Ken's Pov:

I met Lyle's sister Iris (he calls her IRS sometimes), her partner Echo, and his brother Tom today. They were all pretty chill. I tried to give Marcus his space since he really hated me, and honestly, for good reasons. 

Lyle had gotten wasted, I really shouldn't have brought alcohol...

Lyle kept walking around, giggling, and slurring random stuff. He even annoyed Marcus enough to take Tom to his room. When I realized he was really drunk, I tried walking him to the couch...

But he uh...

Never mind.

It's not important.

I'll forget it. 

Oliver is at my dorm and is watching a movie with another friend, I think her name is Alex or something. Anyway, they are both laughing and having a good time. 

"Oh my god no way! Hold up a minute, Al. Hey Ken!" Oliver called at me from the futon that's in the small food/hangout space. 

"Hey dude, it's pretty late and I'm going to bed, oh, uh. Hi Alex is it?" I ask the girl who is wearing a green hijab. 

"Yeah," Alex replies. She's pretty grunge, with spider bites, multiple eyebrow piercings, and dark eyeshadow.   

Oliver and Alex continue talking and laughing as I walk into my room and flop on my squeaky twin bed. 

Ugh, I probably should call Vic soon. Bleh, she's kinda a bitch. Well, I don't get to choose my sister, I guess. 

The next day

I am so tired of college and all of this bullshit. I'm overworked, overstimulated, and over it.

I head over to the 7/11 next to my college and start grabbing stuff. I pull out my phone and dial my sister's number. 

"What the fuck do you want dipshit?" She demands.

"To talk? How's high school treating you?" I ask her.

"It's fine," Vic says.

"Cool, how's mom?" 

"Fine," 

"Alright... Do you have a boyfriend yet?"

"No,"

Neither of us talks for a bit while I grab a slushie and some snacks for Oliver. 

"I'm hanging up," She states.

"Alright, bye, love you," I say.

She hangs up, I purchase my items, and walk out. 

Damn. 

Well fuck, she hates my guts now since I left her with mom. 

Listen my mom's not bad, she's just not great. She keeps getting weird boyfriends who are really weird with Vic. I beat their asses when they went too far. Well, I used to help. 

Then college.

My life. I need to focus.  

I can't keep being stuck in my past.

It's not good for me. 

I need to succeed.

Fucking hell.

I walk back to my dorm and set the stuff I bought down on the counter, put the slushie in the fridge, and write a note on a piece of paper telling him that the stuff is for him and to have a good day. 

I walk to Lyle's dorm and pray to any god that might listen that Marcus isn't there. 

I open the door and step in.

I do not spot a tiny Iraqi man with split dye hair and a temper, nice. 

I take off my shoes, and I feel a little off. I start wandering to Lyle's room. I start wobbling and I can't keep my balance.

 Everything hurts, and I'm a bit dizzy, but that's college life for you, I guess. I almost trip on thirty different things, but I make it to the hallway. I knock into the wall. 

"Ken? I'm in my room!" Lyle yells.

I get to the door, hand on the doorknob and everything, and then....

...

I fall over and hear Lyle vaguely screaming and yelling something. 

God, I love his voice.

Then.

Nothing. 

...