Tonite had proven quite different. Most of my Friday's began and ended the same, with the only random event being how I got drunk, and how I got home. This one though...
My last class ended at around 2:50. It was officially scheduled to 3pm, but on Friday's, every class after noon got interrupted 10 minutes early by the rustling of books and notepads that marked that the students had had their fill of learning and were ready to start filling up on something else. While I enjoyed Psychology to a great degree, my plans for the evening had already been planned out, and I was having a hard time keeping interest in the subject. When the great rustle began, I was more than happy to join in, and quickly took a spot in the large horde of people that took off early.
Stepping into my dorm room, the smell of over-used cologne rushed upon me. Apparently my roomie was heading out early tonight. Flipping my heavy bookbag onto my rickety bed, I made my way to the flashing CallerID box. Pressing the only button on the face of the console, I noticed the number of one of my ex-girlfriends, and another of one of my better friends. A soft chuckle slipped through my teeth as I caught that number. Ted was the sucker, confident to no end, but not quick. He always struggled to find parties, and people to hang out with. He was a cool guy though. Movement at the door caught my attention then, and I stopped my musing.
"Hey man, how was psyche?" my roommate said, a big ass smile spreading his lips as he wiped his mouth and hands after a trip to the bathroom to brush his teeth and shave.
"You look snazzy, what's up tonight?" I said, noting the slacks, shiny shoes, suit and tie.
"It's formal night, me and misses are going." He said, placing various condiments back into his medicine cabinet/mirror. Formal night was when a bunch of sorority and frat people got together to dress up for their own petty pleasures. Dean went for the good alcohol and to make his "misses" feel better about their relationship. It was cute to see them together though, he the rough and tough party boy, and she the delicate intellectual searching for an identity, and a nice paying job.
"Awww...no party tonight, then? That's weak..." I said, knowing it would drive him nuts to miss out on what I would ensure would be a phat party. I picked up the phone before he could defend his choice, and entered my code to check my messages. One beep marked one message and I pressed the appropriate set of keys to play the message. My ex. Blah blah, miss you, blah blah, boyfriend is better than you though, blah blah, what's this I hear about you getting dumped. Same old shit, it was like since we went out she knew my every action, and just when to pop up and drive that all-too-familiar knife into my back. Joy. Without a second thought, I pressed the series of delete keys to get rid of the poisoned message.
"Take it easy kid, I'm off!" Dean said as he walked out, the tail of his jacket flaring out as he spun down the hall, greeted by a section of mocking whistles by our fellow dorm hall residents. I couldn’t help but chuckle, everyone knew he was out of place.
A few hours later, a few reassuring phone calls, and I knew exactly how my night was going to go. I always worked it out first, that way I didn’t get stuck in some lameass party with no action, and no energy. Better to be safe than sorry, besides, it was only 5. I decided that a good meal would be a good start, and began to cycle through who I owed meals to, or who owed me meals. Remembering a particularly pathetic evening spent at the local 24-7 fast food joint, I recalled the name and number of Suzie. Suzie was the typical knockout redhead with the body of an angel and the mind to match. A mind she'd constructed purely for the art of teasing, which she did way too well. I'd just broken up with my girlfriend and went to the restaurant to get some breakfast when she'd pulled over, picked me up and given me a ride, as well as paid for my lousy breakfast when my wallet was "misplaced". She was a sweetheart, and as long as everyone remembered that, she'd stay cool and not a teasing little girl.
So I pick up the phone and dial her number, a few rings later and very formal, but very sleepy voice answers.
"Hello?"
"Hey babe, you awake?" I said with a smug grin.
"Yah...more or less...what's up Mark?" she said, sounding like a mix between annoyed and curious.
"I'm hungry, wanna join me at El Hombre?" El Hombre is this classic Mexican restaurant ran by a family and known for never carding, and serving the largest dishes you've ever seen. For obvious reasons, it was a college favorite.
"Mmmm...Mexican taquitos.."
"My treat.."
"You're on...where are you at?" She said, a little more energy coming into her voice as her stomach took control over her body.
"I'm sitting in my dorm room waiting for you to pick me up." I said, slipping a soft chuckle into the mix.
"Alright, I'll be there in a few..." she said, dropping the phone onto the receiver and apparently missing the hang-up as a curse was heard before the signal finally ended.
A few soft knocks on his door, and there was Suzie. A soft, but warm smile on her lips as she made her way in and took a seat on my bed. I was sorting through a bit of mail in my chair. I looked her over for a second as I grabbed my shoes and began slipping them on. Sweet Suzie, she stood about 5'10", and although he didn't know about her weight, her form fitted the function. No love handles, and no flabby cheeks. Her red hair was short and spiked perfectly at all the right angles. Her smile caused her whole face to light up, and this tool she used with the precision of a surgeon to slay men's hearts. Today she wore a nice pair of jeans, a simple T-shirt that still seductively showed off her pert little breasts, and a nice red bandanna to hide her bed-head hair.
"I don't see how you live in this place, its so fucking small! I'd surely bang my head on every wall before I'd be able to sleep at night." she said, offering me an apologetic smile.
"Well, its fun, its quick, and best of all...its free." I said. Mom paid the bills so long as the grades stayed at a certain level. The level was set too low, of course, and I found myself breezing through classes with no worries of paying any money back. There's no greater feeling.
"Are you ready to go? or do you want to critique my life some more?" I said sarcastically, offering a coy smile. She giggled in her typical fashion, then gave me her typical girlish hug in mock apology and made her way out. I followed, locking the door behind me and making my way outside.
El Hombre was just starting to bustle when we arrived. We quickly found a booth in the smoking section and ordered a pitcher of beer to help us decide on something to eat. Deciding I didn’t want to pig out too bad, I opted for the plate of tacos, the only reasonable dish they had which still managed to offer a large amount of food. Suzie went for a taco salad, a deceptive dish that sounded small and girly, but came out larger than your head and with enough meat and cheesy to fill Shaq's arteries full.
The course of the meal was nice, with both of us sharing our various stories that have formed since we last met. The pitcher of beer was replaced a few times before we were through, though neither of us were really affected. Too much partying. The last, and most impressive, of Suzie's stories began at the end of their meal, and lasted the entire ride home and back to my dorm. Suzie had a boyfriend! Not only that, but she seemed rather serious about him. She talked constantly about him, described him, mentioned his characteristics, and all other manner of useless information that I cared little about.
