Chapter 3

"So, you think I should go with Kim?" Rocky said as he poured a glass of soda.

"Yeah, she said she likes fraternity dances. I think she'll enjoy it more than Aisha."

"I'm really surprised Kim has been to enough frat dances to know that she will enjoy it," Rocky grinned as he sipped some of the clear soda.

Adam rolled his eyes at Rocky's attempt at humor. "You wanted a date, right? Well, Kim is a date—a very nice to look at and easy on the eyes date."

Rocky's face eased into an uncharacteristic staid and stern expression.

"I don't feel comfortable taking Kim. The history between her and Tommy makes the thought of an 'us' a little too bizarre for me. Remember how bad things were after they broke up? What would he think about it?"

Adam was sitting at their small table just under the low pendant lights. He looked up to the light and let out a sigh. "Rocky, I don't think Tommy will care. You can call him to be sure, but he made it pretty clear that he worked through most of his feelings over the last few years. Besides, it isn't as if you're asking Kim out to date her. It's just a dance."

Rocky fidgeted a little and came over to the table to sit across from Adam. He wrapped his hands around his glass anxiously and looked at him.

"Actually," Rocky started, "I was hoping that things would have sparked between Aisha and me by taking her to this dance."

Adam was stunned. He stared at Rocky in disbelief for a few seconds before finally speaking.

"Rocky…are you saying…you have feelings for Aisha?" Adam said, slowly.

"I don't know. Maybe."

"NO!" Adam's voice began to shake, "Not maybe! Do you like her or not? You don't maybe have feelings for the girl we've known since the fifth grade!" Adam caught himself as he stood from the table and knocked the chair back.

"Okay!" Rocky resigned, "Yeah, I have feelings for her."

Adam picked up the chair and sat back down. He was nearly speechless.

"I um…why didn't you say anything earlier?" Adam sputtered what words he could manage, his hands frantically searching for something to grip. His left hand found his forehead and his right hand found the edge of the table. "You could have mentioned it when you asked me to talk to her."

Rocky sighed and put his head in his palms. "I'm not really sure how I feel yet and I'm definitely not sure how she feels so I don't want to tell anyone. Plus, you and Aisha are so close I figured you would just let it slip out before I was ready to tell her myself."

"Dude, that doesn't even make sense," Adam ran his hands through his hair and looked at Rocky's gloomy expression. He realized there was not a chance of telling him about his own feelings for Aisha now. "But, somehow I understand."

"Listen, don't mention this to her. I'll ask her myself and you don't even have to get involved. Just give me until after this weekend and I promise I'll talk to her about all of this."

Somehow I think I'm going to be involved anyway. Adam thought.

"Sure, no problem," he said aloud.

"Thanks. Hey, I'm staying at the frat house tonight and tomorrow night so you get the apartment to yourself for a few days."

"Great, I can stock up on food," Adam attempted a smile.

"Come on, I'm not that bad anymore." Rocky scoffed at the half-hearted joked. His friends had not let a moment go to waste when given the opportunity to tease him about his appetite.

"Rocky, you ate a whole box of gummies." Adam's face was more serious than a missing box of gummies could justify.

"So, you've eaten a box by yourself."

"Not in ten minutes on the same day they were purchased."

"Sorry about that," Rocky apologized, "I replaced them, remember?"

Adam smiled and shook his head. He knew Rocky didn't mean any harm. "It's cool. Hey, Kat and Tanya are moving Saturday and need some help. Do you think you could make it?"

"Maybe. Friday is supposed to be one of our last nights learning ritual. From what the other guys are saying, we're official after Sunday."

"That sounds great! At least you'll be done with this before midterms."

"I sure hope so. I'm just hoping this was the right decision. They're supposed to help you network and make business contacts. I just feel like most of these guys spend their time partying so much they can't make the grades to need a business contact. They're having a party this Saturday and midterms start Monday."

"I think that may be the point. Maybe they need the contacts to get in the doors of the businesses." Adam laughed at his own joke.

Rocky thought for a moment, hesitating on his next words, "The thing is, I'm having doubts about hanging with some of these guys. See, there are these two guys…one they call Tex and the other Kern…"

"Tex and Kern? What kind of guys are you hanging with?"

"They're two of the officers—well leaders—for this chapter. Tex is from Houston and Kern is from-"

"Let me guess," Adam said getting up from the table, "Bakersfield?"

"Well…he's from Kern County. Anyway, these guys…Adam, there's something weird about these guys…," Rocky exhaled, leaning back in the chair and looking up to the light as he thought.

Adam opened the refrigerator door and looked over the top to Rocky.

"We ran around fighting monsters and aliens with powers from other planets and our mentor was an interdimensional being held captive in a time-warp tube. How much weirder can it get?"

Rocky looked to Adam, his expression flat and humorless, "I think I'm about to find out."