DNA (Intro)
I entered the parking lot and immediately took a left toward the 600 building. The car engine moaned as I brought my speed to a snail’s pace. Any person standing outside would have assumed that a drive by shooting was about to commence, yet at 2:00AM on a Wednesday night no one was out in this quaint little college town. I scanned the parking spots out front for that signature shade of red. There it was off to the side parked just as they had said. I couldn’t have slept through the night without having seen it myself. I wanted to get out of the car so badly. I wanted to walk right up to the door, knock until they answered and tell them how much it hurt. How much this still hurts.
Why can’t we grow up being told the truth about love? I grew up watching movies and hearing stories about how a knight in shining armor has to save his princess. I was told that if you love someone enough that person will love you in the same way. I was forced into believing that you can only truly love one person in this life. I was so stupid. How could I ever think that two people in a world of 7 Billion would just magically find each other one day and be right for each other at first glance. Was that my day two years ago…..
September 2006
The walk to class felt different that day. I am not one to ignore a feeling, so I took in all my surroundings as I strolled across campus. I passed in between the Humanities and Sociology buildings to enter into the quad. It was just my luck that my one o’clock class was farthest from my dorm. Students shuffled down the intersecting paths, just like a bunch of ants foraging for food. Every ant had its purpose and every purpose seemed so important at the time. I doubt I’d notice a plane crashing myself unless it impeded my walk. Before I knew it I was at the steps leading to class, up six flights to English 101 at the end of the hall tucked away in a corner. The first trip to this class ended with me being late and embarrassed, which is probably what happens when freshmen decide to skip orientation. Lesson Learned.
For some odd reason, even though I wasn’t late that day, everyone else in the class seemed to be abnormally early. I took my seat on the front row next to my friend Chris.
Chris was one of the first people I’d met since classes began two weeks ago. We spent most of the lecture joking and snickering to our inside jokes.
Almost 30 minutes into lecture, the classroom door opens, slowly at first then it swings open as if the person on the other end had lost grip on the handle. Naturally the entire class instantly looks to the door, including the professor with a face filled with annoyance. In walks this guy, the very same guy who had been consistently late for two weeks straight. I don’t know why a person would come to a 50 minute class half way through it, but this guy was determined to make it. At least that is my theory. The professor responds to the blatant interruption with a simple, “nice of you to join us.” The class erupts in laughter and this guy proceeds to go to his seat in the back. As he walked by my desk, my face frowned and my eyes disapproved of it all. I was caught off guard when he responded by giving me a sly half grin as he passed.
Normally I wouldn’t have given this person a second look, yet I was compelled to look over my shoulder in his direction. Again with this stupid grin on his face. I turned back around and continued to listen to the professor. Twenty two minutes later class was over and students started to stampede out of the room. This was my last class of the day, I had no real reason to rush out. However, at the time my curiosity had ulterior motives.
I began packing up my books when the same loud disruptive guy breezed by me heading toward the professor. I decided to pack a lot slower and listen in on this conversation.
Guy: I am so sorry for being late again. Can I do any extra credit to make up for it?
Prof: We’re two weeks into class. I don’t think you are to the point of needing extra credit just yet.
Guy: Okay. Did I miss anything that will affect next week’s class?
Just as I thought trying to weasel his way out of being a slacker. Butter up the professor continue to be a typical freshman. I scoffed as those words rolled out of this guy’s mouth. It was almost like an involuntary reaction that made them both aware of my presence. I grabbed my backpack and rushed out of the room like a bank robber escaping his latest heist. I began to walk regularly once I reached the main hallway again. I was about to head down the steps when a voice from behind call out to me. It was a simple “hey” from the other end of the hallway. I turned and to my surprise it was this guy again. Talk about being annoyed by a complete stranger.
In my mind I am thinking “Oh shit, this dude wants to fight me, or challenge me to an old time western pistol duel…..
I gave him an equally simple response as I waited for him to catch up to me.
Me: “What’s up?”
He gave me the once over again with that stupid grin. To think this idiot was examining me! I was actually ready for war at that point or a war of words at least.
Guy: Hey, my name is Adrian.
Me: Good to know, but….
Adrian: Well I thought you should know the name of the guy you scoffed at.
Before I could think of something witty or sarcastic to say he said “see you” and started to disappear down the steps. I walked over to the top step and began to give him my response. Oh how well thought out it was in my head.
Me: Well, my name is Danny. *so very lame, not a clever comeback at all.
Adrian: I know…
Then he was gone. For the rest of that day, I couldn’t help wondering what that smile meant. I actually started to become a bit scared that I even cared.
To be continued…..
*Each post in this series will be accompanied by a song that sums up this part of the story. So go listen to it.
