Part One - Third Year - Chapter [003]

Friday was here, and I was making plans.

After talking to Maria, full name Maria Jose Cecilia Gonzales de Dengra.

She would hate me if I introduced her with just her first name.

Turns out there's a small get-together at Nosh House.

Eddy had his apartment, that his folks visit sometimes.

But most of the time he was all alone.

And a couple of blocks down, or up should I say.

There was the Nosh House.

A two-floor, three-bedroom house that a couple of roommates lived together in.

All boys though, at least for the meantime.

A tried and true Mojo-Dojo-Casa-House!

Ruby and King (yes that's his real name) both had their rooms, and Ector as well. 

Most weekends it sort of became the number one place where we would all go and drink and have a house party. 

Maria who was privy to everything that group did informed me that Eddy was heading there this afternoon, and if I wished to spend time with him, I should make my way over there.

It was only a short 5 min drive away from campus.

This time there weren't any special plans or anything like that, it seems Maria got wind of Eddy and King talking about playing a fighting game after they were done with all of their schoolwork.

So she was quick to join the conversation and invite Amanda. Maria and Amanda were like a comedy duo when they were together, and they always gave you the type of tough love advice you needed to hear.

Maria is in the same study as Eddy and his testosterone-filled group.

Not even my B-Ball shower bros were this adamant about showing off their manliness - but I digress. 

As I was done with my day and heading towards afternoon practice, Maria texted me. 

"What are you doing tonight?!" 

My phone dinged with the familiar text message chime.

I took a moment below the bridge that connected the A and B art departments.

Maria was a straight-up killer, not even a hello to start our conversation.

Or how are you?

She has always liked this.

It made me want to be sassy and salty about it.

"Good and you?"

I responded.

"You could say hello first…"

I typed annoyed, I was already making my way through the C building and towards the lobby, we had a Starbucks in there.

It was nice though. 

"Whatever, small talk sucks anyway" 

"Ugh… Fine, what is it?"

"Are you free right now?" 

"OMW to practice, why?" 

"I can't compete with basketball, it's you're first love," 

"You're so dramatic," 

"Come to the visual arts room, I have some news for you about tonight…" 

"Okay, I only have a couple of minutes though," 

"That's fine, just be here STAT!" 

I put my phone away and concentrated on making my way through this building, stairs were everywhere, and the classrooms stood adjacent on each floor.

Every room had yellow doors, and the floor was made of some type of marvel floor tiles. 

Finally, I reached the Animation cave, or the Visual Arts room as it's formally known.

These were the labs for the animation career, that had to be shared with other majors, but after 5 PM you would usually only find animation students in here, toiling away at their projects.

I stood by the door, not sure if I should enter or not.

I peeked through the window, and there wasn't any professor giving a lecture or anything, so it should be safe. 

I knocked at the door, not sure why but I did, and slowly squeaked my way, I got some stares from some of the students, but most of them already knew me.

Some of them even waved, and I waved back awkwardly.

Finally, my whole head was in the room and I could scan for Maria. 

She was in the back row, on the edge.

Making a motion with her hand to come and see her. 

I was afraid Eddy would be in the room.

But he wasn't here.

Not that I could see him immediately. 

"He's not here!" shouted Maria from across the room.

I shushed her turning red as I almost floated towards her in sheer panic and crouched next to her hiding my presence.

I pushed my back against the wall and crouched, my whole body hiding behind the row of computer desks. I wasn't supposed to be in here.

She turned in her chair. 

"No one's supposed to know," 

"Hey Aiden -" said Amanda who was sitting next to Maria.

She gave me one of those green granola bars and I took it without thinking.

She was always feeding me.

"Thanks -" I said. Amanda had long orange hair and had blue eyes.

Maria was pearly skinned and had locks on her hair. She also dressed like a cyberpunk chola.

Not in a bad, she actually made look rather good.

Amanda dressed in our university hoodie and had a black baseball cap with the Monster logo on top.

I loved how Maria dressed all of the time, every outfit was yassified to the maximum splendor.

Amanda dressed more casually, but I did see her once in a formal outfit for a wedding, and she looked oh-so-pretty.

She's more the type of person to find comfort in her clothes.

Maria wants to look like she could beat you up.

But dam did she have style.

I had a basketball T and shorts, with my men's sport lycra underneath for warmth, since January was cold AF.

My outfit was not Yassified enough, in fact, it was very FIFA of me. 

But I wore this or a variation of this same outfit every day, rarely do I wear normal clothes. I have forgotten what jeans feel like.

It was a lot easier - we had a running joke that whenever I came in jeans they would point them out and make a scandal around campus.

"So -" Maria started in a low voice. Amanda turned back to doing 3D stuff on the computer.

She had Maya or Blender open, I don't know which one. I was familiar with Autodesk software but not the one for animation - mostly engineering stuff.

"Turns out there's going to be a small get-together party tonight - you're invited of course -"

I had already opened the granola and had a bite.

Amanda was so nice.

I was munching on the granola with honey while I listened intently. 

 "Our student president wants to break the ice with the first years, and King was oh so nice to offer up his place," 

"More like he was brainwashed into it by DMGH," said Amanda not breaking away from the screen. Designated Mean Girl Hottie. We had little acronyms like that.

They both let out loud laughter. I chuckled, not wanting to reveal my presence.

"Stooop it," said Maria chuckling and touching Amanda's shoulder. She pointed to the row in front of them.

"He's right there!" King was this sort of very dad-looking guy - he had a big nose - and short dark golden hair.

And was very tall.

Taller than me.

He exudes that Alpha energy.

Not in a bad way, or cringe Apha-bro way, just came naturally to him.

Plus he was a good guy.

I peeked through the table, he had his headphones on.

King was very into the student president.

Her name was Sieli - the soft queen bee of the third-year animation students.

She was nice, I haven't talked to her a lot.

She seems with her issues - like everyone else.

And was weirdly religious.

Couldn't care less for that.

Sometimes I did feel like I knew more about animation students than I did of my studies.

Everyone in Visual Design was cold or a WIGM (While I Get Married).

No one stopped to try and make friends with you.

And you could say I wasn't exactly the type of guy who would sit around and wait for others to speak to me. 

Animation students carried this warmth to them - that you could only find at a first-time D&D session.

"So you coming or what?" I took the last bite of the granola.

"It's tonight, and we need beer," said Maria. 

"Sure I'll pick some up before heading there," I promised. 

"What time does practice end?" murmured Amanda. 

"Around 7 - more or less," I noted.

"Good this junction starts at 8," Maria proclaimed.

I stood up and crumpled the plastic into my hands to throw away on my way out. 

"Okay see you tonight then -" I pronounced as I stood up, took my things, and placed them on my back.

"Alcohol secured!" they high-five, I scoffed.

And started heading for the door. 

"You guys are the worst -" I said in between a sneer. 

"Love you too," said Maria.

Amanda made a heart sign with her hands.

As I reached to open the door - someone pulled it from the other side. 

Mid-sentence Eddy and King stopped in their tracks as they saw me.

I froze and felt like the world was about to fall over.

I heard a gasp from Amanda and Maria - they were living for this.

I could hear Amanda and Maria snickering making a funny face in the background.

They totally knew about this.

"Hey, Eddy, King, what's up?"

"Aiden!" King suddenly shouted and came in for an embrace. I could feel his chest hair against my face through his open shirt.

This man was a straight-up daddy bear. 

Not my style though. 

"Ace! Good to see you," said Eddy with a soft tone. 

"Sup, bro, how's the B-Ball Game going, chicks must love you huh?" said King filling out my arms, he might as well have grabbed my balls already.

Straight up locker room.

"You dating anyone?"

I fist-bumped with Eddy. 

Eddy's eyes widen with curiosity at King's question, he was so natural about it as well. King had always been like this more bro - than the actual bros I know in real life.

Made me think he was overcompensating for something.

But that's just how some dudes are. 

"No - I'm not dating anyone at the moment," I couldn't help but look at Eddy as I said those words. 

"Ah ~ you know, what dating sucks anyway, got dumped last week, don't do love I say - it's not worth it," he said crossing his arms. He said that - knowing he was already dating someone else.

"Aw - I'm sorry bud," I tried to sound genuine.

King's eyes widen.

And he instantly embraced me again, giving my head a noggin scratch with his fist.

"That's why I like you Aiden!" King was so confident in every single move. 

Eddy looked almost jealous as King embraced me with a side hug, and treated me like his little brother.

I couldn't do anything but take it. 

Eddy cleared his throat, very loudly actually. 

"You said we would finish that rig - remember?!" Eddy pronounced.

King was left dumbfounded, still hanging on from my shoulder.

"Yes - Yes - of course - " he took his arm off me. I would say he weighs a good 170 pounds, but man where his arms are big and full of muscle.

The rest of his body was toned too.

King ate clean and went to the gym too, his body was somewhat similar to a Judo wrestler.

He was big for his weight class, and his muscles must help in matches too. 

They said goodbye and headed towards the back of the room - I was running late for practice, but that's my new motto - coach might hate me.

Or worse, bench me for the rest of the season. 

"Hey party tonight, BYOB - @ The Nosh House - don't tell anyone though, it's a secret party," said King with a big attitude. 

Maria looked at me and shrugged while making an 'oops' face.

I just smiled and nodded my head in denial. 

Even though there were so many wrong things with the way they were acting - still I was simply just happy to be invited.

At least they considered me. 

In comparison to all of them, Eddy might just be the sanest person around. 

Personally, these were the people that brought light to my world. 

Without looking back, I closed the door and headed towards the other side of campus, there were still a couple of minutes left, maybe I'd make it if I warmed up and sprint there.