Ashen - A MMellow03 RPG

Chapter One: Welcome Back.
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The crimson and grey banner hung stiffly against the cobblestone entrance of the college enrollment office. Greeting new and yet, familiar students back to school with bold charcoaled letters outlined in white, “WELCOME BACK: FACULTY, STUDENTS & FRIENDS“.
It was the first week of August; the beginning of school, though it didn’t feel like August. The air was still hot and stiff, the kind of heat that keeps your mouth open, panting like an animal. The kind of heat that makes you careless, irrational; something caught up in the moment or the kind of heat that still felt like summer. Students bustled along and around the campus looking for friends, classes, or perfect hide away to skip from class. It was mid-day afternoon, which meant it was around the standard lunch hour.

A tall, statuesque young woman appeared from the entrance of the enrollment office. She stood to the side of cobblestone frame, letting students pass her by. She shielded her blue eyes from the bright sun then, dropped her hand to her side letting her eyes adjust. She took a moment to view the campus of its environments. Students stretched out in different areas of the campus, mostly perched under largely shaded trees; socializing or catching moments to themselves and booths promoting different advertisements like, academic unions and fraternity leagues were posted against building entrances and different areas of the open campus. She let the moment sink in, then let out a small sigh and began to head down the steps when she heard someone calling her.

BOY: Hey!

Her toned body in mid twist looked to see, but saw no one other than a few students lingering around the steps.

She paused for a moment, and then shrugged her shoulders in an “oh-well” type of manner.

BOY: Hey! You! The blonde!

She stopped before brushing her hair back (with her slender fingers) which came just below her chin. He came up to her nearly breathless, holding up a set of books in one hand.

BOY: Hey, I think you forgot this.

He held up the books higher using his thigh and presented them to her. She glanced over at her books held next to her chest and looked back at.

GIRL: That’s not my book.

BOY: (confused) you sure?

He lifted his eyebrow at her, then the book, then back at her.

GIRL: (nodding sternly) Positive.

He stood there opening the book to the first page, then flipping it to the back. She stood there observing him in a curious manner. He was a little shorter than she was, at least 5’9; 5’9 and a half. He had short brown hair, which was longer up top and shorter on the sides and faded out jeans that were hidden under a grey and purple plaid short sleeve shirt. His right arm dangled at his sides covered in a dingy white cast covered in different signatures and markings and green eyes that looked like they were being smoldered.

BOY: This isn’t you?

He pointed to a name that was highlighted at the top of hard covered book. She peered into the book.

GIRL: (shaking her head) no. My name isn’t Brianna.

BOY: Oh! Well, uh, sorry for that. I saw you in my class and…I thought you forgot it.

GIRL: Funny, I don’t recall seeing you.

She narrowed her eyes, rested her hand on her hip and cocked her head to the side.

BOY: Yeah! It was, uh, the one class with that one guy. You know? …just now.

GIRL: Oh! Yeah! I know who you’re talking about…

BOY: Yeah!

GIRL: …the one guy with the two eyes, nose, and I think a mouth, right?!

BOY: Dammit.

GIRL: Look, I got to go. It was nice try though.

She pulled out her phone from her white shorts and saw the opened text on her phone.
________________________________________
Meeting at the mango lounge.-b
________________________________________


She started to turn away then turned back.

GIRL: You know, you can get a little more ass with your cast then the whole “excuse me miss, you forgot something” routine.

BOY: Well, funny you mentioned because, it was either that or the whole “weak and defenseless” act.

He titled his head down in a coy manner and let out a small laugh.

GIRL: Yeah, go for that. We girls eat that *beep* up. Nothing screams “ I want to *beep* you.” then pity and desperation.

BOY: Oh, ha; great.

She gave him a small smile then began to walk away.

BOY: Hey, wait up!

He ran up besides her nearly knocking her over.

BOY: Well since I didn’t get your name, what is anyway?

GIRL: Tara.

BOY: Tara?

He lingered on her name.

TARA: Tara Rosien. You got a name?

BOY: You got a phone number where you can find out my name?

Tara rolled her eyes and started to pick up the pace towards the campus lounge.

BOY: Ok, look. It’s Patrick. Patrick Ungle. Like “jungle” without the “j”.

TARA: (dryly) got it.

The two stopped in front of a small one story brick building that displayed “Campus Lounge” in green neon letters. It had a few students sitting outside posted up against the wall sitting at small clusters next to verity of small shrubs, which gave the building the typical “coffee lounge” look.

TARA: Well.

Tara stood few feet from the glass door entrance of the lounge. Her hand placed back on her hip; she let out a forced sigh.

TARA: I better get inside. If not, grandma ties me up and beats me with a robber hose.

PATRICK: Oh…ok?

He let out a small smile.

PATRICK: Well…since I didn’t get yours, here’s mine.

He pulled out a small piece of paper already torn with his number on it.
________________________________________
Patrick 555-6878
________________________________________


TARA: (saluting with the paper) Thanks.

Tara swiftly eased into the door. Patrick stood there for a moment, then walked off.

She inhaled deeply the smell of coffee and old cooking grease of the campus lounge. The walls where covered in a mango colored wallpaper that was buried beneath countless number of flyers. The over lapping sound of conversations, changing rattling around in the cash registers, the sound of pools balls clashing together, and the high pitch ring of a bell that the cashier would hit when a food order was ready, placed Tara in a tranquil trance.

…”Hey.”

His body stood still, ready and alert. He breathed deeply, letting the chlorine fill his lungs; he exhaled. He adjusted his black goggles that sunk deeply into his dark blonde hair. He felt someone nudging him.

BOY: Hey. You ready?

KADE ROSZAK pulled his right arm behind his head and quickly tug with the left. Then proceeded with his left and tug with the right. He turned to his swimming partner.

KADE: Yup. Get ready to get your ass handed to you.

BOY: Yeah. We’ll see.

The two well built males hunched over the edge of the pool, anticipating the countdown.

KADE: 1-2...

The second male swimmer leaped into the pool, leaving Kade still standing.

KADE: *beep*!

Kade plunged into the pool, letting his body easy glide into the water. Between each stroke Kade could see his opinionate drawing closer and closer to him. The two males reached the end of the pool; their bodies disappeared underneath the surface. The indoor campus grew silent for a few seconds; only the sound of water splashing up against the sides of the pool was heard.

The bodies swiftly reemerged from the depths of the pool with Kade leading the race with his opponent at his feet. He reached back to the shallower end of the pool, slapping the edge in a victorious manner. His opponent, LUKE LEVI, finally reached the end a few seconds later. Luke quickly reached his head up to inhale when Kade heaved water into his face.

LUKE: (choking) Dick! What the *beep* was that for?!

KADE: Dude, you *beep* cheated!

LUKE: …So?!I counted to three.

KADE: You where half way down the pool when you hit three! That doesn’t matter now because, I still destroyed you.

Luke climbed out of the pool. Kade took a lingering glance at Luke, and then picked himself out of the pool.

LUKE: Whatever man.

The two strolled over to white plastic bench that was cemented to the side of the pool. Kade reached into an open brown duffle bag that held two towels. He unraveled the towel and droped it on top of his head. Luke took the other towel and tossed it over to Kade. Kade quickly reached out and caught it with one hand. He proceeded to wipe himself down, then took a seat next to the duffle. Luke took a seat on the opposite side.

LUKE: (sigh) so what are you doing after this?

KADE: (shrugging) I don’t know. Maybe see Nancy at work, why?

That was the answer Luke was waiting for.

LUKE: Oh, ok. Cool. (Pausing) Can I ask you something?

Kade’s body tensed up inside, his mind raced with questions but the only thing that seemed to repeat was, “He knows.”

KADE: Sure.

Kade stood up straight and kept his focus on Luke.

LUKE: Do you know something? Like, something wrong with Nancy?

Luke let out a sigh, his breathing started to get shallow.

KADE: (confused) Uh…

LUKE: Like she seems very distant. Like something is always irritating her.

Kade raised an eyebrow and slightly titled his head.

LUKE: You know how Nancy is, well, was. I mean you are her best friend.

KADE: (nodding in agreement) Yeah.

LUKE: Friendly, bubbly, popular. You know, she always had someone coming to her for support but now…she just cold.

KADE: It’s just stress. You know final year of college and she has to deal with school and the right career, and well life.

LUKE: (quietly) Yeah.

KADE: Yeah, so don’t worry about it. Just give her some space. Last thing she needs is her smothering boyfriend.

LUKE: You don’t think that’s it, is it? I mean, I’m not coming off as too controlling?

KADE: Dude, no. It has nothing to do with you. It’s just something personal.

LUKE: (sighing in relief) Ok. Ok cool. Wait how personal?

KADE: *beep* Something she has to deal with; nothing that I or you can do about it. It’s more of a mental battle. Inner strength, you know?

Kade proceeded to pull his clothing from under the bench. He pulled down his grey wife beater that hugged his swimmer build body like a second skin and then slipped on a pair of track pants and sandals.

KADE (picking up the duffle bag) we’ll I’m gone.

Kade pulled out his phone and started to run his fingers through the numbers. Kade started to head towards the exit.
________________________________________
On my way over. Need to talk, ASAP!
________________________________________


LUKE: Dude, no shower?

KADE: You can’t recognize that?

Luke shook his head in uncertainty.

KADE: That my dim witted friend is “victory“. You would know if you weren’t getting pawned all the time.

LUKE: (dryly) Oh, ha. (Sticks middle finger out)

Kade let out an exaggerated smile, shrugged his shoulder in a blasé manner and headed towards the exit.

The familiar sound of a women pulled Tara from her trance. She turned to look over to see who calling her attention.

GIRL: (waving hand) Over here.

Tara followed the voice to a small booth hidden in the corner of the lounge where two young women sat.

GIRL: I see you finally got my text.

TARA: I was in the middle of class. I didn’t want to answer it. Unlike you, I want to pay attention in class.

BERNADETTE O’HARA rolled her large brown eyes; that where wing tipped with mascara and her large, black curly hair bounced from side to side.

BERNADETTE: You know it’s impolite not to respond to people when there speaking to you.

GIRL 2: …And it’s impolite to make everything about you, Bernie.

Bernadette gave the girl that was sitting next to Tara a malicious glare.

BERNADETTE: …well first of all, it’s rude to intrude into people’s conversation, Cheryl.

CHERYL GEORGE shook her head. Her blonde, tightly pulled ponytail swayed side to side.

CHERYL: I didn’t intrude into your conversation. It’s an open discussion at the table. Geez, Bernie you’re so conceded and vain.

TARA: If you want me to go get the battles weapons out of car, I will. I mean, I don’t want to be caught in the middle of this.

BERNADETTE: Hold on Tara. How am I conceited and vain Cheryl?

CHERYL: I don’t know, like spending 500 dollars on those shoes is one thing.

If it’s one thing, Cheryl knew and liked to argue, but more in a debating manner then general disagreements. She considers it healthy and a great way to get things out in the open; self expression and plus it was a great way to challenge herself.

Tara leaned over the edge of her seat to glance at Bernadette’s boots; they where black that came knee high, that engulfed her tight denim jeans.

BERNADETTE: Boots, Cheryl. I’m not an idiot. And I worked hard for these; I get want I want, when I want it.

TARA: They are cute, C.G.

BERNADETTE: …And don’t jump down my case because, you roll around here like you’re going on a man-hunt.

Cheryl’s appearance was usually different from what Bernadette wore. Cheryl kept it simple and comfortable, nothing complex like her roommate Bernadette. She always kept her hair neat and simple; either in a pony tail or straight down and her clothing choices where t-shirts (commonly one size too big), and a pair of short sweat pants and low top converse. And she wore little to no make-up; she’s considered a natural beauty that didn’t need to rely on make-up.

CHERYL: I don’t roll around here like I’m on a man-hunt.

TARA: Funny because, she is the man-hunt. Oh, speaking of…

Tara placed the torn piece of paper on the table with Patrick’s number on the table. Cheryl picked up the number before Bernadette could. Cheryl pulled her phone from her pocket and began to enter the number.

CHERYL: Oh, I already have his number.

She handed the number the Bernadette.

BERNADETTE: How do already have his number?! School just started two days ago? And Tara you need to keep this and call this guy! You need to get rid of you-know-who.

Cheryl has a coy smile and shrugs.

TARA: (holding up her hand) I don’t need it.

CHERYL: You know Cosmo says the best way to get rid of a guy is the “burn” him from your memory. Forget him by burning personal items he gave you. It’s cleansing.

Cheryl gave out a smile.

TARA: Yeah and if it gets out of control it’s called “arson“.

Tara gave out a smile mocking Cheryl’s.

BERNADETTE: I say just burn him in general.

CHERYL: Aww yes, Bernie’s answer to everything, give him a STD.

the girls broke out in a small laugh and then grew silent.

BERNADETTE: Touché.

TARA: But seriously, it’s hard as it is forgetting him because, I keep seeing him.

BERNADETTE: (sympathetically) you saw him?

TARA: Yeah, I didn’t blink in time not to see him.

CHERYL: (sarcastically) hmm, how could you not see him? I mean, what are the chances you not run into him at the same college. Hmm, that’s totally weird.

TARA: Thank you, Tara for that new found discovery.

CHERYL: (nudging Tara) No problem.

TARA: I don’t know, I don’t want to build up stress trying to play cat and mouse with him. Plus, I’m already getting piled on with countless numbers of essay’s and assignments.

BERNADETTE: Damn, it’s only the first week of school.

CHERYL: Yeah.

The group went silent with the thought that their senior year was already going to a challenge, then Bernadette’s eyes grew wide and she let out a cheerful gasp.

TARA: What do you have scheming up?

BERNADETTE: No scheme, well it is but let’s skip class on Friday!

CHERYL: I don’t know. I don’t want to start off the year on a bad note already.

BERNADETTE: We won’t. We’ll leave around lunch on Friday and go…

CHERYL: …and go where?

TARA: Yeah?

BERNADETTE: (smiling) that’s where you come in handy Cheryl.

CHERYL: No. I know what you’re thinking and the answer is no.

BERNADETTE: Oh come on! It’s just for the weekend, and you don’t visit that house till the summer.

TARA: You mean your summer home out in the country when you moved here?

CHERYL: No, the summer home that my parents rent out to tourist that helps pay for my education.

BERNADETTE: Oh come on! It’s just for the weekend. We’ll be in and out before your parent’s notice people where inside it.

CHERYL: I don’t know ya’ll.

TARA: Come on Cheryl, help me out? Please? It will only be us, just the girls.

CHERYL: Only the girls?

TARA & BERNADETTE: Yup.

BERNADETTE: Just the girls.

CHERYL: I don’t think this is going to work out.

Bernadette slumped into her seat and let out a groan.

BERNADETTE: Why not?!

CHERYL: If where going to try to get rid of a guy, why not let it be the solution?

BERNADETTE: (smiling) meaning..?

CHERYL: Fight sexual frustration with sexual frustration.

BERNADETTE: Yes!

TARA: So it’s settled, we bring a couple of friends and skip class...

BERNADETTE: For a fun filled weekend filled with booze and STD free sex!

CHERYL: Yee-haw!
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