Moonlight Brigade: Chapter 1

“It's time for you to wake up, son. Feel the sunshine on your skin and face the new day, expecting thrills and excitement!” A woman’s soft excited voice murmured in his ears, in his mind. Too bad her excitement wasn't rubbing off on the young man as his eyes peeled back lazily to reveal a chilling blue. He was to use hearing her voice now, at times he least expected it. Taunting him in the realm of the living instead of the realm of dreams he was so accustomed to experiencing. He twisted a pencil, he scarcely remembered holding, in one hand while the other, on the lap, tightly gripped his thigh.

“I see you are finally awake, mister Vincent,” a voice called from below. His eyes shifted to the man at the center of the room, his wrinkly grey beard the only thing Vincent paid attention to. “I hope you were taking down notes like the rest of your peers,” the professor chided with a glare.

A flare of irritation rose at the sound of his name. He hated it. No. Hate wasn’t enough to describe how much he despised that name. He paused his pencil twirling, sensing his so called peers’ gaze upon him. A nasty remark rose in his throat. If not for the sharp look from his sandy blonde neighbor beside him, he would had sneered at the old professor’s teaching method. He would rather watch paint dry than hear this geezer ramble about some body part. He stopped listening when the old man reached the lower part. That's something he did not want to hear, the thought of it making him sick.

Satisfied that Vincent would no longer sleep in his class, the professor showed his back to the young man to continue the lecture, promptly missing the finger Vincent flicked off in response.

“You’re trying to get class ended early on purpose aren't you, Ven,” a quiet familiar hiss beside him.

He glanced at his neighbor, the young man glaring at him with hint of worry in his sea green eyes. “Relax Carter,” Ven murmured nonchalantly, leaning back in seat. “I know you want to pass this class so your dad can lay off of you.” He knew he wouldn't go so far to jeopardize his neighbor’s grade. No his friend’s. The man stuck by him thick and through. Least he could do was ease up on the professor. Even if he hated the old crone.

“Were you sleeping again?”

“No. I only had my eyes shut for moment,” Ven grimaced slightly, leaning forward in his seat before the professor could turn his brown hawk-like gaze back to him. “I heard her… again,” he trailed off, a small tightening in his eyes before he pretended to have his pencil skim the surface of paper in front of him for the sake of his friend.

Carter’s eyes widened slightly, filled with concern. “She say something different this time?”

“No. It was the same…,” His voice came slightly strangled with emotion, the hand on his thigh moving to rub his forehead at the throbbing pain of a rising headache. “I swear I could see her smile this time.”

“I swear ever since you got that bracelet” -Carter pointed out a golden band on his right wrist with a face of contempt- “you been hearing it more often. Almost everyday. You should take that damn thing off. It's messing you up, man.” The shadows under the man’s eyes was enough to tell him Ven lacked sleep as well.

“I’m not taking it off. It’s only thing I have left.” Reflexively, Ven circled his wrist slowly, twisting the bracelet, the small ruby dangling from it glinting in the small light that lit up the lecture hall.

Carter opened his mouth, no doubt to question his sanity, only to keep it shut as the professor glanced in their general direction once again. He kept silent but he gave Ven a meaningful look. We will be talking about this later.

With a sigh, he gave a small nod, paying attention to the studies once again. The class dragged on for a long time. For a moment he thought about going dozing off in his seat, his chin resting in his palm. Then the lights in the room lit up to his relief. He stretched languidly in his seat, easing his stiff muscles.

“Why the hell is Biology one of my requirements…”

“More like it was one of mine and you just joined along for the ride,” Carter muttered, mimicking Ven with a sigh.

“Don't say I didn't do anything for you.”

“Wouldn't dream of it.” A hearty laugh as Carter gathered his things to put in his sack. “Hey man. Whatcha think they got at the cafeteria this time?” He asked eagerly. “That mac and cheese yesterday with pork chops. Oh man…,” he sighed with longingly. “Getting hungry thinking about it.”

Ven groaned, shaking his head. “You can't be serious. That food sounds too good to be true to be sold at this college. You sure you didn't eat that for breakfast or dinner last night?”

“This is Wavisley University” -Carter spread his arms wide in the now empty classroom in a dramatic fashion- “where you can get the best education and food in the area.”

“You mean this is the only college within a 50 mile radius,” Ven uttered sarcastically with an eye roll. “No way in hell was I going to be driving any further than this. Come on though. I hate sticking around this damn lecture hall longer than I need to be,” he complained, getting out of his seat. Without another word, they strolled out the hall together, Ven with a scowl on his face, Carter grinning ear to ear at the thought of getting food.

The sight of vibrant red hair had two pausing as a young woman stood out from the crowd of students in the hallway. She appeared to be nervous, her gray eyes seeking as she pushed her glasses back to prevent them from falling off her face. Carter lit up at the sight of her, leaving Ven’s side to grab her into a tight hug.

Ven’s scowl deepened at the sight of the two sharing a personal moment, a hand tightening into a fist at his side. He thought he set aside this petty feeling, jealousy, but here it was again, rising to fore when they shared a brief kiss. Disgusted with himself, he looked away from the scene reining in emotions.

“Get a room, you guys. Your love is killing me here,” Ven grunted, relieved his tone came out light in a joking fashion he desired.

“I-I’m sorry Ven,” she stammered. With a nervous chuckle, the woman was quickly separate herself from him, her delicate peach face flushing, highlighting the freckles that spread from cheek to cheek, across the bridge of her nose. She didn't get far, Carter’s hand lacing with one of hers to keep from her straying. Her eyes darted toward Ven with embarrassment and worry.

“Don't worry about him, Lydia,” Carter assured her with a laugh. “He's just a big old baby when it comes to this type of thing. I told you when you find your girl, you’ll turn all mushy and soft inside,” he teased.

Ven gagged, rolling his eyes at the teasing. “As if. I'm not turning all soft for no one. Now can we get going already before we lose any good seats?”

“Crap!” Carter exclaimed, starting a hurried pace, bringing along Lydia in tow. It was a wonder she didn't manage to trip up at the sudden start but she was all too use to his spur of the moment moves. “I'm not losing my favorite seat this time!”

***

Carter gave a small whoop of victory as he claimed the table closest to the windows. Taking a seat, his eyes wandered to the others as they stood in the front of the cafe, deciding what they wanted. Lydia was torn, stuck between choosing a fruit salad or a regular salad; Ven on the other hand wasn't interested in much, bored as he stood by her side as a silent sentry.

Carter purged his lips as he scrutinized his friend with his back to him. The tension in those shoulders, his stance. More and more lately, he was noticing Ven becoming more irritable as of late. It may have been not directed towards him but it was as clear as day to everyone else, students giving the man a wider berth than usual. He could never find the time to sit down with him, to talk about these issues. But it was difficult. Ven would always find a way to dodge the subject or weasel his way out of the conversation. His brows furrowed. Just more and more stress each day. Surprised he hasn't cracked.

When the two of them came back to the table, with food in tow, he relaxed as Lydia quietly slid in beside him with Ven sitting from across. Wordlessly, Ven slid his tray to him, his eyes immediately darted towards the window that led outside. Carter’s mouth watered at the sight of a burger and fries before him.

“Cheeseburger and fries!” His eyes sparkled as he bit into delicious juicy goodness. “Bless this cafeteria…” He murmured between bites with happiness. Munching with delicate, his eyes drifted to the window, curious what drew Ven’s attention. The mountains and the forest in the backdrop was breathtaking to newcomers but to them it was same old thing they were accustomed to seeing each day. But snowflakes danced in the air before landing the dull grass.

“Isn't it only August?” Carter frowned, his eyes drawn to the snow.

“They did say it might be snowing this week…,” Lydia chimed in, captivated by the snow herself.

“Guess they were right for once,” Carter huffed, resuming where he left off.

The sharp sound of the seat scraping against the floor. He looked up in time to see Ven on his feet, his face tense. “What's up?”

“I have somewhere I need to be,” Ven said curtly. Before Carter could ask what, he was already walking away with a brisk gait.

“What the hell…”

“Was it m-me?” Lydia asked.

“No. No,” Carter assured her, his free clean hand lacing with hers. “He's just going through some things. That's all.”

She hesitated, her hair tumbling in front of her eyes as she hung her head low. “...I think I m-might be ruining your relationship with him,” she admitted near silently. “I-I feel it with him. He's just so…”

“Go ahead.”

“L-Lonely. I always g-get that impression. And then when I'm with you and he's h-here, the feeling only g-gets worse…”

Carter purged his lips, his gaze in the direction Ven had departed. Outside. He wasn't going to finish the rest of his classes. His eyes narrowed, his frown deepening. “I tried. You can never say I didn't try to reach you,” he muttered more so to himself before he heaved a sigh. “You know how hard it is trying to get things through that thick skull of his. It's draining…”

A quiet touch on his hand. “But you’re the only one he’s let in, aren't you?”

He snorted. “I don't know if letting me in” -he made quote marks in the air, his voice filled with bitterness- “was part of the bargain. More like he dumped his burdens on me.”

“You're still his friend though. No his best friend… You been with him through high school. I seen your relationship with him.” She stifled a laugh as she recalled one of the silly bets the duo would get themselves into. “It's almost like you’re his brother, you know.”

“I have a little brother and he's less work. Maybe even slightly more fun.”

“Carter,” she said sharply, his lips thinning.

“I get where you’re coming from, Lydia,” he said, gently placing a hand over hers. “I’ll stop by his place when I'm done talking things over with my dad later on.”

“Is there something wrong?” The sudden bleak tone in his voice disturbed her. She found her hand curling over his, giving it a small squeeze of assurance. He returned the gesture, giving her a small smile. It wasn't a happy one and that bothered her even more.

“No. Nothing.”

The small tightening in his eyes told her different. “Why won't you tell me the truth?” The words tumbled out before she could stop them, her eyes widening with alarm.

He stiffened in his seat, mentally cursing himself for slipping up. She was much too observant, too sensitive, so intuned with him that it was difficult to mask his feelings from her.

“My dad is just putting a lot of pressure on me cause, you know, college.” College was just scratching the surface but judging by the the relief in her face, his answer had sufficed, enough for her to relax. He couldn't ignore the small twinge in his heart at his vague answer. You deserve so much more… He thought, filled with shame.

“I hope he eases up on you, Car.” She squeezed his hand once more, this time to comfort, as she leaned close to give him a small peck on his cheek. “I have another class to go. I'll see you after my class ends?” She asked, hopeful.

The sharp pain in his heart was instant at the sight of the hope in her eyes. To dash them away. “I can't. I have to go straight home after class. I know. I'm sorry. You know how my dad can get. I really want to walk you to your dorm at least. This weather could get worse an-” He rambled until a finger pressed to his lips to silence him.

“Carter, it's fine,” she chuckled at the surprise on his face, wrapping her arms around him in a soft hug. “I understand what you’re going through. I'm a big girl now so you don’t have to worry,” she murmured into his shirt, rubbing small soothing circles on his back. How much that calmed him now, the tension ebbing away. “We’re not in high school anymore. Just one day isn't going to kill you or me.”

“Lydia…”

“Shh. I need to get going now. I'll be fine. Don't get mad at your dad or anything. You know he means well. And Ven… Please try to contact him today. I'm really worried.” She held onto him for a moment longer before releasing him. Waving goodbye, she gathered her things, giving him a wistful look as she rushed off to class to leave him in his lonesome.

Frustration had him clenching his teeth as he rummaged through his pocket to pull out his phone. “First dad. Now Ven? I can't catch a break today,” he nearly growled to himself, his appetite gone as he shoved away the remainder of his food. It didn't look so appealing any longer. He raked a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply through his nostrils. “Just another long day,” he muttered, his fingers easily typing out the message on the touch screen.