Chapter 81: The Other Side of Me

Ever have one of those days where everything is perfect?  The sun is shining a little brighter, coffee is fresh brewed, flowers are more fragrant and the barometric pressure is bang on?  Even the three-day-old steak used for breakfast omelets tasted like ambrosia.  Godzilla could have been ravaging the campus and eating kittens; it would not have mattered in the least.

It was the greatest day to be alive.

Of course I would greet everyone in the dorm as I made my way to the cafeteria before class.  “Hi, John Paul.  I’m dating the hottest girl on campus.  Oh, hi!  I’m John, dating the hottest girl on campus…”

After I receive my portion of slop, I thank the apathetic server for my recycled food and wish him Godspeed and safe journey on his marvelous day.  He thanks me in a tone that implies he’d like me to just go straight to Hell.  But I’m flyin’ high and can’t wait to see Corinne again.  Sure enough, moments later she finds me at a table and sits next to me.

“Hi, I’m John.  Dating the hottest girl on campus.  Nice to meet you.”

She laughs.  “Who is she so I can kill her?”

Do you know how nice it is to present your feelings to someone and not have the next day be an awkward pile of regret?  Well my friend, it’s ten pounds of cool in a five pound bucket.  From then on our hands would brush a little more, or we would stand a little closer to each other.  If you were paying attention, it was kind of obvious something was going on between those two kids.

And yes, some people were paying attention.

Since me and Celeste had ceased contact, Alice was the last from my church that really knew me.  Nice kid and we waved often in the hall.  This time she’s approaching me and I could tell there was something on her mind.

“Can I ask you a question?”

I was feeling dang good.  “Ask me anything.  What’s on your mind?”

“You and Corinne.  Are you two together?”

For a lot of people at my home church I was a bit of a pet-project.  A young heathen that turned from the dark side.  I suspect Alice was the agent chosen to extract the juicy details.  I remember clearly feeling extremely proud at that moment.

“Yes,” I nodded in the affirmative. “Yes we are.”  Saying those words felt freaking fantastic.  Sometimes you want to shout from the rooftops.  This was probably more socially appropriate.

Alice nods and smiles.  “That makes sense.  You look good together.”  It was a very nice thing to say and I thanked her.

But it was true.  We did look good together.

NEXT – Chapter 82: Sabotage