8 CHAPTER 8: IS IT THIS TIME?

I wake up at seven the next day and Chuck's already gone, but after getting me breakfast and writing me a note.

"Eat. Or I'll shave every hair on your body.

Love, Your Handsome Chuck"

I chuckle before opening the white paper bag with a warm bagel and cream cheese in it. He also didn't forget my triple shots Americano, hot. I devour them happily after taking a bath and then get ready to go out.

I don't have much to do today. Band practice at nine until ten. Helping the Charity Concert committee (no fix time, I can come and go when I'm free). Then probably lunch with Chuck. Then I'm going to help the fencing team fix their uniforms because they can't afford new ones. They suffered from budget cuts that resulted from their lack of trophies for the last few years. I feel kinda bad for them so I actually offered to fix those uniforms for them, free of charge.

Oh, and I'm also going to help the student body with some stuff today. I don't exactly know what because I wasn't really listening when Kimberly, the student body president asked me (I was busy taking pictures of shirtless boys while getting screamed at by a bunch of overly-excited fans) yesterday. So, I'm just gonna head there after lunch.

Is that all? Yeah, maybe. I really should take notes of these things, shouldn't I? I sigh. Maybe I should buy one of those organizer books thingy since my phone's battery often goes out so fast. I take another mental note as I lock my door and turn to see Allen is about to go out too.

"Hey! Where are you going?" I walk to him and pat his shoulder, he turns in surprise and I let out a laugh.

"Hey," He smiles when he sees me standing behind him. "I'm heading out to practice," He answers.

"Wanna go together?" I ask and he silently nods. I smile at him and we start walking towards the elevator.

I steal a glance at Allen who is surprisingly quiet. Well, not really surprising, since I've only known the guy for a few days, so I can't really say that I know him all that well. I said it's surprising because he hadn't asked me where I was going. Not that It's necessary for him to ask... just... and he looks kinda weird. Though I can't really put my finger on how weird or what kind of weird. He's smiling but that smile doesn't quite hide his rather tired face. I try making jokes and he laughs. Well, I guess if he can still laugh, then it's fine. I shrug mentally as we ride the elevator down.

"What are you up to today?" he asks as we finally get off the elevator and walk outside our dorm. I grin and tell him all of my schedules for today. The ones I actually remember, at least.

"Those sound tiring," Allen frowns.

"Not at all. It's fun," I smile widely, "I get paid," I grin even wider, shamelessly and that makes Allen laugh, so, don't care. Heh heh heh.

We talk and walk until we reach my destination and only then did I realize that we have passed Allen's own destination a while back and that he's actually taking me to mine. Why does it feel like he's starting to turn into Chuck?

"Thank you," I smile at him, grateful, and a little... happy? He reaches out his hand and caresses my hair gently, smiling a little.

"Later," He says and turns on his heel and starts walking towards his own destination.

I stare at his broad back with a frown. His shoulders are slumping down when he walks away. From here, I even think that he's sad, from the look of his back (if that's even possible; knowing a person's mood just from his back). Also his smile. They're not as bright as usual. I shake my head and decide to let it go.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, I thought as I let myself inside the music studio and join my band mates for practice.

I'm finally finished with practice just a little after ten and immediately rush to the Music and Performing Arts Faculty building for my decoration job. There are already a lot of people there from the Charity Concert Committee who have started their decorating job so I immediately join in on one of the groups that will be making the stage decoration, which is part of my job.

I lost track of time cutting and painting cardboard boxes and woods for the decoration until someone taps on my shoulder and says my name, "Lee," The freshman, Robi, also known as the delivery guy (he accepts orders and deliver things to people around the campus, hence the name) stands in front of me with a grin on his face and a plastic bag in one of his hand and a helmet in another. "Delivery for you," I raise my eyebrows at him. I didn't order anything.

"Huh?" I ask in confusion.

"Lunch from Chuck. He already paid for it. He says that he can't take you to lunch because he and Tyler have to talk to the coach. Here, take it. I have more deliveries to make." Robi says, shoving the bag in my hands and then runs off.

I scratch my head and look at my watch. It's already past two. I chuckle. How does he always know that I haven't eaten? It's sweet yet kinda alarming. I take out my cell phone and text him my gratitude as always. All I get as the reply are emoticons of someone eating something, a red X, a peach (that kinda looks like a butt) and a foot. Those can only mean that he'll kick my ass if I don't eat, right? How childish. I roll my eyes and chuckle before moving to a corner to eat.

Before I eat, I don't forget to take a selfie first and post it on my social media accounts (I'm a sucker for social media lately) to brag about my dearest best friend. There are many likes and comments as soon as I upload the picture and I immediately answer those comments until Marsha's comment pop up on my notification that says:

"Put down your phone and eat."

I cringe and immediately put my phone down like she tells me to and start eating my late lunch. After I finished my lunch, I excuse myself from the Charity Concert committee and hurry to the student body's office.

"Hi," I greet the members present as I walk inside.

"Finally!" the student body president, Kimberly exclaims in relief when she sees me face.

"What can I help you with?" I immediately ask before she has time to nag. Kimberly's really pretty, with her long auburn hair and a very hot body with all the right curves, but she's scary when she's mad. Not Marsha-scary, but still scary.

Kimberly motions for me to sit beside her as she takes out a folder and opens it in front of me. "It's regarding the summer camp for high-schoolers." She starts. "We need someone to go to the south beach and go look for lodgings and venues that can be used for the summer camp. The details are written here. How big the place, how much money we have, stuff like that." She hands me some papers and I scan through it carefully.

"Deadline?" I ask.

"Early next month at the latest," She says and I calculate in my head. So it gives me approximately a little over three weeks. I can only go, probably, during weekends because of my jobs, unless something got cancelled or postponed, though it's not very likely. I can also finish my job quickly to be able to go during weekdays. It'll be cheaper to go during weekdays. But I'm not too sure if I can go during weekdays. Maybe I should just go during weekends? Though it will be more crowded during weekends, especially the train and bus.

"I can do that," I tell Kimberly who sighs in total relief.

"You're a Godsend." She says as she hugs me tightly, almost suffocating me. "We're swamped with all the events that are coming up. I'll pay you double this time," She promises me.

"Thanks," I grin shamelessly at her. I admit I'm a little relieved when she said that, because one trip to south beach cost quite a lot, be it by train or bus. And I can't just come and go on the same day if I want to look for the perfect spot for the summer camp. So, here's to double pay!! Heh heh heh.

"Contact me if you need anything," She tells me when I bid my goodbye. I wave at her and go out.