My Deer Girl

Chapter 7: Missing Chance

                                                                                      Dominick

The first day of classes of my second year in Business Administration passed by in a blur. I could not stop thinking about Aria.

I saw her a couple more times in the afternoon, but I was not able to get to talk to her because she was almost running here and there, trying to not be late in her classes. I couldn’t just stop her and make her join the classes late. It wouldn’t be a good impression on her.

I did hear she was picked on by Prof. Dean, The Terror in the School of Social Work. He was known to give failing grades to many students. I also heard that he was one of the best in Hornden University and had been working here for the last three decades of his life. Being a Doctor of Philosophy, he was also my professor now in Philosophy subject that I avoided enrolling last year, but I was forced to take it up this semester. I finally thought I had to get it over and done with.

After classes, I was going to offer Aria a ride when I saw her at the gate, but then a black car stopped right in front of her before I could even get near her. She hopped in with a wide smile and kissed the driver, whom I couldn’t see well from my angle.

Was it her boyfriend? I wondered and sighed, then drove off. I even ignored Sawyer, who was shouting at me to have a ride. But then I reversed and let him jump into my car.

“Didn’t you see me, dude?”

“Oh, I did! What do you think of me, blind? I just did it deliberately, you know?”

He chuckled and punched my arm. “Why? You seem to be not yourself today.”

“What? That’s ridiculous!”

“It wouldn’t come out of my mouth if you were the same Dominick, dude! What happened to him?” He playfully peered at my face and even my ear as I drove.

I swatted his hand and backhanded his chest. We passed by different establishments, such as coffee shops, boutiques, fast food chains, a gasoline station and a mall. There were a number of people walking down the streets. Hornden was considerably a populated northern town in Alberta with over a hundred thousand local people, excluding some more or less two hundred thousand visitors every year. Twenty percent of it was students from neighboring provinces and towns.

Hornden University was considered the town’s hallmark, the flag bearer. It offered a lot of programs especially for deserving students and highest level and quality education. Numerous successful alumni were supportive for its growth and popularity.

“Ah, by the way, I heard Charlotte and the new girl had a clash because of you.” Sawyer sniggered after telling me.

While I stopped at the red light, I turned my head to him, noticing the familiar black car ahead of us. I checked out its plate number and saved it in my head. My tapered fingers tapped the wheel.

“What? No words from you? I thought you were concerned and at least ask me why.” Sawyer kept mumbling.

“I don’t know what to say, man. What do you want to hear?” I mocked and gave him an unconcerned smile. I just knew what he was doing. He was fishing something from me. More like fishing for my feelings for Aria even though it was just the first day at the university.

“You can’t do this to me, dude! I know you like that girl. You don’t talk to any girl more than five seconds! And you what? You talked to her for like ten minutes or so?”

I scoffed and laughed at him. “You timed it?”

“That was just my approximation.” He shrugged, grinning.

“We didn’t really talk much. I just helped her with her stuck drink. D*mn that machine, man. Someone should just replace it!”

“Break it then, and it’ll be replaced for sure.” He beamed wider this time.

This evil guy. How is that I got stuck with him and even call him my best buddy?

I chortled at his suggestion, but that occurred to me actually. It always got stuck when I bought drinks from it. It was easier than to queue up at the cafeteria, which was jam-packed most of the time. There were just too many students at Hornden University.

“Come on, dude. Tell me honestly.”

“What happened between them?” I asked finally and drove forward when the green light popped. I noticed the black car go right, but I had to turn left to drop my friend to his house, which was on the way to mine.

“Well, someone said that Charlotte is marking her territory. You know, her usual thing when it comes to girls that she sees as a threat when it comes to you. I think she’s really into you, dude.”

“You know that she’s not my type, Sawyer.”

“And I’m your type?” he joked and laughed.

That cracked me up, seriously. “Maybe when the hell freezes over, man. Maybe.” I went along with his craziness.

He hooted and laughed. “Anyway, someone said the new girl doesn’t appear to get intimidated by Charlotte and her two b*tches. I think that’s something. I mean, she’s something, don’t you think?”

I just scoffed and pulled over after a few minutes as he talked continuously. “Hey, we’re here. Your house.” I nodded to the direction of his two-story house. It had rust-colored gable roofing and white-painted walls.

Sawyer and I became friends since we were in junior high, so we go back a long way. He came from a broken home, and I was there for him when he was heartbroken and drank with him. We were just fifteen then. My mom scolded me when she learned about it and told me not to hang out with Sawyer, but I just couldn’t leave this guy alone. He needed me, my friendship. And he proved to be the best buddy when I lost my father and when my mother married my uncle just by being there by my side, telling me that “Everything will be okay.” His words were not that great, and they were even cliché! But his words and his presence did make me feel better.

He got out of the car but leaned forward, with his elbows on the frame of the open window. “You know, dude? If you don’t ask that girl out, I will,” he warned me with a grin. “I’m serious!”

Instead of saying something, I pushed the button to close the windows, forcing him to get away from the window and gave him a middle finger before driving off, laughing.

I peered at him in the rear view mirror, seeing his birdie as well. I shook my head and went straight home.

The sliding black gate opened automatically, so I drove past it to go in. It closed behind me, and I parked the car in the garage. I noticed that Uncle Julian’s silver-colored car was already there. Anyway, he always came home on time since he married my mom. It was me who usually got home late, especially in the weekends. Now, it was almost seven in the evening.

I groaned when I saw him and my mother make out in the spacious living room. They were seated on the long white couch, while the huge flat TV adjacent to them left on. My mom’s arms were around his neck, and his were around her waist.

I wanted to gag. Instead, I dragged my eyes to the cream-colored walls and crystal chain chandeliers.

They were forced to separate upon noticing my presence.

“Hey, sweetheart. You’re home! We were just waiting for you to have dinner together!” Mom smiled. She really wanted us to be like a normal family. She was trying really hard.

“You go ahead. I still need a shower, Mom,” I said, without looking at them and mounted the marble staircase. Its banister was made of wood and steel, which was intricately designed, with single twist and double baskets alternately. It was elegant and classic, as I heard my mother’s friend commented about it with her once to take off her mind from my father’s death.

Ah, I can’t wait to get up tomorrow and see Aria again, I thought as I entered my room. I hoped I could talk to her again and ask for her number then.