《The Lies and the Lives of the Taken》Frank 8
Advertisement
Usually, the library is rather busy, many students doing research or studying. While it's not completely empty, it's not as crowded as it usually is. However, it is a Sunday morning so I'm not surprised.
The only reason I stopped by today was that Cody wanted to meet up. Up ahead, I see him approaching. "Hey, man," he says, taking a seat across from me.
"Guten tag," I say with a smirk.
Cody freezes up and looks at me with narrow eyes. "Please, don't. I've been struggling to get around these last few months as is."
"Man, let me tell you, I just had the best sandwich you could imagine," he says. He starts unloading his bag and taking out some work for marketing. World Trade. "And let me tell you, if we're hanging out until lunch, I'm taking you there to get one with me."
I crack a smile while twirling my pencil between my fingers. "Yeah, sounds great. I don't have any plans for the afternoon so we can."
"Totally," Cody says.
"So is this why you wanted to study with me? A sandwich?" I ask. "Not that it wouldn't be worth it, but it is there anything else?"
Cody's little smile fades off and he adjusts in his seat. "I just got back from the admissions people. I've been trying to extend my stay here." He winces and shakes his head. "I'm going back to the States by the end of the term."
"What?" I ask, setting my pencil down. "You can't stay longer?"
He shakes his head. "I mean, I still have time. We have this month, and then November and December."
"Yeah, but we don't have the whole month. We have breaks in between. Are you staying for them?" I ask.
"I don't know yet. If I'm going to be flying back and forth, it'll be really expensive."
Advertisement
"You have a paid internship," I point out.
He nods along. "True, but I won't get to keep it for long since I am leaving. And the internship only goes until January anyway. So I'll basically be done by the time I do have to go back."
"Man, that really sucks."
"I know, I'm super bummed out," he says. "You managed to stay?"
"I'm not sure yet. Since I originally only signed for one month, they're kind of irritated for me still being here when it wasn't in the original papers for me to stay this long. But I have good reports from all the professors so I'm allowed to stay here."
"Say you can stay until the end of the year," Cody suggests.
"Oh my god, that would be bliss," I say.
He smiles, nodding along. "Would you then live in Austria or move back?" he asks.
I pause for a minute. "Um, I don't know. It would depend on a lot of things."
"Like?"
"Like...where job offers are coming from. I'll take option C and go to Japan if I get a good offer there. But if they're both here and at home, I don't know. I would like living near my family but at the same time, I don't have anything established there."
"What do you mean?"
"Like in New York, I've only lived at my parent's house and on the campus dorms. Here, I have an actual apartment. And that also depends on Jenna," I say. "She's been saying that she wants to move to the U.S. I don't know if that's one of those things she just says as an idea or something she actually wants to do," I point out.
Cody's eyes turn soft at the mention of Jenna. "So if she ends up staying here, would you?"
I shrug. "I might. She's my best friend. I've known her the longest out of everyone I still talk to. And if I have offers here, why not?"
Advertisement
Cody nods. "And if she wants to move?"
"Then...maybe I go back home." It falls quiet between us. The sounds of low murmuring and bookshelves rustling come behind me. "How are you with Jenna?" I ask.
"I mean...what's to say?" he mutters.
"Come on, it's not like I'm going to report this back to her," I say. "I'm just wondering. And sometimes it's better to say things to get them off your chest."
Cody stiffens. "I think I love her," he admits. "I know that when we met, it was one of those wild summers with crazy nights but I just-I loved that summer. And I feel like it's still there when I'm with her, that feeling I can't help but let take over."
I smile at him while he talks. Students who were going to start a study abroad in Austria in the fall were offered to take their summer up there so they can explore earlier so they can focus on school more. Not a lot of students did since it was an out of pocket expense. I saved up a lot of money because I knew this is something I wanted to do.
I officially met Cody at the airport on the way there. We knew each other from Bio 101 but we only talked in class, never outside. We sat by each other on the plane and talked the whole way there. And since it's an 8-hour flight, we definitely caught up, to say the least.
When we landed in Austria, we registered with the school and everything. I met Jenna at a cafe. It was really exciting but weird. It was the first time we ever saw each other in person yet we knew everything about one another. Summer was a blast, going through the cities, trying all the new foods, hiking around, and spending every single clear-skied night on the beaches. It wasn't just Jenna and I. We were a group of 10. Cody was with us and so was Lynn, one of the students who lives in Germany, and several others.
I could sense something sparked between Cody and Jenna after the first few nights. Just the way they clicked, they worked together. But Jenna was and still is oblivious to that fact. And she doesn't know Cody likes her. He's also too good of a gentleman to ever say anything to her while she's with Jakob.
"So when you leave," I say, "are you going to tell her?" I ask.
"I don't know," he sighs. "I want to but it's not my place to get involved."
"Her boyfriend is awful to her," I say.
Cody tenses up. "If he's lucky enough to have someone as incredible as Jenna, he should treat her better. She's absolutely perfect and he doesn't even care."
"Yeah," I say.
"I hate that guy," he mutters. "Not because he's dating her...because he treats her terribly. Like I'm all for her if she's happy but I know she's not. From what you tell me and what I see in her when we do hang out." He glances up at me. "is he still cheating on her?" he asks. I nod my head and Cody scoffs. "How could you cheat on your girlfriend when you're dating Jenna? You don't need anybody else if you have her."
The two of us continue talking while studying. The subject switches to a lighter note. Around noon, we decided to head out and then go get those sandwiches that Cody dare calls life changing.
Advertisement
- In Serial286 Chapters
How am I Supposed to Save This World with No Power?
Wu Li was but a student trapped in a future he did not want when the Portal sought him out to become the Savior of an entire world. However, unlike any beings born in that world, Wu has not a single ounce of power within his body. Worse yet, he's the fourth one that's been summoned in history and he's got massive shoes to fill. How will he overcome his own powerlessness and become the savior that everyone expects him to be? With a beautiful girl acting as his slightly disappointed yet adorable guardian, a smoking hot rivalling bounty hunter from the High societies out to take his head, and countless other encounters along the way, Wu fights on to become the greatest of the four saviors, while seeding this world with...the principles of science. This is a story set in a world with a rich history of the magic power known as the Wave, and all native species are capable of interacting with the Wave to obtain power in a variety of ways. Think of this as a combination of Dr Stone and Black Clover! I am writing this story using similar structures to anime seasons, and the chapters in itself are structured more like manga chapters. The first two seasons are already planned out, and it is likely going to be daily upload (12 noon EST) of chapters from ~ 2 k words in length during the 'season' when there is backlog of chapters, with a week or two of a break in between seasons if no backlog. If you liked this story, please drop a rating and review. If you hated it, please drop a review and help me get better. Don't just spam a 0.5 rating and leave like a coward lol.
8 816 - In Serial27 Chapters
Tales of Regventus Book Five: Protector
**Book 5 in the Tales of Regventus Series see books 1-4 first** After the death of someone important to them all, the group in Keene Manor has focused on healing the sickness in the kingdom. Griffa is plagued by dreams of losing Ansel, fearing their relationship may not be possible. The danger grows as the powers in Aurumist, led by Philo, work to dispose of the queen as quickly as possible. Griffa's relationship with her protector will be tested as she is tempted to choose another to benefit the kingdom.
8 174 - In Serial8 Chapters
Zombie Survivor Diaries
This book follows five regular people that find themselves in the midst of the zombie outbreak. Here they must face themselves, the infected and their many mutated counter parts and other survivors. Forming their own small groups of random people that just try to get by. The chapters for this book will release relatively sporadically as I write for this purely when I feel like
8 194 - In Serial25 Chapters
Hero or Fool
Waltraut Fayiz, a listless 15-year old boy, finds the world utterly mundane and boring. Fortunately, he’s abducted from this bleak outlook and cast into a world full of colour and fantasy. Contracted into following a now hated Goddess, will he transform the world’s hate into love? Or, will he go down in history as the Goddess’ last follower? Whatever the outcome, he’ll always be a hero in at least one persons’ heart…
8 181 - In Serial22 Chapters
The Proposal
Killian Jones finds himself being forced to leave the US, and ropes his co-worker and acquaintance Emma into playing along with him. Will they be able to fool everyone, or will he ruin his life?A Captain Swan AU loosely based on the movie The Proposal (2009).
8 94 - In Serial46 Chapters
Edge of Glory | Supergirl 1
Katherine-Katie- Schott, twin sister to Winslow-Winn Schott, is the best friend of Kara Danvers, AKA Supergirl. Katherine becomes ensnared with Kara's life, helping and being there for her. The young girl soon begins to work alongside Kara and becomes endangered by the aliens who were sent there for Kara. Leah Grant, who is actually Kara's cousin from Krypton, known by her and Clark as Ka-El. She appears when she hears the news about Supergirl, knowing well that it was her cousin. As she becomes part of her life, she becomes part of Katherine and Winn's lives.
8 86

