Life Of Two Best Friends: College CHPT 37

CHAPTER 38

‘I dont know why the other two just stood still.’ Instead I walked towards Charlie with a hand stretched out, “Hello Charlie, I’m…”

“George,” Charlie interrupted, “I think everyone in the entire school knows who you are by now. Bryan and his goons have probably started rumors about you and the stunt you pulled.” Charlie accepted my hand and nodded to Timothy and Jermey.

Jeremy was still silent, which is against his nature.

“Nice to meet you Charlie,” Timothy also intiated a hand shake.

“Dude? You are making it weirder, by you being silent,” I shook my head at the still silent Jeremy.

“Remember what Coach Jones said? He might be friend or foe,” Jeremy whispered to me.

“True. He does have a point,” Charlie interjected, “I could be one of those idiots. Believe me I wanted to be one of them my freshmen year, but after what they did to my buddy in my sophmore year; I’ll never be one of them.” Charlie seemed to slink back into his past.

“Good enough for me,” I did not push him to explain; even though my curiosity was spiked. “We were about to head to lunch. You want to join?”

Charlie just looked at us and turned, walking away.

Jeremy, Timothy, and I just looked at each other. What was the insulting?

“You guys coming?” Charlie had stopped and called back to us.

We all rushed to catch up to Charlie. Confused.

“What athelete would say no to food?” Charlie’s answered.

I laughed, Timothy nodded, and Jeremy just walked along with us.

…

“So you are a Breaststroker?” Timothy asked Charlie, in between bites.

“Yep. I especially like the two-hundred breaststroke in meters. I think that is my favorite event!” Charlie nodded.

‘I was shocked. One fifty of breaststroke was enough for me, but Charlie liked the olympic race. Ouch.’ I must have shoved the surprise on my face because Charlie spat out all the food in his mouth due to laughter. Thankfully Jeremy had dodge it or there would have been war.

“Don’t worry about saying your thoughts. I can totally understand your reaction,” Charlie started to control his laughter. “It boggles my mind how you can swim a fifty in twenty seconds. Not just me, but many of the upperclassmen were shocked and questioned Coach on the time after you had left the wall.”

“Really?!? Why would the upperclassmen question Coach Jones?”

“Yeah I forgot to tell you that part bro,” Jeremy was scarfing down all the foods in front of him. “Bryan also questioned it, but he made the teammate beside his speak out against it. You know, he has to keep up his appearences.” Charlie shook his head in annoyance.

I thought Charlie would talk, until I saw to the left who had entered the lunch hall. Bryan and his gang were walking towards our table. People who were siting around us seemed to all finish their food at the same time; because it was like a giant exudus around us. Instead a crowd was gathering around the edges of the room. ‘Bryan does have a reputation. Typical Senior.’ I just ignored his presence and continued eating.

“So, I heard you were going to be their roommate, but I didn’t know you would actually betray your group,” Bryan was resting a hand on the back of Charlie’s chair.

Charlie’s body tensed for just a second, until he relaxed and continued eating. Ignoring Bryan.

None of us looked up in regards to Bryan. I would if he messed with anyone, but I will keep calm for now.

Bryan suddenly pushed Charlies chair back, causing charlie to slide a few inches and then the back of the chair slapped the ground. Charlie laid there clasping his chest.

I calmly stood up from my seat, walked around the table, and helped Charlie to his feet. Jeremy was quickly behind me with my bag; whereas Timothy was cleaning up our mess. Once done, there we stood; the four of us against a group of eight upperclassmen.

Bryan snickered but rolled his head in annyonce. “I don’t know if you understand status quo, but you three should leave,” Bryan waved at us and pointed towards the door.

‘Does this guy think things will remain the same? Why is he acting like an old school bully? It baffled me at his unimaginative bulling skills.’ I chuckled as I grabbed my bag from Jeremy, and pulled Charlie to follow us. As much as I wanted to stay and stand up to this crap, instead I wanted to make sure Charlie was okay. That fall would have knocked the wind out of anyone.

I stopped suddenly because Charlie had done the same. Again Bryan was grasping onto Charlie’s jacket sleeve.

“Only you three. This one stays,” Bryan yanked Charlie towards his group.

“Go ahead and go guys,” Charlie said as he stood disheveled next to Bryan, “I’ll be good.”

‘I haven’t experienced a movie scene in a long time, but this was a classic bully verses weakling scene. Does Bryan not watch movies, doesn’t he know they never leave anyone behind?’ I handed my bag to Jeremy, walked up to Bryan, removed Bryan’s hand away from Charlie’s shoulders, and we both headed back to the guys. I was not about to act against him;it was not my style to start fights. But if need be, I would finish them.

I don’t know what was happening behind us, but I’m sure Bryan was at a loss for words. I wish I could look back and see his baffled face. ‘Priceless.’ The four of us exited the lunch hall smoothly. I know it must have been the right move, because whispers erupted from the crowd around us.

…