..."Brain transplant surgery"... you said to yourself. ...."Brain transplant surgery"... Now where the heck have I heard that before? Having a vague recollection of it, involving the car accident that you and your family had been in three years prior. When you'd been all drugged up and had absolutely no idea what was going on. Which wasn't a memory that you'd thought about in a long time. Finding it actually kind of weird that it had popped into your head now. Seemingly out of nowhere.
This being the reason then that you simply shrugged it off and let out a little chuckle. Yeah right. Like that kind of shit is actually real! Which of course it wasn't. And nothing like that had happened to you or anyone you knew. Everyone having instead come out of that crash unharmed and with only a few scratches and bruises to show for it. Not even feeling like it had been the most memorable thing that had happened that year. Instead being more like a footnote. A footnote in the life of one Tim Connors. Who was now a college sophomore studying video game design. And for whom, up until the start of this year, things had actually been going pretty good for. College was fun. You were studying something you were actually interested in. You were renting a place with your roommate, who was a decent guy. You caught up with your best friend Randall as often as you could, and you'd had your long term girlfriend, Allison along for the ride. Having met her way back in middle school and had a crush on for like ever. And, who at the young age of 12 you'd started dating. Allison being smart, hot, cute and incredibly fun. The perfect girlfriend in your eyes. Your relationship having held strong throughout high school despite her not being a particular fan of Randall, and despite your own detest for her best friend, Shawna. Who was winy, vain and so incredibly annoying. And who you'd been pretty much forced to go on endless double dates with. You went on those dates though, for Allison. Hell, you'd done just about anything and everything for Allison. Despite, in contrast to her, not exactly being the most outgoing and confident guy, you honestly felt like she was the one and that your relationship was going to last the test of time. Which, even though (like with Randall), you'd both ended up at different colleges after graduation, you were determined to make it work. And it felt like you were. Keeping in regular contact by phone and through Facetime. Meeting up wherever and whenever you could. Though in the end, after an entire year of this, it seemed that this simply wasn't enough. Not for her at least...
"It's cool, dude. You'll get over her. You're a freaking college sophomore now!" Randall had told you, in an effort to cheer you up. "You know how many babes are gonna be clambering all over each other to get a taste of the Tim-meister?"
While your roommate, Zach, said much the same thing. "I mean, she seemed cool and all, but you gotta get back out there, Tim. There's plenty of other girls just as awesome, right here on campus. Trust me. You'll meet someone else."
You weren't quite so sure. Not having had any experience meeting other girls like that. Not with you and Allison having been together since the 7th grade. Not to mention how devastated this break up had made you. Retreating into yourself and turning down any and all invitations to nights out or parties. Due mostly to the fact that Zach and the rest of your friends were clearly trying to set you up with someone new and you simply could not face it. But also because you didn't at all feel like you were ready to get back on the horse. Becoming a rather boring individual these past few months it had to be said.
Or at least... You had been. This all, you decided, had to change. Looking back on your life over these past seven years and all the stuff that you had indeed missed out on while you were with Allison. Your life having very much evolved around her. Not really getting to be your own person. Deciding, "Fuck it!" when Zach made yet another attempt to get you to come hang out. At some frat party that his girlfriend, Lucy, had been invited to. Telling him, "I'm in!"
"You're in...? You're shitting me, right?" Zach naturally being rather taken aback by this answer. Having expected you, as always, to say no.
You told him however that, "Nope. You, Lucy, Randall... Everybody... You've all been right this whole time. It's like... What the hell am I even doing with my life; Sitting in my bedroom wallowing all day long? I'm 19 years old, a college sophomore, and I'm single. I should be out there living my life!" Which was exactly what you planned to do.
To which a very happy and relieved Zach grinned, "That a boy, Tim! This is gonna be awesome!" Placing his arm around your neck and ruffling your hair up in celebration.
Feeling actually kind of excited now. To get back out there, have fun and stop moping all the time.
Which was exactly what you did. Finding yourself that very evening at Delta Phi's frat house, surrounded by more people than you'd seen in months. All drinking, dancing, playing games and just generally having a damn good time. Which you were admittedly now doing too. You, Zach, Lucy, her best friend Kristen and Zach's friend Dean. Rather appreciating, as you downed your fifth beer of the night, the many, many, attractive looking females that surrounded you. Most of whom were definitely way, way, way out of your league.
"You having a good time?" Zach asked you, while you were watching Lucy and Kristen engage in a game of beer pong.
"Yeah. Yeah, dude. Feels good to be back out there, you know?"
"Awesome. Cause, listen... I didn't really wanna bring this up while you were feeling so down, but me and Lucy, we're, uh... We're kinda thinking about moving in together."
This being a bombshell that you definitely hadn't been expecting. Naturally taken you aback. "Oh... Oh right."
"Yeah. One of her roommates is moving out and she needs help with the rent," he said, "So... you know... It kind of makes sense."
"No, uh... Toh-Totally."
"Like I said, I didn't want to spring it on you, and it's been awesome living with you so far, but we've... We've been talking about it for a while. Things are getting pretty serious between us so it seems like the right time."
Zach and Lucy having indeed been dating since before you'd become friends with him last year. Being a really cool and awesome couple. Hence why you told him, "No, that's great, dude. I'm really happy for you." Which you were. Even if it did mean that he'd be moving out and you'd be left with a spare room that you'd now have to fill. Assuring him however not to worry about you and that you'd soon find someone else to take his place. Joking, "I mean, there's gotta be loads of assholes out there who can't stand doing the dishes and never pick up after themselves looking for a place to rent. I'll have your room filled in under a week!"
"Ha. That's real funny," he laughed. Taking this teasing with good humor. Before asking, "But seriously, are you sure you're okay with it?"
"Course! Lucy's awesome. I'm happy for you, dude," you told him. Clinking your red solo cup against his and placing your arm around his shoulder. Engaging then in what could only be described as a 'bro' hug. Very much ignoring the part that did indeed bum you out. Being too drunk right now to dwell on that.
Telling him then, as you finished your beer and he his, that you were gonna go grab another to properly celebrate. Making your way through to the kitchen to do just that. And on your way, due to the myriad of bodies gyrating and moving around, ended up bumping head first into someone who was heading the other way. Which you immediately apologized about.
"Whoa! Shit! So-sorry!" you told them. "I didn't see you there."
To which the girl that you'd collided with replied, "No worries. It's fucking carnage in here!" Laughing away and not seeming the least bit phased by this. Lifting her head then to look at you.
Which, when she did this, you were hit by an immediate sense of deja vu (or at least something very similar to that feeling). Both recognizing this girl instantly and yet... not. Looking so familiar to you in a way that made it all but impossible not to just stand there and stare. Thinking to yourself, Holy shit! Is that... Is it... Before deciding, No. No way! It can't be. She's a girl, not a dude! And the person who she reminded you of was definitely the latter. Feeling extremely foolish that, despite the startling and uncanny similarity between them, you'd even considered for a moment that this was who it was. Having clearly had far too much to drink.
Though perhaps not. As, while you were busy staring at her face and experiencing this very strange and almost disarming sense of recognition, she looked up at you with a similar sort of expression. Exclaiming, "Oh my God... Tim...? Tim Connors?"
To which you found yourself responding, despite your confusion...
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