Chapter Text
Over at Parkers State University campus it was not uncommon for students staying at the dormitories to call each other from their room phones.
Not their friends but complete strangers.
Because everyone knew that college life could get tough and once in a while you feel the need to talk to a complete stranger about your problems.
Dialling a random set of numbers was enough. Then, it was just hoping that someone would pick up.
The receiver end would listen attentively as they knew if they ever need someone to talk to they could also call a random person and get the same treatment.
Link Neal was a sophomore living the perfect college life.
He loved the subject he was studying –and always got good grades–, had people he loved who loved him back, enjoyed hanging out with said people and didn’t have to worry about money –at least not at the moment. –
But he was not happy.
He was trying to be happy… He knew he was lucky to have such a way of living and yet it always felt empty.
When you are a perfect boy with a perfect life, nobody wants to hear you complain about anything. So he never did. He never complained; not to his friends or his parents or his ex-girlfriend –who had broken up with him just a week ago. –
Lately, he could feel his desperation reaching its limit. As if being away from his home, his girlfriend leaving him and feeling useless overall wasn’t enough; the finals week was approaching and it was stressing him out even more.
Upon arriving from his last class of the day, the sight of his desolated dorm room reminded him that both of his roommates were out of town for the weekend. He was close with his roommates and he could use someone to talk to right now —about anything really—
He desperately needed a distraction, something to occupy his mind, or maybe a way to release all this anger and sadness inside of him.
He decided to try and relax. Lighting scented candles had always calmed him down. However he had been refraining from doing so as his roommates would make fun of him for being “too feminine”. He didn’t see any problems at being to feminine but still, having the people you live with make fun of you is not a good feeling. That’s why he had stored away his candles.
But today he was alone and feeling like death (whatever that meant) so he dug out his favourite scented candle –sandal wood-, made himself some hot cocoa and lied down in the yellow armchair next to his desk.
It was quiet in the room and soon the sound of silence began to drown him. His problems and worries were beginning to mount over him and he was now in a desperate need of company.
He needed a way to fill this emptiness inside of him.
That seemed like a lot of work, which he didn’t have the energy to even think about, so he decided to do the next best thing: call a stranger. He had never done that himself but he had listened to strangers’ problems before and always though the experience had helped the caller in one way or another.
He was feeling lonely and desperate so giving it a shot wouldn’t hurt.
He dialled a number he knew would be of a room from one of the dormitories on the other side of the campus.
No one picked up.
He tried another one, not thinking about which building it will be from.
A small voice answered.
“Hello?”
Suddenly Link was in a loss of words.
“Is this some sort of prank call? Ha ha Sam you are so funny!”
And with that the phone line was dead once more.
Silently cursing himself for being so awkward he dialled another set of numbers.
This time a man answered and after hearing Link’s reason for calling he said he didn’t have the time right now and hung up.
Link was glad that he had found something to busy his mind with but he was also slowly loosing hope. All these rejections had just driven him over to a deeper, depressing state and he could feel it showing itself with small tears around his blue eyes.
He dialled yet another number.
The voice that answered was hoarse, like he had just woken up.
“Hello?”
“Please don’t hang up”
Link was surprised at how desperate he sounded, and a bit embarrassed; but he was barely holding back tears now so he didn’t really care.
After maybe a minute, it felt like hours to Link, a weak “Okay” was heard from the other end.
Link exhaled, noticing just now that he had been holding his breath.
“Look man, I’m having a really bad day, or maybe just a really bleak and empty life, and I just need someone to talk to. Okay?”
The other man chuckled softly, helping Link calm down as well.
“I’ve already said okay dude! Go ahead, I’m all ears”
This made Link feel bad suddenly, for snapping out like that. However, the receiver end didn’t seem to mind so he let it go.
“Well, uhmmm, I don’t really know where to start”
This was weird.
It was true that he had never called a stranger to talk about his personal life before but he had talked to other callers. Also he was not bad at meeting new people and having a conversation with them —even though he knew he would never see them again once the semester ends.—
Still, this one felt different somehow.
He couldn’t understand it himself but the man’s voice was enough to sooth him and made him feel a bit more at ease.
“You are the one who called and woke me up from my nap so you should be the one to know what to talk about”
Even though the words themselves were harsh his voice wasn’t. Link could feel the smile on the other mans face as he spoke these words.
“You’re right about that. Sorry to wake you up, it’s just that my girlfriend just broke up with me and...”
Before Link could finish his sentence the other man spoke again
“Oh, so it’s a girl problem”
He sounded amused and annoyed at the same time, which confused Link.
“Well, not really. It’s more like, it played as the last straw, you know?”
“uh-huh”
“I mean, I guess I have a pretty nice life. Studying my dream major, having friends and all. But it just feels all wrong and meaningless, you know?”
He waited for some kind of answer. Upon receiving none he continued:
“Maybe it has something to do with college. I mean, back in high school I had a pretty fixed schedule. There were no surprises or anything. Just, order. I think I liked that a bit too much. Without some kind of order I feel lost and anxious.”
Saying these out loud made Links stomach turn. He had never talked about it before, not to anyone. His ex-girlfriend used to try and talk to him about the things that were bothering him but he would just keep his distance. Maybe that was the reason she left.
“You probably think that’s weird.” Link mumbled, ready to take all the things he had said back.
“Nah, not really. It’s perfectly normal for you to feel like this. I mean I consider myself to be a pretty spontaneous and impulsive guy but sometimes even I feel like I need some constant. Or maybe just someone to be my touchstone.”
“Touchstone” Link said at the same time as the other man.
Sensing an awkward silent coming up he quickly added “X-Files”
“Yeah, like Mulder and Scully! That’s exactly what I meant!”
“Dude you like X-Files too?”
“Like it? More like love it!”
From then onward they talked about things that had nothing to do with Link’s problems. Like tv-shows and conspiracy theories. As soon as the word conspiracy was mentioned, the man on the phone had cheered up significantly and started discussing weird theories with Link.
Link didn’t mind. He was so caught up in the conversation that he had completely forgotten about the things that were bothering him earlier.
But every good thing has an end.
“Oh crap, it’s already past midnight and I need to get up early tomorrow morning!” the man on the phone suddenly realised, making Link return to reality.
“But tomorrow’s Saturday, do you have an extra class or something?”
“Basketball practise” the man replied.
“Oh” was all Link could say. He wasn’t going to admit he was sorry to be saying goodbye just yet.
“Anyways, hope I could be of a little help! And sorry if I bored you with all my weird theories.”
“Oh no, not at all. I really enjoyed it, thanks!”
“Uhmm, well, it was nice talking to you. Goodnight!”
“Goodnight!” Link replied and then the line was dead again.
He slowly put down the phone, blew out the candle, took his –now cold– hot cocoa to the desk near the door and slipped out of his clothes.
They had talked for an hour and a half, which was a lot more than he had anticipated. Also he was feeling a lot better now.
He couldn’t stop thinking about how easy it was to talk to him. It felt like as if they had been friends forever. He was already missing his soft but husky voice.
It was only after Link had turned off the light and buried himself into his bed that he realised: he didn’t even know the mans name.