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  We sit and chat until Marie comes downstairs--the smell of cooking food apparently enticed her to join us at the table--and it’s not long before the three of us are enjoying a meal together of enchiladas with a side of Spanish rice. Marie tells us about her new class schedule, her friends, her bitter rivals, and the new people she’s meeting. I tease her that by ‘new people’ she means ‘cute boys,’ which makes her blush and my mom laugh. Mom tells us how much free time she has now that she only has to work one job and casually pats my arm as if to thank me for making such a thing possible.

  “Yeah, you’ve been home, but Anthony has been gone more,” Marie complains.

  My mom doesn’t say anything in front of Marie, but I feel her hand tighten its grip on my arm. I try to ignore it and say, “Yeah, but with mom home more, don’t you get more of her great cooking?”

  “Yeah, that’s pretty good, but mom can’t help me with my homework like you can.” My mom smiles as Marie shovels in another mouthful of food, but I see a tightness around her eyes that tells me Marie’s comment hurt her a little. I know Marie isn’t used to having mom around so much; and, quite frankly, mom isn’t used to having this much free time. I guess the two are just going to have to figure out how to deal with it.

  I take a deep breath and muster up the courage to tell them my own news. I cough into my fist to get their attention, and when both are looking at me, I say, “I have my own news to tell the two of you. You know that the fall semester starts in a few days at my college.” My mom pats my arm once, and looks at me proudly. “Well, I’ve decided that since things are going so well here at the house, that I would…” The words fail me for a moment, but I swallow the lump in my throat and quickly continue. “That I would move out and onto campus.”

  There’s a clink as Marie’s fork drops onto her plate then silence as the words soak in. Then, almost simultaneously, they both ask, “You’re leaving?”

  The two look at each other, surprised to hear their words echoed, but my sister recovers the quickest. “So, you’re going to move out and go to college parties and forget all about your baby sister?”

  I see that there are little tears in the corner of her eyes. “I’m not going to forget about you, Marie. I’m just moving into campus housing with Jeff. You remember him? I brought him over a couple of times. He got me that Dracula costume for the Halloween party. Well, he got an apartment and asked if I would room with him. I decided I wanted to try out college life and told him yes.”

  “Jeff?! You’re dumping your favorite sister for that loser?” Marie gets up from the table and runs out of the room. I hear her stomp up the stairs and then slam the door to her bedroom. I roll my eyes. I don’t think I explained things well.

  “It’s good for you to get out of the house, Anthony.” My mother’s words draw my eyes back to her, and I see her smiling wistfully. She looks a little sad but also happy. “You’re a good boy…”--she shakes her head--“No, you’re a good man. You take care of your family. You work hard. You go to college. You’re lucky to have a good girlfriend like Lillian. You deserve to live your own life, make friends, and have fun.” A single tear falls down her cheek, and I get up and hug her. I hear her sniffle once as I hug her, and then she pushes me away. “Ay! Stop it, mijo. I’m just a little sad my baby boy is growing up. But I’m also very happy for you.”

  I find my own eyes watering slightly at her words and blink back the tears. “Oh, mom. I’m not really going that far. Plus, I can port home whenever you or Marie need me.” At the mention of Marie, my eyes look up at the ceiling where her bedroom is above the kitchen.

  “Don’t worry, mijo. She’ll understand after a while. She’s just used to you always being here.”

  When Marie eventually does come back down, she doesn’t speak to me. The rest of dinner is quiet, and once we’re done, I head upstairs to pack my things.

  Chapter 5

  Jeff and I move into our new on-campus apartment a few days later. It’s a relatively new complex with five four-story buildings and access to a bunch of amenities that made getting a spot there competitive. The only reason we managed it is because Jeff knows a guy who knows the property manager.

  I was able to get a key to the place a day earlier, and the first thing I did was establish a portal connection back home. It made moving my stuff really easy. Yet, it was an eerily lonely experience staying here overnight by myself. I realized it was the first time in my life that I’d been alone and on my own. My entire life, I’d been with my family and I’d slept knowing that I had them around me. Without that, the apartment felt empty.

  Still, today, I’m helping Jeff move the boxes and furniture he brought in a moving truck. It's a pain in the butt having to lug all this stuff up four flights of stairs, and while we work, I can’t help but think of two idiosyncrasies: One, why in the world didn’t they install an elevator? Did the builders think that a bunch of college kids didn’t need it? Or maybe it’s an evil Machiavellian plot to force us to exercise? Two, and this may feed into my theory about that Machiavellian plot, why did the college make me sign up for a meal plan when I signed the lease? Is it part of the plot to force students to be balanced and healthy human beings?

  Still, it’s both an exciting and sad time for me. It’s the first time I’ll be living away from my mom and sister, and I’m frankly a bit nervous about leaving my family after what happened. I worry about someone attacking them, despite the protections I’ve put in place. Yeah, it’s only a quick port home, but I’m really trying to give college life a chance--you know, meet new people, go to parties, and occasionally study. Though, that last one is only a joke. Pulling up my System character sheet, I look over the academic skills I’ve picked. Thanks to the System, studying for classes hasn’t really been that hard.

  Analysis - Once a topic has been sufficiently studied, it is more likely that the User will see connections and hidden lessons and develop a deeper understanding of the subject. Synergizes with other skills.

  Computer Interface - Improves interaction with computer systems by enhancing the computer interface. Boosts computer processing at early levels but will later allow for more advanced interface and customization options.

  Computer Knowledge - Marks the user’s understanding of computer systems, theoretical and practical. Gives access to UI tooltips when troubleshooting computer problems. Synergizes with Computer Interface.

  Deception - The skill of lying. As the skill develops, you will be better able to lie with a straight face and deceive those around you.

  Mental Math - The skill of performing mathematical computations in your head without the aid of other tools.

  Speed Reading - Read faster and with better comprehension.

  Writing - Making marks on paper or composing papers, reports, novels, or other similar projects comes easier and faster.

  Most of those skills directly impact how easy it is to study. Speed reading makes getting through textbooks much faster, and after reading an entire textbook only once my high intelligence stat means that I can recall facts with a 70% success rate--not quite a photographic memory, but close. Using computers and technology is a must every day, and having skills in the subjects just makes that easier. Mental Math sounds silly in the age of having calculators on your watch and phone, but it actually speeds up my ability to work with figures in all my science classes. It’s just faster to do the math in my head than press buttons, which means I have more time to work on the harder problems during timed tests. Oddly, Deception has also become a necessary academic and social tool. My professors actually bought the ‘my dog ate my homework’ excuse a couple of times thanks to it. Well, either that, or they just don’t care if I turn in homework in college.

  However, my greatest academic advantage has got to be time compression. It’s the procrastinator’s best friend. The System allows for time to run faster in both dungeons and User-controlled spaces like their Home Base. Monster Squashers Inc. is the most upgraded space I know of, and if
I do my studying there, I can get four hours’ worth of work done, and when I return to college, only one hour has passed. Believe me, it’s saved my butt a couple of times when I put off writing a paper till the last minute.

  Helping Jeff move furniture around and put away the dishes he brought, I realize how small our place is. My share of the lease on the 900 Sq. Ft. apartment is $900 a month, but it has two bedrooms, a shared bathroom, living room, and kitchen, and we have access to a small gym, a pool, and a jacuzzi.

  Jeff says, “Hey, now that everything is unpacked. Lets hit the jacuzzi.”

  “The Jacuzzi? Wouldn’t it be easier to just take a shower to get cleaned up?”

  “You don’t get it do you, Anthony? The babes love a good jacuzzi party!”

  With that he’s on the phone, calling up some co-eds, arranging an impromptu party.

  And that’s Jeff, always ready to socialize and have fun. You wouldn’t know it from looking at him, but he’s also quite the ladies man. He is a bit shorter than me at five foot five with a patchy beard that he insists is going to come in fully one of these days. He’s also a music major, which may sound a bit geeky, but, man, the ladies love it when that guy plays the guitar. If there was ever a guy who was a bard, it’s him.

  Jeff’s room is packed with instruments, recording equipment, and his music collection. He collects old vinyl records because he says they really capture how the music was intended to be listened to. I don’t know. They sound alright to me, but I still prefer to listen to music on my phone. But, then again, I’m not the music major.

  My room is a bit smaller than his, but I don’t mind. All I really need is a bed and a place to hang my clothes since all of my weapons and dungeon diving gear are stored in my Inventory. Sure, I only have eleven slots, but it’s enough to hold the important stuff and a few odds and ends. One of the few downsides to moving out from home is that I’ll be leaving my Home Base, which means missing out on its minor buffs and access to the System store, but I can always go home to access the store and then port back to my apartment.

  The living room doesn’t have much currently. We have a long futon, a couple of chairs, and an old TV that is sitting on some plastic crates. The kitchen, however, is the place I refused to leave bare. I made sure to get some pots, pans, knives, and all the other accouterments that a home cook will need to make good food. After all, how can I consider myself a real adult if I eat out every day? Besides, I have 3 levels in my cooking skill and I plan to bump that up with some home cooking. Chilaquiles, enchiladas, and homemade spaghetti, here I come.

  The apartment is right on the edge of campus and is definitely a step up from the dorms where I hear you have to live three to four people to a room. No siree, not me. Not if I can afford otherwise. Everyone else in the complex is a college student too, and you can see tons of people who are my age or a bit older, including lots of hot girls, just by walking down the hallways. Jeff says there is always some kind of shindig on campus every weekend, especially once finals are over and everyone needs to blow off some steam, and I’m looking forward to experiencing a real college party.

  Partying isn’t the only thing to think about though. I still haven’t decided on a major, but I’m trying to knock out as many general education requirements until I decide. There’s a huge list of required classes online, and it would be a confusing mess if it weren’t for my Computer Interface and Analysis skills. Thankfully, those skills let me organize the hundreds of classes available into lists that fulfill my academic requirements, cross-check for scheduling conflicts, and present the data in a handy little summary on a blue System screen in front of me that only I can see.

  According to my skills, I need three communication and critical thinking classes, four math and natural science classes, four humanities classes, five social science classes, and one ‘lifelong understanding and self-development’ course. I’m not sure what that last one means until I tap the blue screen for more details, and then I discover that it’s a simple-sounding class designed to make sure that students don’t walk away after college completely helpless in real life. The options include classes that deal with cooking, life balance, hygiene, and mental wellbeing. I feel like I’m already pretty good with most of those things.

  Looking over the summary of options, I realize that scheduling isn’t as difficult anymore since I stopped working at the Quickie Stop Mart. I’m really glad that I took mostly math and science classes freshman year, so I’ve already mostly fulfilled those requirements. The same goes for the critical thinking requirements since the English classes I took fulfill those. I still need a communications class and decide that COM 100 - Public Speaking would be interesting. I need something from the advanced science and technology courses. When I bring it up with Jeff he immediately says, “Take Forensic Anthropology with me! I hear those social science girls are super hot.”

  “Come on man, you know I have a girlfriend.”

  “Yeah, but having a girlfriend doesn’t make you blind. You can still look. Besides, you can use your super brain to help me study and also wing man for me with girls in the class.”

  I consider the class he’s referring to, ANT 491 - Forensic Anthropology. It’s supposed to be an upper-division class for juniors or seniors, but there aren’t any prerequisites, which means there’s nothing stopping me from taking it now and I add it to my schedule. The last class I grab is EC 201 - Principles of Economics.

  Computer Interface and Analysis level up after I choose all of my classes.

  When I tell Jeff that I’ll take the Forensic Anthro class with him he slaps me on the shoulder and says, “Great. I’ll start planning our study sessions. You know what they say Anthony, once you’re with a Social Science girl, you never regress.” He also starts looking up jokes to use as pick up lines and I have to tune him out when he reads a third joke with the punchline: “Isn’t that humerus.”

  Chapter 6

  As the first weeks of class pass, Jeff and I start to learn each other’s habits. I’m a bit of a shut-in, having never had that many friends growing up, so Jeff drags me out to parties on the weekends.

  Dressed in jeans and a black dress shirt I follow Jeff, who is wearing a bright blue Hawaiian shirt, a straw hat, and a ukulele, across campus to the Theta Mu Gamma sorority house. When we get there, it turns out it’s a luau themed party. There are lots of muscle bound bros goings around shirtless flexing their pecks at girls in grass skirts and coconut bras. I feel silly wearing my nice dress shirt, but Jeff just scoffs at me and introduces me around.

  Walking right up to a couple of girls, he plays a couple chords on his ukulele and says, “Hey cuties. I’m Jeff and this is my buddy Anthony.” The girls laugh and take drinks from their red plastic cups and then introduce themselves as Marcy and Peggy. I use Inspect on the two to get a feel for who I’m talking to.

  Marcy Darcy

  She is a social science major and a young woman who is known for never being satisfied with her current relationship. Marcy is always on the lookout for something or someone better.

  Likes: Shiny new objects, shiny new men, and street tacos.

  Dislikes: Being bored, any relationship older than 1 month.

  Bonus Info: Named after her aunt, a widow who was suspected of murdering her husband for the insurance money.

  Peggy O’Dell

  Anthropology major with an emphasis on criminal science application.

  Likes: Heavy metal, crime shows, and science.

  Dislikes: People that ruin mystery movies, unicorns, and the color pink.

  Bonus Info: She is a serious fan of any TV show with the letters CSI in it.

  Marcy, the blonde, leans in and talks to Jeff while he plays some music. Her cheeks are flushed and I’m tempted to tell Jeff what Inspect tells me about her, but he seems to be having a good time talking to her. Instead, I turn my attention to Peggy, the dark haired friend, who is dressed in black and has her hair set in pigtails.

  “Uh, so you like crime s
hows?”

  Peggy squints at me a suspicious look on her face. “How would you know that?”

  I realize that in my eagerness to get to know something about her, I just mentioned something from Inspect, but it’s also something she hasn’t told me about. It probably seems like I’ve been stalking her or something so I quickly try to recover, “Oh, aren’t you dressed like that hot CSI character, Abby?”

  Peggy blushes when I say ‘hot’, but nods. “Yeah, she’s a hero of mine and the reason I’m taking forensic anthropology. I mean how many other character combine goth with super smart science?”

  I nod, glad that she’s still friendly. I can only imagine how bad it could go if someone questioned me about how I knew some of the intimate details about them that Inspect gives me. It’s fun to chat with Peggy about her favorite crime shows. She’s just put her hand on my arm and moved in close to tell me something in my ear when I hear raised voices to my left. Turning my attention, I see a large muscular guy wearing only a grass skirt interposed between Jeff and Marcy. The guy is pushing Jeff while Marcy pulls on the muscular man’s arm saying, “Don’t be silly John. I wasn’t flirting with the band geek. We were just talking.”