Anything But Ordinary
Kody Thomas
Copyright 2013 Kody Thomas
Chapter One
I have always taken pride in just being an average Joe. I am average height, average weight, have brown hair, and brown eyes. I have a comfortable job, I'm in college, and I spend my free time watching and playing sports. There isn't anything too exciting about being me, but I enjoy my boring life. So when I rolled out of bed this morning, I had no reason to believe the day wouldn't be the same as always, ordinary.
I head straight to the restroom after getting out of bed. I have had to go for a bit but have been delaying getting out of bed because I really don't want the day to start. Would rather have slept in all day. But I splash some water on my face and that helps get me going.
My dog Jack attacks me as I leave the restroom. I need to take him outside but the heat of the summer is not appealing. Jack is a Shih Tzu so his obsession for a game of fetch allows me to distract him for a few minutes before he realizes he has to go to the bathroom.
When I open the door, the humid air hits me like a brick wall. It isn't usually triple digits in O'Fallon, Missouri, so it is hard to adjust to the extreme heat. Even Jack isn't handling the heat well. He usually likes to take his time outside and smell everything once or twice, but today he does his business and races back into the air conditioning. I hurriedly follow him in.
Once we are back inside, the daily routine begins. I get on the elliptical and do my daily cardio. After my workout, I head to the kitchen for some cereal. After eating breakfast quickly, I head off to take a shower and get ready for class.
Finding something to wear is putting me behind schedule. I'm not too picky about clothes but it has been quite a while since I've done laundry. After miraculously finding a semi clean outfit, I'm off to class.
I put the key into the ignition and am happy when the car starts. I have been driving this car forever and am riding it out until it completely falls apart. And it is almost to that point. The air conditioner has been broken for a while but I cross my fingers and try it to no avail. It just blows out warm air. It's going to be a long hot drive.
I'm running late since traffic is backed up two exits before mine. Now I'm not only dripping in sweat but a little cranky too. I hate when I'm late to class. The teacher is not very happy about having their lecture interrupted and all the students just stare at you. Always an uncomfortable feeling.
I finally arrive and get parked at Maryville University at the same time class is starting inside Reid Hall. I power walk/jog as I hurry towards the building. I speed walk once inside the building and get to class five minutes late. It could have been worse but I can tell Dr. Lin is not very happy about it as she glares at me as I head towards my desk. My phone vibrates as I sit down in my desk.
"Nice of you to join us, Jake" says the text from Ryan, my best friend and classmate.
"I hate traffic. But better late than never." I answer back.
Dr. Lin has been a great teacher the last four years but there are only three more classes until the end of the semester and the end of my time in college. This has caused me to pretty much sleep walk through class the last few weeks and today is no different in my Statistical Modeling class.
My degree will be in Actuarial Science though no one knows what that is when I tell them. It is a pretty obscure major but great degree for people who enjoy statistics, which I do. I just tell people it is what Ben Stiller's character does in "Along Came Polly".
But rather than focus on statistical models today, I'm more focused on browsing the web on my phone and texting with Ryan, Lacy, Jon, and Olivia.
There are only about 25 people that graduate each year from the University in Actuarial Science, so the students in the program get to know each other very well. We have had the same class together for four years. I've gotten to know some good people, especially Ryan, Lacy, Jon, and Olivia. It is hard realizing that these days are almost over.
We all seem to be headed in different directions. I'm going to be working with a consulting firm near St. Louis that is a short drive from my house. Ryan is working for a rival consulting firm a short walk from my building. Lacy is going to Kansas City for a job with a healthcare company. Jon is moving to New York to work for a company he has been interning with the last few years.
And then there is Olivia. She took my breath away the first time we met. She has blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes, and a great body. I have had a crush on her since our first day of class. Four years later, to my dismay, we are just best friends. I have no clue what she will be doing after we graduate. She also has no clue at all. She just keeps telling us she will figure it out someday. I hope she realizes that someday is approaching fast.
She is the only one of us that hasn't passed an actuarial exam. To become a certified actuary, you have to pass a series of exams. They are challenging and a big reason that many people don't take the actuarial path. She's come so close and had been studying the hardest I had ever seen her study the past couple of months. That was until recently when she starting seeing Trevor.
She told us about him after meeting him at a bar last month. Ever since that day, she has been out late my most nights, very secretive, distant from us, and not studying at all. The rest of our group has tried to get her to open up and talk about everything that has been going on, but to no avail. She has always been very open with us and especially with me. It is hard to see our relationship deteriorate the closer we get to graduation. I hope everything is okay with her, but I get the feeling that she has gotten herself into some trouble. I don't know what it could be, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to know.
As I tuned back into class, I was glad to hear Dr. Lin wrapping up. She almost always goes long so we all were shocked and excited when she ended a few minutes early. We walked out of class and into the hallway of Reid Hall. Ryan said, “Where do you all want to go for lunch? I’m starving.” The lunch dilemma had begun. The five of us always had trouble deciding on a place to eat. We all had strong opinions on it but nobody wanted to make the decision.
“I don’t know. We just went to El Maguey last week, so please not there.” Lacy added as she sent a text on her new iPhone.
“What do you think?" I asked Olivia who seemed to be lost in thought as she was staring blankly ahead.
“What?” Olivia asked. She looked like she had just been jerked back into reality.
“What do you want to eat?” I asked again.
“I say Chick-fil-a.” Ryan said before Olivia could say anything. He was pacing as usual. Ryan has a big appetite and he hated the indecision more than anyone because he was always ready to eat. Even though he was shorter than me and about ten pounds lighter, he always took control of the lunch conversation because he was always hungry.
“You always want Chick-fil-a,” I said.
“That’s because they have the most delicious food ever. A perfectly cooked spicy chicken sandwich. It doesn’t get better than that.
“Sounds good to me too.” added Jon and they headed towards the exit.
“Fine.” I said. I wasn’t the biggest fan but I was hungry and wanted to get going.
As we stepped outside into the blistering heat, it seemed everyone started to instantly sweat.
“Can you drive Lacy?” I asked. Lacy nodded. “Thank you, I don’t want to take Ryan’s old piece of junk Escort.” I said, teasing Ryan about his 1994 Ford Escort.
“Gets me from point A to point B, that’s all that matters.” Ryan said proudly.
“Just please tell me you are getting a new car before your wife has the baby.” said Lacy.
“I am, but I’m not looking forward to it.” Ryan said with disappointment on his face.<
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We all climbed into Lacy’s SUV. I sat next to Olivia in the back while Ryan and Jon wrestled for shotgun, with Ryan ending up in the back with me. As we got on the highway, I noticed Olivia was absently staring out the window. I became more concerned about her the more I was around her.
We are great friends but our relationship has been weird at times. We have come close to becoming an item plenty of times. We always have talked and texted. We would flirt with each other and I had come close a couple of times to asking her out, but my nerves would always get the best of me.
Towards the end of our first year at school, we were becoming really good friends and I was becoming even more infatuated with her. After talking with Ryan about her and building up the courage to ask her out, I was finally ready.
I met her outside of class before it started and told her I wanted to ask her something. Before I could get the words out, she interrupted to tell me about a new guy she just started seeing. That has happened multiple times over the last few years and now I have only three weeks to finally get the words out and our relationship is crumbling.
So now I'm left wondering what could have been and what is going on in her life. She almost always is the life of our group, loud and open, especially with me. We share just about anything with each other. However, now I can barely get her to tell me what she had for breakfast. Every conversation is a battle. “Are you ever going to talk to me about what is going on in your life?” I said in a hush as the other three argued over what radio station to put it on.
“You are a good friend Jake, but right now, I don’t want to talk about it. I promise you will be the first one I will talk to when I’m ready to open up.” Olivia said softly to me.
“Okay. Just know I will help you with anything you ever need and I’m always here for you.” I said.
“Thank you.” She said with a smile and some emotion that I hadn’t seen from her lately, though the smile disappeared quickly. I now joined the argument over what radio station to listen to. Lacy, Jon and I ruled over Ryan and we kept it on the country station. Everyone but Olivia was having a good time. We were flying down Highway 40, music blaring and realizing we didn’t have many of these moments left together. After next week, we would be graduates. As much as we talked about staying close, we knew they were just words. Ryan and I were best friends. Working so close to each other and living in the same neighborhood, we knew we would be friends for a long time. But with Jon and Lacy moving away for work, it was doubtful that communication with them would continue much. It was a harsh reality but it was just that. Reality.
Chapter Two
We arrived at Chick-fil-a around 11:30 a.m. and the lunch hour crowd hadn’t arrived yet so we ordered and received our food quickly. I was now so hungry that I was now excited about getting my usual, a chicken sandwich with waffle fries.
Ryan was done eating first, putting down his two spicy chicken sandwiches in a flash. He was working on his ice cream now and arguing with Jon about the Cardinals game tonight and how the Cardinals are easily the best team in the league. Jon was arguing back since Jon had really taken an interest in the teams up north since he starting working up there.
Lacy excused herself and headed to the restroom, wanting to avoid the guy’s baseball argument, Olivia received a text and I could tell it upset her.
“What’s going on? I questioned
“Nothing.” She answered unconvincingly.
“Olivia, if you are in trouble or having problems, you know I would help you with anything.” I said truthfully.
Olivia said “I know you would.” She sighed, “Okay Jake, I will tell you a little bit of what’s going on but please keep this to yourself.” I nodded. ”I’ve started to learn that Trevor is into some bad stuff and,”
“What kind of bad stuff?” I asked, cutting her off.
“Let me finish, Jake. I learned he is doing some things he shouldn’t be and he is in with the wrong guys now. I’m trying to help him get out of it, but it’s been of no use so far.” She said, deflated.
“What kind of things?” But as I asked, her phone went off and she excused herself and went outside just as Lacy returned from the bathroom. “Trevor?” Lacy asked.
“I think so. I don’t know what she sees in that guy. All he seems to do is make her unhappy.” I said, making it obvious my feelings for her.
“Well maybe you should have done something one of the hundreds of times I told you to.” Ryan shot at me, his debate ending at a bad time, allowing him to join in the conversation. “I like how you have always tried to convince us you don’t have feelings for her while the three of us have always known it. And now we are a week away from graduation and you have completely missed your chance.” Ryan always knows how to make a man feel better.
Olivia came back in the front doors and I saw her wipe away what seemed to be a tear. “So you were saying?” I asked in a hushed voice.
“We will have to finish tomorrow.” She said nibbling at one of the few fries left on her plate after Ryan helped himself to some while she was outside.
“Why don’t you call me tonight? I’m just going to go home and study for Exam MLC.”
“I can’t talk tonight. I’m going out with Trevor.” she said.
“Oh, okay. Well, let me know if you need anything at all or need to talk.” I said and she nodded. Olivia gave in and threw the rest of her food away, which I could tell disappointed Ryan. Lacy went and started the car to get the air going as Jon and I went and got refills. We headed back to Maryville to kill some time before our afternoon class.
We decided to head over to Jon’s dorm room to stay cool and hang out for a bit. After my lack of focus in class this morning, I decided this would be a good time to copy Lacy’s notes from class. It would have been easier to take them during class, but at the time I had no desire to do so. Thank goodness Lacy was still paying attention in class.
Lacy sat next to me at the kitchen table while Olivia sat on the couch watching Jon and Ryan play Madden. Ryan was cursing under his breath. Madden wasn’t his best game, and Jon was an expert. Jon loved anything football. He was a wide receiver in high school before hurting his knee. He had a good six inches on me and was a little overweight after partying a little too much at school. He showed his strong football knowledge as he dominated and took a big lead over Ryan. Lacy acted as if she was helping me but ended up just asking me, “Have you gotten Olivia to talk to you about anything? I am really starting to worry about her. We usually talk about anything and everything all day and now I have to force her to just respond to my texts.”
“Today was the first day she seemed to make an effort to open up at all. She was about to talk to me about Trevor when he called her. Now she is going out with him tonight and it is really worrying me.” I said with panic seeping into my voice.
“She will be fine, Jake. She is strong and smart and she can take care of herself.” I could tell she was trying to convince herself just as much as she was trying to convince me. “Is your game almost over guys, we need to leave in five minutes.”
“Yeah,” Ryan said turning off the PlayStation 3. “We will call this one a draw, Jon” he said trying to be serious but unable to hold in a laugh.
“Oh, okay. I guess you were going to make up that thirty point deficit in the last 4 minutes of the game.” Jon shot back while putting his controller away and grabbing his backpack.
“I had you right where I wanted you.” Ryan joked.
As we made our way to class, I began to reminisce some more about all the good times I've had with this group. I have always looked forward to being done with school, but now that the time was almost here, I wondered why. My time at this university with this great group is some of the best times I've ever had. But now that will all change. Jon will be off to the big city. Lacy will be off making a name for herself in Kansas City. Ryan would be around but it was already hard for him to find time to hang out with his wife being pregnant and it won't
get any better once the baby arrives. I always thought Olivia would be around. I thought somehow we would end up together, but now I'm losing her too.
We were all relieved to get inside and in the air conditioning again. Ryan went to the restroom to wipe his face off because he was sweating so much from the walk. The rest of us went into class and sat in our seats. Dr. Wang was a good teacher but not as good or as well respected as Dr. Lin. So with only a week remaining, he may as well been talking to empty chairs because no one was interested in what he had to say. The senioritis was too strong. Plus, Actuarial Modeling was everyone’s least favorite class this semester. No one would miss this class.
Ryan came back to class wiping his forehead with a paper towel and carrying an energy drink.
"Not expecting good things from this class, I presume?" I asked Ryan nodding towards his energy.
"This will only get me through the first half, I don't know how I will make it through the whole class." Ryan said jokingly.
Dr. Wang came into the room shortly after Ryan and started class. It turned out to be worse than I expected. It had to be the longest hour and fifteen minutes of our lives. Jon was following the Yankees game on his phone, Olivia was sleeping against the wall, Ryan was texting his wife, Lacy was taking notes which the rest of us would copy later, and I was stressing about my actuarial exam I was taking next week. This was the third of five exams I had to pass to get my ASA, Associate of the Society of Actuaries. I wasn't nearly ready yet, so I planned on studying all night once I got home to help prepare some more.
It was hard to focus nowadays on getting myself to study. I was excited about school being over, I was nervous about the future and my worry for Olivia kept getting in the way of studying recently. When I'm by myself at home trying to study, my mind keeps wandering off to her and the thought of her being in some sort of danger. I desperately need a way to get her off my mind but after our conversation earlier, I don't see that happening.
As soon as Dr. Wang started to wrap up, everyone started packing their things. When he finally dismissed us, everyone bolted for the door. Ryan was one of the first to get out because he had to get back to work. I hung back with the rest of the group because I was in no hurry to get home to study.