If And Maybe

Lecture was going on. Sawyer's head was a mess. Hurting like hell thanks to his drinking. Much to his regret. He can't remember when last he drank that much. He couldn't even remember most of what happened, or how he got back to his room. But thanks to his alarm for his Mondays, he awoke 12:15pm and lazily, painfully, groggily got ready for his class and went. Thanks to his recording. He didn't have to pay attention, not that he could. He couldn't stand hearing anything. His eyelids hung heavy, his gaze on the lecturer. One of the few times he opted to sit at the back. Relaxed in his chair, his arms folded with that same gaze.

"A hangover."

He grimaced at the voice coming from his left. He turned slowly, looking at the face he didn't recognize, until nearly twenty seconds later. The guy who's pen he picked up weeks ago. "Yeah." He barely heard his own voice. So he nodded.

"If you're this hungover, you went to that bands thing didn't you?"

"That doesn't mean it's the reason why I'm-" He clicked his tongue, adjusting his sitting position.

"If you went, you definitely drank. And those who came back said it was crazy. I heard the crowd went wild for Fear's Rejection."

Sawyer scoffed, smirking. Looking back at the lecturer talking.

"Unless there's another reason you got drunk." He glanced at him. "Why do you care?"

"I don't really. But this guy is boring and… you could say I'm curious."

"What did you say your name is?"

"Reed."

"Reed, my answer wouldn't entertain you. I just got carried away." He rubbed his forehead then adjusted his glasses. Once again pretending to focus on the lecture.

"You're not wrong." Reed chuckled. Truly not entertained. He started to speak again.

"If this keeps up, I won't have enough to make my notes." Sawyer lazily pointed at his phone.

Reed understood. And was a little pissed off. "I'm just trying to make conversation."

"And I'm trying to make this headache go away and record."

"You could literally write it down or find it in your text books."

"And you can pay attention." Sawyer retorted without a look.

Reed was a little baffled. The guy hadn't looked so unapproachable or rude that day. And he doesn't even know his name. Bummed out, he sank into his seat and folded his arms.

Minutes later, Sawyer's phone lit up. Reed took a a quick glance down at it, while Sawyer glared at the phone. Hannah Barbra showed on the screen and a message asking him to call her back. It wasn't actually the first message from her. Or the tenth. Since his alarm went off, he'd been seeing message after message from her. It was a little strange. Were they supposed to hang out? Did he forget something he shouldn't have? Also, can't she just wait to see him when he gets back? Is something wrong that he should worry about? He didn't want to worry. He wasn't in the mood for that. He took his phone off the desk and sent a text to stop her messages. He had classes till about five today. –"Stop it. You're going to make me worry." Perhaps there is a better way to get her to stop. But he couldn't think of any. And didn't want to. It was either that, or turn off his phone. Oh wait, airplane mode is a thing. He clicked the icon and set his phone down again. Maybe she will send more messages. And maybe she won't.

His class ended and he completely forgot about Reed. He moved from lecture hall to lecture hall until finally it was over. By 4:30pm even. Sooner than he expected. Along with his memory of talking to Reed, his head hurt much less. But more than that, he was starving. Instead of going straight back to his room, he went to one of the many little restaurants on campus. After considering eating there or taking it to go, he chose the option that didn't involve too much walking after eating.

On his way out of the restaurant, his trusted friends were passing by. Deep in conversation, Otto gesturing and Noelle on the verge of laughing. "Hi there." He greeted just as they passed him. Otto looked back first. Sawyer searched himself. "I'm not invisible am I?"

"Hey." Noelle greeted smiling uncontrollably.

Sawyer squinted his eyes suspiciously at her.

"I was just telling her about this thing that happened last night. We got carried away."

"Where are you headed?" "Speaking of last night, lover boy…" Noelle trailed off, her eyes on Sawyer.

Sawyer looked back then at her again. "Who me?"

"Yeah you. Did you forget about last night?"

"I did actually." He raked his hair.

Otto felt left out. "Why does this feel more interesting than watching Wendy try to sing It Will Rain."

"Maybe because lover boy here had Emi and Perlashrieking like fan girls."

"What?" Sawyer couldn't believe it.

"We were drunk and a little high."

"You were high?" Sawyer was reeling. Did he do something? He can't remember anything but did he cheat on Hannah, is that why she's been sending message after message?

"So we got caught and… and I went to get the others. I looked back and Wade here, had Emi trapped between him. Like his hands on either side of the wall. Emi swears it sobered her up good." Noelle was chuckling. "She said, and I quote, that he said, 'My glasses are all fogged up, can you help me.' That he took her hand and made her touch his glasses. You needed to see her. She wouldn't stop smiling."

"She cleaned it for him didn't she?"

Noelle nodded, closing her eyes. "And Perla, Perla said that when we got out, she tripped on the music department steps and he caught her by her waist and pulled her close, tucked her hair behind her ear and said, 'Careful. Maybe we should help each other down the steps."

"Dude." Otto was referring to Sawyer. "I can't believe I missed that!"

Noelle was trying not to laugh. "She said he was so protective, she didn't want to leave his side."

"Am I the only one who got black out drunk?" Relieved his fear was for nothing.

"At least you didn't do anything too drastic. But seriously, are you some kind of drunk master flirt or something?" Otto asked.

"It's not exactly flirting." Sawyer argued.

"It's not exactly not either. And you" he turned to Noelle. "Why do you always leave these things till he's around? We've been together for like two hours and you didn't tell me."

"It's more fun this way." She shrugged.

Otto scoffed, shaking his head. "Wade, you're something else."

"I didn't know I did that. It doesn't feel like me actually."

"Emi said you called her Cher. How sweet."

Sawyer froze. Sher. Raina. The only one who's cleaned his glasses for him. She liked to play with it. He scoffed, dazed by the realization. "Wow."

Otto pat him on the back. "Mister Magic Man."

"I didn't exactly do it on purpose."

"None of you ever do." Noelle chimed in.

"What?" The boys chorused, looking at her.

"Seriously, Your girlfriend saw you and made the move and yours practically broke your door down and came to ask you out. This isn't high school anymore. No one has to hide their feelings. After years of holding back and dying on the inside." She rolled her eyes.

"O-owkayyyyy." Otto squinted in thought. It made no sense to him.

"I didn't- we didn't- how did Wendy and he really happen anyway?"

"If either of you didn't know that they liked you, would you have asked them out?" Noelle looked from one to the other.

"I think she has a point." Otto admitted.

"Which is what exactly?" Sawyer sighed. "I'm hungry and my food's getting cold. See you guys later."

"Do you really not get it?" Noelle asked, truly curious.

"I was drunk and I said somethings. There's nothing to it. It's embarrassing if anything." And if Hanna had seen him…

"We were out every other day during summer. You were never drunk then. How come you got drunk? And from the looks of you, you're actually the only one who doesn't remember last night. How did he get to his room?"

"I took him." She looked at Sawyer, waiting for an answer to Otto's question.

Otto was waiting too.

"I got carried away. It was a celebration or whatever. Look, I'll see you later." He waved and turned away. He didn't want them to see the worry on his face. He really didn't know why. So he said what he'd said to Reed. It was strange. Especially since he hadn't gotten drunk in a year. Maybe a little more than a year. And, he needed to see Hannah and know what's wrong.