Chapter Five
Thinking why he said yes to Bradley, Colin waddled to the music department at 6:00pm, in his tight black pea coat, black jeans, gray polo and black converse. “He told me he would be in the second floor… but those are cubicles, not ensemble classrooms.” Thought Colin out loud. Passing through a few cubicles, he saw a big classroom with the door slightly opened, there he could see Bradley from the narrow space from the door, Bradley was singing something as he carefully opened the door, tip-toed his way into the room and listened to Bradley sing.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
It’s a quarter after one I’m a little drunk & I need you now
Said I wouldn’t call but I lost control and I need you now
And I don’t know why I could do without
I just need you now
Colin smiled as he saw Bradley do a concert like jam and the end, and started clapping, startling Bradley. Colin started to laugh as he said “Nice tune… I know you need me now so you won’t fail your literature class. So Mr. Musician, are we going to talk here, am I going to listen to the rest of your concert or do you want my help?” Said Colin in a teasing tone. “How long have you been there?” Asked Bradley embarrassed of what just happened. “Not long, just saw the ending.” “Oh… good. The rehearsal got cancelled so I got stayed here. I thought of calling you but I didn’t know if you had something. Wanna get some coffee?” Said Bradley as he packed and grabbed his luggage. “Sure. I’m running low on caffeine. Do you need help? You got a lot of things…” Said Colin as he took a good look of everything Bradley had on. “No thanks, I’m used to it. Dad said I would be better just as a singer. No luggage, thank God I didn’t decide to be a percussionist.” Laughed Bradley.
Entering Perk’s (even better than her “cousin” Starbucks), Colin goes to the line as Bradley chooses two black leather sofas with a coffee table in between close to the window. Bradley was placing his guitar, bag and his 3-inch portfolio carefully as Colin thought “Thank God I didn’t decide to study music, my bag is heavy as it is, but maybe I wouldn’t have had such a bad time… I was a pianist, after all.” As Bradley approaches Colin with one of his “award-winning smiles straight out from a magazine” Colin starts talking “I don’t know how you can walk all around campus with all of that. I would die-” “You get used to it. And besides, since you’re a pianist you don’t have to be with all of that. You just go to the room, sit and play your heart out, don’t cha’? Bradley smirks as Colin blushes “You remembered…” “Hey, it’s not everyday you get to know a student from a world-renowned pianist. Since when did you start playing the piano, though? Why did you leave, I mean with a mentor like that you would be competing against 5 year old Asians in Italy or France.” Bradley says as they reach the Brittany, the perky blonde cashier, as he orders a medium cinnamon dolce latte and a cinna cinna bum bum for him and a medium black coffee, no sugar for Colin. Surprised, Colin utters in disbelief: “How did you know my coffee order?” Bradley smiling replies “We’re here almost every day at more or less the same time. I’m surprised you don’t know ~mine~ and do you want the two bagels you always order with your medium strong black coffee, Mr. Emerys?” “No it’s ok. You don’t need to-” “Wait… scratch the cinnamon bum and give me 4 bagels. Two regular, one with some pumpkin spice and the other with some cinnamon sugar.” Said Bradley as Colin looked at the wood flooring cheeks red. “You ~need~ to try those bagels, I don’t know about you but there’s a way their coffee melds with the flavors of their bagels… it should be illegal.” Said Bradley. “That’s why I eat them every time I get here.” “So, what is it that you don’t understand about your Lit class that you need my help. Let’s go over where you left your things before they steal your guitar, you can tell me as we wait for the coffee.” Said Colin as he slightly pushed Bradley to their seats.
“Right.” Said Bradley to himself as his face turned from happiness to sorrow and frustration. Colin watched Bradley closely as he thought what was so hard that Bradley was so frustrated. “So I’m taking the class with Dr. Ellis and I don’t get it… no matter how I study… I fail his tests, he thinks asks the most insignificant details from the selections and it’s frankly killing me. I can’t fail this class, or anyone whatsoever, if not they will revoke my scholarship.” Bradley sighed frustrated. “Ok, don’t think you’ll fail. Just tell me what are the selections you need to read.” Said Colin encouragingly. Bradley took out his book and notes when Brittany called their names. “I’ll get it. You can start looking through my notes, if you can understand them. There’s a post-it with the selections, its neon so you can’t miss it.” Said Bradley.
Bradley got what they ordered and for a second he unconsciously started at Colin. The way his cheekbones looked in the lighting, his paleness, bed hair and the fact that Colin looked adorable. He thought of how Colin was always dressed in black and still he looked beautiful. Wait… Did I just think Colin was… BEAUTIFUL?! Pendragon… calm yourself and act cool. You can’t think of him that way. He’s just here to help you with a test, nothing more nothing less. As he was walking toward Colin, he felt that the Earth rotated slightly. Having no idea what was happening until he heard a crash on the floor and a sharp pain in his ankle. Colin asked if he was ok, but Bradley was still in denial of what happened. He tried to get up but recoiled at the sudden pain that made him hiss. Um… sorry. Don’t know what happened. Did I trip over something? Bradley said. The only thing that was heard in the coffee shop was Colin laughter at the scene that played before him.
