It was a clear Saturday and the university campus looked empty, with most of the students sleeping in.

Grant sat across from Monty. They were at one of several cafes on campus. Grant had Monty he wanted to meet him here after he went on his morning run. He did his best to avoid running into Abigail as he didn't want her to get any ideas.

"Listen Monty you've really messed me up," said Grant.

Monty frowned, looking worried. "What did I do now? Don't tell me that guy at the cafeteria went after you!"

"Nah we are friends now," said Grant, which only made Monty look more and more confused and worried. "I have become obsessed. The damn treasure Monty, I cant get it out of my head."

"Well I did just like you said," said Monty. "Is it really bothering you that much?"

"YES!" Grant exclaimed.

Monty coughed on his hot chocolate.

"I think you have me convinced that its real," said Grant. "Look its just one of those whimsical feelings ok? I'm telling you know in case you start noticing me acting a little different. It's like that time where I obsessed over that T.V. show Samurai Hunger."

"Yeah you directed virtually every conversation in that direction back then," said Monty with a laugh. "Yeah I get you. Hey don't worry about it. It's good that we can be open about these things."

"Kripes I'm like a kid who can't get an upcoming birthday party he's pumped for out of his head," said Grant. "I'm going to need to take some walks."

Monty sipped the rest of his hot chocolate. "Tell me how it goes."

Grant arrive at the second floor of Grover Hall, one of the newer dorm buildings on campus. The lounge area just outside the dorm rooms was being used by a few giggling girls who had set up some kind of party, complete with pizza and treats. A movie was playing on the big HDTV screen, an old fashioned looking action movie Grant didn't recognize. As he rounded the corned into the hall of dorm rooms, a person exploded into view yelling.

"Holy shit!" Grant cried. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he had let his guard down. Grant's heels caught on the carpet and he stumbled backward, losing control. On the way down he flung his arms wildly in a panic to grab onto something for balance. He bumped into another person behind him, who let out a scream. There was a crash and a crack and Grant was on the floor, staring under one of the couches in the lounge.

"I got you good man," said a boy, stepping away from the bathroom door, located right on the corner. It was Abraham, a boy who lived next door. He often liked to scare Grant in the showers, or when he was walking back to his room. Most of the time Grant's composure left Abraham disappointing in his lack of reaction but this time he had indeed gotten him good.

"Yeah nice one Abe," said Grant, getting up with a grunt. "How did you even know I was coming?"

"A buddy of mine saw you downstairs heading up in the elevator and quickly texted me," said Abraham with a grin. He scratched his gelled black hair. "Man the great Grant Foreman, scared shitless like a kid."

"What's the matter with you people?!" came a scream.

Grant whipped his head around. It was the person he had bumped into, staring down at a ruined laptop on the ground.

"Oh shit," said Abraham, his eyes going wide. Panic and guilt was setting into his face.

"This is what being childish gets you Abe," said Grant, his tone cold. He turned back to the girl. She was being comforted by the three other girls in the lounge.

"Your paying for this," said the girl, smoothing her pink mini skirt and black t shirt. "The laptop was a birthday gift which I got to enjoy for a full hour before you trashed it."

"I am sorry," said Grant. "It was an accident."

"I'm sorry too," said Abe, turning beet red. "I was being dumb."

"I don't care," said the girl. "One of you has to pay."

Grant knelt down to look at the laptop. Its screen had been bent back farther than it was designed too and it looked like either him or her had put their weight on it, crushing the device.

"How much was it?" said Grant with a sigh.

"Three thousand dollars," said the girl, obnoxiously emphasizing every word. "Oh yeah a little extra for ruining my birthday party and the tech repair fees I'll have to pay. I just finished moving a lot of files on the computer and now I gotta hire someone to extract them."

"Holy shit," said Abe.

"I don't have that kind of money to spare," said Grant. "What about you Abe?"

"Oh my mother is going to kill me," said Abe. "She's already cut my budget in half for eating out too much."

"Well you guys figure it out," said the girl, flipping her butterscotch brown hair.

Abe looked really scared as if he life was flashing before his eyes. Grant could imagine the overwhelming embarrassment and guilt he was feeling. His own mind was racing trying to come up with a solution to the dilemma. That was when a lightbulb went off in his head.

"How much time will you give us to take care of this," said Grant.

"Three days max," said the girl.

"Alright," said Grant carefully. "If you give me one month I'll give you enough money for three laptops."

The girl's friends were flashing him disgusted looks. Clearly they thought he was messing with them.

"What the hell are you talking about?" said the girl.

Grant sighed and raised his hands in a calming manner. "Listen, I know this is going to sound crazy but I happen to know the location of a hoard of valuables. There is enough there to buy you a sports car if that's your thing."

The girl was looking livid. "Do I look like I'm in the mood for games?"

"It's no game," said Grant firmly. "I'll make you a deal. You give me one month. Just one month and I'll get you those riches. If I don't have it by one month, I'll give you my car, and I fork over all the cash I can afford to give."

Grant reach into his picket and took out the keys to his Lexus. It was a gift from his grandfather who had passed away during his senior year in high school.

"A Lexus Makenna," said one of the friends. "You always told me about how disappointed you were in that crummy old Ford."

"If I find the treasure you call off the debt and owe us a favor in return. I have some issue with your thinking that we're completely responsible for fixing this but my gramps told me to be a man of honor so this is what I can do."

Makenna let out a long sigh and folded her arms. "Ok ok that was a lot of crazy so let me recap. So your going to find this.....hidden hoard or whatever. If you find it in one month you give me a cut of the riches and if you don't I get the care and whatever you can pay?"

"Yes that's right," said Grant, feeling relieved. "We got some money just not the sum your currently looking for. I got one thousand to spare. Abe?"

Abe swallowed hard. "Probably five hundred at most. Sorry man."

"It's going to be ok," said Grant. "Now do we have a deal Makenna?"

Makenna sighed. "Well it seems I win some either way. What about this favor I have to do if you do find it?"

"Haven't had time to give it much thought," Grant admitted. "Now do we have a deal?"

Makenna shrugged. "Like I said I win either way. You have a deal. Now if you would excuse me I have this mess to clean up. Don't let me see you for the rest of the day. We should exchange numbers."

"I'm Grant Foreman and this is my friend Abraham," said Grant taking out his phone.

"Makenna Nellis," she said, punching in Grant's phone number.

Later that night Grant recalled the entire thing to Monty who listened with eyes wide.

"Grant your friken crazy."

"I know but it seemed like a good plan in my head. Guess I was caught up in the moment."

"So your actually going after it huh?"

"Looks like it. Abe said he'd do all my homework for me. He was so grateful that he said he'd try to attend all my classes for me too."

"I'm coming along," said Monty. "My family is rich. They will pay for the airplane tickets."

"Monty you know I can't afford to be in debt with you."

"Forget that debt stuff this is definitely the kind of trip I get get behind. The deal jsut makes it that much more exhilarating."

Grant smiled. "Your a good friend. Now let's get some sleep. My head desperately needs it."

In the dark of night Grant awoke to the noise of his phone vibrating against the hard surface of his desk. The Makenna girl was texting him, telling him to come outside.

Grant checked the time and groaned. It was three in the morning.

Grant tip toed out of his room and closed the door behind him ever so slowly to not wake Monty, who was thankfully, a deep sleeper.

Grant went down the hall feeling groggy. Makenna was waiting for him in the lounge with arms folded.

"What is it now? Do you have any idea what time it is."

"I've been packing," she snapped. "I'm coming to make sure this treasure hunt of yours isn't some kind of scheme your pulling on me."

"Your kidding," said Grant. "Look it isn't a scheme alright? Now can I got back to bed?"

"When do we leave?" said Makenna, her voice rising.

"In two days ok?" said Grant. "Now good night. And next time save these kind of talks for daytime. Alright?"

"You have no right to take a tone with me," said Makenna. "The guys at IT said they had no guaranteed to saving all my files but they would look into it."

"Ok well it was kind of your fault for holding that fancy laptop while walking around," said Grant, walking up and jabbing a finger into her face. "You should have opened your presents in the safety of your room, not like some greedy child in front of your guests."

Makenna's arm swung around to slap him but Grant' was quicker, catching her tell even in the dark. His arm shot up to block and he counter attacked with a shove using his other hand. Makenna fell onto her back with a tiny yelp. As she sat up, rubbing her back, Grant could see that her black panties were in full view, the pink mini skirt doing little to provide cover in such a position.

"Sorry," said Grant hastily. "It was a reflex I gained from training. You can slap me now. I won't block this time."

Makenna stared up at him with eyes full of murderous intent. Grant felt guilty, he knew he had crossed the line. She had every right to be upset. He knew he would be if such an expensive birthday present of his had been ruined by someone who was being silly.

Grant cleared his throat. "Look this is difficult for me too. That Lexus was a gift from my late grandfather. It's a nice one. You'll love it."

"It better be," said Makenna through gritted teeth. "Remember, two days then we leave."

Grant nodded and cleared his throat again. A little louder this time. "Erm, you gonna sit on that carpet all night?"

Makenna's eyes got wide and Grant knew that realization had struck her. She looked down in horror at her exposed undergarments and quickly scrambled to stand.

"Rude and perverted," said Makenna. "Boy is this my lucky birthday. First you smash my laptop, ruin my birthday party, and now you have the gall to stare at my underwear. And to think I have to share the campus with people like you."

"Well technically your birthday has passed," said Grant. "Also I've seen girls in underwear before so don't think you're anything special. Anyways good night!"

Makenna took a long moment to glare at Grant in the darkness before heading off without another word.