Fire & Snow

Chapter 1

“I cannot believe it’s been a year and we are now sophomore and not freshmen,” Chance sighed as they walked to the cafeteria. “It feels like it was just yesterday when the seniors were making fun of us and calling us fresh meat.”

Alex and I laughed. It was true and apparently, it was tradition to call all freshmen fresh meat and pull pranks on them.

“I know,” Alex replied. “But those guys took it way too far; they always made fun of my shorts and called Mr. Shorts.”

“That’s because your shorts just look weird man, no offense,” Chance replied. “I mean, do you even look at yourself in the mirror?”

Alex glared at Chance while I laughed and shook my head incredulously. “Aw, Chance let him be for once,” I said as we entered the cafeteria and joined the long line of other students. “It isn’t his fault that he loves shorts,” I added.

Chance and I burst out laughing which only made Alex glare at us so hard that if look could kill, then I am sure that Chance and I would be dead.

“You both are mean and I will be dropping you off as my friends for the first person that talks to me,” Alex said as we paid and looked for an empty table. “I don’t know why I’m still friends with you after so long.”

Chance moved his tray to one hand and used the other to sling over Alex’s shoulders. “That’s because we are the only ones that actually like you and are able to tolerate all your weirdness,” he said as we sat at the only empty table that happened to be next to the school’s basketball team.

I shook my head as I opened my water and drank from it. I had been thirsty and as the cold water flowed through my throat, I felt much better.

“You still need a job right?” Chance turned to me.

I nodded my head, “Yeah, I still do but all the jobs have been taken,” I sighed. “I should have found one last year and not waited this late.” I needed a job as soon as possible so I could pay my tuition because it was getting harder and harder for my mum to pay both my sister and I’s tuition, and take care of my grandma. I had to find a job so I could help relieve some strain from her. “Did you find anything?” I was hopeful but I knew hoping would not get me a job and pay my tuition.

Chance looked at me then scoffed, “Of course,” he said in a duh tone. “What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t help out my friend?” he said that while looking at Alex who was stuffing his face with a slice of pizza.

“What?” Alex asked with a mouthful as he noticed Chance and I looking at with amused smiles.

“Nothing,” Chance replied. “Anyway, as I was saying, I have a friend who needs an assistant and I think you could be a great for it.”

I arched my eyebrow at Chance, “What kind of friends do you have that need assistants?” I asked. Chance was an outgoing person with so many friends I still wondered why he had decided to Alex’s friend and mine.

Chance shrugged while unwrapping his sandwich. “I just know people; you should go out more and meet people instead of being stuck in that little head of yours studying day in and day out. Learn to live a little and stop acting as though you are hermit.”

I glared at Chance for that. It was not as though I hated people or anything, I just could not fail and I had to make sure that I stayed above average to keep my scholarship. I could not lose my scholarship because that would mean that I would have to completely drop out of college because there was just no way that my mum could pay all my college expenses. “I’m not a hermit Chance,” I said with narrowed eyes.

Chance rolled his eyes, “Whatever you say Nev, whatever you say,” he said in a singsong voice and then took a huge bite of his sandwich. I watched as he ate and shook my head. “Anyway, so my friend, Liav needs an assistant because his late one was just… no,” he said, “And since you need a job and he needs an assistant, I figured why not set you guys up.”

“And who is this Liav person?” I asked.

“He happens to be a third year Computer Science major,” Chance replied.

Alex stopped eating and raised his eyebrow. “You mean Liav, the guy who you are always trying to get to help you out with your school work but he always says no?” he asked.

Chance glared at me as I burst into laughter at what Alex had just said. “He doesn’t always refuse, he prefers to give me the materials instead so I can learn on my own,” he defended himself.

“Uh-huh, whatever you say Chancellor,” Alex smiled smugly and went back to eating his food as though he had not just pissed of Chance.

Everyone knew how much Chance hated being called by his full name. Apparently, it made him seem as though he was an old man from 18th century England. “So who did you meet Liav?” I asked as a way to get Chance to stop glaring daggers at Alex.

Chance took a deep breath before he answered my question. “We actually met online and it was so weird to finally meet him in person.”

“Wow! So you guys are online friends turned to real life friends,” I said. That was amazing because most online friendships were just that, online and never evolved into anything outside of that.

“I know right,” Chance said smiling. “Anyway I told him about you and he said you should see him today for the job.”

I could not help the smile that broke out on my face. This was great news and that would mean I could finally be able to make my own money. “When?” I was so eager but nervous at the same time, this was huge.

“Relax Nev, you’ll meant him and Faith later on,” Chance rolled his eyes while chuckling. “But I have to warn you though; Faith is not your conventional female.”

“I am sure she isn’t that bad.”

“Ha!” Alex scoffed, “wait until you meet her than tell me she isn’t that bad.”

                                                                                ***************

It was the end of the day and classes were done which meant I could finally get started on my assignment that was due in two’s time.

I opened up and my laptop plugged in my headphones and began typing away. This was my process, music always helped me concentrate and I needed the concentration more than anything did. I was so lost in my work that I nearly jumped and fell when Chance tapped me on the shoulder.

“You scared me,” I said as I took my headphones off and then glared at him.

Chance was smiling sheepishly as he looked at me. “Sorry, but I have been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes and you seemed to engrossed in whatever music you were listening too,” he apologised. “But that’s not the reason why I’m here; Liav would like to see you now.”

I could feel my heart rate accelerate this was it. Taking a deep breath, I stood and followed Chance out of my room. We walked past a few rooms in the girls’ dorms before we came to Room 190.

Chance looked at me then knocked. We waited and moments later, the door swung open to reveal a dark haired guy with huge glasses. He looked at me then at Chance before he moved aside and we entered.

“I believe you must be Neva,” he said and then turned to then turned to the brown haired girl who was laid on her bed with her eyes closed. “Faith, she is here.”

Faith opened one eye then closed it. “Pass me my glasses Liav.” She stretched her and Liav handed her the glasses. “You can take a seat,” she said. I could now see her eyes and they were the most brownest of eyes I had ever seen.

I took a seat and risked a glance at Chance who had already made himself comfortable on the spare bed.

“Let’s get this started,” Faith said. “I’m Faith, third year Business major and that is Liav, also a third year but his a Computer Science major,” she pushed her glasses further up her nose. “I take care of all of Liav’s finances and should you get the job, you will paid a five percent from whatever Liav makes.” Her face was straight as she said all that.

Liav was quiet as he watched.

If I was nervous before, now I was a pile of nerves. I pushed my glasses up and swallowed. Faith was intimidating and I now understood what Chance and Alex had said.

“What are your full names?” Faith asked.

“Neva summers.”

“What does your name mean?”

“Snow.”

Faith looked over at Liav and they nodded their heads as if I had said the right thing.

“You are Computer Science major, correct?” she asked and I nodded. “Why did you choose it? What prompted you to do it? Were you passionate about it or were you coerced into doing it?”

My brain was on overdrive. These questions did not make sense to me. I did not understand why that was important and I began to feel as though Chance had just set me up for failure. I pushed my glasses up as I tried to come up with a proper answer. “I never really knew what I wanted to be but there was always something about technology that intrigued me from an early age and that was my push,” I replied and swallowed as I saw Faith and Liav have a silent conversation with their eyes.

“Interesting,” Liav said while nodding his head.

It was odd to be in a room with other people who wore glasses.

Faith asked me more questions after that and I answered each one with the first thing that came to my mind. I felt as though I was on a game show trying to impress the very smart and intelligent panel of judges. It was utterly nerve wreaking and intimidating to the say the least.  

“I like her,” Liav said smiling. “She seems to know what she wants and I liked that about you.”

“I agree,” Faith said with a tiny smile. “She will not be like Tracy, I have a good feeling about her and she is smart which a plus. Tracy was dumb.”

Chance laughed while I looked at Liav and Faith silently asking them to elaborate more about Tracy.

Faith seemed to get my silent question because she looked at Liav and told him to explain.

Liav sighed, “Tracy was my last assistant. She never did her job and was clingy as hell, and I hate clingy. She was so bad that I almost missed my test because she forget to remind her.”

“And then he fired her but she came back and he took her back,” Faith added with a frown.

Okay, I was processing everything that they were saying. “Why would you take her back?” I asked before I realised what I had done and it was too late to take it back.

“I honestly don’t know,” Liav replied with a shrug. “Maybe it was because there was no one else and I really didn’t have time to do the whole interview thing.”

Faith’s frown grew even larger. “She was just using him the entire until I stepped in and finally fired her for good but she keeps wanting to talk to Liav,” she said and adjusted her glasses. “He’s too nice and can’t say anything when he feels uncomfortable.”

“Okay,” I said. These two seemed complicated and now I was going to be one of them if they gave me the job. “Do I have the job?”

“Of course, I thought that was obvious,” Faith responded.

“What will I have to do?”

“Schedule appointments for anyone who needs Liav’s services. You can say no to anyone who you do not like or do not think is worth Liav’s time. Then make sure that Liav takes his medication because he tends to forget especially if he is busy and always give him a cup of tea if he is sad or angry, that calms him down,” Faith explained everything that I had to do. “You can all leave; I want to get my rest.” She took off her glasses and laid back on her bed.

Chance and I stood up along with Liav and we left Faith alone in her room,

Liav smiled at me. “Welcome to the real world,” he said. “Whatever you need, feel free to ask me, okay?”

“Okay,” I replied as we reached my room.

“I will be seeing you tomorrow Neva,” Liav said and then he and Chance left.