Blake made his way to the showers after that afternoon run he had. Cole was right behind him and both seemed winded, but happy.
"Nothing like a good run after a long day of studies to cheer a guy up.", Cole commented.
Blake couldn't help but agree as he and Cole turned on the showers and cold water battered them. It made them both flinch, but they weren't complaining as they were more awake because of it.
"So, what are you going to do now that we have some free time?", Blake asked.
"I'm thinking of hitting the library again.", Cole answered.
Blake couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"You're not still thinking about that experience you had back in our high school days are you?", he asked playfully, "It sounds pretty farfetched if you ask me."
Cole gave Blake a knowing look as they dried off after washing their hair.
"Blake, I know it sounds crazy, but I know what I saw.", he answered, "Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't."
Blake saw Cole fidget with his necklace and couldn't help but feel a little bothered by it.
"Cole, why do you wear that thing?", he wondered to himself, "Do you have to wear it everywhere?"
Cole noticed Blake's expression and Blake quickly slapped on a straight face.
"So, you going to study for the big exam at the end of the month?", Blake asked quickly hoping Cole wouldn't catch on. Fortunately for him, Cole didn't.
"Yeah, I want to be prepared in case the teacher gives a surprise pop quiz early on."
Blake rolled his eyes comically. It had only been a few days since he and Cole started college and Cole was proving to be a real bookworm as he was leaning towards the jock type. Still, they did each have time to share both study and track and field so as not to get too deep into one type of passion.
"Cole, we should get to the cafeteria or we might not get to eat."
Cole and him finished dressing and were soon outside in the cool afternoon air as they made their way across the campus. Some students were also outside getting some fresh air, studying, or just having a chat with one another as they passed. It didn't take long for them to get passed a bulletin board with papers stapled and taped to it. As they were about to go into the university cafeteria, Cole felt a presence, but didn't see anyone so he dismissed it as a feeling. The aroma of food met their nostrils as they saw the cafeteria surprisingly low on people having lunch. Cole guessed that they must have ordered out or weren't hungry as he and Cole made their way to where the line started and began to get their lunch. Today it was hamburgers and fires, salad, and they got juice for their beverages.
"Brings back old memories huh?", Cole asked.
Blake chuckled as the old high school memories came along. The only difference was that this time, they had to pay a tab. Still, it was worth it as they did so and went to find a table. They had just seated when a voice got their attention.
"Oh, the two best runners on campus."
Blake and Cole paused from their food to notice a trio of black leather wearing teens heading their way. They looked like tough guys, acted like it, and most of the campus avoided them, but Cole and Blake both were not about to let a trio of deadbeats spoil their education. The trio came over and the one in the middle removed his sunglasses and his brown eyes narrowed as if to try and make his presence known.
"You're seated at our table."
/
Cole raised an eyebrow.
"And what makes you think it's yours?", he asked just as firm.
The teen turned to him as the other two boys started talking meanly.
"Hey Drake, it sounds like this guy don't know the rules around here."
"I know Greg. Maybe we should explain things to him."
The final boy raised a hand as if to tell the other two to pipe down without taking his eyes off Cole.
"I'm going to tell you this once.", he warned, "Find another table or we'll have to make you leave."
Cole wasn't budging and Blake wasn't either.
"And where do you purpose we eat?", Cole asked.
The teen pointed to a table on the other end of the cafeteria, but Cole just frowned.
"Tempting, but I'm afraid I'll have to pass."
The teen suddenly looked less sure, but only for a moment which told Cole that he wasn't used to this kind of situation.
"Do you know who I am?", he asked.
"Not really.", Cole answered, "I never asked for your name though."
The teen suddenly frowned.
"The name is Hal.", he sneered, "Know it real good cause I can make your time at this campus a living nightmare."
Blake felt a little intimidated, but he saw Cole wasn't budging.
"In what way?", Cole asked.
Hal backed up a bit before he took out a switchblade and flipped the blade out. Cole still didn't flinch when Hal suddenly looked interested.
"How about this: we run for it.", he dared, "Outside on the track. Either you or your friend win, we'll forget about this incident."
"And if we do lose?", Cole asked.
Hal smiled.
"You clean our apartment, prepare our meals, carry our books, and all in your underwear for the rest of the school year."
Blake felt it was unfair and Cole clearly thought the same. Cole ran his fingers across the ivory wolf head and amber drop on his necklace which grabbed Hal's attention.
"And I get that fancy necklace of yours.", the mean teen added.
Cole was liking this guy less and less and Blake was too, but the trio didn't seem to be eager to leave.
"What's the matter?", Hal asked, "Afraid of taking us?"
The trio started some mean laughter as Cole tried to block them out but it was near impossible before he stood up and looked Hal in the eye.
"You want a race?", he asked harshly, "You got it, but if me or my friend win, you buzz off and stop bullying for the rest of the school year."
That was all Hal had to hear as he thought Cole had taken his bait.
"Deal.", he said holding his hand out to shake, "Two hours from now."
/
Two hours later, Blake and Cole were on the track stretching as they held their water bottles. Blake was nervous, but Cole tried to be brave.
"I can't believe you agreed to this.", Blake said a bit doubtful.
Cole put a hand on Blake's shoulder.
"Stay brave friend, we'll do our best."
A whistle made them turn to see Hal, Greg, and Drake all dressed in fancy track and field gear and looking prideful and vain.
"This is a run not a fashion statement.", Cole grumbled.
Hal frowned as he and his friends came over and snapped his engraved headband as it seemed that he heard Cole.
"You talking smack?", he dared, "First one across the line wins."
Cole was reminded of the race that the dogs in Balto's world ran to see who would be on the dog sled team to deliver the Diphtheria antitoxin as the teens all lined up at the starting line. After a brief moment, another teen showed up with a flag and walked to the side of the track and raised it. The racers tensed and then dropped it giving the signal and all five teens bolted down the track. It looked even, but as Cole started getting ahead, Hal took out what looked like a spray can and started spraying it at Cole's head making Cole squint and almost go off course as Greg used his arm to hit him backward a bit.
"Hey, that's not fair!", Blake barked as he started getting ahead.
Hal just smiled and winked at Drake who took out another spray can, but before he could spray it, Blake ducked as Greg got close which caused Drake to spray into Greg's face making the mean teen panic and collide into Hal as Drake suddenly tripped and Blake jumped just as he did. All three mean teens fell to the track in a heap as Cole had recovered and had caught up.
"And that serves you right.", Cole thought as he passed.
Hal and his friends had gotten back on their feet and were in pursuit, but Cole and Blake had gotten ahead and before long, they were reaching the finish line. Just as they got close, the teen from earlier suddenly showed up with another spray can and trash bags full of something, but this one looked nervous and hesitated. Cole gave the teen a look that seemed to make the teen pause as if rethinking. Taking advantage of the situation, Blake and Cole kept running and were past the finish line just as Hal and his friends finally caught up.
"You lose.", Cole told him.
Hal was looking towards the new teen angrily as the boy suddenly bolted off after dropping what he had.
"How could this be?", Greg asked shocked.
"We're the best.", Drake added.
Blake frowned.
"The best?", he questioned, "Would the best resort to cheating to win? You guys are not champs, you're a bunch of chumps."
Hal, now angry and humiliated, lunged at Cole who backed off, but not quick enough as Hal grabbed his necklace and ripped it off before hurling it into the bushes nearby.
"Go find your treasure if you can.", he growled before turning to his friends, "Come on boys."
Blake was feeling sour as the trio made their way off the track.
"Sore losers.", he said harshly before turning to Cole and smelled mace, "You okay Cole?"
Cole nodded as the two headed into the bushes and started looking for the necklace. Fortunately they found it and Cole returned it to around his neck.
/
Cole and Blake hit the library and were still feeling sore after Hal and his friends had given them grief. Cole had a book about dinosaurs and Blake was studying up on physics. The library wasn't usually very loud or busy so it made a great place for them to relax and get their minds off their problems.
"So, why the dinosaurs book?", Blake asked quietly.
Cole looked his way a bit casual.
"Hey, I was just looking back on the phase I was on as a kid for when I found this stuff interesting."
Blake shrugged as he went back to the physics notes he was on and finished before putting the book away and opening a book on chemistry.
"You thinking of being a chemist when you graduate?", Cole asked.
Blake shrugged.
"Hey, doesn't hurt to know things right?"
After a couple hours, they saw the time and knew they had to get to their afternoon classes or else they would have to report to the dean of students. Cole headed off to his History class while Cole went to his chemistry class at the other end of the campus. Cole had arrived with enough time to get seated and as the professor came in, she took notice of Cole and smiled.
"Mr. Marty, so glad you made it on time as usual.", she said as she ran a hand through her dark hair that complimented her Asian face and glasses.
Cole felt like she was someone you didn't want annoyed or for that matter, having issues with you so he made it a hobby to keep up with his schoolwork which she was thankful for and didn't give him a hard time. Unfortunately, as the class got underway, Cole heard a familiar sound of biker boots and looked out of the corner of his eye and saw Hal walk into class looking like he owned the school even though the professor looked his way firmly.
"Class started five minutes ago Mr. Stone.", she said harshly.
Hal just shrugged as he plopped down in the seat behind Cole.
"Hey, I got all the time I need before graduation Professor Wing.", he said still wearing his smirk, "You know I'm going to make it."
Professor Wing didn't look sure.
"Just don't be late.", she warned, "We are about to get into the early time of immigration."
Cole suddenly felt like it was a topic she took seriously, but Hal's expression told Cole that he didn't care about this topic
"A bunch of people come to America and found out it wasn't the land they thought it was.", he said with a shrug, "What else can there be to know?"
Professor Wing looked more annoyed with the statement as the class (excluding Cole) started to chuckle at the comment.
"Mr. Stone, you can either cut the jokes and take this class seriously or you can report it to the dean of students after turning in a five-page essay on why immigration was so important to the history of our country."
/
Cole entered the dorm room a bit weary as he saw Blake was already there.
"How was class?", Blake asked.
Cole sighed.
"Hal didn't take History seriously so the teacher sent him to the dean and an assignment to do five pages on immigration."
Blake looked sympathetic.
"And don't get me started on Greg and Drake. They were total screw ups in chemistry. Lucky nobody got hurt as they accidentally set their notebooks on fire."
Even though Cole and Blake had a moment of seriousness, that dissolved into a moment of laughter as they could be seen as students who were trying to just do their work and get by while these three were just trying to make it hard cause they couldn't make the grade. After a nice dinner of homemade tacos, Blake and Cole cleaned up and were soon deep in their books as Cole took his necklace off and set it inside its special box he had kept that originally held it and it still fit despite having two charms on it. Cole then got up from his chair and closed the book.
"Excuse me, but I need to use the restroom."
Cole went to the bathroom and closed the door. He had just finished doing his business and in the middle of washing his hands when a strange sound reached his ears making him pause. It was like a dock bell in the old ports where ships were setting sail into the open ocean. It was only for a moment, but Cole chose to forget about it as he finished washing up and joined Blake who was finishing up his chemistry notes and both started getting ready for bed.
"Well, another day, another class.", Blake commented.
Cole nodded as he retrieved his necklace and put its box near his bed on the nightstand. Blake got the lights and got into bed himself as he and Cole came out of the bathroom in their pajama bottoms and finished brushing their teeth. Cole got into his own and was settled into the covers and resting his head upon the pillow. He was asleep in no time, and was like that for a while before a slight rattle made it uncomfortable and even though Cole tried to ignore it, it persisted until Cole woke up and looked its way before opening it and seeing it glowing slightly.
"What the?", he asked in awe as he took it out and got out of bed.
Then the sound of a fog horn came to his ears and he turned to see that Blake wasn't even stirred which surprised him.
"Am I the only one hearing this?", he asked.
Then a thick mist came out of the bathroom and Cole hurried into it to find that the mirror above the sink was rippling like the mirror on the plane.
"Again?", Cole asked as he turned to leave, "I am not going on another-"
The mist just enveloped him before he even took a step away from the door and started feeling a familiar feeling.
"Well, that answers-.", Cole started.
Unfortunately, he didn't get any further cause he had vanished into the mist and was sucked into the mirror leaving no trace behind as usual.