História Wild Youth (English Version) - Chapter 2

When you don’t get the attention that you need, you eventually stop needing it. Can either destroy you or make you grow up faster. Sometimes both.” Christopher Taylor, Wild Youth by the sober none.

I looked at my double burger and strawberry milkshake with lustful eyes. I was starving since I left the clinic after lunchtime and all the heath food that I saw there just made me even hungrier.

“It was such a lovely coincidence that we ran into each other this afternoon, don’t you agreed with me?” Albert asked me, sitting in my table with a Greek salad in hands. His black eyes were shinning when he starred at me.

Albert was one of my classmates. He’s very polite and always talks like some kind of pompous teacher. It was quite boring and he never fails on giving me second hand embarrassment, but you can say he’s a good guy. Every single college student avoided him like he was some kind of plague. I feel bad for him and I don’t shove him around like everyone does, so that’s probably why he thinks I’m his best friend.

“I agree.” I replied him quickly before grabbing my burger and taking a big bite of it. I felt like I was in heaven while chewing the fast food.

“I don’t know how can you possibly eat so many unhealthy food and still manage to keep your good form.” Albert casually said as he placed a red nap in his lap before opening his salad. I was more interested on the nap’s color than on his lame words.

I fight the impulse of rolling my eye while drinking my milkshake. Liz would eat this guy alive if she was here.

“I mean, look at you. You’re gorgeous.” His cheeks went red after he complimented me.

I frowned at his words. I didn’t felt comfortable with a guy I didn’t like saying those kind of thing to me, but it wasn’t like I could snap at him for it so I just nodded.

“Really gorgeous.” He repeated as if expecting me to compliment him back.

“Thank you.” I said sweetly giving him a smile. Just because I didn’t like the guy it doesn’t mean I have to be an asshole about it.

You could clearly see that he was disappointed by the look on his face. I straight up in the char and took a tight grip on my burger once again.

“I was wondering…” Albert casually started talking while glancing me occasionally.

I hold my breath. Please, don’t.

“I was wondering if you’re interested in going out in a date with me.”

“When?” Was the automatic answer that skipped out of my mouth without my permission.

Albert was an okay guy, I guess. But definitely not someone I would want to date. I really liked getting shitfaced at Friday’s night and I couldn’t survive without junkie food. He would probably make reservations at some place that served natural sandwiches and all that shit for us at our first date. I would have to eat avocado in a salad. I shivered just thinking about it.

“Tonight.” He said looking happy and surprise at the same time. How could I blame this guy?

“What’s your favorite movie?” I asked randomly.

Albert blinked twice.

“My… favorite movie?”

There was a cute little girl crying her eyes out while punching her mother’s knee a couple of tables away from us. I watched the scene carefully. The mother was holding a cellphone and telling her daughter to shut up. The kid was trying very hard to piss of her mother, I could tell.

“Yeah, your favorite movie.” I repeated with a friendly voice.

“The silence of the lambs.” His eyebrows were doing this weird thing as he talked. “You’re free tonight?”

“I’m not.”

“Oh.”. He looked like he didn’t see it coming, but I knew he did. “Maybe another time?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“I told that you said yes.” Albert’s eyes were suddenly cold.

“I asked you when. It’s different.” I wasn’t about to say that he bored the shit out of me.

“You know what?” His voice was more annoyed than anything else. He got up and started to grab his things. “You’re an asshole. You think you’re better than me just because of your mother. I’m sorry if not everyone is related to someone famous, Christopher.”

I stared at him with disbelief. I was trying not to hurt him by not saying that he’s the most boring guy on earth and now I’m the asshole? Fuck, I would rather be the asshole than going out with him, so I kept my mouth shut. In fact, I was kinda of hiding a smile. I was used to people like Albert saying that type of shit to me. They can’t manage being dumped without blaming others. It was pathetic and I didn’t like pathetic people. 

“You might be pretty, but not everyone will put up with your bitchy attitude just to fuck you.” He spitted with an angry voice, his hands trembling when he grabbed his glasses from his bag putting them on. “I even were contact lens for you.”

Pathetic. I was facing my hamburger without looking at him. Just hoped that he would leave soon so I could eat my meal in pace.

 When he left, I was trying to figure out what just happened. After a few minutes, I silently finish my burger, only feeling a little bit guilty. I practically shoved the fries down my throw. I didn’t wanted to be late for my class.

Professor Keating classes’ are the ones that I learn more than any other class. He’s such a good professor that no one ever failed his class. Don’t think that the class is easy, because it’s not. Professor Keating just has this incredible way to involve you in the subject and make it look cool to learn. Obviously, I find every class in my curse interesting because I love Journalism with a passion, but there are a very few teachers that almost succeed in turning a nice subject into some boring shit.

Like Benjamin Franklyn said, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Oh, well. That’s if you think that Benjamin Franklyn actually said these words. Some believe that. I highly doubt that is true, though. Not that I don’t like Benjamin Franklin. I totally respect him because hell, he was a respectable journalist, among other things. But facts cannot be changed. That quote came from a Chinese book that I read. I once saw that quote on the board on my CrisisBeat class and I love it, so I decided to search where it came from. Of course that was written on the board who was the currently author of it, but I like to do my own research. Sound pretentious, I know. I learned that it came from a Chinese book that was written by Xun Kuang 1100 years ago. Confucius said “I hear I forget, I see I remember, I do I understand”. Benjamin Franklin attributed it as "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." He made the phrase look nicer and took the credits. Of course, people would like it more if was Benjamin Franklin who’s this quote belonged to instead of some unknown Chinese writer.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realized that I had already arrived at The Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. I wanted to make a quick stop by the NYU’s Washington Square campus just to relax a little, but I was already late so I jumped from my Honda Civic, which I parked at the student’s area, and started to make my way to class.  The place was totally empty and I swallowed hard thinking that I would be the only who’s late today. I didn’t like it and my heart started to pound against my chest. I would enter the room with a black expression as always.

I pushed the door open and without taking a look at anyone, I found my usual sit next to the professor’s table. Professor Keating didn’t interrupted his class to recognize my arrival and I thanked him mentally for it. He just smiled at my direction and kept explaining the subject he was teaching. I grabbed my red bag and took my Advancing Reporting notebook. I found the green marker who said “Advanced TV Reporting”, opening in that part.

The class flied as always. I was so involved in the Professor’s explanations that I jumped when a finger harshly poked my back. I quickly turned around to face two big brown eyes attached to a baby face. It was Dakota. Her dyed brown hair flipped when she barked a quick laugh at me.

“Professor Keating said that this class would be a lot of help with the paper we’re supposed to return next week.” She said while writing at her own notebook without taking her eyes from the professor. “Such a help and you already missed, what? Ten minutes of it?”

“Okay.” I replied her while blocking her annoying voice and focusing on what the professor was saying.

The girl let it out another giggled after shutting her mouth, giving up on her little plane to bother me.

If we were outside, I would probably snap at her depending on my mood. But I was so interested at today’s class that I didn’t care much for her. I didn’t make a single annotation until the end of the class, just kept up with what the professor was explaining. Dakota was right. This would really help on our next week paper. When the class time was up, everyone started to leave the room. I waited until Dakota and her stupid twin brother, Parker, leave the room so I could get up without bashing someone.

“Mrs. Taylor?” Professor Keating called me right before I leave the room. I looked up and walked toward him, waiting for what he has to say. He had a gray hair tied up in a tiny ponytail and was using a blue tie to go along with his white suit. “Last year you were never late. Not one single time.”

“Oh.” I was caught by surprise. I didn’t had an excuse for that so I said nothing.

 “Don’t get all worked up.” The professor opened a soft smile. He saw my hesitation and tried to ease me. “We’re only in March. I’m sure that this won’t be a regular thing.”

The way he didn’t asked for a confirmation on that as if it was obvious that I wouldn’t be late again, made me feel proud of myself.

“This is college, Mrs. Taylor. Us teacher aren’t supposed to call your attention on that kind of situation.” He said without anger in his voice.

“So why are you?” I asked without thinking, but not quite regretting of it.

The professor sighed. His eyes looked tired but you could tell he was full of energy.

“Let’s just said that I enjoy teaching students like you. Students that don’t stress over their classes and have these glowing eyes when you started a subject. Doesn’t matter if is an old one or a new one, the glow never die.”

My cheeks started to burn and my heart warmed. I really did love all of this and knowing that other people could see that made me good.

“Thank you.” I sincerely said to him.

“Now go. I know that you have a Sociology class right now.” He pointed to the clock on the wall. “I’m sure you don’t want to be late again.”

I opened my eyes wild.

“How do you know that sociology is my second Major?

He laughed.

“A friend of mine teaches you your next class and he commented with me about this curious kid that wouldn’t stop asking him things and I knew that was you.”   

When I left the classroom, my phone vibrate warning me that I received a new text.

“Could you bring some Snickers to go along with that vodka?”

 Liz. I frowned at her words. She never asks me to bring her any food.

“You do know that eating chocolate makes you even drunker, right?” I texted her back.

“It’s not for me. Toby keeps bothering me, so either I get him that damn thing or I will stab his foot with a fork. Then he will have a bleeding foot and I will have a prison sentence. You would never forgive yourself. ”

I burst out a laugh at her words.

“You so care about him.”

“Just get the fucking chocolate Christopher.”

After reading Liz lovely words for me, I walked out of the building. If I wanted to make to my Sociology class in time and still pass on the library before, I would have to leave right know. I climbed into my car and closed the door.

I turned the radio on while I started the car. I picked a Pearl Jam’s CD and focused on the road while listening to one of my favorite songs.

Oh, I’m a lucky man to count in both hands the ones I love

Some folks just have one, yeah, others, they’ve none, uh, uh

Stay with me, let’s just breathe

I took a deep breath and the feeling of fresh air filling my lungs made me smile wildly.

When I got into the library, the first thing I notice was that the place was completely full of people and barely had enough available tables for me to sit down. I wasn’t there to borrow a book. I needed a table so I could start making my last class annotations. I usually don’t make them in class due the fact that I use the class time to pay attention at my professor and try to get myself into the subject, so I can fully understand the matter. Latter, I would go to the library and make notes with my own words about what I learned.

I ended up sitting on the floor, my back against the wall. I knew why the library was so crowed today. It was because tomorrow the place would be closed to have an amateurs books espousing and almost every single college student go to the library on Saturdays, so they’re making up for tomorrow by studying the whole Friday. 

I grabbed my notebook and quickly started on my notes. I had this weird habit of fast writing. I just had all these ideas on my head and the only away I found to write almost all of them was having a sore wrist and a tired arm. That sounded weird. With my brain wrapped around all of my thoughts, I ended up my notes and closed my notebook with a happy sigh.

Getting up, I spotted a tall guy looking up at me. When I recognized the guy as Parker, I turned around and was about to leave the library, when I heard his voice calling me.

“Chris! Wait!”

I looked at him while scratching the back of my head.

Parker was Dakota’s twin brother.  He had the same brown eyes of her and natural blond hair. I knew that Dakota’s hair was blond as well, but most of the Journalism students say that she dyes her hair because she fears that people will think that she’s dumb because of her natural hair color. His face had some sharper angles than his sister’s, but still resembled a baby face.

“I saw Dakota bothering you today in class.” Parker licked his lips and smiled at me.

I didn’t know for sure what he wanted so I just pressed my bag closer to my chest and rolled my eyes at his words.

“She didn’t bothered me.”

“Well, I’m sorry about whatever she did.”

I was still not buying it so I just glared at him.

“You’re pretty suspicious, eh?”

“I’m late for class.” I said, making it clear that I wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Parker lifted his eyebrow and chuckled.

“Sociology, right?” He asked as if it wasn’t a big deal that he knew what my damn class is. I’m not his friend and it’s a not a secret that I can’t stand him, so how the fuck that prick knew stuff about me?

Even though I wanted nothing more than show him my middle finger, I faked a little smile and started walking out of the library sparing him a single look. He didn’t say nothing more and just silently watched my leave the building.

By the time I was back in my peaceful car, I had this brilliant idea that I wanted a chocolate milkshake, so I stopped by a random drive through and ordered one. Then I remembered that I already have had one at lunch and cringed thinking about having two milkshakes at the same day. After some deep reflation, I decided to drink it anyway.

The Sociology Faculty building wasn’t much far from my Journalism Institute so it didn’t take me much more than 15 minutes to get there. I liked Sociology, though not as much as Journalism. Actually, I think that both matters complement one another. It is always fundamental to know about what’s happening around you to write a good article.

Today’s class was sociology theory which wasn’t one of my favorites, but it was quite manageable so I didn’t have complains at all. That class wasn’t fluid like my last one so I had to take my notes while watching the class. I really didn’t know many people around here as well as in my Journalism courses which made me really quiet all the time, except when the class got at some polemic issue, that happened to be mine favorite topic to discuss.

The class ended by 7 p.m. and I was more than ready to head home, take a shower and drink an entire bottle of wine.

As if she knew what I was thinking about, my mom send me a text.

We’re having dinner at that Italian place that we both like. Wear something cute. I will pick you up at home by 7:30. Love, mom.

I liked better when we grabbed some burgers and had dinner at home while watching some TV show, however I wouldn’t say that to her so I message her back saying that I would be ready.

When I got home, I quickly made my away upstairs. I started stripping my clothes before I got into my room. My room had a decent space, it was full of books and snacks so I grabbed some snickers, and shoved them into my backpack along with the bottle of blue vodka that was already there since yesterday morning. I entered my bathroom and jumped in the box, taking a quick bath right before going to look for some clean clothes.

Wear something cute. I recorded my mom’s words.

Well.

I looked myself in the mirror. I was wearing a Bob Dylan shirt along with a pair of gray skinny jeans. I have lost my favorite red beanie so I didn’t wear nothing in my head. My usual black converses were on my shoes. I twisted my nose. I knew that I could improve my style a little more, but never feel like it so I just let it be.

This is the cutest I can get so she’ll just have to deal with it. I grabbed my backpack and throw it on my shoulders.

It was 7:24 and I was playing Angry Birds in my phone, when I heard the familiar sound of my mom’s car parking outside. It was a nice car. Not as nice as my Honda Civic but nice. She surely can afford herself a much better one, but my dad gave her that car so I think it is kind of her to let go. She swears that it’s not like that because she thinks that it will make me upset, but I learned a long time ago that she still somehow about my father and there wasn’t nothing I could do about it but except this fact.

She opened the front door for me and looked up at me like she was saying “Get in, loser. We’re going shopping.”

I shook my head and got into the car.

The restaurant was good and the food was amazing, which made me very happy. I loved any kind of pasta and that place was full of different types of it.

I ate the lasagna that I ordered calmly tasting the flavor while my mom talked on the phone. It was obvious by her tone of voice that it was Clinic business. She always get in this serious mood when it comes about her job. I was used to it so I kept swallowing my food and grinning at her occasionally.

When I was done, I got up and waved her goodbye.

She nodded, only half noticing my departure as she continued to talk on the phone, her spaghetti untouched on her plate.

The Clinic was just a couple of minutes walking from the restaurant and since we went to the place with my mom’s car, I was out of options so I decided to walk. It was almost 9:00 p.m. and the big avenue I was crossing was full of lights and people.

When I got finally into the Clinic, Liz was already waiting for me by the front door. The Clinic looked even bigger from the outside.

She was wearing a cute purple dress that highlighted her green hair and pale skin. She was beautiful. I tried not to think how her dress looked loose on her slim body.

When her eyes focused on me, I could see she was pissed.

“Where that fuck is your car?” She hissed and approached me. A dark eyeliner marked her baby blue eyes.

“Home.” I replied and spread my arms. “Wanna hug me?”

“No, I don’t want to hug you.” She said as if it was obvious. “What would I want to hug a pretty twink that forgot to bring his damn car to drive me around?” Her voice was leaking sarcasm.

“Well…” I dropped the bag of my shoulders and took the bottle of vodka out.

Liz grinned.

“Give me some of that and I’ll hug you all night long.”

“You can have it after you tell me where we’re going.” I joked flipping the bottle in my hands.

She snickered.

“A new place.”

“That’s explains a lot.” I rolled my eyes.

“It’s like a rock modern bar. I heard it’s amazing.”

I looked at her suspiciously.

“How would you know it’s amazing?”

“I’ve heard it from a friend.”

I knew that Liz didn’t have any friends outside of the Clinic besides me, but I decided not to push it.

“Well, let’s go. I don’t my ass to freeze out here since someone didn’t bring their car.”

I followed my friend to a night that would change both of our lives.