Dream On. Chapter 6: A party.

Previously...

A party

-Are you sure it’s in here?

Albert checked the invitation again.

-Yes, it says it’s on the top floor.

They looked up as if trying to see something. They were in front of a skyscraper that looked like an office building, but it was the right street and the right number, so it had to be there. They walked inside, showed the invitation to a security guard, and got into an elevator. Albert pressed the top floor button.

-Did I ever tell you that I’m afraid of heights?- asked Robert.

-Too late now, don’t chicken out because of it.

-I’m serious, why would anyone want to live on a top floor of anything? It’s unsafe if there’s an emergency the escape route is much longer, you risk getting trapped inside the building…- he started getting paler as the floors went by.

-Hey, Robert. Look at me. Everything is going to be okay. Remember that you’re coming because you want; I’m not forcing you. Now breathe.- Albert tried to calm him down.

Robert, however, was getting paler and paler. His friend made him sit down and close his eyes.

-Ok, let’s try this. Imagine you’re at ground level, on a park reading a book. Now breathe in and then breathe out slowly. Good. See? We’re already there.

The elevator stopped and the doors opened to a well-lit black marble hall. In front of them was a wide set of stairs, also in marble. Each step was a shade lighter than the previous one, making the stairs a gradient from black to white. They started climbing the stairs, as there was nowhere else to go, and they found themselves out into the open air inside what looked like a tropical jungle.

-What the hell is this?- asked Robert.

-Hmmm, don’t know, let’s see where this takes us.

They took a path, between the trees and the flowers, that was lit with small garden lamps. Suddenly the vegetation grew clearer and they found themselves in front of a modern house that looked as if it had been built out only in glass. Lights of different colors were pouring out of the ground floor along with some loud music. People was hanging out in some tables set in front of the house next to a round pool.

-Do you know anyone?- asked Robert.

-Not really. C’mon let’s find Marla to thank her for inviting us, and we’ll grab a drink for you. I think you need it.- said Albert winking.

-Oh, no! You know that I don’t drink!

-Only one, you’re still all stiff after the elevator.

-Oh, well, but only one!- Robert gave in.

They got inside the house through one of the big sliding windows, as it looked as if it didn’t have a front door, and found themselves engulfed by a crowd of dancing people. Albert led his friend to a side of the room where there was a table, grabbed a glass and put it in his hand. A blond girl short girl with the skin full of freckles approached them.

-Hi, you’re in my class right?- she asked Robert, talking to his ear.- You’re the one who always sits in the front row and makes all the questions, aren’t you?

-Yes, I’m Robert, and you are…?- Robert replied trying to place that face with big blue eyes in some part of his memory.

-Oh, sorry, I’m Dalia. I’m at basic chemistry too. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.

-Well, I’ve come with my friend Albert, he was the one who was invited, he goes to the same class as Marla.

-History, huh?- asked Dalia.

-Yes- nodded Albert, looking around.- By the way,… do you know where Marla is? I’d like to thank her for inviting us.

-Hold on a second, I’ll go find her.

Dalia got lost among the crowd, looking for the host. Albert turned around to talk to his friend.

-I thought you told me there wasn’t a single girl in your class.

-Well, I thought there wasn’t, I’ve never seen her, she must sit at the back of the class.- Robert replied.

They saw her coming back with Marla. The host was indeed gorgeous, she was wearing a short black dress that hugged her body completely, and her red hair was tumbling down her back in lazy curls, shining brighter than ever. She approached them and greeted them with a smile.

-Hi, Albert, I’m glad to see you. Who’s your friend?

-Marla, this is Robert, he’s studying chemistry.

-Nice to meet you.-she acknowledged, then she whispered something aside to Dalia.-Hey, Robert… do you mind if I steal your friend for a second? You can stay with Dalia, she is new in town too.

Before Robert could even reply she had already taken Albert by the arm and lead him outside.

-Come I want to show you something.- she told him.

-->

New Year's Resolutions. Again? Yes, AGAIN.

As usual for a few years now, when the year comes to an end I make some promises to myself for the following year and evaluate the previous year's resolutions. Last year's was hilarious, this year's probably not so much.

Anyway,... let's see what did I say last year. Each item is one point.

1. Love myself more. Believe I deserve the things I have and pamper myself from time to time.
Oh, goodness, oh, oh, oh. Wasn't I optimistic and naïve and thought that I would actually pamper myself in this crap, CRAP, of a year? I mean I tried, but life got in the way. Also, I did love myself more than previous years, but I still don't believe I deserve some of the things I have. So maybe half a point? 

2. Take time off from time to time.
Nope, nope, nope. In one word: THESIS. I mean, sure I took time off after that, but I needed some before and I worked almost every weekend. 0 points for me. 

3. Keep reading.
Yeeees! And I bought a ton of books too! (Maybe not a ton). 1 point!

4. Keep writing.
Yeees! And I started a new WIP and won NaNoWriMo again! 1 point!

5. Try to train a bit more than I have this year.
Nope, I did train a lot, but I also got injured, so... yet, that is not an excuse! 0 points. 

6. Learn something new.
Eeeeeh,... I tried? I did try, but I was very busy,... very very busy. 0 points. 

7. Be more open about my feelings.
Eeeemmmmm,... no. I tried, sometimes, but I didn't. I probably ended up hurting some people in the process, but there are some things that are hard to change. 0 points. 

Soooo,... the grand total is of... 3.5 out of 7. Which means I fail. Again.

Okay, so it means that now I need to make resolutions for this next year. Which I expect to be a hard long year. And in views of what happened this last year, I thought they should be a bit different. So here we go.

1. Fight for my rights and against those that want to take them away from me.
2. Be aware of my mental health and the triggers that make it worse. I don't need to spend another year balancing between anxiety and depression.
3. Enjoy science with all my heart. Science is an integral part of me, as writing is.
4. Don't feel ashamed when I decide to stay home instead of going out. I need my time alone.
5. Accept that sometimes things don't work the way I want them to.
6. Don't feel pressured to do something because someone else wants to do it. I have my needs too, and they don't always need to be the same.

Looking at this list again,... when did I become an adult? Anyway, tune in next year so you can see how horribly I did. 

Dream On. Chapter 5: University.

Previously...

University

Albert had to meet Robert in front of the library for lunch. But he was running late, his class took longer than planned and now he found himself sprinting through the campus. He arrived breathless to see how Robert was talking to a girl. Well, that was new, Robert was always really awkward around girls.

-Hey man, I’m sorry I’m late, the professor wouldn’t stop talking.- he apologized.

-Hi, Albert! This is Myriam, she’s from my town. She used to go to school with my older sister.

-Hello Albert, it’s a pleasure.- she said smiling.

Albert felt as if something really heavy had just crashed on his stomach. She wasn’t the most beautiful girl he had seen, he knew that. She had nice dark eyes and shiny long brown hair, but you could find girls like her all around the campus, nevertheless there was something special in her. And he was sure he had seen her before, even if he didn’t know where.

-Well, guys, I’ve to leave, I’ve class in thirty minutes. See you around Robert!

Albert followed her with his stare as she left. Where had he seen her before?

-Tst! Enough staring! She has a boyfriend!- Robert recalled his attention.

-Hmm? No, it’s not that… I’ve seen her before and I don’t know where.

-I guess you’ve seen her around the campus, it is not that big, you know? You get to see the same people over and over.

-I don’t know. Well, anyway, how were your classes this morning? – he asked as he started walking towards the canteen.

-Pretty well, we are starting basic laboratory practice next week, I’m excited to start doing something a bit more hands on.

They passed through the field where the rugby team was training.

-You told me you used to play rugby back home, didn’t you?- Robert asked.- Why don’t you sign up for the Uni team?

-I don’t know, I wasn’t the best one in the team, and I did it just for fun. They look quite professional.

-I think you should try it, look at it as a way to meet new people.

-It’s funny that you’re the one giving me tips on how to meet new people, I thought I was the outgoing one!- laughed Albert.

-And you are- admitted his friend.- But I still think you should join.

-Ok, I’ll think about it.

He pushed the door of the canteen and lead Robert in. They used to go there because the food was cheap and not too bad, and also because none of them felt like cooking every day, or any day actually.

-Why do they always have to put tuna to something?- complained Robert while perusing the menu.- Don’t they have anything else? I’m okay with ham, I’m okay with minced meat, but no, it’s always tuna!

-I really think that you should stop complaining and start eating it.

-I don’t want to get mercury poisoning thanks; don’t you know what happened in Minamata?

Albert already knew all the rambling his friend would go through, so he let him talk while they were queueing. He was already at his last sentence “I want to have a functional brain for as long as I can” when it was their turn. They took their food and found themselves a table and shared lunch while exchanging anecdotes of their day.

-By the way, a girl from my class invited me to a party at her place. Wanna come?

-Yes, why not? Which girl?- Robert asked.

-Marla, the one with red hair. I’m sure you’ve seen her.

-Are you kidding me? Of course, I’ve seen her! I don’t think there’s a single person who hasn’t seen her.

-Yes, she’s kinda hot I guess.- Albert admitted.

-Kinda? And then I’m the weird one.- he replied shaking his head implying that his friend was a lost cause.

-->