The real world. Not MTV

[Iwant2bafencer]

Chelsea grabbed up her books and followed Lyn out the door, locking it behind her.

"Well since I'm here a couple weeks late, he didn't know exactly where to put me. So he sent me an email saying that I would be in his beginners class. He says he wants to get a feel for how I act, but he didn't want to limit me just to being in the class and relearning the basics. Therefore helper/student."

[Crin Dalmeiier]

Grateful that Sean had seen fit to stomp away and leave the apartment all to Ethan, the blond Australian whistled some random Bon Jovi song cheerfully as he began to tidy up. Sean's guitar lay out, so he propped that up beside the beaten couch and turned the stereo on. Immediately, Kylie Minogue's latest hit blasted forth. He grumbled and switched the stations.

Better Than Ezra was better than Kylie anyday, he decided, settling on whichever song it was that they were singing. He didn't particularly care, as all he heard was noise. Since Lissa had headed off to class, he could play the music as loud as he wanted to. He turned the volume up and began to clean, throwing away Sean's many liquor bottles and picking up the dirty clothing from the floor. He dribbled his basketball a couple of times and made a couple of shots at the hoop above the door, not particularly caring if he was terrorizing the guys on the floor below.

Before long, the phone rang. Hurriedly, he turned the music off and skidded over to it, picking it up with a languid, "'Allo?"

"Did Sean actually decide to go to class today?"

"G'day to you, too, Theresa." Ethan rolled his eyes and plopped onto the couch, propping his feet up on the end. "I imagine he went to class. Or maybe he just went to a bar. Hey, since you don't seem to do much else around here, feel like getting us some milk on the way over?"

"Get your own #!@$ milk."

"Funny, that's what he said, too. I figured that since you practically lived here and whatnot, you could help split the costs. Silly me. I'll tell him you called."

"Shannon wants to know why you haven't called her back," Theresa interrupted before Ethan could hang up. "Seeing as it's been a week and whatever. I thought you were the type of guy to call after a first date."

Ethan rubbed a hand through his hair and resisted the urge to groan. "It wasn't a date, for Pete's sake! Her OCD is showing through if she thinks she ever had a chance with me! Is that what she's saying?"

"Fine, then. I'll just tell her you're scum just like all of the American me here."

"Good! Tell her exactly that!" Exasperated, Ethan slammed the phone back into its cradle, grabbed a pair of flip flops, and left the apartment. He had to find his roommate and convince him to get his crazy twin sister off of his case. Bloody Americans.

[Iwant2bafencer]

The girls had made their way quickly down to the Gallery. Chelsea had tried to memorize the way they went. She was never good with directions. Chelsea got a large blueberry muffin and Lyn bought an egg sandwitch. They ate on the way to the arts building and Lyn filled Chelsea in on what they had been covering in class.

[Zelda]

The hustle and bustle of people moving was meer background noise to Charlotte. As the RA in Hamilton Hall she should technically know who was rooming with who and make sure ppl knew she was around if they were having problems. Unfortunately that meant that she tended to get teary phonecalls at odd hours when relationships hit the rocks. Last night had been a long, late night, and the early morning bustle had totally and utterly passed her by. "Thank god I'm a grad student" she thought as she passed by the office to grab a coffee and the latest rooming list.... it read something like this.

[Zelda]

Alex Khan -writing major RM ?
Mike Riess - ? Rm 504
Sharline ? - ?
Lisa ? - Astronomy Rm ?
Ethan Ambryt - ?
Sean ? - ? (Rooming with Etha Ambryt)
Chelsa Rodgers - History Rm 510
Lyn Armani - Theatre Rm 510
Josh - Russian and Philosphy Rm 504

Bugger,there are gaps, looks like I'm calling a floor meeting, Charlotte thought to herself and she unlocked the door the the stats lab where she was trying to write a PhD.

[Darion McNair]

After Josh managed to get all his boxes emptied, his clothes and books put away, his computer setup, and his side of the bathroom setup the way he wanted it he was very exhausted. Mike had already claimed his bunk so Josh set about making his bed. He collapsed on it just as Mike walked in and dropped his books on his desk. The boxes still littered the room.

“That was quick.” Mike said, surveying the many empty cardboard boxes on the floor. “We’re going to need to clear these out, though.”

“I know, give me a few minutes.” Josh replied, rolling over on his back and looking at Mike. “It’s been a long day.”

“I’m sure it has.” said Mike. He sat down at his computer and brought up the web browser. “So where are you from?” he asked as he selected one of his bookmarked links..

“Huntsville Alabama.” Josh replied, forcing himself to sit up. “Hey, do you have a knife of something so I could break these down? I want to get them out of the way so I can get some sleep and I’m sure you feel the same way.”

[Marah Seph]

"hmmmmmm" Sharline lifted her head. Yup, still in the library. She looked at the clock. Crap. Missed my first class. She sighed and stood up running her hand over her face and into her hair. She pulled her pack over her shoulder and headed toward the exit. She managed to duck away from the librarian, people slept in here far too often. She headed to the dorm. She tried ignoring the people giving her wierd looks. Not that she could blame them, her hair wasn't the most beautiful thing around. She managed to get to her room, number 527. It was her satuary.

[fencerontheline]

Finished classes for the day. Walked back to my dorm from the campus, passing many people, some with familiar faces and others without. Didn't say much to those I knew, quickly shooting off an insincere 'how's it going', whenever my quickly moving eyes met theirs. To those I didn't know, I said nothing.

Better to save my words for paper. Much better that way.

I walked up the stairs to the fifth floor. No need to ride an elevator with people I didn't know. Walked to my room's door. Reading the number, I realized for the first time that the number was the same fowards and backwards. Damn patterns. They bore me. I opened the door, stepped through quickly and shut it. As I shut the door, an envelope fell at my feet. I picked it up. It was unmarked and very light. Seemed strange. I rarely got mail, and when I did- it was in the dorm mailbox down the five flights of stairs. I didn't know whether or not to open it. I am never sure whether or not to open new mail. It usually is a bill or something else that acts to my detriment. I opened the letter, thinking: "It cannot be all that bad".

I read the letter. It was written neatly with small, perfect letters. Didn't recognise the style.

"Alex, why do you hole yourself up in that room all day long. Today is a nice day out. Why not come out and spend some time on the campus, or out enjoying the weather out in the park? Why don't you meet me for tea?

- 4:00 at the Gramarcy cafe on 23rd and Lexington."

The letter was unsigned. I didn't know what to do. I glanced at my wristwatch. It was 3:30. I didn't know what to do. It would take about 20 minutes to go from here to the cafe. I had 10 minutes to decide whether or not to meet this new person, whoever they be.

I walked further into my room and checked my email. A note from my publisher. He said the last story was my best, and that it was the most honest thing I wrote, but it still lacked emotion. dammit. I didn't know what to do. About my writing or about the letter. "Things have got to change" I thought. I grabbed my worn-down denim jacket and left my room. I strode quickly down the sidewalk towards the cafe on 23rd and Lex. Got there ten minutes early. Sat down and waited with Dracula in hand and a lot on my mind.

[Darion McNair]

Mike and Josh cleared out the boxes so that they could sleep in peace. Josh getting the bottom bunk had to adjust to a bed that wasn’t ‘his’. He was thankful for the foam pad that all the students were issued when they bought supplies from the school.

“Josh.” He heard from above him. “Do you snore?”

“Na, I never hear a thing.” Josh replied with a smile unseen by Mike. He waited a second and heard only silence. “People never tell me I snore, so I suppose I don’t.” he added on a more serious note.

“Good.” Mike replied, and then there was silence. Josh DeAndreas lay I the silence, the room that would be him home for the next school year finally faded out of sight as he fell fast asleep.

Morning came with a start as Mike’s alarm went off and jolted Josh from his restful bliss. The two of them rose and began preparing for a day of classes. The sleepy Alabamian had to rummage through his things to find his schedule. He finally found it and checked what classes he had that day.

“English, Philosophy 101, and Russian 101.” He read aloud.

“Russian?” Mike asked as he took his toothbrush out of his mouth to spit in the sink.

“Yeah, it’s one of my majors.” Josh replied, grabbing the books he would need and shoving them into his dark blue backpack.

“What’s the other?” He spit again.

“Philosophy, I heard it’s good for preparing you for the LSAT.”

“I see.” And the final fluoride-filled loogey splattered in the sink. Josh bid his roommate goodbye and headed out the door with backpack secure on his shoulders.

[Swordsman]

Mike went back to bed. They were just turning papers in today in history; he'd turned his in a week ago. He wondered for a moment why hd had bothered getting up when he had nothing to do...and the next thing he was aware of was a knock on the door.

Nobody was there when he opened it, but an envelope did flutter to the ground, evidently from its former perch on the doorknob. Within, a small note written neatly in small, perfect letters, read:

"Mike,

I don't know anybody here yet, but am trying to change that. Could you meet me at the Grammarcy Cafe on 23rd and Lexington at 4:00?"

He tucked it back into the envelope, and shoved that into his back pocket. Then quickly removed it when he realized he was just wearing his boxers. So he pulled on some boots, a pair of jeans and a t-shirt (not, perhaps, in that very order), and then shoved the envelope in his back pocket, followed by his wallet, and phone in the other. Time to face another day. And only noon already! Time for some lunch, then calculus and finally a meeting with this mysterious newbie.

[Marah Seph]

It was a mess, like everything else in her life. Nothing a set of headphones couldn't fix, along with some nice heavy metal. Crashing to her bed, the thrash, punk, , and classic rock mix blaring from her head phones she closed her eyes and wished the world away.

[Miri Belakai]

Lissa's head nodded over her strong, black coffee in the Grammarcy Cafe as she tried to study the star charts spread out in front of her. As usual, caffeine was doing nothing for her ability to study well on four hours of sleep. As a astronomer, she really needed to find something reliable that could give her system a jolt.

She glanced up as a shadow fell across her work, then disappeared. It was that guy who had noticed her in the hallway when she asked for quiet. The only polite one of that group. She sighed, and turned back to her work. What was with people these days? Her eyes caught another familiar figure on their way back down to the charts. The guy from the room across hers. The quiet one....A-lex, she remembered.

She stared blankly down at the colorful dots on the table, then back around to the nice guy. Maybe some social interaction would wake her up.

She rose in one fluid motion, leaving her work and coffee, and walked slowly across to the guy.

"Hi," she said, holding out her hand, "thanks for noticing my request for quiet the other day. I'm Lissa."

[fencerontheline]

I looked up. There was the astronomy girl. Did she send the note? I don't know. I should talk.
"No problem. I know how you feel. Quiet usually feels good. Sleep even better. I know the late hours. You get in later than I usually do. I didn't think anyone did. By the way- the name is Alex."

[Miri Belakai]

She shrugged. "I guess that's what the payment is for an Astronomy major, and getting to see awesome sights from this ball of rock we call home." She pulled chair near the table. "So, what's your major, Alex?"

[fencerontheline]

was it her? I still didn't know. I couldn't tell from her demeanor. I'd keep talking.

"You make it all seem so mechanical. There are feelings in the stars and there is life on Earth." I paused. I was making a fool of myself. Too pretentious.

"Who is your professor? I took astronomy last year. The late hours didn't work for me this year though. By the way, I am a writing major."

[Swordsman]

Mike glanced around the Grammarcy Cafe as he walked in the door, his eyes coming to rest on Lissa - talking to the new guy. Two suspects, I see...the game is afoot.

[Moonitic]

A day in the life of a theatre major (& also one with a minor in the same) is nothing short of busy. Today was no exception as Lyn hurried across the campus with Chelsea by her side. They arrived, panting, & immediately had to hop onstage to show the beginner students "the ropes." It was horribly tedious for someone experienced in theatre...definitions of some of the most basic elements (the location of "the wings," for instance...), but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. The girls wouldn't have had to do so if Mr. Covington was there. Unfortunately, the audition schedule kept him, & his student teachers, hopping.

Lyn kept so busy that at 1pm, she wasn't as nervous as she usually was when she stepped up for her own audition. It was in a small room, not onstage, with the director & other faculty involved in the decision making horribly close so that they could scrutinize every gesture...every face. Everything.

It wasn't until after the audition, after other classes and errands, & after Lyn & Chelsea finally met up again that the nervousness hit her all at once. "Hey!" Chelsea said. "How'd it go?"

"Oh gosh...I think I blew it."

"I'm sure you did much better than you think. And thanks for helping today."

Lyn smiled. "No problem."

"Is there someplace at least halfway decent that we can eat? I'm starving," Chelsea asked, holding her belly.

A pause. "Hmm...there's this place nearby. We could go there."

"Excellent! And don't worry about auditions. I'm sure you'll do just fine. I'll buy you dessert." Chelsea grinned.

Lyn feined a look of horror. "Now I get it! You want to make me fat so you can get the lead!"

Her roommate laughed. "Yep. That's it. You've figured out my secret."

With a shrug, Lyn said, "Works for me!"

Together, the girls made their way to the Grammarcy Cafe.

[Miri Belakai]

was it her? I still didn't know. I couldn't tell from her demeanor. I'd keep talking.

"You make it all seem so mechanical. There are feelings in the stars and there is life on Earth." I paused. I was making a fool of myself. Too pretentious.

"Who is your professor? I took astronomy last year. The late hours didn't work for me this year though. By the way, I am a writing major."

"Professor Shaw. I like him pretty well," She paused. "Strictly writing? I didn't know that was a major."

[Zelda]

The day was moving quickly for Charlotte. As well as trying to write a PhD she was dealing with the supervisor from hell - an anally retentive control freak who was perpetually looking over her shoulder and "suggesting" how she did things. As the clocked ticked over to 1pm she sighed and decided that nothing else constructive was going to get done if she didnt get food. She knew that technically it was student office hours for the stats department, and there could be students trying to bang down her door for advice on various subjects, but her stomach was rumbling, she had a headache and food called. So locking the door, scribbling a note saying she would be back but if it was an emergency try her cell she made her way to the only decent cafe on campus, the Grammarcy.

[fencerontheline]

Still wasn't sure. I quickly glanced around the room. There were a couple other students in the cafe, sitting on the worn-down red sofa. I didn't recognise them. They were members of the buisness school. They always came here after classes, to let off steam. I never got along with any of them. Never really got along with anyone... but I was still talking to Lissa.

"Shaw? he's a good guy, and a great teacher, but he's strange. Have you ever watched him in the planetarium, when he mans the panels? He picks his nose, and wipes it underneath the panel, when he thinks nobody is watching. It's gross."

I paused. I think that may have been a bad story to tell. I didn't know her too well. ces't la vie I guess- I kept talking.

"I'm kind of double-majoring. I already have all of the philosophy credits I need to have finished the philo major- but I still don't know which way my writing is going. Sticking to one medium is so tough, especially with things the way they are now."