Norbert looked around; trying to move his arm, but restricted by something, a black object tied around it. Norbert remembered falling asleep with the plastic bag attached so he would have everything he needed if he were transported during the night. Turning around and getting ready for the day, Norbert dressed in the clothes inside the bag, needing to wash the undergarments at some point.
Fully dressed, Norbert went to his dresser seeing his phone. Unlocking it, Norbert saw a blast of notifications filling the screen. Unlocking his phone, Norbert looked at the missed calls, seeing two and a voice message that was left.
Clicking open the voice message, Norbert heard Jack speak. "Hey dude, just wondering if you could bring my stuff for class tomorrow; seemed to have forgotten it at the apartment. Yeah, I'll be right back in a second; yeah, give me a minute. Sorry about that, Norbert; thanks for bringing it, and see you there."
Norbert just looked at the screen in his hand, not believing the gall of the person who left the message. Shaking his head as Norbert flipped his phone in his hand Norbert packed his bag, preparing everything he would need.
With a backpack on one shoulder and a trash bag slung over his other, Norbert looked around the central area for Jack's bag. Not by the door or the couch, Norbert crossed into the hall again opening the door to Jack's room.
Searching in the half-light, Norbert saw the lights of Jack's computer flashing on his desk, illuminated by the screen his bag sitting on the chair. Norbert walked forward, dodging the items of clothing thrown about the floor before reaching the bag. Looking inside, confirming the essential contents, the laptop. Slinging it over his shoulder and placing the plastic bag on top of it, laden with items Norbert headed out of the room.
Closing the room door behind him, he filled a drink bottle with water before stowing it in his bag. Packed and ready for the day, Norbert headed outside, locking the apartment behind him.
Whistling as he walked, Norbert saw the others around him, most as usual, staring at him. Not caring for the looks he received, dismissing them and the whispers behind his back. At the classroom, Norbert entered, happy that his seat wasn't occupied even though the room was mostly filled in.
Sitting down and placing his bags on the seat beside him, Norbert brought his supplies out of his bag, preparing for the class. As the lecturer came in, Jack still missing.
"Reminder that your assignment is due on Friday, as next week will be the last of the term. Now the network …." The lecturer said to the class Norbert was drowning out the rest of it, remembering he had all his subject assignments to finish for the term.
Clicking around his laptop Norbert looked at his calendar, seeing how much he needed to get done in the next two weeks. Clacketing on his laptop, Norbert looked at the schedule he had created, five assignments to hand in before the term ended, two this week and three the next.
Flipping through his files, Norbert remembered he was halfway through each one, the one due tomorrow nearly finished.
Panic rising in his chest Norbert wondered how he could get it done at the appropriate time. He would not have enough hours in the day to even sleep. The thought played in Norbert's head of whether he needed sleep now or could go on nothing for the next week and get it all done.
A plan formed in his mind. Norbert plugged some earbuds in, not wanting to be distracted by the class, as he opened the document he had previously started and began plugging away.
***
People moved around him; Norbert looked around, having formulated a plan for the essay he needed to write. The lecturer was no longer in the room, people streaming out with him.
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Picking up his items to get to the next room, Norbert packed away, seeing the chair beside him, having his trash bag and Jack's bag. Whipping his phone out, Norbert texted Jack, asking where he was.
Heading to his next class Norbert sat down again, opening his laptop blitzing through the assignment.
***
The last class for the day over, and Norbert still carried Jack's bags around. He was nervously playing with his phone, still not seeing any response from Jack. Norbert looked outside; starting to get dark. Heading to the pizza shop, not wanting to break the tradition that they did, hoping to see Jack appear there.
Opening the door, Norbert heard the bell ring above him. Waiting in line, Norbert slowly made his way to the counter.
"Hey Bob, can I just get the usual"
Bob just nodded in response, punching the order into the register. "Wondering where your buddy is today?"
Norbert sighed, pulling out his phone and texting Jack that he was picking up the pizza. "Don't know where he's gone. Said he went out last night and hasn't returned since."
Bob nodded, tearing the receipt and stabbing it on the spike; countless receipts were already there. "He isn't one to miss pizza. Anyway, if I see him, I'll tell him you've come by."
"Thanks for that, Bob", Norbert said, stepping to the side. Bob just nodded and shouted next as the line moved one step forward.
Lost in thought, the pizza sliding across the counter interrupted his thought. Picking it up and having to juggle his belonging until everything was stable. Taking the pizza and doing a half wave Norbert made his way out of the store heading back to their apartment.
***
Entering the too-quiet apartment, Norbert sat down, no sound coming from the TV. Placing the pizza on the table, Norbert returned the rest of the bags to their respective rooms.
Taking his laptop with him, Norbert sat down, taking half the slices of the pizza and placing them on a plate. Finishing the first slice, Norbert pushed the plate with the rest to the side, putting the other three slices back in the box and closing the lid, waiting for Jack to return to eat it together and tell the wild ride he had to have been on.
Opening his laptop, Norbert plugged in the charger, only wanting to be interrupted when Jack returned. The necessary document was already open; Norbert cracked his fingers and began typing.
***
After finishing and submitting the first assignment, Norbert started on the second assignment, due this week, reading the report's material.
***
As the sun came up, Norbert, having found all the sources needed and begun writing it again, his mind caught up with what he was thinking before. The only sound in the apartment, that is, until the click of the door unlocks.
Norbert, still typing, not wanting to know he had been found out as Jack crept into the apartment. Jack came around the corner as the door closed behind him, only hearing the typing from the keyboard.
"So, why didn't you respond to any of my texts," Norbert asked, not even turning around.
Jack entered the room correctly, sitting in the seat opposite Norbert. "Phone died, wasn't able to charge it up."
Norbert just nodded as Jack opened the pizza box, looking inside at the slices. Digging one out and biting into it, Norbert spoke, still typing away on the laptop, "You do know that we have an assignment due today."
Jack just stopped eating, mouth open. Swallowing, Jack quickly ran to his room, still eating it. Coming back with his laptop Jack opened it up and sat opposite him; quickly clicking on his keys, he began writing his report.
***
Around mid-day, Norbert and Jack closed their laptop lids. Opening the pizza box, Norbert pulled out his three pieces and put them on the plate. Both ate their next slice, happy it tasted so good the next day.
"So, where have you been," Norbert said, taking another slice.
"Been on a date with Sarah," Jack replied, taking a bite of pizza.
"For over a day? Where did you go to Timbuktu?" Norbert exclaimed
"Well, that isn't as far as you think. But just went around the place, staying at hers for a bit, seeing the sights and showing her around the town."
Norbert just smiled, happy that Jack had something. "My man," Norbert said, clasping hands with Jack. "But you will need to give me all the juicy details."
"Yeah, will do, man. Just got to finish these assignments" Jack replied. Norbert tipped the last slice of pizza at Jack, also cheering with his own the pair went back to work.
***
A week later, finally finishing his assignments, Norbert looked at his room, quickly packing the things into a suitcase to take home for the two-week break.
Carrying his stuff and holding the garbage bag with Luck's presents, Norbert waved off to Jack, who was also heading out for the break, assuming he was going with Sarah.
Hailing down a bus, Norbert tapped on, heading to the train station.