As Life Goes: Gen. 5.5-Matthew

 My first year of college went well. It took some adjusting to get used to living in a dorm, but after about 2 months things started to settle. My classes were a breeze, but they were only the freshman courses and I suspected once I got into the classes dedicated to my major things would get harder. I had decided on something basic like a business major since I’d be running the grocery chain with Dad, both he and Mom thought that was a good general degree.

Before I left, Dad had a talk with me to make sure taking over the store in Riverview was really what I wanted. He wanted to make sure I wasn’t feeling obligated to work in the family business. Truth was I hadn’t considered any other options, I’d always assumed that what he wanted me to do. I assured him I wanted to do this. I looked forward to taking over some of the operations and helping grow Nature’s Way into a common household name, plus Dad was trying to oversee all three stores. Mom helped some, but business wasn’t really that interesting to her, she rather just keep the shelves stocked with her fruits, veggies, and jams. Those jams were a big hit in the dorm. I made the mistake of sharing some with my buddies and pretty soon half the floor was asking when my mom would be sending more. 

College life was fun. The stress wasn’t too bad, but when things did get rough, working out was still a huge help.

The repetition of the exercises helped and my buddies joked I had the cleanest room in the place. When I’d come home on breaks, Kraig and I would still get together and hang out a bit if he was home as well.

  

Dax had been stationed overseas and was loving it. Gramps told me to make sure I was fully enjoying my college years since those were some great years in his life. Grams reminded him that was only because he was lucky enough to meet her. My second year passed fairly uneventful. I was taking Gramps' advice some. I did have fun, went to parties, and dated a bit, but kept that casual.

My third year kicked off with a bang. The guys planned one hell of a welcome back party. Since we were legal, harder drinks flowed instead of just the keg. We were partying until nearly 4 am before I stumbled off to bed.

 I was sleeping great until a loud scream followed by a hard shove sent me falling to the floor.

“Who are you and what are you doing in my room?” the girl yelled.

My head was pounding and I was still a bit groggy from last night as I picked myself up off the floor.

“Get out!” she screamed again.

“Shh…can you not be so loud?” I groaned looking around. I knew I was out of it last night so maybe I had wandered into the wrong room, but as things started to focus I saw that it was my own.

“I…I’m calling campus security if you don’t get out now!”

“Um…hate to break it to ya, but you are in my room, and…” I looked at her taking in her sleep wear which consisted of my t-shirt and a pair of boy cut panties. I’d slept next to this all night and not known?! “You’re wearing my shirt,” I finished, grinning broadly.

“What? No…” she mumbled to herself looking around. The anger she had moments ago were replaced with embarrassment.

 

My buddy came stumbling in a few minutes later. “What the hell is with all the yelling?” He looked over at the chick, then back at me. “Matty-boy you sly dog. Not even back a week and already hooked one and a looker at that.”

The girl tried to cover herself under his gaze. She kept looking around like she was trying to figure out how she got here.

 “I…I don’t understand,” she mumbled, as she frantically pulled on her jeans. She gathered up the rest of her stuff and fled from the room.

“Someone needs to lay off the herbs,” he joked shaking his head as he left my room.

I tried to go back to sleep afterwards but I couldn’t. The girl and her total confusion plagued me. It could have been as Derek said and she’d partied too hard last night like the rest of us. Eventually I put it out of my head until I saw her again outside of the arena about 3 weeks later.

She was asleep on the bench and some students were throwing popcorn and stuff at her.

“Dude, is that the chick that was in your room?” Derek asked.

“Yeah…” I watched as she woke up looking confused like that morning, and the group started laughing.

“Hey, what are you doing?” he asked as I walked towards her.

“Dude, she might be wasted, we can’t leave her here to be attacked or something.”

“Man, I’ma let you handle that, I’m supposed to meet up with Sarah.”

The other students moved on as I approached. “You’re the prettiest thief I’ve ever come across,” I joked taking a seat beside her. I got a chance to really look at her unlike that morning. She was very cute with beautiful green eyes and nice full lips. The sprinkle of freckles on her face added to her adorable appearance.

“What?! I’m not a thief!”

“Well, you did break into my room and ran off with my shirt…that makes you a thief.”

Her eyes widened and she jumped up off the bench. “What? Oh! I'm...I'm sorry.”

“Don't worry about it, the shirt looked better on you anyway. I’m Matthew, but my friends call me Matt. And you are?” I extended my hand to her and she looked at it wearily before taking it.

“Um…Kia.”

“Nice to meet you. Sleeping on a bench probably isn’t the safest idea, so let me escort you to your dorm.”  I reached up to pull some popcorn from her hair. She didn't smell like she'd been drinking and didn't act drunk. I'd seen plenty of wasted girls and she didn't act like any of them. It could have been herbs, but I didn't think that was it either.

"I...you don't have to do that. I'll be fine."

"Maybe I just want to see where my shirt lives now," I replied, smiling at her. "Come on, the game just let out that means the campus is alive with crazy, drunk college boys. My mother would be very disappointed in me if I let you walk home alone."

She gave me a shy smile, "Well I don't want your mother to be disappointed."