Westfurd University| Chapter 3
Day: 2 - Friday
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I am startled awake by the roaring alarm clock that's now echoing in my head. The sound seems to go on even after I turn it off. I hate this thing.
Classes only start in 15 minutes so I'll take a quick shower ...
I get dressed and calmly head out with some time remaining. I plug my headphones and start playing some music on my phone. As soon as throw the phone back in my pocket it starts ringing. I check it a little annoyed because it interrupted the song, but that feeling disappears quickly when I see who's calling.
It's Ari! I unplug the headphones, answer and get the phone close to my ear.
Zarblu - Since when do you have my number ?
Ari - Well you shouldn't leave your phone on the table when you go to the bathroom ... It didn't even have a lock code.
Zarblu - And why would you bother?
Ari - For something like this... Please help me ... I don't know where the classroom is and I hate arriving late, I'm at the main entrance. Come get me.
Zarblu - Yeah I'm sure that was the reason ...
I don't even get time to finish that sentence before she hangs up.
That "come get me" sounded more like a dare than anything else. Either way, I hurry my pace.
I am stopped in my tracks by Haida, the cat~girl, she stands right in front of my path in the hallway with a devilish grin creeping across her face,
Haida - In a rush are we ? That's unusual for you. Especially when it comes to money. So ... When are you planning to pay "Zar" ?
Zarblu - I will pay you eventually. I'm still trying to get the money. And don't you ever call me that again.
I push her out of the way and press on.
Haida - You better behave. We don't want her getting hurt do we ?
I turn around with my teeth and fist clenched but she was no longer there.
I don't want to bring Ari into this. I really need to get the money. I hate Haida. I hate her for what she did to me. I regret everything that happened that night. I didn't help me in any way. In fact, it only got me a load more problems. But what's done is done now and I need to deal with the consequences.
After walking for only a little bit, I get to Ari with no more unpleasant interruptions along the way.
Zarblu - Good morning lost puppy. Slept well ?
Ari - Morning my rescuer.
She tells me the classroom number and we start heading there.
Ari - I did sleep well. Nobody partied in the apartment last night to my surprise. It seemed kind of empty actually.
Zarblu - They were all partying at the club probably.
Ari - There's a club in this town ?
Zarblu - It's called "The Naughty Fox". And why wouldn't there be a club ? There's a university ...
Ari - Fair point.
We get to class door just as everybody is getting in. I wave my goodbyes to Ari and go to my own class.
My classes are boring for the most part and Ari's not in them. That makes it hard for me to keep my eyes open on some of them.
Even so, I do take notes for some classes. I mean, I'm practically forced to as Osen shoves his elbow in my ribs when he sees I'm not paying any attention.
Friday is probably the best day of the week. Just because it means two days of rest follow.
But I can't even enjoy my Friday 'cause I still got to work on that shitty job at "The Naughty fox" club, just to get enough money to pay the school loans and that darn cat.
***
Osen and I don't have classes on friday afternoon, so we go to his house and have some brother quality time by sitting on the couch playing video games.
We get extremely competitive with each other to the point of cheating just for the victory.
Even so, I win most of the times. I openly brag about being better than my brother at least in something.
We go on 'till dusk, at which point I have to take a shower and head to the club to do my shitty job.
It's not that I hate the bartender job I got going on there. It is actually pretty fun. It's just that drunk people can be complete idiots and I'm not allowed to be an asshole to them.
My boss is a fennec fox called Reban.
He's a creepy flirt to everyone... including me. It gives me shivers every time he pretends to be a regular customer and orders me drinks just to try to strike conversation. The thing is, there are loads of people wanting my job. Some of them probably more talented than I am. So, if I don't play his game I'm afraid he'll just fire me.
Besides, it's funny when I put a little too much vodka in his drink and he can't even say his pick-up lines straight. But then again, what can he do straight ?
I get to the club building and go around it to enter through the backdoor. I head to the staffroom and start putting on the bartender suit.
Reban - Man, you look damn good in that suit.
I adjust the the black bowtie.
Zarblu - But... I'd look better without it ? Right ? You've tried that one already. Didn't work.
Reban - Can't blame me for trying. Maybe it would even result in a raise for you.
Zarblu - Pft!
I let out as close the Staff Room door behind me.
I go through a corridor and through a set of doors before finally being at the centre of the club, the dance floor. My little bartender hut is set on a corner of it, opposite to the stage.
I go in it and clean the counter with a damp cloth, arrange the glasses and bottles in a neatly ordered fashion and just sit down on a stoll awaiting the opening.
I see the DJ come in and prepare his laptop on stage, always accompanied by Reban. Apparently I'm not the only one who sees that creepy flirty side of Reban... Although the DJ doesn't seem as bothered by it as I am ... Good for him.
After he's done setting up, Reban goes to the front door, checks if the security is ready and bursts open the front door
Reban - "The Naughty Fox is officially open! Enjoy the night everyone!"
I can hear the enormous crowd outside and a slight bit of anxiety kicks in.
What could this night bring?