at Sandy, but he was already leaving for the higher sciences building. I pocketed my phone and rested my head against the tree.

What were you really expecting, Pitch?

I groaned.

You can't trust her. Just a friend…for how long?

How long…

I met back with Sandy that night. I hadn't felt like looking for him at dinner and hadn't been that hungry anyway, so I'd stayed in the dorm after my final class for the day. Sandy came in at eight, looking apologetic. He went over to his notebook and wrote a message for me.

Sorry I'm late.

"It's no problem." I was laying on my bed, eating sour candies and flipping through a book.

Do you want to talk?

"We cleared everything up, didn't we? Thalia's just a friend and you don't care that I can't decide on my major."

We don't know much about each other. I want to talk, get to know you. You can get to know me, too. So please?

I put my book and the candies down. Sandy went over to his bed and sat on it with his legs crossed, looking at me expectantly. He tilted his head like a puppy, obviously pleading. I sighed. This was far too frustrating.

As much as I didn't want to admit it to myself, I couldn't deny such a cute face.

There you have it! I put Thalia in there as one of Sandy's doting friends because of William Joyce's picture books that depict him being friends with mermaids. Thalia's on the swim team, see? ;) Thank you for reading, see you next time~!

P.S. - That program exists; it's called the IB Diploma Program. I'm in it myself, and it's college-level hard…but this is my last year of it so I'm ready for my diploma! :D