The importance of being honest

chapter 1

Thanks for giving this story a shot! Just a quick reminder that I'm French, so feel free to tell me if there's any mistake. Enjoy ! 

Nick turned his alarm off for the third time this morning. But his phone fell and the damn thing wouldn't stop ringing. He groaned and tried to reach it, but landed on the floor. He then saw the cause of his misfortune under his bed. He looked at the time : 7h46. He slammed his head and rushed to his bathroom.

How cliché can it be to be late on your first day of school ? He tried to wash his hair quickly but put some shampoo in his eyes. Nick cursed and tried to rince his eyes with clear water. After succeeding in his mission, he dried himself while going back to his room, glanced at his reflection and swore for the hundredth time today. His curly black hair which were parted on each side of his head made him look like a nerd. He put on some oversized shirt and slipped it in his jeans. He took his phone : 8:02. His first class would start at 8:30. He took his backpack and ran to the kitchen.

On his way there, he tripped on a furry ball. "Gérard Depardieu move your ass out of my way !"

The cat opened one eye, and then decided to not give a single fuck, by falling asleep again. Nick rolled his eyes and wondered why on earth he had the worst cat in the world. He looked at the clock on the kitchen : 8:11. Fuck. He grabbed an apple, took his board and sped to Uni.

He cursed when he saw that none of his friends were outside, but that they already went to class. Come on, it's only 8:27 ! I'm early at this point. He texted his girlfriend, apologizing for being late. He then proceeded to call Grég, because he had no idea where his classroom was.

"Yo Grég. Where are you ?"

"A312 man. They told us yesterday when they gave us our schedule ! You're already behind and it's only Tuesday dude," snorted Greg. 

"Thanks, I'm coming ! And sorry but yesterday was Monday. And you know the saying : Monday's not my day."

"That's really not a saying Nick. You're fucking dumb."

By that time, Nick was already behind Grég. He smacked his head with his board.

"Aw man that hurts," exclaimed Greg.

"That was for saying that I'm dumb."

Greg pouted while the others where laughing their asses off. Clémence patted him on the back. Then, they walked in the amphi and chose middle rows' seats. To be honest, they mostly talked about their holidays instead of listening to the teacher talking about Greek Wars. Well, Grég was mostly talking and mimicking for the fourth time the boobs' size of the girl he banged this summer. Nick noticed that the teacher was no longer speaking about the Persian invasion, but looking at Grég.

"Young man !" yelled the teacher.

"There's no need to be scared, I said young man," sang Grég, not noticing that the teacher was speaking to him. Nick kicked him in the shin.

"I hope the gestures you were making were related to what I was saying," said the teacher. "Otherwise, I don't think that you'll like your third year in my class."

Nick noticed Grég's blank face and decided to come to his rescue. Also because he didn't want M. Laveau to hate them already.

"Grégoire was just explaining to me the path that the Persian army took, when they marched through Thrace and Macedonia. Sorry Sir."

"Okay Nicholas. Try to pay attention from now on. It's not that difficult", added kindly M. Laveau.

Nick smirked. It had its perks to be one of the teacher's favorite. Grég tried to high five him, but Nick raised his middle finger and listened to the teacher for the rest of the hour.

After their class on Religious Conflicts, they headed to the Cafeteria. Clémence was waiting for Nick outside. He kissed her and apologized again for being late this morning. Grég then proceeded to tell her, while they were waiting for their food, how Nick saved his ass. Nick grabbed pasta with bolognese. They were looking for a seat when Grég said:

"And that's how he got me out of trouble. My best bud." He said while bumping his shoulder with Nick's.

"Be careful man!" yelled Nick, his tray dangerously leaning toward the ground.

Just like in a movie, he saw his plate slowly tumble down. And just like the loser he his, he tried to balance himself but failed. While he was trying to catch his plate, the rest of his tray fell to the floor. And while he was watching his tray, miserably laying down, his plate exploded on his right. The tomato sauce was splashed everywhere in a two miles radius. Nick noticed some bolognese sauce on a girl tote bag. He apologized and started to wash it off, while Grég was laughing.

The girl blushed and said that it was nothing. She grabbed Nick's hand to stop him from wiping her bag.

"Okay that's enough. When you're done being stupid you can meet me at the table," barked Clémence.

"Grég you fucking idiot. Finish picking up while I call on a cleaning lady", said Nick.

"Sorry dude."

Nick apologized again to the girl and washed the mess with a janitor. By the time he got back with a new trail to his table, Clémence was already gone. He frowned and asked to his friends where she was.

"Don't worry Nick, she's just pissed that the girl blushed at you. You know how she is," told him Camille.

Nick smiled genuinely and thanked her. Camille knew best about Clémence's jealousy : she had to came out so Clémence would stop being jealous of her friendship with Nick. Camille must have known what he was thinking about because she winked at him. She then tied her long brown hair and started eating. Nick texted Clémence to know if she was going to the little concert later, then threw himself on his food.

His phone lit up and he saw Clémence's answer :

Clém - 12:34 : Yep. I'll be waiting for you on the best bench in an hour.

Nick was glad that he had no classes this afternoon, thanks to the concert organized by the cultural department of his University. It was supposed to be welcoming the first years, but it really just was an excuse to ditch class.

He walked out of the self with Camille and Grég to meet Clémence. He saw her from afar, the wind playing with her strawberry blond hair. He hugged her and apologized, even though he didn't think that it was his fault. This seemed to do the trick since Clémence kissed him. He gave Camille the thumbs up and they all went into the theater.

A band was playing and Nick recognized a song from The Black Keys. He bobbed his head to the music and went to the front with Clémence, where he started singing the lyrics. The band seemed to notice and the singer smiled at him. Clémence was swaying her hips to the rhythm. Nick took her hand and started dancing with her. Who cared ? It was their third year at Uni and they didn't give a shit anymore.

Nick turned his head and saw that the drummer was looking at them. He frowned when he noticed that the dark haired boy seemed to be staring in Clémence's direction. He understood the jealousy she felt earlier, and put his arms around her shoulders to show that she was with him. The drummer blushed and looked everywhere but in their direction during the all gig.

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