University of Console Heroics: Chapter 5

By  noon the population of the student union had not changed much. There were different girls at the 1 cUPcake booth, but it was still mobbed by fraternity members and independents alike. Foster looked over the sea of students searching for a place to sit.

Thompson had secured a four person table. He was sitting alone, his lunch untouched on the far side of his book. A student nudged the table, Thompson looked up from his book.

“These seats being used?” the kid asked. Thompson nodded and the kid went on about his way.

Thompson stood to stretch for a moment and spotted Foster wandering union looking for a place. Thompson waved at him and Foster waded through people to reach his table. Foster reached the table and set his lunch tray down on the table then dropped into the chair opposite Thompson.

“So how was breathing practice?” Thompson asked.

“I know right!” Foster almost exploded. “I thought combat studies would be about fighting.” He grumbled.

Thompson nodded. “It is, can’t fight if I you can’t breathe.” He pointed out while chewing on a baby carrot.

Foster took three quick breaths. “See that? I’m a natural so when does the fighting start?” He asked.

Thompson shook his head and suppressed a smile by taking a drink from his water bottle. “Go to the rec center tonight. Run two miles, then try and meditate like you were taught today.” He ordered, putting his bottle back on the table.

Foster completely missed the point. “What does that have to do with anything?” he asked.

Thompson picked up another baby carrot. “It’s easy to regulate your breathing right now. You’re not tired, you are not beat to hell. Go run yourself down and see just how easy it is to maintain a steady even breathing pattern.” He wedged the carrot between his teeth.

Foster shook his head. Clay dropped in the third seat. He then put his tray on the table. “DO I look like I need a psychology class?” He asked no one in particular.

Thompson nibbled on his new carrot. “not in the least.” He replied.

Clay opened his soda “Can you tell that to the Thug Studies department? Apparently It’s a requirement to graduate.” He took a large drink.

Thompson smiled around the end of his carrot. “Those bastards.”

Clay glared at Thompson and put his soda down. “See, you always do that. It’s always sarcasm with you, how do you expect people to take you seriously?” He ranted.

Thompson shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I don’t, Dr. Freud”

Clay threw a chip at Thompson and turned his attention to Foster. “Hi, I’m Clay, why are you sitting at our table?” He asked.

“Foster, I ran into Thompson earlier today. He invited me.” Foster explained.

Clay gave a quick side glance to Thompson. “Why is Cynthia the only Combat Studies Major that calls people by their first name?” He asked. Both He and Thompson looked at Foster. Foster shrugged his shoulders. “Oh yeah, you’re going to be a useful addition to the group.” Clay looked at his tray. “I forgot napkins, anyone need anything?” He asked before disappearing.

“Don’t mind Clay. He’s, eccentric.” Thompson tried to explain.

Sanders filled the fourth seat and put his own lunch of the table to take the rest of the available space. 

“I would have gone with rude and often offensive. Who’s the noob?” He asked not even looking at Foster.

Thompson shook his head slowly. “Speaking of rude, Sanders this is Johnathan Foster.” Thompson pointed to Foster.

“Is that your first name or last?” Foster asked.

Sanders gave him a sort of stunned glare. “Does it matter?” He asked as a reply.

Clay returned with napkins and everyone dug into their food. “You seem edgy Sanders. Rough first day?” Clay asked.

Sanders rolled his eyes “Yes mom, but I’ll be fine.” He replied. “So, what are you?” He asked Foster.

Foster looked up from his lunch. “What am I?” He repeated the question.

Clay nodded. “Like what are you majoring in?” He clarified.

Foster caught on. “Oh! I’m a Combat Studies major.”

Sanders threw a dryly judgmental glance in Thompson’s direction. “Picking up strays now, are we?” He asked rhetorically.

Thompson shook his head. “He’s not a stray, He’s cool.” Both Clay and Sanders glared at Thompson in disbelief. “It has nothing to do with that!” Thompson declared unconvincingly.

Sanders nodded. “Oh sure it doesn’t. Because you and Cynthia are the best of friends now and 

everything is fine and dandy again.” He rolled his eyes.

Foster was lost again. “What are you guys talking about, how am I a stray?” He asked.

Clay sat back in his chair and grabbed his soda. “ Our dear friend Thompson used to be a Combat Studies major. End of last semester rolls around and he switches to Adventure Studies on a whim and cuts all ties with Cynthia.” Clay leaned over to Foster, held his hand up and pretended to whisper to him “They were, swapping pixels, if you, catch my meaning.” He sat back up right.

Thompson put his fork down. “And everyone lived happily ever after. The end”

There was a few seconds of awkward silence before Sanders broke through. “Anyway, I’m a Targeting and Terrain Management major.” He offered.

Foster was grateful for something to pay attention to other than relationship drama, silence and his less than average lunch.

Thompson nudged Clay’s chair with his foot. “You working tonight?” Thompson asked. Clay nodded with a mouthful of food. “Mind if we drop by and use your employee discount?” He asked and Clay nodded again, taking a drink from his soda.

“Sure no problem” Clay confirmed.

“Where do you work” Foster asked.

“The Supply and Demand across the street from Campus.” Clay replied pointing in the general direction of the store.

Foster was confused. “They have employee discounts? I didn’t even think they had health insurance.”

Clay shook his head in the negative. “I have an employee discount.” He emphasized.

Foster still didn’t catch on. “How much?” He asked honestly.

Clay held up his hand. “five fingers.” He stated bluntly.

Foster raised an eyebrow in confusion. “huh?” he questioned.

Thompson shook his head and pinched the brow of his nose. “He steals stuff. He is a Thug Studies major. It’s kind of his modus operand.” He finished killing the unfunny and overly dead joke.

Foster looked at Thompson “Ok now I’m really lost, his modo what now?”

Clay downed the rest of his drink and stood up. “Get used to that feeling kid, you got a long life ahead of you.” He fist bumped Thompson and cleared his garbage away.

Thompson put his book back in his bag. “Don’t mind Clay, He’s been emo a lot lately. Apparently he’s no ready to quit being a Toys’R’Us Kid.

Sanders stands up and gathers his garbage. “Hey Thompson, I gotta get to the bookstore, but give me a call before you go shopping.” They fist bumped and Sanders disappeared with his stuff.

For a few moments Foster and Thompson sat awkwardly silent in the near deafening noise of the student union. Foster finally cleared his throat. “So uh, Cynthia say’s ‘hi back’” He used air quotes to emphasize the ‘Hi back’.

Thompson swirls whats left of the water in his bottle. “That’s nice.” He replied.

Foster pressed forward. “How come you’re ignoring her?”

Thompson glanced at Foster for a moment. “You aren’t a big fan of subtly are you?” He asked.

Foster shrugged. “Sorry, it just seems like the history between you two has been the theme of the morning.”

“I know right? I’m super popular, I have some paparazzi on back order.” He snarked.

Foster shook his head. Thompson pulled a pen from his pocket and wrote his number on a napkin. 

“Are you Happy Thompson?” Foster asked while Thompson was writing.

Thompson handed the napkin to Foster “I’m positively filled to the brim with glee.” He shouldered his backpack and pushed his chair in. “Call around six for a ride.” He said before taking off, waving to Foster without turning back around.

Foster looked at the number on the napkin and his barely touched lunch. “Nice going” He said to himself. “Lunch alone, what an awesome day.” He poked at his mac and cheese with something nearing disgust.