01 - The Freshmen

Chapter 12

As I pass in front of this upscale bar in the Main Street, the Cambridge, I hear my name screamed through the door of the cafe. I turn around and see Virginie, a great friend of Stephanie, resplendent in a yellow and blue dress. She smiles at me.

— Are you coming for a drink with me?

I join her, a little surprised. We don't really know each other, and I thought she was going to be mad at me after her friend's worse vacation ever. Virginie invites me to sit at her table. I don't frequent this bar too much, it is not within my means. But I don't want to look stupid and I order a Margarita that costs as much as ten CESEC pints. My last two bills of hundred francs. After that, I only have a few coins left.

Why am I here? Is she going to insult and belittle me? I cannot take it anymore. So far, she just smiles and scrutinises me.

— So, dear Frederic, how was your first week at the university?

— So far so good.

— Can you follow the lectures?

— Why? I answer aggressively, do you think I am stupid?

— No, she tempers. I mean, this is different from school.

— Yes, it is, but so far, it looks very basic, I know it is a kind of marketing so that people don't give up straight away, but I am not stupid.

— I know, Stephanie says it all the time.

— Does she?

— Do you know how much you mean to her? She kept talking to me about you, about her worry about not knowing where you were. You're still a bastard, you know? Not even a simple note. She was really desperate.

— I know. I'm deeply sorry about that. I have not stopped apologising, I am angry at myself. But it was to be done, and if I had to start over, I would do the exact same thing. Except that I would have written to Stephanie, so that she wouldn't worry. She's my best friend, you know, the dearest person in the world to me. She has always been there for me. People don't understand our relation. I don't want to lose her.

Virginie looks at me, surprised by my very sincere and personal response. Sometimes I just have to tell what I have on my heart. I feel good, relieved... I don't think I can take another shit from girls. I am fed up. So far, Virginie does not insult me nor slaps me.

— You too, you know, I've heard about you since you met, not far from my house. I live in Ransbeck.

— She always makes a big deal out of it, but I was pretty ridiculous that day.

— Not in her memory, and that's what matters, right?

— Sometimes I wonder how lucky I was to meet her. This day changed my life.

I feel melancholy. Virginie probably guesses it and respects my moment. She takes a sip of her cocktail and stares at me. I think that she is not mad at me. Or if she is, she has decided not to yell and make a scandal. No insult, no slap, just a smile that makes me feel I am in a normal world.

— So, Frederic, how is life alone?

— Great! Freedom. I do what I like.

— Is freedom leading you to have many girls all the time?

— That is not what I mean. And I don't have girls all the time, as you say. I left my parents, and I need to work to pay the bills. Girls are expensive.

— What? She exclaims. How dare you say that?

— Well, it's true. When you want to hit on a girl, it costs you money, drinks, food, gate fees for clubs, I don't know, girls always expect things and today I can't afford them.