Life With No Love
First Day
Mom
Good luck at your first day at Collage son
Maxwell Cruz also known as Max arrives in front of the gate of Nexus University
Max
Wow The collage looks bigger than i thought, it must have lots of students in it (~Maybe lots of pretty girls)
Max
Well what am I waiting here for *Walks towards the Collage*
Suddenly someone Bumps next to him
Leo
"Whoa! Collision at the crossroads of destiny! My bad, my bad! I was too busy absorbing the glorious vibes of… freedom!"
Max
*Just looks at him and annoyed*
Leo
Oh you must be new here I'm Leo Valenti they call me Leo but the way let me tell you about this beautiful place...
Leo
This my friend this is a new world full of beautiful chicks you've never seen before
Leo
There are kinds of kinds each with sweet... Hey where your going
Max
Sorry I'm gonna be late for my first class
Leo
Your Missing out Man... A lot remember that!
The Stalker... I Mean, The Strategist
Leo
Where are you going? I'm not done yet!
Max
To class? You know, the thing we're actually here for?
Leo
Details, details. You can learn about dead people in books later. Right now, we're learning about living, breathing, beautiful people!
Max
(Walking faster) My class is this way.
Leo
(Hurrying to catch up) Perfect! Mine is too! See? Fate. Now, as I was saying, the key is to identify the target-rich environments. The library is a trap. Too quiet. The gym? Too sweaty. But the student union...
Max
Is there a way to get you to talk about anything else?
Leo
Like what? The profound philosophical implications of our syllabus? Bo-ring. I'm talking about the real curriculum, Max. The pursuit of love! Or at least a phone number.
Max
How about you pursue not being late on the first day?
Leo
You're so pragmatic. I like it. It balances my... creative energy. We're gonna be a great team.
Max
We're not a team. We met five minutes ago because you ran into me.
Leo
"Ran into you." "Fate intervened." Potato, potahto. Ooh, hold up. Scout at 11 o'clock. By the water fountain. Do you see her?
Max
I see a lot of people, Leo.
Leo
The one with the green streak in her hair. She's looking at that flyer. She looks cool. And approachable. Maybe she's into... eco-friendly stuff? Or music? I could talk about music.
Max
Do you even know any bands?
Leo
I know of bands. That's basically the same thing. Okay, here's the plan. I'm gonna go ask her what she's looking at. You stand behind me and nod like you agree with everything I say.
Max
Absolutely not. I am not being your supportive nodding buddy while you lie about liking indie bands.
Leo
You're right, you're right. Too complicated for a first mission. We'll just observe for now. But remember her face. We'll code-name her "Eco-Goth." For future operations.
Max
I'm leaving. My classroom is right there.
Leo
Wait! This is it? This is where we part? What about our next move? Our coordination? Our communication strategy!
Leo
(makes a horrified face) "Hi"?!"Hi" is what you say to your grandma! We need a handshake! A secret signal! Something!
Max
(Sighs as he pushes the classroom door open) How about a distress signal? Because that's what I'll be sending if you follow me in here.
Leo
A distress signal... I like it. Dramatic. I'll work on it! See you at the battlefield... I mean, the cafeteria!
(Max disappears into the classroom. Leo stands in the hallway, nodding to himself.)
Leo
(To himself) This is going better than I planned. He's already playing hard to get. This is a classic best-friend origin story. Now... to find Eco-Goth
The "Eco-Goth" Gambit
(The next day. Max is trying to find a quiet spot in the library.)
Max
(To himself) Okay, just need to find a table. Somewhere far, far away from any talk of battlefields or wingman doctrines...
Max
Wait who is she [she's an angel]
Jennifer
So yeah like that... (talking to her friend)
Leo
(Suddenly popping out from behind a bookshelf) CODENAME: LIBERTY BELL! WE HAVE CONTACT!
Max
Jeez! Leo! Don't do that! And what kind of codename is that?[ and how long where u behind the bookshelf]
Leo
It's our distress signal! I told you I'd work on it. It's dramatic, right? Anyway, mission update. I've compiled a dossier.
Leo
A dossier! On Eco-Goth! Her name is Chloe. She's a graphic design major. She likes vintage horror movies and iced coffee. She has a 11:30 AM break every Tuesday and Thursday.
Max
How... how do you know all that? That's not observing, that's stalking.
Leo
It's deductive reasoning. And maybe I followed her Instagram for a little bit. It's public! It's not a crime! She posted a meme about someone annoying her in the hallway yesterday...
Max
That was probably you.
Leo
Irrelevant! The point is, her 11:30 break is in ten minutes. She always goes to the bench outside the art building. And we're going to be there.
Max
"We"? No. No way. I have a thing.
Max
A... reading thing. In the library. Where I am.
Leo
Your desire for knowledge is admirable but misplaced. This is hands-on learning! Now come on, we need to look natural.
(Leo drags a protesting Max across the campus.)
Leo
Okay, position acquired. Act natural. Talk to me about something boring.
Max
This is the least natural thing in the world. We're just standing next to a bench. We look like weirdos.
Leo
We're not weirdos, we're... bench enthusiasts. Admiring the craftsmanship. Now, here she comes! Execute Operation: Casual Bump-In! Go, go, go!
Leo
(Steps backward dramatically, "accidentally" bumping into Chloe) Whoa! Oh, hey! It's you! From the flyer! Sorry about that.
Chloe
(Raises an eyebrow, unimpressed) It's you. The hallway guy. You have a real clumsiness problem, huh?
Leo
Only when I'm near... compelling art. Which, you know, this building is full of. I'm Leo, by the way. This is my friend, Max. The shy one.
Max
(Mumbles) I'm going to vanish into the earth now.
Chloe
(Looks at Max, a slight smile appears) Yeah, I remember. The one you threw under the bus for the attendance question.
Leo
See? We're all friends here! So, vintage horror movies, huh? What's your take on the original Night of the Living Dead? A masterpiece of social commentary, or just a great zombie flick?
Chloe
(Stares at him for a long, silent second) ...Did you read my bio?
Leo
I... uh... it came up! In conversation! Right, Max?
(Max just stares at the sky, praying for a meteor.)
Chloe
Right. Well, it's both. Obviously. Anyway, I gotta get to class. See you around, Max. Try to keep your friend from concussing himself.
(Chloe walks away. Leo looks stunned.)
Leo
She talked to you! She said your name! And she barely even looked at me! This is a huge setback!
Max
She thinks you're a stalker, Leo. And she thinks I'm an accomplice.
Leo
No, no, this is perfect! This is a classic misdirect. She's playing hard to get with me by being nice to you. It's an advanced technique. I need to up my game.
???: (A new, cheerful voice) That was the most painful thing I've ever witnessed. I think I got secondhand embarrassment.
(A girl with bright red glasses and a stack of books is sitting a few feet away, having watched the entire thing. She's trying not to laugh.)
Leo
(Whipping around) Who are you?
Zoe
The audience. I give it a two out of ten. The effort was there, but the execution was tragic.
Max
(Finally laughing) Thank you! See, Leo? Even a stranger thinks it was terrible.
Zoe
The name's Zoe. And you, "Socks-with-Sandals," you need a new strategy. Badly.
Leo
You saw the sock incident too?!
Zoe
Everyone saw the sock incident. It's campus legend already. Look, if you want to talk to Chloe, you can't use weird internet stalker moves. She hates that.
Zoe
Yeah. We're in the same design studio. She's my friend. And I'm telling you, your current approach is a one-way ticket to getting a restraining order
Leo
(Looks from Zoe to Max, a new, terrifying light in his eyes) ...You're her friend. This isn't a setback. This is intel! This is gold!
Zoe
Or... I'm just a person telling you to cool it. But hey, whatever narrative works for you.
Zoe
(Grins at Max) See? Someone gets it. Well, this has been educational. Good luck with... all of this. You're gonna need it.
(Zoe walks off, leaving Leo staring after her, a whole new dangerous plan forming in his mind.)
Leo
...A friend. Max. We just got a massive upgrade. The Wingman Doctrine just evolved. Now, we have inside information!
Max
Or, we just met a normal person who thinks we're idiots.
Leo
Same difference! The game is afoot! Now, we need to get close to Zoe. This changes everything!
Max
(Sighs deeply) I need to transfer another Collage
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