smellslikehome - Tumblr blog

[smellslikehome]

Post 3: Redgie's Perspective

After that run in with the mean dude in class, I started looking around the school, trying to learn more about him. Why was he so mean? Why was he in a post-graduate class? Why does he know so much about ‘the actions of a liar’ and other stuff I couldn’t begin to understand. So for 3 weeks or so I asked around the school. I thought with how quiet he was, I would end up giving up quickly. But as it turns out, quite a few people knew him.

“Oh Hicks? He’s a Detective.” Answered one guy when asked.

“A Detective?”

“Yeah. Him and this dude Barry, they can like, find out anything. Shit the other day they helped me find my dad. I learned about them from this one girl.”

“Nathan. He’s a fucking prick,” answered the girl when I asked her about it. “I hired him to find out what my boyfriend was planning for my anniversary and instead he finds out that he’s been sleeping with the head of the cheerleading squad for the past 4 months.”

“Yikes….” I replied.

“He’s nosy as hell though. Ask Sunny.”

So after finding out who and where Sunny might be, I went to him and he said, “Yeah, he helped me learn that my best friend was an undercover cop. 21 Jump Street Style you know.”

“Is that a movie?” I asked, confused.

He rolled his eyes, “Not important. Anyways. His dad’s like, a policeman or something. He interned with the police but after figuring out how scummy the police was involving that Genesis girl, he and his friend left.”

That name rang a bell. “Genesis. The girl on the news that was killed by the police captain?” I asked.

“Yup apparently that was Nathan and Barry that caught him. You should go ask Catherine. She was like, Genesis’ best friend.”

The thing about Catherine is, she was hard to find. One day, while looking in the cafeteria, I saw Nathan and another guy and a girl sitting and talking. That’s when I thought about maybe going up to him and asking my questions. “Hey, we’re in the same class right?” I asked, trying to start up a conversation in the best way I knew how.

“Yeah, you stole my notebook… Can I help you?” He replied sternly.

My heart started to sink, “Oh right of course! I think we got off on the wrong foot I-”

“And reintroducing yourself like we’ve never met is somehow better because?” He asked.

Wow, this guy is a dick. I rolled my eyes and said, “Nevermind. Have a good day,” and walked off.

As I approached the entrance, I saw the girl I was looking for. I went up to her and asked to talk and she agreed. “So, I was wondering if you could tell me about Nathan Hicks.”

Her eyes seemed to light up. “Nate? Oh I love Nate! We’re really good friends. Are they in trouble?”

“No, not at all. I’m just trying to learn more about him. Like why’s he so damn mean,” I growled in frustration.

She giggled to herself, “Yeah, they do that to everyone. It’s not their fault though.” She sighed. “Listen, Nate doesn’t really volunteer information or open themselves up. They have large walls because they’re scared of being vulnerable. Not because they think that it’s a weakness, far from it. It’s just that Nate’s been hurt a lot, so he takes it out on people who he feels like could be a threat. If he’s mean to you. And I don’t mean like he ignores you, I mean if he goes out of his way to tell you specifically to piss off, that means he doesn’t want you in a position where you can distract him or hurt him.” She starts to stand up before saying, “Honestly, he’s not that bad.”

And with that, she walked off. I thought of that myself as I went back home. I fed my cat and studied as I thought about what he wrote in his notebook. I rolled my eyes and dismissed it. This guy had spent way too much time on my head. Besides, it was getting late and I needed to make sure that everything was put in place. It was ‘dead week’ as I like to call it. When my body gets heavier and I get tired.

After a horrid week of class and sleeping, ending in a day I skipped entirely, I went to class fully rejuvenated and ready for the next month.

It was Monday and I had finally made my way to Professor Brandon’s for class. I showed up a bit early so I could get a feel for what I had missed on Friday. After asking him, he told me, “In all honesty you didn’t miss much. It was really just a filler class so I could finish making the midterm.”

“Midterms?!” I said, shocked. “A-Already?!”

“Believe me, I was as shocked as you are,” he chuckled. “But yep, it’s about that time! I have everything set up and ready. Also, you turned in your application to Student Teach right?” He asked.

“Crap! I’m sorry I forgot. I’ll do it before the end of the week I promise!” I replied quickly.

“Hey it’s alright. Class is about to start so go ahead and take your seat. I’ll explain to you all the midterms,”

I had a seat and after everyone else did the same he started, “As you all know midterms are coming up and it’s time for my famous yearly Literature Review/Rewrite. This year we’re analyzing one of my personal favorites: the Callender Papers. As always-“ he was interrupted when the door suddenly opened and in walked Nathan, looking as angry as ever. “Ah, glad you could join us Mr. Hicks. We were just going over midterm plans.”

“Hm” Nathan dismissed as he sat down.

I turned my attention back to the teacher as he explained the project details, how we had to read the novel, judge what things could’ve been done better and then rewrite the novel. He also explained that we were put in groups with the names being both at the front of the class and online. As he continued talking I vaguely heard someone whisper, “…….fuck”.

Professor Brandon talked for a little while longer then, after yelling at Nathan again, dismissed the class early. We all rushed the board and I searched like a wolf for my name. Which I found quickly. Unfortunately, I saw the other name too…

[Nathaniel Hicks —-- Redgel]

I looked at Professor Brandon and said, “Really?”

He chuckled and said, “Hey, you’re the only other person in here that’s even talked to him. It’ll be fine.”

I rolled my eyes and ran out the hall to try and chase him down. It didn’t take too long for me to find him. “Hey! Wait Up!” I shouted after him. He turned around and I walked up to him, catching my breath. “Looks like we’re partners for the midterm project!”

“Hm…” he nodded, looking rather disinterested.

“So…” I started, trying to figure out how to generate any kind of conversation with this guy. “When do you want to get to work on it? We have 2 and a half weeks to work on it sure but-”

“We have 2 and a half weeks to work on the 1st half. Up until the end of the semester to finish writing,” he interrupted.

Stunned, I attempted to explain myself by saying, “Oh… well I just don’t want to-”

“Wait until the last minute. Trust me neither do I , the sooner this is over the better,” he interjected again. Before I even had the chance to argue he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “I gotta take this. Saturday, either your place or the library it doesn't make a difference. Email me the details through the classroom and I’ll show up.”

With that, he left, leaving me dumbfounded in the middle of the hallway. How does someone manage to have every side of a conversation by himself. I didn’t even get a chance to say anything. I explained the situation later that evening to my sister, Jenny over skype. I was pacing my room angrily talking about him.

“Hm. He sounds rude as fuck…” commented Jenny.

“He IS!!!! That’s the thing that fucks with me? How am I supposed to work with this asshole for the rest of the semester?”

“THAT part,” she commented. She was about 5 years younger than me and attending a college out of state.

“I guess if I invite him over, I’d get work done better,” I confessed. “But I don’t know how much I want him over….”

She laughed, “Ha! Look, the sooner you get this project done the better so if working at home will get it done faster than do it. You don’t look like you want to talk to this guy longer than you need to.”

I agreed. The sooner this is over, the better.

[smellslikehome]

HEYA! Mai here. I'm thinkinga about posting more. Not only here but on AO3. So keep an eye out for that

[smellslikehome]

Post 3: Nat’s Perspective:

You know that annoying phenomena where once you want something or notice something, let’s say a car, and everywhere you look you can see that car. The exact make, model and color. Almost as if the car was haunting you. Or how once you see in your mind you want something, almost every ad you see is directed to that thing. It’s known as the frequency illusion for those of you that don’t know. It’s not that these things show up more frequently, it’s just that your brain is more likely to notice them once they have taken up a significant space in your mind. Unfortunately, for the past 3 weeks since I obtained my journal from the post-grad, I had seen him everywhere. In the halls, in the courtyard of the campus. Hell he even tried to talk to me one time while I was sitting with Barry and Bridget in the dining hall. 

    “Hey, we’re in the same class right?” he asked as though we had never spoken before.

    “Yeah, you stole my notebook… Can I help you?” I replied sternly.

    “Oh right of course! I think we got off on the wrong foot I-”

    “And reintroducing yourself like we’ve never met is somehow better because?” I asked. 

    He stopped stunned before he rolled his eyes and said “Nevermind. Have a good day,” and walked off.

    “Ooooooh who was that?” asked Bridget.

    “Some stalker from my class. He’s the guy that had my notebook,” I replied.

    “Hm…. he’s your type,” added Barry.

    “Go to hell,” I chuckled. 

Barry wasn’t wrong, but to be honest, I didn’t like the guy. Everywhere I looked it seemed he too follow. However, I didn’t have time to fool around and worry about someone that was inconsequential. I had my studies and my work to keep me occupied. I simply was too busy to trouble myself with… trivial matters such as this. The last time I allowed… let’s say ‘extracurricular interests’... to come between me and my work, I didn’t come out unscathed. 

Nevertheless, the 3 weeks since the fiasco with my journal had come and gone and I had just finished reporting to a client about the whereabouts of his missing father, as he hired Barry and I to investigate. Luckily I was able to wrap that case up and get paid just in time for me to head to class. I arrived to class about 5 minutes late, when the professor said, “Ah, glad you could join us Mr. Hicks. We were just going over midterm plans.”

    Midterms already. That makes sense. Luckily I take time twice a week to study so I don’t have to cram as badly. Though I am thankful I have no ongoing cases to distract me too much from my studies. I sat down and the professor continued, saying, “Now like I was saying, the project will be for you all to critique a story and write how you would do the story better. Then, write the story. Since that’s a lot for just one person to handle, and we have an even class, you will be put into pairs. Think of it like an editor working with a writer.” and he kept droning on and on. Honestly he lost me when he said this was going to be a group project. Group projects were a waste of time and energy. I do partner projects almost everyday, so I’m a good team player….

At least when I know the entire team.

    “I’ve already made the pairs. Though they’re posted online and I’ve also printed out a physical copy,” the professor said. 

    Under my desk I pulled out my phone and pulled up the classes online board. I looked around and it seemed like only a few people were doing what I’m doing. I guess since most of the post-graduates knew each other, whoever they were working with wouldn’t be seen as a stranger so that left me as the odd one out.

    ….Greeeeaaaat. I wonder who Brandon possibly set me up with to make my midterms hell.

    That’s when I saw it.

[Nathaniel Hicks  —-- Redgel]

 “Fuck…” I mutter under my breath. 

“Excuse me. Mr. Hicks, are you paying attention?” asked Brandon.

“Naturally,” I said, looking up as annoyed as possible. 

He dismissed class early and the class rushed the board to see who their pair was. I hear lots of ‘yes!’ and ‘yay’ from the board so I just decided to leave the room. I put on my headphones and was going to listen to music when in the distance I heard, “Hey! Wait Up!”     I turned around and of course I saw the large post grad that had been following me. “Looks like we’re partners for the midterm project!”

“Hm…” I nodded in agreement.

“So…” he started. “When do you want to get to work on it? We have 2 and a half weeks to work on it sure but-”

“We have 2 and a half weeks to work on the 1st half. Up until the end of the semester to finish writing,” I corrected.

“Oh… well I just don’t want to-”

“Wait until the last minute. Trust me neither do I , the sooner this is over the better,” I replied. Just then my phone buzzed. I looked at it to see it was Barry. “I gotta take this. Saturday, either your place or the library it doesn't make a difference. Email me the details through the classroom and I’ll show up.” I looked down and answered the phone and walked away. Luckily it wasn’t a case, it was just Barry trying to decide on dinner.

Later that night I was playing games with Bridget and explaining the situation when she said, “Ohhhh I hope he invites you over to his place.”

“I only suggested it because his profile suggests that he works better in an environment where he could be the most comfortable and I don’t need anything impeding my work. I just want to get it done and move on,” I confirmed.

“Well what if he wants to do something…. Extra?” asked Bridget, nudging me.

“Bridge… remember Riley?” I asked.

She reeled back a bit, “Yeah…. I do…. But Nate, that was freshman year… Not everyone’s like that.”

I sighed, “Everyone's like that to me. And he was the worst… I don’t feel like doing that again.”

“Hey. I was just kidding. But still the guy seems nice,” she commented. “I know you aren’t a big ‘let people in’ person. But maybe try to act a little less cold toward him. He really doesn’t seem bad.”

“And if he is?” I asked. Frankly I was in disbelief we were even having this conversation. I’m not just going to open up. Not like last time. Then again, I am unnaturally and unreasonably cold. I’m not blind to my own shortcomings, I know I could stand to improve how I treat people. But some habits are hard to change.

“If he’s as bad as you think everyone in the world is, I'll gut him like a fish,” she said confidently.

…Oddly enough, it made me feel a little better.

[smellslikehome]

Mai here: Mmmmm i feel like posting another part. So that's probably gonna be tomorrow. Till then. More soft cuddles i drew

[smellslikehome]

Post 2: Redgie's Perspective

It was time for me to go back to class and oh god what was I thinking? This was a bad call. I shouldn't have taken his journal to begin with. What all does he know about me? What kind of person is this guy? I arrived to class and I saw him look at me immediately. I looked away quickly in fear. He knew. How did he know?!?!? Did Professor Brandon tell him? It's as though I felt him trying to pierce through my skull with that stare of his. I could barely focus on class, all I kept doing was glancing back at him, and watching him glare at me. I couldn't take it. As soon as class was over I made a break for it. I'll give him back his journal next class or place it on his desk before he gets there. But before I got too far I heard a very stern, very mean "Hold it!" I squeaked and blushed in panic. I didn't think he'd be confrontational. I thought he'd be all stare and no flare. Oh who am I kidding of course he'd come after me. Welp, it was time to do this. I turned around and cleared my throat, saying, “Oh… um… hi…”

He looked me directly in my eyes, which made my heart sink in fear and he said, “You have something of mine, give it back.”

“E-excuse me?” I stepped back. So he did know. I need to think of something so I can just break away from this. My heart was starting to pound and I could feel myself starting to shake.

“Everyone has distinct actions they take when they’re getting ready to tell a lie. Frankly I don’t have the time nor the pleasure for this post-grad. Now hand over my journal,” he demanded, holding out his hand.

I tried to think of something, anything to say but I gave up. I reached in my bag and handed it over to him. He rudely snatched it out of my hand. He glanced at it for maybe half a second and said with anger, “You opened this didn’t you.”

“I…”

“And remember what I said about lying before you make another lame attempt,” he interrupted.

At this point I was sick of this. I wanted to ask him what kind of weirdo takes notes on PEOPLE instead of class. But instead, the only thing I could come up with to say was, “Y-you think I’m cute?”

That's when I finally saw something different in the little shithead. He blushed, almost as though he was embarrassed and quickly said “Go to hell post-grad”. And with that he stormed off. I has to hold back my laughter. For someone who was so mean how did he get embarrassed so easily? I went home and fed Ketchup and wrote for a little bit. Thinking about the big bad wolf who was actually just an embarrassed little puppy.

[smellslikehome]

Mai here! You guys want more? Imma post some more later tonight. Stay tuned~

(P.s. until then. Here's a wholesome pic of the 2 smooching. Nate like's wearing red's shirt)

[smellslikehome]

Part 2: Nat's Perspective:

It finally became time for me to go back to the class and I wasted no time. I immediately returned to my seat only to not see it there. I walked up to the professor and asked if anyone had turned it in and he flatly said, "No".

Annoyed, I walked over to my desk and studied the room as people walked in. Someone took it and I was going to figure out who. Was it her? No, I doubt it? Was it them? Unlikely, they wouldn't care. That's when I saw him. 6'8" approximately 360 pounds, shaggy black hair and light brown skin with an interesting birthmark on his cheek. The cute, soft spoken but highly intelligent writer who seemed to be best friends with the teacher. I’ll confess I had taken a special interest in him, not because he was cute, well not ONLY because he was cute. There was an air of mystery about him. He was open and kind, of that there is no mistaking but he also seemed to be careful, too careful. And I’ll confess a good mystery has always interested me. This particular day he walked in and looked right at me before looking away.

I had found my thief.

Unfortunately he had walked into the lecture hall right before the class started, meaning I would have to wait until the end of class. Throughout class, I would catch him glancing back at me. He would be horrible to play poker with. The entire class he spent fidgeting in his seat. I could see him sweating with nervousness. Yeah he had my journal. But after class he did something rather unexpected, he tried to make a run for it. I followed him swiftly and said, “Hold it.”

He made a sort of squeak-like sound before clearing his throat and turning around to say, “Oh… um… hi…”

I noticed his eyes were a rather unique orange color. So I looked him directly in those peculiar eyes and said, “You have something of mine, give it back.”

“E-excuse me?” He shuffled back, the look on his face giving away his surprise and his guilt.

“Everyone has distinct actions they take when they’re getting ready to tell a lie. Frankly I don’t have the time nor the pleasure for this post-grad. Now hand over my journal,” I demanded.

He stuttered for a bit before giving up with a sigh and reaching into his satchel and retrieving my journal. I snatched it and noticed the rope around it had been shoddily retied. I looked at him and asked, “You opened this didn’t you.”

“I…”

“And remember what I said about lying before you make another lame attempt,” I interrupted.

It was silent for a moment before he said, “Y-you think I’m cute?”

My face flushed immediately before I said, “Go to hell post-grad”. I stormed off. What was this weird feeling in my stomach? Where those.,.. butterflies…

Gross.

I went back home and looked through the journal, when Bridget said, “Found your diary.”

“Yes,” I chuckled. “I’m writing about my bitch of a roommate, boys, N* Sync and how I ‘can’t wait to get out of this town’.”

“Like a proper Y2K white girl,” she chuckled before flopping down next to me on the couch to play Overwatch. I rolled my eyes but for some reason, I found myself thinking about the post-grad.

[smellslikehome]

Mai here: Oh my god it's been moths! Sorry we were moving to a new apartment. I have a new part coming out tomorrow tho. But until then, here's these 2 cuddling

[smellslikehome]

Redgie’s perspective:

It was the beginning of the semester and I had finally woken up from one of my fits. While my teeth were still sore and my body felt heavy, at least I was able to get up. I had a few classes with Professor Brandon. He was my favorite English Literature Teacher. This semester, he was teaching a post-graduate writing course. It was going to be his first time teaching the course and asked me to take it to see how it is. I love writing, or at least I’d really like to. So I signed up. Besides, learning more about how he teaches would really help for when I shadow underneath him next semester. So I went to class on the first day and he took roll. A lot of the people I had seen before, most of us in the English Graduate College. All of us trying to be professors or teachers or full blown authors. However, there was one person that was completely out of the ordinary. He was scrawny and tiny, I would’ve mistaken him for a high schooler. “Nathaniel Hicks?” Asked Professor Brandon.

“Present,” he said flatly. 

“I’m sorry I don’t believe I’ve had you in a class before. Are you a new transfer?” Asked the Professor.

“Nope, it’s my junior year.”

“Are you aware this is a graduate class?”

“Yup”

“Are you an English Major?”

“Nope.”

“May I ask why you’re taking this class then? It’s just not a lot of underclassman sign up for post graduate classes.”

“Meh, it seemed easy.”

Something about him made me chuckle. He was just short and mean. Something about him also rubbed me the wrong way though. I’d never heard of someone taking a post graduate class just for fun. I could tell he didn’t really respect the class. He’d fall asleep in class whenever he felt like it. But when he was awake, he’d write in his notebook like a madman, looking around the class at everyone. One time, my eyes accidently met his and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine, like he looked right into my head. It was scary. I often glanced back at him, especially when the professor would call on him for being asleep. Yet somehow he’d still get the answer right.

One day, early in the semester, right at the end of class, he got a call. He stormed out the room as though he was on a mission. The professor rolled his eyes and told me, “I do not like that kid.” 

“He seems mean,” I added, jokingly. I looked back towards his desk and noticed something still on top of it.I went toward it and saw a leather bound journal. I took it home with me, making sure too feed my cat, Ketchup before I went into my room. Curious, I opened it up to see what he writes about during class. At first it was normal, notes on class, things he had to do. But then, things got weird. There were entries for everyone in our class. They went into detail about mannerisms and what he thought about everyone. I looked around and I found the entry he wrote on me. 

Redgel::: aka Redgie

Approximately 6’8” 360 lbs. 

Shaggy and unkept. Obviously he’s very familiar with the professor. Even amongst the other graduate students he’s close with Brandon. Yet he’s still respectful and calls him Professor. He’s always careful, yet still sometimes clumsy. Like he doesn’t always remember how big his body is. No sense of hand eye coordination. There are inconsistencies about him. He’s clumsy, yet in most ways, he’s almost too careful. There’s also this peculiar mark on his cheek. Is it a birthmark? Is it something else? There’s something about him…. Or maybe I just find him cute. ….He IS cute admittingly but there are other matters at hand. 

He thinks I’m cute! I felt myself blushing a bit when I read that last part, happy that the mean guy thinks I’m cute. Then my heart stopped. He knows about me. Well he doesn’t know about me but he knows I’m not normal. Not…completely normal. I have to give his notebook back to him tomorrow. 

[smellslikehome]

Mai: Hey you guys want part 2? Of course you guys want part 2. I'll post it tomorrow.

[smellslikehome]

Nate's Perspective:

It was the beginning of the semester, about 3 and a half weeks into the beginning of my fall junior semester. Luckily the 2 or 3 cases i had werent as annoying as my classes. I was in 5 classes. 2 in criminal justice and a math class. Since I needed an extra elective, I found myself taking a post graduate writing course. While writing was something I always thought about, it was never something I considered pursuing. Being an undergraduate in a class full of graduate students you would think I was at a disadvantage but I found the class easy to manage. I'd keep notes in my journal, both of the class and of my classmates and study them both after class. I found studying people in my class to be a rather healthy practice at reading subjects. Being a detective, one must be able to tell people mannerisms , and truly pay attention to both people and surroundings. This was something I considered my speciality. However, while I was good at reading people, talking to them wasn't my gift, that title belonged to Barry. My best friend and roommate of many years. "You need to live a little, make yourself more approachable" he would tell me. "Do more than stay at home playing games with Bridget and solving mysteries."

"And give up my only 2 hobbies? Pass." I'd chuckle. Bridget was our roomate, we knew her since freshman year, now we all share an apartment. She's a foul mouthed computer science and engineering major. She's also one of my best friends. 

But I digress. 

The reason why i bring up that particular English class is because something rather unexpected for me happened. As i said earlier it was 3 weeks into the semester. Now since the class wasn't particularly hard, I fell asleep alot. Instead of being woken up by the professor, instead I was woken up by my phone buzzing in my pockets. It was my father, asking for mine and Barry's help with a case. Text Barry, telling him that we had a case and to meet at the apartment after class. Class let out and I bolted from the room, calling my dad and getting details on what had happened, that way Barry and I wouldn't be walking into the case with nothing. 

After a long day investigating, I got home and decided to go back to my studies. However, I realized my notebook was missing. My heart stopped momentarily, panic beginning to set in as I turned the apartment upside down looking for it. "The hell's wrong with you?" Asked Bridget who walked out of the room to see the living room even more of a mess than normal. 

"Sorry Bridge," I replied. "Have you seen my journal?"

"No, i haven't seen your diary." She laughed.

"JOURNAL! Asshole…" I chuckled, throwing a couch cushion. 

She ducked, sticking up her middle finger saying, "Hey, you're the one missing you're diary."

With that she left me to my own devices. I retraced my steps in my head and the only place it could've been was that English class. I groaned and hoped that no one would have taken it, or worse… looked inside….

[smellslikehome]

DAMN this ended up being a lie. I got y'all this week tho i promise

Mai here. We're gonna start(i'm gonna start) posting the story behind these 2 sometime next week. It'll be in parts and im excited. In the meantime.

Nat: "S-should I send this to him while he's at work? Yeah i'll send this to him while he's at work"

[smellslikehome]

Mai here. We're gonna start(i'm gonna start) posting the story behind these 2 sometime next week. It'll be in parts and im excited. In the meantime.

Nat: "S-should I send this to him while he's at work? Yeah i'll send this to him while he's at work"

[smellslikehome]

Mistletoe!

[smellslikehome]

Merry christmas love!

[smellslikehome]

Looks like it's MAI turn(hehehehehe)

Anyways, YOU ARENT THE ONLY ARTIST HERE!!!!! I drew this of Nat and Red about a few weeks ago!

[smellslikehome]

She's just so pretty ;u; i'm so lucky