L O S T

“Okay, I know the whole ‘shows up fifteen minutes late with Starbucks thing’ is a terrible cliché. That’s why I decided to double down with a pumpkin spice latte. Go big or go home, right?”

“Long line at the Starbucks that kept you?” He enjoyed coffee fine, just not ones that were on the expensive side.

Mona shrugged. “I can only go part time because of Peggy, so I don’t have enough hours,” she said, as if he should know who Peggy was. “And I have to keep two jobs. But it’s not so bad, you get used to it you know?” She began playing with his hair, much like she did with her daughter. “Where are you from, Jackson the Freshman?”

“Oh, Right...” The name ‘Peggy’ had yet to ring any bells - her younger sister or something? - but he could relate to the struggle of working too much with multiple jobs. Jackson’s brows furrowed at Mona’s fingers playing absently with his hair, allowing it to continue with a small snort of amusement. “-- Pennsylvania. My High School Counselor found this place for me, and it seemed like a good idea to come here. How about you; where are you from?”

“See, we’d be beneficial to your education. Besides, it isn’t all about parties you know. It’s mostly about brotherhood,” Jin said, in a surprisingly serious tone. It disappeared quickly and he was back to his cheerful self. “I mean, if you care we also do charitable stuff. Our current president is an education major, so he’s a bit adamant about it.”

“You sound like an advertisement.” He notes after a beat, taking another smaller sip out of his can; a faint smile playing on his lips. Granted, joining the frat might actually cut a lot of expenses for him, and saving every penny counted... He mentally shakes his head almost adamantly. Living in a house full of people was bound to bring back memories. “--- That actually sounds pretty appealing, really. But I don’t think I’m cut out for the greek life. Maybe next semester?”

“I guess I’ll be behaving until after Rush Week. Are you pledging anywhere, Fishy?” he asked. “Because if not, I am honor bound to recruit you for the best frat on campus, Fox Beta Kappa.” Really, recruitment was the only effort Jin put towards anything. “We have an after party after this you should check out.”

“... I guess I should of seen that coming.” Jackson had barely made it through the week with actively avoiding the clubs and organizations that were tabling by itself; but there was something about Greek Life that made them extra persistent. A little like pop up ads or something. He huffs a short laugh, making a show of his consideration by humming thoughtfully. “Uh-- I’m not... really frat material. And I haven’t really been a ton of parties in my life time, let alone Frat parties.”

Mona was about to disagree, except she was nearly falling down as it was. “Maybe you’re right. Care to walk with me?” Mona’s accent was slipping out, making her words more slurred. She put her arm around him, so he could lead her to somewhere more stable. “Who are you?” she finally asked. “My name’s Mona. I’m a Sophomore. Technically. ”

In response, Jackson’s arm circled around Mona in order to help her keep upright - while making sure to keep it respectable - leading her off to the side where he had sworn that he had seen some chairs, or better yet a bench.  “Name’s Jackson, and I’m a Freshman.” Finally, he spotted a picnic table and led her over towards it, slowly lowering her down to take a seat before sitting down next to her; placing the can on the table’s surface. “Need me to get you water or anything?” His lips quirked up as he reflected back towards her introduction. “... What do you mean ‘technically a Sophomore’?”

“Let’s just say it doesn’t take much for me to get drunk,” he said. It was easier for people to think he was a lightweight than to realize it was antidepressants that made alcohol so strong for him. Though in a frat house like the Kappas, it meant a lot of teasing which resulted in him occasionally getting plastered. “I owe a favor to the president. Who is also my best friend. Here’s a tip Fishy, don’t flood the quad with witnesses.”

He huffs a short laugh, taking another swing of his drink. ( Which was taking quite the effort to choke down; with such a bitter after taste. ) “It’s been noted.” Jackson chuckles, half unsure on what that even meant. “Although I suppose it wouldn’t really make a good impression to get too crazy on all of us impressionable newcomers. So I guess your friend make a good call.” He jokes.

Mona blinked, before realizing she had unintentionally been offering a stranger her drink. She tried to steady herself. “Any chance you could stop moving? I’m getting a bit dizzy.” She propped herself against the wall and he stopped moving as much. “Much better. You’re more pretty now that you aren’t a blur.” She passed the can to him, already forgetting he had rejected her offer. “Here. A thank you for not moving so much anymore.”

“Uh...” He tempted to point out that she had already made the often moments ago, but he holds back the remark; smiling thinly as he took the offered can. Mostly for show. “Thanks.” Jackson extended a hand out towards her when she swayed, nervous that with one wrong move she could end up face down on the floor. “Uh-- maybe you should sit down? You don’t look like you’re handling the ‘walking thing’ too good right now--”

Pia was still trying to get herself back into the swing of things, not being home in now, over a year, it took a strain on her. Her hu’ul had told her stories of being sent to the Santa Fe Indian School, and Pia couldn’t even imagine how horrible it must’ve been, since she was having such a hard time with just this. So a concert, with stuff to drink? Well, to put it in the most appropriate terms, she straight up said ‘don’t mind if I do’. It surely helped with getting her mind off things.

Pia wasn’t exactly one for white guys, so she wasn’t attracted to the guy, but she did notice the look of a lost soul in him, it was the same look she’d been wearing lately. Getting another drink, she went over to offer it to him with a simple nudge and a ‘hey’. When he declined the offer, she jokingly said, “Well, more for me,” Before quoting one of her favorite proverbs from the home country, “Blödes Herz buhlt keine schöne Frau,” before explaining herself in English, “Our lack of confidence is not the result of difficulty. The difficulty comes from our lack of confidence.”

“-- Where’d you get that line from?” Honest intrigue was present in his voice as he looked back towards her,  pivoting his body so that he was facing her more directly. He couldn’t detect exactly what language that was that she spoke - all he knew was that it wasn’t one that was taught in his old high school - but if he had to choose which version of the quote ‘sounded better, he’d definitely pick the original.

“Do you usually throw inspirational quotes at strangers, or am I just lucky?”

“You sure? I can’t drink it myself and I’d hate for it to go to waste,” he said. “Made a promise to behave.” Not that he felt like drinking anyways. There was enough entertainment around to keep him from resorting to drunken antics. Jin looked up and down at the student. “I’m Jin. Fox Beta Kappa. And you?”

“I mean... I guess one is fine.” What harm could one can do? ( Aside from the fact that he was a year underaged, but--- ) He huffs a small laugh as fingers grab ahold of the drink, already snapping it open. “ ‘Made a promise to behave’? I’d hate to see how much of a handful you are while drunk then.” A jest; of course.

“Jackson. I’m a freshman.”

It was still a bit of a culture shock, the ‘college experience’, and it proved especially true when he was surrounded by hundreds of students who seemed much more at home in the concert venue than he did. A nudge against his arm caused Jackson to stiffen with surprise before his head whipped towards someone on his right, drink in their hand.

“Uh--- Nah, I’m good.”