In My Art

Chapter 4- The Cute Universe

Song- More Than Words by Extreme

…/…

His hug felt like falling asleep on the softest bed. I just wanted to remain there and then it dawned on me that he was still a stranger. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I don’t know why I always do this”. “Hey, it’s okay. You’ve been through enough already and no, you’re not a terrible person. What you did is what a lot of people would never be able to do because they aren’t strong enough. You’re pretty strong, Freshman”.

I couldn’t help but smile at that, it was quickly becoming a nickname. “Thanks for letting me paint here today”. “Sure, it’s not like I could get fired for doing it”. I laugh at that. I could feel something tugging at my heart, wanting to know the name of this young man, but at the same time, I was enjoying the mystery of it all.

“Hey, you want to get ice cream? Something to prove that not all the guys are like…” “Tim,” I replied. “Tim, yuck!” I wasn’t sure if his talking about Tim like that was appropriate, but I didn’t mind. “Sure, I’d love to get it, but I don't have my credit card with me right now so yeah”.

“You think I’m going to let you pay for it? I’m getting it for you, Freshman”. I’m about to object to the nickname when he says, “C’mon, let’s go”. He locks up the building and I follow him to where the best ice cream is made, according to him.

…/…

After the ice cream, which tasted absolutely glorious, he walked me back to my dorm. “Thanks for the ice cream and for letting me paint too and for the hug”. “It’s no biggie, just don’t cry too much”. “Bye,” I say. “I’ll see you around, Freshman,” he says as he turns around to leave.

I turned around too and started walking towards the building when it hit me that I just might not see him again because he didn’t know my name and I didn’t know his. I stopped in my tracks and turned to ask for his name, hoping he wouldn’t have gone too far, but he was long gone.

I open the door to my room to see my suite mates sitting on the long sofa and watching what looks like a horror movie. “Okay, first things first, we need to have your phone number, we were worried sick,” Jane says when she sees me.

“I wasn’t,” ID says. “I was,” Lexie says. “Aww that’s so sweet of you, Lexie. ID, I love you too. Jane, I’m fine. I just went to paint to clear my head”. I walk to the couch and they create space for me to sit and they begin to throw silly words at Tim as though he was standing right in front of us and that just makes me very happy, even though a fraction of my heart still felt bad for everything that happened.

…/…

“You can’t be serious, Dan”. “Well, I am. His sister just told me that he’s on his way. She said he got into TSC but he didn’t know because he didn’t check”. “No way and his major is Literature too?”

“So she said”. “Awesome! Do you think you can help get his number from his sister and send it to me? I lost his number a few months back, and we lost communication”. “Sure, no problem. How are you coping with not being with Tim?” “Oh, I’m doing fantastic. I told you about the mysterious boy I met that evening, right?”

“Yeah, only like the one-millionth time”. “Well, I’ve decided to forget about him”. “And, why is that?”

“It’s been one week and some days now and he still hasn’t reached out, maybe it’s just supposed to be a one-time thing”. “Yeah, maybe”. “Okay, bye Dan, don’t forget to send Tyler’s number”.

“That was Dan?” ID asks. “Yeah. Apparently, my friend is coming to TSC too. He didn’t know he got in”. “That’s cool. What’s his major?” “Uhm, Literature,” I responded before biting into my apple. “Oh, I see what the universe is trying to do for you here, that’s very cute,” Jane said.

“The universe is not trying to do anything, Tyler is like my younger brother”. “Of course, he is, also Dan and I are in a loving relationship,” ID says. “ID, you can’t make jokes like that, you’re in a relationship”. “Yeah? Guess what, Ian isn’t complaining. Hell, he thinks Dan is a beautiful specimen too”.

“You guys are just weird,” I say, completely amazed at the kind of relationship the two of them have. “Thanks, babe,” ID replied. My phone rings immediately, with an unknown caller ID. My heart skips a beat when I realize that it could be the mystery guy.

“Hello”. “Yeah, hi?” “Is this Charlotte?” My heart was skipping several beats at that point. “Yeah, this is she”. “Okay, this is Tyler speaking, remember me?”

“Uhm yeah, hi! Dan told me you would be coming”. “Yeah, well, I’m here already,” he says. “Oh, that’s great! Do you need me to come to help you find your way?” “That’d be amazing”. “Okay, send me your location, I’m on my way”. I hung up before he could respond.

“I’m going to help Tyler guys, I’ll be back soon, hopefully”. “Sure, and try not to fall in love while you’re at it,” Jane says, smiling. I made a face at Jane and slammed the door on my way out.

…/…

I start smiling when I see Tyler from afar and his expression makes my smile even wider. “What!? You didn’t grow at all, not even a little bit”. “And you grew, a lot!” I said in response, quite shocked at his height myself. Tyler is close to 6’2 and his muscles are really threatening to tear his shirt.

“Would you look at that? Someone has been working out”. “Yeah, my ex pushed me a lot and I was really dumb”. “What do you mean ‘was’?” He starts laughing immediately and I can’t help but just love the instant connection.

“So, I’ll just take you to the admin building and then, tomorrow, I’d introduce you to the class governor so he’d tell you the courses to register and books to get, is that good?”

“It’s more than okay, thanks Char”. I smile at the nickname, something we made up when we were much younger.

I took Tyler to the admin building as promised and I helped him carry his stuff all the way to his room. “It's not fair that you guys get to be just two in a room and for us, it’s four”. “Four? I don’t think I’d ever be able to breathe in that room”. “Nah, I love my suitemates. They’re pretty cool, don’t tell them I said so”.

“Is this you inviting me to your room, Char?” “So you really want me to flirt with you this badly, huh?” I enjoyed the little back and forth with Tyler before we got to his room.

“Wow, bagged a girl already on the first day,” Tyler’s only roommate says as I walk in with his smallest bag. “Shut up, Zach”. Unlike me, Tyler had already connected with his roommate before he got to school. Apparently, Zach had called looking for Tyler, but Tyler’s narrative is that Zach is scared of the dark.

“So, Zach, Tyler says you were scared of the dark and so you called to check up on him, how princess-like of you”. Zach’s face made me laugh so hard. Tyler gave me a high-five. “Well played, Tyler. You’re divulging secrets now. I love a good competition. May the best player win, whatever it is”.

“Nice to meet you…” “Charlotte,” I filled in. “And I know you are Zach”. “How did you know that?” I squinted my eyes as if to say he can’t be serious. “Ty, have you been talking about me way more than you should?”

I looked at Ty and made a face, “This guy has to be joking”. “Oh! Ty called out my name when he came inside”. “Score!” I shouted. “I should probably head back to my suite now”. “I can come with you, keep you company so you won’t have to walk alone”. “Nah, I’m good. I have to buy paintbrushes on my way, so yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow”.

“Sorry, it didn’t work out Ty, maybe next time,” Zach says. I smiled a little at that. “Bye guys,” I said as I headed out. It seemed like I told Ty to let me walk by myself because I wanted to be alone, but in actual fact, I wanted to see if I’d run into my mystery guy, seeing as I’m in the boys’ dorm and this is the area where all the boys’ dormitories are.

I was already giving up on my way out when I looked up to see the most unexpected eyes staring at me from a distance.