Paxton Flynn

"Chemical Engineering huh?" Sim eyed me with a smile shaking his head. "I knew you were smart as soon as I laid my eyes on you."

I blushed pink, "I think Psychology is more cooler, you would literally be able to hack into people's brain."

Sim laughed, drawing the straps of his bag closer to him. It was Monday morning and we left our dorm together, I had a class by 9 am and so did he. "I'm not really sure about psychology even."

"Really?" I asked, studying his expression. "What are you sure of?"

He looked at me and shrugged, "I don't know at all. No clue but it's okay, I'm just going with the flow for now."

"Why'd you pick psychology?"

"Sounds cool and that's what my mom does. Always thought she was a witch super hero." We laughed at that.

"I think you'd love it," I said giving him a pat on the shoulder and he smiled at me.

I think it's just amazing luck that I ended up with Sim as a roommate. After the introduction night, we hit off immediately. I found out he was a neat freak who loved reading almost as much as I did. He was single and very much satisfied with that status. His originated from Nigeria, his father being from there and his mother from a small town in Europe. He has never been to Africa though but he would surely go there one day. He loved playing games at his free time and plays a little bit of football.

"Hey sucker," Ryder said, screeching to a halt in front of us with her bicycle. She winked, pulling off the helmet. "Good morning."

"You seem quite happy," I said looking her over with a smile on my face. I've missed her.

"Of course I am, it's my first day in college. I met this really hot tour guide and he gave me his number and invited me to a party!" She all but screamed.

I cringed, looking over to Sim who also looked at me confused. He hasn't seen anything yet, I sighed. "We haven't even attended our first class and you're already thinking about a party."

She got off her bike, finally. "I didn't say I'd go, it's just surprising okay? He's not our year and he actually looks a bit interested in me. I'm a catch, be happy, your best friend is about to be chased by hot college boys and girls."

I laughed, finally getting it. "You're crazy and meet my roommate, Sim." I turned to Sim. "Sim, my crazy best friend Ryder."

"Aw you're so good looking, I love your hair and I've heard so much about you," Ryder gushed taking his hand in hers.

Sim's eyes got wide open, "from who?"

"Paxton of course, he has been yapping."

"It's a lie!" I quickly jumped in, glaring. "I just told her your name."

Ryder burst out laughing and Sim joined in too while I pouted in annoyance. Ryder was so going to embarrass my ass in this school. "I have class." I announced.

"Yes," Sim checked his wrist watch, then pulled out his phone to probably use the school map. I didn't even know there was a map app until he showed me. It could show you where you are and where you needed to be according to the time table you put in. It was brilliant. "I'll be on my way, see you later Paxton," he waved and nodded at Ryder before walking away.

"I hate you," I said to Ryder after he was gone.

"Oh come on, I like your roommate. He seems like a nice chill person." She said pulling her bike with us as we walked.

"Yeah, I lucked out." I itched the top of my nose. "What about yours?"

"Leni? She's nice." Ryder nodded to herself. "Very very quiet."

I laughed, "serves you right. I hope she rubs off on you." Ryder suck her tongue out to me and I ewwed. "When's your class? Mine's 9, in about thirty minutes and another by 2."

"Mine is ten, just that." She smiled, "I'd walk you to your class, then walk around a bit. There are so many places to see."

"It's a small school," I deadpanned.

"Still, way bigger than our highschool and this is like the whole of our town."

I tsked, "is a small town too."

Ryder shook her head at me, "you're an ass, shut up."

"Hey, what's wrong with small? I didn't say anything bad." I defended.

"Whatever," she put her hand around me. "We'd do lunch by twelve?"

I nodded, "I'll meet you by that Peacock fountain."

"It's a date." We reached my large lecture room in no time, and Ryder hugs me goodbye, wishing me luck.

I could use all the luck in the world. I peeped into the hall, noting how half of it was occupied and it was slowly getting filled by the minute. I couldn't stand by the door and gaze to my content because students were filing in by the second and I'd be standing in their way. I walked in quickly and hoped to whatever higher authority was out there that I do not fall face flat to the floor as was the case back in highschool. I don't want to stand out here or be given names, please.

It worked, I was heard or Ryder's luck actually worked because in no time I was settled in a seat up, not too close and not too far. There were two girls sitting at the end of the row, three seats separating us and making us three in the row, leaving six more seats empty to my left. I sighed, relaxing in and looking around at the other faces. The girls weren't paying any attention to me, they were energetically trying to make friends with each other. The class was noisy, most people talking and trying to impress and befriend one another, I guess nobody wanted to go through this next phase alone.

I wouldn't mind making new friends too, infact, I hope I would. I'd promised Landon I would although if worst comes to worst and I don't, I'd still have Ryder. I chuckled to myself at that, I already had a new friend – my roommate, so that was a good sign.

At 9am sharp, a middle aged man with gelled dark hair and Harry Potter glasses briskly entered the class, going to the front where the lecturar should be. I think I saw him relaxing on the wall outside typing away in his phone when Ryder dropped me off, I never would have guessed he was the lecturar. He came earlier than most of us and was just patiently waiting outside? Interesting.

A couple students ran in after him and he waited for the class to quieten down and everyone to get a sit. One of the latecomers, slowly slided into the row I was on, getting comfortable on the first seat, leaving five empty seat between us. I glanced at him, noting how tall he was even while sitting. He had a dark green beanie over his head and a cross like earrings dangling down his ear. He turned to look at me and I don't know if it's because he felt me staring or because he just felt like but our eyes met and my heart skipped a beat.

First thing I noticed was that his beanie matched his eyes, he had a dot sparkling on his nose and no cross dangling on his other ear. He looked latino tanned but not latino. He looked at me just as I looked at him, none of us waving or doing any other thing. I looked away before it translates into something else, just in time for the lecturer to say something.

"Good morning all, I'm Mr Gerald and I'll be taking you guys on Calculus," he announced, moving to the white board to place his magnetic cleaner. "I'd probably take you on one other course, we'll find out eventually. For now, you should have your course code at the back of your mind, switch off your phones and pay me as much attention as you can." He looked over the class once more, "I do not appreciate tardiness and I usually lock up the doors after I come in but I'm being lenient as other lecturars might be since this is an introductory week."

I took note of that, mentally of course — no late coming.

"So now, on to the course syllabus."

I pulled out my notes, ready to write and jot down anything. I glanced at the guy again and he was also getting ready to write, silently chewing on something. I shook my head, concentrating back on the class not turning to look at him anymore. He was really handsome, I'd give him that.

-*-*-

"...She was kinda tall, I'm not used to tall lecturers." Ryder was saying as we walked into the eat out literally called EatOut. And we were also literally eating out because it wasn't a room or a building.

It was a raised platform with a canopy-like roof over us. There were chairs arranged around tables and rectangular table with chairs that made it look sort of like a booth. There were decorations hanging up with oddly shaped light bulbs. It was simply like something students pulled off for a carnival and it was fancy at the same time, nothing I've ever seen before. There was a counter where two guys were standing behind, attending to customers and a little shed behind where the food was prepared and a girl was walking up and down the platform attending to people. All the workers wore beige work shirts.

"You're not used to any lecturers, Ry," I said pulling out a seat for myself as she did too.

"Yes but teachers and lecturers are kinda same and none of them are supposed to be that tall." She squinted her eyes behind me, "I think."

I rolled my eyes, then turned around to see what she was looking at. It was a screen above the counter displaying the menu and prices of things and also saying 'Welcome Freshers'. I turned back to Ryder with a smile, "only freshers are welcomed here. Do you think there's a sophomore eat out?"

She laughed, "shut up, I guess other people already had their welcoming when they were fresher's."

A girl walked up to our table, "hello, what can I help you with?" She handed us a paper menu she was going around with.

Ryder took the menu off the girl, subtly giving her a once over. Then she looked at the menu, cheeks looking warmer. "I'd have an iced coffee and macaroni."

The girl nodded, then turned to me. I smiled at her, "Same thing please."

"Okay then, I'll be back in about five minutes." She nodded at us and walked away. Ryder eyes followed her until she noticed I was watching her.

"What?"

I shrugged and she sighed, "fine, I'd say it." She took in a deep breath and leaned in closer. "That's the hottest girl I've seen so far on campus, happy now?"

I smiled, tempted to say I was happy before like I mentally heard Sebastian said imagining he was in my place. I just grinned wider, "I thought you weren't going to do girls anymore?"

"I didn't say I was going to do her, Pax!" She was burning red now and I laughed hard. "I'm just admiring God's creation, okay?"

I raised my hands in surrender, trying to stop laughing. "Okay, okay. Forgive me for asking a simple question."

She glared at me but looked away quickly enough, eyes blinking and mouth open. "Speaking of God's creation, what in the world..."

I followed her eyes and they landed on the same guy from class this morning and I felt funny, like. . I don't really know, I just didn't expect to see him again, maybe until next Monday morning. I was right about him being tall and handsome, very. He didn't have his beanie on again and I could see his dark brown hair falling around his face that had very nice angles. I looked back at Ryder and she still had her eyes on him.

"He was in my class this morning," I said, looking at the time on my phone, one minute more for our food to get here. I was trying to be disinterested in looking him, although I wanted to and I couldn't explain why. Curiosity perhaps?

"Really? What's his name and he's chemical engineering too? Talk about brains and looks."

"I don't know his name," I've decided to call him pierced guy though, "and I'm not sure if he's chemical engineering, it was a combined lecture."

Ryder looked at me, about to say something before the hot waiteress returned with our meal. "Enjoy," she smiled and strutted away, moving to another table.

"Well," Ryder continued after she was gone. "Are you going to find out his name?"

I frowned at her, "like walk up to him and ask?" She nodded, "no."

"Why not?"

"Because," I turned to look for him, he was walking to a seat now after making a stop at the counter. "I don't want to. I have a boyfriend."

Ryder blinked at me like she hadn't expected me to say that last part. I saw her lips twitch and I knew I had fucked up. "Oh wow, I didn't know that." The sarcasm was dripping. "It's not like we come from the same town and are best friends who know everything about each other."

"Shut up," I started eating already.

Ryder sighed, "I don't mean it like that Paxton, just because you have a boyfriend doesn't mean you won't have boys that are your friends. Boys you can chip in a good word for me to." She winked at me and I smiled, "wait, he's straight right?"

I glanced over at pierced guy and my heart skipped a little again, out of pure surprise because his green eyes were on me. His lips quirked a bit and next thing I know he blew out a bubble gum at me.

"Yes, totally."

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Hello, what do y'all think? Pierced guy huh? And Sim? I'm Nigerian and I've always wanted to write about one, happy I finally got a character.

Vote and comment.