The Rules of the Game

Matt Ray hated going to college. It was always the same thing. X='s or Shakespeare was a dirty perv with the clap. Seriously? Would it kill them to add something new. Looking into the mirror over his sink, Matt couldn't withhold a sigh. The long nights of studying were taking their toll on him...again. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair was a little too long, and the bags...dear god the bags...

"Go to school...have fun...make memories...make new friends." Matt mentally groused as he spit his toothpaste into the sink. Wiping the last bit of foam from his lips, he sighed. No fun, no new memories, and no new friends. The only saving grace he had was that his own friends had all gotten into the same college. Never part of the cool crowd or even the nerds, Matt was a loner whose greatest friends were all the daughters of his parents co-workers who set-up playdates to 'foster relationships'.

Matt wanted to call bull but it had paid off. A million playdate's and fifteen years later, the relationships had held despite vastly different hobbies. Thinking about it now, Matt couldn't help but smile as he heard a car horn beep. Time for him to meet his friends for the carpool.

Exiting and locking his home, Matt waved to the car as he walked down the sidewalk.

"Hurry up, jackass!" Matt chuckled. Leslie VanHeim was far from an angry person but she definitely had a mouth on her. The casual profanity and insults were just a part of her charm. Coupled with her short blonde hair, petite appearance and love of baggy clothes, you had the most amusing girl next door in the world.

"Leslie, language!" Maria Mack was Leslie's opposite in that way. Tall, well-dressed, and black haired, Maria's calm attitude often made her both Leslie's favorite of the group and her nemesis at the same time. Matt smiled as Leslie responded with a raspberry. Maria wasn't going to forget that anytime soon.

"Classy." The driver said as she watched the pair in the back seat. Kara Percy was the oddball out. A hardcore goth, the once dirty blonde beauty was now a platinum blonde with a love of body covering leather and black cotton covering her equally pale skin. From black lace to faux leather, nothing was revealed to the evil sun. Below that, however, was the body of a goddess and a silver tongue. "Morning." Kara mumbled as Matt finally reached the car.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go." Matt added grumpily earning a laugh from his friends (or a smirk in Kara's case).