Fantastopia: The New Life (Part 1)

Roommates, am I right?

By the time I got back home, my parents still had no clue where I had gone, and it was all thanks to you, grandpa. But since he’s not gonna always be there to watch my back, I seriously need to come up with a new schedule that will balance out my college life and my new life. Man, I bet I’m not gonna get any free time anymore... bummer. I mean, if I do have to miss a lot of my classes, I can always catch up online, but I’ve never really liked online classes, I learn better when I’m in the actual classroom. Although that reminds me, what if my professors ask me why I haven’t been showing up for classes? I gotta think of a good excuse.

But who knows, it might not happen, I just gotta wait and see what my new life brings.

Now that I was home and had an ice pack on my red wrist, I took a seat at my desk when my grandfather entered my room without even knocking, thus causing me to jump.

“Oh, sorry” he apologized “Forgot to knock.”

“It’s a good thing I’m still dressed” I muttered.

“So, tell me about today.”

“Well um-” I began to think “I didn’t do any training today, just watch the elves fight which was pretty interesting. And then this jerk of an elf nearly ripped off my hand all because I beat his record in solving this impossible math equation.”

“Is that why your wrist is red?” he remarked surprised.

“Yeah,” I sighed while taking the ice pack off my wrist to see that the redness was decreasing “Apparently, he does not like it when people beat his record.”

“Hey, he’s just jealous that you’ve got a bigger brain than he does. Be proud of it, but not too proud, don’t be a show-off.”

“I know, and I wasn’t showing off. I was solving a math equation and I just happened to solve it just seconds before the record, it’s not my fault I’m so good at math.”

He gave a slight chuckle “You’re right, it’s not your fault you were blessed with the gift of smarts.”

“Exactly,” I nodded with a smile.

“Well then, I’ll let you head back to college. I hope you’re ready to balance out a double life.”

“No,” I shook my head “I’m not ready.”

“Well, you should be. But hey, just be happy this didn’t happen when you were in high school, that would’ve been harder.”

“Oh definitely,” I nodded in agreement “I was so focused on getting into college, that I wouldn’t allow myself to live a double life.”

“But now that you are, you’re gonna have to be careful. Both in this world and the fantasy one. And remember, do not tell anyone in this world about you know what. If they find out, they find out. Just do your best to keep it a secret.”

I zipped my lips. And yes, I always do that whenever I promise to keep a secret. It’s not weird.

__________

So, I made it back to my college at around 7 that night. It was already dark as I parked my car in front of the dorms and stepped out of my car. After heaving my backpack onto my shoulder, I stepped inside where I walked down the first hallway to my dorm and let myself in to find Evan on his laptop at his desk.

“Hey man,” he greeted “You had fun with your grandparents?”

“You can say that,” I shrugged, reminding myself not to tell him about the secret as I dropped my backpack onto my bed.

“Whoa, what happened to your wrist?”

I looked down at my wrist, it had gotten to the point where it had turned pink, and I’m pretty sure I can see the handprint from Flint.

“Oh um...” I responded while trying to think of a good lie “I kinda sprained it.”

That will do.

“You alright?”

“I’m fine,” I assured, though my wrist still hurt whenever I would move it “I just need to let it rest.”

“Was your sister the cause of it?” he smirked.

“Um, yes” I pointed.

I knew he knows how much of a savage my sister is, and what better way to tell a good excuse that involves Kendra? Because she gets blamed for pretty much anything- Injuries, lateness, global warming, you name it.

“That girl needs to cool her s**t” Evan muttered.

“Tell me about it” I agreed while plopping down on my bed.

Alright, I still got some time left, I might as well get on with studying.

“Oh hey,” Evan added as he got up from his desk “Before I forget, someone stopped by and wanted me to give you something.”

“What?” I responded puzzled “Who?”

“I don’t know” he shrugged while heading over to the shelf above his bed “But she was hot.”

She?

“Here,” he handed me an old-looking envelope that had my name written on the front in cursive black ink

Wondering what it was and who it was from, I opened the envelope and pulled out a folded piece of paper that had been yellowed with the words Hope this helps written on the front by what I assume was by a quill pen. I unfolded the paper to find that it was the map of the castle. I had forgotten that Aria had promised me a map of her castle, and it looks like she kept that promise.

“What is it?” Evan asked me.

“Oh um,” I replied while folding up the map “It’s just a little something from my friend.”

“A little something huh?” he suddenly grinned.

I know that grin, it’s the grin he makes when he thinks a certain something is happening to me. If you know what I mean.

“Is it a love letter?” he continued to grin.

“No!” I groaned like a little kid.

“Come on man, who is this chic? Because I’ve never seen you hang out with her before, and you’ve never mentioned having a hot girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

Sighs. If only she was.

“She’s just a new friend.”

“You made a new friend?!” he exclaimed astonished “Already?! With a hot girl who’s hopefully not trying to get down your pants like the other ones?!”

Of course, he just had to shout that out loud.

“Why don’t you scream it louder?” I snapped “I don’t think our neighbors heard us.”

“Yeah, we heard it!” the muffled voice from next door shouted.

Great... thanks a lot, Evan.

“Sorry” Evan apologized with a guilty look.

“Look,” I continued “Yes, she is a new friend, and no, she is not trying to you know what.”

“If you say so” he shrugged doubtfully.

“Cut it out!” I groaned while throwing a pillow at him.

Evan may also be a nerd like me, but sometimes he drives me nuts, one of the disadvantages of having a roommate.

“Just get back to your laptop watch some cat videos” I ordered, “But first, hand me back my pillow.”

“Whatever” he rolled his eyes while tossing me back my pillow as he sat down at his desk.

Alright, now I can get on with studying.

“So what’s her name?”

Once again, I threw the same pillow at him.

“Cat videos! Now!” I commanded.