Fiction From the Archives of
ECCENTRIC II
CHAPTER TWO It’s hot and scorching, yet Quentin has his hoodie worn over his head now as he navigates his way through the barely busy Campus, populated by students all of all shapes, sizes and of course, colors. The University of Brownboard pride themselves in their progressiveness – it is currently the only University in […]
CHAPTER TWO
It’s hot and scorching, yet Quentin has his hoodie worn over his head now as he navigates his way through the barely busy Campus, populated by students all of all shapes, sizes and of course, colors.
The University of Brownboard pride themselves in their progressiveness – it is currently the only University in New York that has a majority of minorities – if that makes sense.
Is that why Quentin’s parents chose the school for him? Maybe. But there’s also the need for them to keep an eye on their son all the time. And with their busy schedule, what better way to do that than enrolling him in the school they attended, and met; it is also the school they donate too every year.
So as Quentin finds his way back the hostel, he can bet Dean Charles is already placing a call to his folks informing them of their sons impulsive decision to withdraw from the University.
But the truth is, this decision is not impulsive; Quentin has been thinking about this for a while now.
Yesterday’s incident just sealed the deal for the young man – the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
The camel’s back being his endurance for the slow and unchallenging curriculum of the Private school system.
Howard House is not like the other fraternities on Campus – while it’s known for housing some of Brownboards finest, it is mostly characterized by the constant hosting of parties.
It is the most coveted of all male hostels, and Quentin got to be a member for three whole years .
Not like he cared much anyway, the young man would very much prefer to stay indoors and do nothing than socialize with his peers.
He passes multiple species of young men in the halls; deodorant and piss populating the atmosphere simultaneously.
He sighs when he finally gets to his room door; there is a dirty sock on the knob.
Quentin gently slides it onto the floor with his finger to and jerks the door open forcefully.
Things come crashing down once Quentin walks in
“Seriously? C’mon!”
“What the -!” Quentin exclaims
The room is filled with smoke and smells of weed; but he can clearly see his roommate seated on the bed with a lady – they are both fully clothed.
“Shut the door, shut the door!”
Quentin places his hands over his nose as he listens to his roommate and closes the door.
“Didn’t you see the sock?”
“Yes so?” Quentin says while he walks up to the window and opens it widely to let the air in, then he heads for his wardrobe.
His roommate sighs out of frustration – Simon has been Quentin’s roommate for just a few weeks; after he exchanged rooms with Quentin’s former roommate who couldn’t take how “private and snobbish” our protagonist was.
Simon wants a roommate like this because of the kind of business he runs – he sells drugs, to everyone – lecturers, students, none teaching staff.
He is basically the go-to drug guy in Brownboard.
Quentin does not know about this though, or maybe he does and keeping his mouth shut is the only way to ensure he stays out of trouble.
But it does amuse him sometimes that the black guy in the room is the scholar and the white guy is the drug dealer.
The irony is sweet
Will he be making it bitter now by being the drop out? Maybe.
But he doesn’t care.
Simon sits back on his bed with his lady – a black American girl their age with way too many piercings and purple dyed hair; it is almost like her face is in a constant frown as she pops and chews gum.
She and Simon continue their work on his laptop.
He lights another set of joints.
With one eye, Simon watches Quentin empty out his wardrobe.
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t see how that’s your business”
Simon hisses “Whatever…. At least tell me, in case anyone comes looking for you”
Quentin knows this is a lie. He has no friends in Brownboard. Or at all.
Yet he answers “Home”
“Why?”
Again, Quentin does not reply – he is focused on packing his things, and so Simon gives up and returns to his visitor.
She grunts
“What?”
“It’s stuck again!” She says whilst tapping the track board repeatedly
“Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m in the mood to make jokes?”
“I know I know, Simon sighs in frustration – he is sweating and it is not from the heat, but from whatever he is doing on his laptop. It must be very important if it can make someone who is known for being ” chill” to sweat so hard.
Simon scans the room for a while -stealing glances at Quentin every chance he gets.
Quentin catches him looking once, frowns and looks away.
“Hold’up” he tells his lady friend before he jumps off his bed and rushes to his roommate.
“Hey, he starts – his voice is very low, almost bedroom-like “You’re in Computer science right?”
“Maybe”
“C’mon, I’ve seen your textbooks”
Quentin sighs out of surrender.
“I need your help”
“Sorry. Cant”
“But you haven’t even heard what I wanna ask,”
“Okay fine, what?”
Simon clears his throat and wipes his nose a little; he’s white but he exhibits a lot of stereotypical black guy mannerisms “Okay so me and my friend are trying to log into the result portal as admins to make some minor changes”
Quentin rolls his eyes “You want to change your grades”
“Well when you put it that –
” Yes!” She exclaims from the bed
Simon shoots her a frown
” No!” Quentin replies
“Seriously?, Simon whines.
He watches Quentin return to his packing, thinks for a while and then lowers his voice “Look I know you’re the one who leaked the emails of that female lecturer.”
Quentin looks up fully now, Simon has his attention “Who told you?”
“I have my sources” Simon says back very mysterious like
Quentin rolls his eyes
Simon continues “Please! I know it’s something you can do! C’mon even you know that these grades are not a true representation of intelligence”
Quentin agrees completely, yet he ignores Simon once again and returns to his packing, he is almost done now. Simon sighs and returns to his bed, his lady friend nudges him to try again but he throws his hand in the air in defeat.
She says aloud, deliberately “Whatever. He probably doesn’t even know how to do it, himself”
Quentin pauses – once again, his ego has been bruised.
She grins, proud of her manipulative skills as she watches Quentin turn around and walk up to them . “Gimme that” he says after snatching the laptop from her hands.
In less than sixty seconds that consist of Quentin tapping at the keyboard repeatedly, Simon grinning widely and his lady friend opening a new pack of chewing gum, Quentin is done.
“You’re in!” He says, handing them the device
Simon gasps while she collects it. They stare at the screen in awe
“Holy Moses!, Simon exclaims in disbelief ” We’re in! Quentin you GENIUS!”
Immediately, he jumps off the bed and unto Quentin..
Quentin struggles to fight him off.
If there’s one thing he hates more than people, its contact with said people.
“I owe you man” Simon announces. “Anything!” He says this with so much conviction; it is obvious he is a man of his word.
Quentin nods
Even if he is very sure that he will never be in need of any favor from Simon.
He finishes with his luggage and starts to walk out of the room with it.
Simon calls out “So when are you coming back?”
“I’m not” Quentin says softly
“Sorry what?”
Quentin leaves the room, he does not reply, he has way too much on his mind.
