California Dreaming (Marella and Linh AU)

by Capersofthelostcities

Marella thought that landing a rugby scholarship to her dream university would mean finally having time to play the field. But her friends followed her down to California, including one girl she’d sworn to never talk to again: perfect, pretty Linh, who’d exposed her complicated family situation to the whole grade back in high school. But did Linh have a few secrets of her own?

3. Chapter Three

How had Keefe managed to follow her here? Marella thought she had left him behind in high school. She was devastated. BUT it was time to put all that aside because she had her first class this afternoon.

UC Berkeley required seminars for first-years to take. (Not sure if this is true. We don't go to UC Berkeley, folks. If the authors pass AP Calc we might go to college, otherwise we plan on dropping out to write more fanfiction for you, Dear Reader.) Marella had chosen the seminar "What Is Love?" She'd always wanted to be more of an empath, to help her mom. And she was hoping to pick up some girls (or guys) who were more of romantics than she was. Maybe she could find someone to fix her. Or at the very least stop perpetuating misogynistic myths and brainwashing herself the way the patriarchy wanted to hate everything feminine based on the media that society makes us consume where feminine women can't be as strong and being pink is a weakness.

Anyways, hopefully she could pick up some chicks.

She sat near the back of the lecture hall, so she could catch some sleep if the class turned out to be boing.

"BOING!!!!!!!!!!!" the blonde professor screamed as he started to jump up and down. "I am to be your love instructor today, folks. My experience? Well… I gave gonorrhea to the entire Class of 2024 my last year of high school. The secret to love is… EyELAsHEs." (This will be important later.)

Marella couldn't see him very well, but his voice sounded familiar, though. "My name is Mr. Signor Best Ever Sencen. But you can call me… Keefe!"

An older blonde man stepped in front of the class. "Everybody, this is my son. I am the real Professor Sencen, but you can call me Mr. Signor Best Ever Sencen. I have forty doctorate degrees. I do not tolerate lateness. I do not tolerate gay people."

"You can't say that anymore, Dad," Keefe said. "This is the 21st century."

"Sorry. My bad. It's not easy having a bi son. He gave gonorrhea to his entire senior year class. This woke shit really itches at you, but I am trying to improve myself. That said, I have a zero tolerance policy for displays of humanity."

Marella was just about considering dropping the class, when a beautiful storm cloud made her way to the back row. Linh was wearing a purple tunic shirt with black pants. She left a few empty seats between them and offered a tight-lipped smile. "Hi Marella," Linh said softly. "I've missed you."