As Life Goes: Gen. 5.6-Matthew

After that night I started spotting Kia around campus. I’d catch her coming from class and we’d talk for a while. She was a cute girl, certainly easy on the eyes. If we happened to both be in the student center we’d chat. I learned she had a bit of a competitive side and our table tennis matches could get heated. We started doing friendly wages and were pretty even on wins and losses. She was fun, but a little strange at times. Like the day I saw her walking in circles in the Quad.

The other kids gave her a wide berth, some were pointing and laughing. As I got closer she appeared to be talking to herself, but not just talking to herself, but having a full blown argument.

“Hey, Kia. Everything okay?”

She stopped to look at me for a moment. “No! Does it look okay?” she yelled. “That stupid professor was a jerk. He shouldn’t be teaching if he doesn’t even know his own students!” she went on.

I could understand her frustration with the professors, some of them were real asses simply because they could be.

“It’s not my fault he doesn’t remember what assignments he gives! I told him he hadn’t assigned the essay that he conveniently said was due tomorrow, but he said he had. Everyone in the class is either too dumb or too scared to speak up so they all just mumbled and looked at me like I was the crazy one! Then. THEN he kept asking me questions trying to imply I wasn’t even in the class. I finally got fed up and left, but now I have a freaking essay to write that’s due tomorrow!”

People were staring as they walked by but she didn’t seem to notice since she was back to mumbling to herself. I on the other hand did and that feeling of anxiety started creeping in. That day Claudia was yelling at me in front of the school, something I hadn’t thought about in a while, started replaying in my head. Kia wasn’t yelling at me, but I still didn’t like the attention. One…two…three…I needed her to calm down. 

“Deep breaths, Kia, take a few deep breaths.” I took a few of my own. “Why don’t we um…go to The Grotto, we can get a latte and I’ll help you with your essay.” She kept mumbling so I reached out for her arm. “Hey, did you hear me?” That action made her jump a bit. She looked at me confused for a minute then smiled.

“Matt!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around my neck.

We spent a few hours just hanging out at The Grotto but never got around to working on her essay. When I tried to bring it up, she just pretended like it wasn’t a big deal.

I didn’t see Kia for about two weeks after that. I’d text her, but she’d say she was busy. Guess maybe she was embarrassed for having had a meltdown in front of me and everyone. But then again, finals were coming up. My buddies and I were pulling all night study sessions it seemed like.

I did call home to check in with Mom and Dad. Dad told me he’d gotten Mom a new dog. Vor was again getting up there in age and GG Wind said it wasn’t good for his health to keep turning him back since animals weren’t meant to be like us. Ancha wasn’t a replacement, since no one could replace Vor, but it would help Mom from being too upset once Vor left us. Dad said Mom loves her and that the two dogs got along great. Too great in fact since Ancha apparently wasn’t fixed and she and Vor were expecting puppies. The house was going to be busy soon. 

Kia texted me a while later asking if I wanted to hang out. I was studying for an upcoming test in my finance class, but I decided a break was a good idea. 

We met up at the bowling alley and I decided not to bring up the incident from a few weeks ago. I knew better than most how stress could trigger strange behaviors, so I didn’t hold her outburst against her. We just enjoyed the night laughing and having a good time and a friendly wager of course. If she won, I’d have to take her out to dinner and if I won she would have to do my laundry. She actually kicked my butt, but I didn’t mind, it wasn’t like spending time with her was a punishment.

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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.

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