As I was being dragged back through the covered walkway back to the parking garage, my brain was running on overdrive.

What the HELL just happened? Am I in some sort of Sci-Fi movie? A EULA that has DEATH as a condition??? What did I just get myself into? What’s the deal with Zeke and Yena? Are they a couple? Or is my brain just exaggerating things like usual? This is going to be one INTERESTING car ride home!

More because I wanted something else for my brain to focus on, I tried to get more details out of Zeke.

“So, Zeke. How did you end up at Rutgers? There’s got to be a story there.”

Zeke chuckled, which sounded like rocks being tumbled in a steel drum.

“Well, you know how I got hurt this semester, right?”

“Yeah, you slipped on the wet stairs at the dorm and sprained your knee.” I remember him sending us lots of pictures of his knee, all blown up and swollen. It was cool, but also kind of gross.

“Right, right. Well, right after they recruited me, they ended up changing coaches; the new coach saw my injury and didn’t want me taking up a spot on the bench when he’s trying to prove how great he is, so he tried to have my scholarship revoked so he could get another of his prospects to transfer, and give him and them more exposure.”

“Wow, that totally sucks!” I exclaimed. Zeke nodded in agreement.

“Yup, totally. But that’s basketball. If you are not putting butts in seats, they don’t really care about you. So, when I saw the writing on the wall, I decided to investigate transferring to another school that would fit my needs. Rutgers had a good basketball team, their Computer Science department is pretty good, and they used to have a video game and game design track there. Sadly, it got shut down, but most of the professors were still there, so I figured if nothing else I can use the experience to do some networking while I finish my degree. Rutgers had a few members of the team leave due to illness or other reasons, so they had desperate need of some good players, and they were thrilled I was considering transferring; their coach had saw my film and was interested in me as well, but they ran out of scholarship spots, until one of them got busted for trying to sell ecstasy on campus. Once I was able to travel, I took a bus over, and their doctor gave me a physical. From his evaluation, the injury wasn’t as bad as originally thought. It was just a mild sprain, and with some PT it healed right up. I was only down for about three weeks, and I was still able to do some upper body workouts to keep myself from losing too much muscle mass.”

“That all sounds totally logical.” I tried to keep my voice neutral, but I know some of it was just irrational jealousy that he got to spend more time with Yena, even if it was just because they were on the same campus.

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“Plus, it helped that I knew at least one awesome person on campus already.”

“Awwww!” Yena said, clearly pleased at this admission. Zeke smiled as he looked at her.

Internally, the green-eyed monster was roaring in me, ordering me to do something, anything about the situation. I told my monster to shut up, but it was a half-hearted attempt.

“So, I went to do a campus tour, the basketball coach put me through a workout, and offered me a scholarship on the spot for my final year.”

“Well, that’s certainly a big change! I’m glad it worked out for you.”

“Well, it mostly worked out, the food at Rutgers isn’t anywhere near as good as Penn State!” Zeke said, ruefully. Zeke’s monster appetite was a local legend at my house. If my mom heard that Zeke was coming for dinner, she’d double the meal size, knowing he’d eat half of it, and still have room for dessert. As if on cue, Zeke’s stomach rumbled, loudly. We all laughed at that. Yu reached into her pocket and pulled out what looked like a gift card.

“Fortunately for you, dinner’s on me!”

We both cheered at that.

“So where are we going to dinner, hrm?”

“I’d tell you, but I’d have to kill you. So, I’ll just direct you instead.” She winked at me as we got back to the garage proper and walked towards my car. She slowed when she saw what we would be driving in.

“Good god, X! You’re still driving that decrepit shitbox?!”

I put a mock hurt expression on my face. “How dare you besmirch Colin’s honor! He is a fine vehicle, with a long and storied history of service! He has yet to fail me, ever!”

Yu snorted “Well, you got the ‘long and storied’ part right; he’s older than you and I combined!”

“And he’s still running!”

“Barely; if I remember right, it smokes as much as it runs. Did you get that fixed?”

“I… haven’t been able to afford the new head gasket replacement”

“Xander, head gasket in a can only works for so long…”

“Yena. It just has to hold out for a few more months, then I’ll be done with the year, and working all summer I can earn enough for a down payment on another car.”

“My dad could –“ she began, but I cut her off.

“No, Yena.”

“What about your parents…?”

“No, Yena. Thank you, I truly appreciate your concern, but this is my problem to figure out.”

Yena looked frustrated, but she nodded in resigned agreement. Zeke stood there quietly, listening to the discussion. Finally, he joined the conversation.

“Well, if Colin is still good to go, can we please go get some food?”

That lightened the mood, and we all laughed. Yu raised a fist at Zeke, and he cowered with the appropriate amount of respect. Yena finally relented, and opened the passenger door. “Shotgun!”

“Damn it!” Zeke said, sighing. “Ah well, I have more leg room back here anyways.”

“Perhaps, but If we don’t hurry up, you might be hungry enough to find Colin appetizing!”

“Can’t have that!” Zeke exclaimed in mock horror. “I do have to worry about my figure, after all!”