CHAPTER 8: IS IT THIS TIME?

I woke up at seven the next day and Chuck was already gone, but after getting me breakfast and writing me a note.

“Eat. Or I’ll shave every hair on your body.

Love, Your Handsome Chuck.”

I chuckled before opening the white paper bag with a warm bagel and cream cheese in it. He also didn’t forget my triple shots Americano, hot. I devoured them happily after taking a bath and then got ready to go out.

I didn’t have much to do. Band practice at nine until ten. Helping the Charity Concert committee (no fixed time, I can come and go when I’m free). Then lunch with Chuck. Then I was going to help the fencing team fix their uniforms because they couldn’t afford new ones. They suffered from budget cuts that resulted from their lack of trophies for the last few years. I felt kinda bad for them so I actually offered to fix those uniforms for them, free of charge.

Oh, and I was also going to help the student body with some stuff today. I didn’t exactly know what because I wasn’t really listening when Kimberly, the student body president asked me (I was busy taking pictures of shirtless boys while getting screamed at by a bunch of overly-excited fans) yesterday. So, I was just gonna head there after lunch.

Was that all? Yeah, maybe. I really should take notes of these things, shouldn’t I?

I sighed.

Maybe I should buy one of those organizer books thingy since my phone’s battery often goes out so fast.

I took another mental note as I locked my door and turned to see Allen was about to go out too.

“Hey! Where are you going?” I walked to him and patted his shoulder, he turned in surprise and I let out a laugh.

“Hey,” he smiled when he saw me standing behind him. “I’m heading out to practice,” he told me.

“Wanna go together?” I asked and he silently nodded. I smiled at him and we started walking towards the elevator.

I stole a glance at Allen who was surprisingly quiet. Well, not really surprising, since I’ve only known the guy for a few days, so I couldn’t really say that I knew him all that well. I said it was surprising because he hadn’t asked me where I was going. Not that It was necessary for him to ask… just… and he looked kinda weird. Though I couldn’t really put my finger on how weird or what kind of weird. He was smiling but that smile didn’t quite hide his rather tired face. I tried making jokes and he laughed. Well, I guess if he could still laugh, then it’s fine.

I shrugged mentally as we rode the elevator down.

“What are you up to today?” he asked as we finally got off the elevator and walked outside our dorm. I grinned and told him all of my schedules. The ones I actually remembered, at least.

“Those sound tiring,” Allen frowned.

“Not at all. It’s fun,” I smiled widely, “I get paid,” I grinned even wider, shamelessly and that made Allen laugh, so, don’t care. Heh heh heh.

We talked and walked until we reached my destination and only then did I realize that we had passed Allen’s own destination a while back and that he was actually taking me to mine. Why did it feel like he’s starting to turn into Chuck?

“Thank you,” I smiled at him, grateful, and a little… happy? He reached out his hand and caressed my hair gently, smiling a little.

“Later,” he said and turned on his heel and started walking towards his own destination.

I stared at his broad back with a frown. His shoulders were slumping down when he walked away. From here, I even thought that he was sad, from the look of his back (if that’s even possible; knowing a person’s mood just from his back). Also his smile. They were not as bright as usual. I shook my head and decided to let it go.

Maybe I was reading too much into it, I thought as I let myself inside the music studio and joined my band mates for practice.

*

I was finally finished with practice just a little after ten and immediately rushed to the Music and Performing Arts Faculty building for my decoration job. There were already a lot of people there from the Charity Concert Committee who have started their decorating job so I immediately joined one of the groups that will be making the stage decoration, which was part of my job.

I lost track of time cutting and painting cardboard boxes and woods for the decoration until someone tapped on my shoulder and said my name, “Lee,” the freshman, Robi, also known as the delivery guy (he accepts orders and deliver things to people around the campus, hence the name) stood in front of me with a grin on his face and a plastic bag in one of his hand and a helmet in another. “Delivery for you,” I raised my eyebrows at him.

I didn’t order anything.

“Huh?” I asked in confusion.

“Lunch from Chuck. He already paid for it. He says that he can’t take you to lunch because he and Tyler have to talk to the coach. Here, take it. I have more deliveries to make,” Robi said, shoved the bag in my hands and then ran off.

I scratched my head and looked at my watch. It was already past two. I chuckled. How did he always know that I haven’t eaten? It was sweet yet kinda alarming. I took out my cell phone and texted him my gratitude as always. All I got as the reply are emoticons of someone eating something, a red X, a peach (that kinda looks like a butt) and a foot. Those could only mean that he would kick my ass if I didn’t eat, right? How childish. I rolled my eyes and chuckled before moving to a corner to eat.

Before I ate, I didn’t forget to take a selfie first and posted it on my social media accounts (I was a sucker for social media lately) to brag about my dearest best friend. There were many likes and comments as soon as I uploaded the picture and I immediately answered those comments until Marsha’s comment popped up on my notification that said:

“Put down your phone and eat.”

I cringed and immediately put my phone down like she told me to and started eating my late lunch. After I finished my lunch, I excused myself from the Charity Concert committee and hurried to the student body’s office.

“Hi,” I greeted the members present as I walked inside.

“Finally!” the student body president, Kimberly exclaimed in relief when she saw my face.

“What can I help you with?” I immediately asked before she had time to nag. Kimberly was really pretty, with her long auburn hair and a very hot body with all the right curves, but she was scary when she’s mad. Not Marsha-scary, but still scary.

Kimberly motioned for me to sit beside her as she took out a folder and opened it in front of me. “It’s regarding the summer camp for high-schoolers,” She started. “We need someone to go to the south beach and go look for lodgings and venues that can be used for the summer camp. The details are written here. How big the place is, how much money we have, stuff like that.” She handed me some papers and I scanned through it carefully.

“Deadline?” I asked.

“Early next month at the latest,” She said and I calculated in my head. So it gave me approximately a little over three weeks. I could only go, probably, during weekends because of my jobs, unless something got cancelled or postponed, though it was not very likely. I could also finish my job quickly to be able to go during weekdays. It would be cheaper to go during weekdays. But I was not too sure if I could go during weekdays. Maybe I should just go during weekends? Though it would be more crowded during weekends, especially the train and bus.

“I can do that,” I told Kimberly who sighed in total relief.

“You’re a Godsend,” she said as she hugged me tightly, almost suffocating me. “We’re swamped with all the events that are coming up. I’ll pay you double this time,” she promised me.

“Thanks,” I grinned shamelessly at her. I admitted I was a little relieved when she said that, because one trip to south beach costs quite a lot, be it by train or bus. And I couldn’t just come and go on the same day if I wanted to look for the perfect spot for the summer camp. So, here’s to double pay!! Heh heh heh.

“Contact me if you need anything,” She told me when I bid my goodbye. I waved at her and went out.