The Academy of Space Exploration and Research
"These graduates have come a long way from knowing little about space, but because of us here at The Academy Of Space Exploration And Research, these humans will be taking their first trips into space. Making space safer for everyone" The crowd cheered and the headmaster smiled. "So let's get started handing out these awards!" He started as he waved a stack of papers in the air.
Every student was then called up to the stage, until finally Walter's name was called. "Walter Elizabeth Rogers." Walter got up from where he was sitting with his parents and walked across the large room filled corner to corner with cheap plastic chairs. He walked down the red carpeted laneway, his poorly sewn gay and trans flag flowing behind him. When he got to the stage he climbed up the red velvet stairs leading up to the huge stage. Once he was up there he shook the headmaster's hand and took his certificate. He then walked down the velvet steps right as the next name was being called. "Jones Rodrick Smith". When the last person that was called sat down all the graduates threw their hats.
Hours later Walter arrived at the Space Departer Station. He got out of his car and grabbed his bags from the back of his banged up white Toyota Highlander. There were crowds and crowds of people flooding into the entrance of the departing station's dorm house. Walter followed with the crowds inside, it was decently big with chairs and couches spread out all over the floor. Three elevators occupied the opposite wall with lines for each. To the left was a cafeteria with booths, chairs and trash cans. There was a glass area where you could order and buy food. Walter walked over to the elevators, looked around and saw a sign for the stairs to the right. Then walked to the stairs, opened the doors to the stairs and walked to the fifth floor.
When he opened the door he was hit with a wave of loud yelling and screaming, almost like it was the apocalypse. He set his bag down and pulled out a key with a tag that said "516" on it. He put his key back into his pocket, picked up his bags and walked down the corridor. Walking past door after door each having a number and a sheet of paper taped to each door. Before he knew it he hit the door 516. He looked at the paper taped to his door that said "Walter Rogers" underneath was the name "Jones Smith". Walter gave out a deep sigh and pulled out the key to unlock the door. He turned the key and opened the door.
The room was small with two beds, one on each side of the room. Each bed was also accompanied by a small desk that would look like it would come crashing to the floor if it was slightly bumped. The walls were a very light gray with a large window right in the middle of the room. On the right side of the room there was posters of planets and spaceships everywhere. An old box TV sat on the desk with a Nintendo NES hooked up to the TV. The bed had a dark blue bedding with planets and stars all over it with a boy laying on bed on his phone. The boy moved his phone to reveal his face which had several tiny scratches along it. He moved the long sways of his mullet out of his eyes to look at Walter who was still standing in the doorway.
"You must be Walter!" He shot up from his bed and ran over to Walter and raised his hand. "The names Jones, Jones Smith." Jones was very short compared to Walter who was 6'2, he had to at least be 5' 6 or 5'7. Walter set down his bags and shook Jones's hand, almost having to crouch.
"Walter Rogers." Walter walked to his bed and threw his bags onto it. He opened the bigger bag and pulled out the poorly sewn Gay and Trans flag he wore at his graduation. He then grabbed a bag of tacks and tacked it to the wall above his headboard.
"Sooo, You're gay?" Jones asked, sitting on his bed watching Walter put up this flag.
"Uhh yeah..?"
"That's gay."
"Well of course it's gay... I'm gay." Walter rolled his eyes and continued unpacking, while instead of helping Walter unpack Jones just sat on his phone and scrolled through YouTube Shorts.
"Done." Walter announced hours later. His graduation cap was hung on the left wall showing the top that he had painted as the gay flag and the trans flag. His desk was piled with books and his bags of clothes were stuffed underneath the bed, it was the best he could do with the limited space.
"Good" Jones stood up and stretched his arms. "Now lets go eat, I'm starving!"
"Okay then, where do you want to eat?" Walter asked.
"Let's go to that bar downtown." He stood on his bed and leaned against Walters' shoulder. "I saw some hot ladies go into there"
"Seriously a bar?" Walter turned to face Jones and Jones fell face first to the ground from the bed.
"Yup" Jones mumbled from the floor as he rubbed his now red nose.
"Fine I guess, let's go" He grumbled.
"Yay!" Jones sprung to the floor and bolted out the door. Walter rolled his eyes and walked out the door following Jones.
Before they knew it Walter and Jones were in the Drinkers, a common bar for the dorm mates. The name fit it well as everyone inside was very drunk. The bar smelled of throw up and Lemon scented Lysol. Just as it had been in the dorm lobby it was very crowded, the lights flashed so quickly you couldn't tell what color it had flashed to before it was gone. Walter turned to Jones who was already off flirting with some girl in the middle of the dance floor, so he weaved his way through the crowds of people to get to the bar and had a seat.
"What would you like to drink sir?" the bartender asked.
"Could I just get a paralyzer please?"
"Of course you can, one shot or two?"
"Just one please."
"Of course, I will be right back." A few seconds later the bartender comes back with Walter's drink. "Here you go sir."
"Thank you"
Walter turned to look into the crowd, trying to see where Jones was, but couldn't find him through all the people and the flashing lights.
"Hey cutie~"
Walter turned around to see a woman who was too close to his face for comfort. Her breath reeked of alcohol and weed.
"Excuse me?"
"How about we take this back to my dorm?~" she wrapped her arm around Walters shoulders making him cringe. He slowly moved her arm off his shoulders.
"I think I'm fine right here..."
"Come on babe~" She grabbed his arm and started pulling him to the exit.
"I told you NO!" He yanked his arm out of her hand. By this time the bar was dead silent, everyone was watching.
"Come on baby~ Stop having your hissy fit so we can go home~" Walter took a step back and closed his eyes, maybe, just maybe if he closed his eyes long enough all this would disappear. He heard her take another step further before he heard a loud thud that echoed through the deadly silent bar. Walter opened his eyes to see the woman was laying on the floor with a pulsing purple eye. Jones stood in front of him with his arm extended and his hand in a fist. Walter put an arm over Jones shoulder and whispered in his ear.
"I think we better go"
"Definitely," Jones whispered back. Walter threw twenty bucks on the bar and he and Jones ran straight back to the dorms. When they got back they were both exhausted.
"Holy shit..." Jones spat out though his gasps. "I fucking punched someone... I FUCKING PUNCHED SOMEONE HAHA!"
"Haha yes you did."
"Holy fucking shit" Jones jumped onto his bed, landing on his back, his body spread out all over the bed. Walter took off his shirt showing two large scars under his chest, then took off his pants and put on a large pair of pajama pants. When he was finished he laid down on his bed with his chest to the sky. Walter started hysterically laughing, Jones soon following. After they had calmed down Jones asked:
"Why are we laughing again?"
"It's just funny how you punched someone for me, not even my husband would do that."
"Wait, you're married?!" Jones sat up in his bed.
"Yeah?" Walter sat up onto the edge of his bed and held up his right hand showing a white diamond with a gold band.
"Holy" Jones took Walters hand looking at his ring. Walter could get his face getting red. "Wow, that's pretty!" Jones started slowly grazing the underside of Walters ring finger.
"Huh..?" Jones looked up at Walter whose face was bright red.
"I said the ring is pretty." He let go of Walters hand and laid back down in his bed. "We should probably go to bed, it's getting late" Jones stood up, walked to the door then turned off the light. "Welp, 'night Walter"
"'Night.." Walter laid back down onto his bed, his closing his eyes and slowly drifting off to sleep.