Studying two degrees, law and psychology, his degree was spread over two campuses, one on either side of the highway. Travel between the two was via an intercampus bus.

Taking his usual seat, Jade zoned out as the music from his mp3 filled his ears. He was in his own world now, where he could channel whatever emotion he was feeling and represent it with words and notes. Although it was no more than a hobby, Jade was a writer of whatever medium suited him at the time. Music, poetry, stories, theories, inter alia, Jade would channel a feeling or a line of thinking and would write. Still groggy from his uncomfortable night, though, Jade found himself unable to write anything of substance. He looked down at the page before him. ‘When Worlds Collide’ was written down, surrounded by a box and underlined, alongside other such doodles.

“Heh,” Jade smirked as he looked at the paper, partially expecting the words to just appear. With no such luck, Jade looked out the window to discover that his bus trip had ended. Jade hopped off the bus and headed up the stairs to the common room where his friend, Ben, spent all his spare time. On his way, he walked past David, who saw fit to slam into him on his way past.

Jade threw a glance at Ben and asked “what’s his problem?”

Ben shrugged. “You did go out with his emotionally unstable best friend, and you didn’t exactly contribute to her stability.”

“Oh yeah,” Jade conceded, “I did do that, didn’t I?”

“I attribute it to your constant whining like a little bitch,” Ben goaded.

“Ooh, bring it on,” Jade reciprocated. “So how’s that girlfriend of yours going?” He then slowly and deliberately imitated the flicking of a whip.

“Oh yeah, she wanted to know why I was out of tissues,” Ben smiled. “I told her about how you scraped your knee when you were playing.”

“Oh that hurts, man,” Jade admitted defeat. “That hurts.”

Ben simply laughed. “So how’ve you been?” he asked.

“Yeah, bad,” Jade said casually.

“That’s a surprise,” Ben rolled his eyes. “What’s up?”

“Out of home.”

“Again?”

“For good.”

“Ouch.”

Jade shrugged, indicating a change of topic was in order. The two caught up on everything that had happened since they had last spoken, save the more personal matters Jade reserved to himself.

“Heh, sounds like you’re going through a bit of a rough patch,” Ben nodded.

“Yeah,” Jade agreed.

“Anytime you wanna come stay with me, you’re welcome.”

“The idea is to eliminate the negatives in my life, not aggravate them,” Jade smirked.

Again, Ben laughed. “Screw you!” he exclaimed.

Jade wiped the sly grin off his face and reverted to a more serious tone. “Thanks for the offer,” he said sincerely. “I’m fine, though. That what doesn’t break us and whatnot.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve seen you break before,” Ben replied, equally serious. “You’re not invincible.”

“The only time mortality interferes with productivity is when a person chooses to consider it. For the sole purpose of surviving, yes, I am invincible.”

Ben shook his head, knowing how stubborn Jade was. “You don’t have to take on the world alone,” he tried again.

“And yet, you and I both know I will.”

“There’s no point…” Ben muttered.

“It’s all I have left…” Jade trailed off.

“What? Your unwavering insistence on being right all the time?” Ben scoffed.

“My way of thinking,” Jade answered seriously. “It’s about the only thing that keeps me from caving in to society’s expectations.”

“Conformity’s not all bad,” Ben replied, equally serious. “It’s certainly a lot easier than your one-man escapades against the world.”

“Sometimes we must choose between what is easy, and what is right.”

“Whatever,” Ben conceded, knowing he could not say a thing that would change Jade’s mind. “Anyway, I’m really sorry, but I’ve got a lecture now.”

“Maths?” Jade asked.

“How’d you know?”

“Dotty’s not hanging around you,” Jade pointed out. “Maths is the only subject you and him don’t share.”

“Sharp,” Ben noted. Jade shrugged. He never considered his abilities anything out of the ordinary; regardless of how often people saw fit to comment.

Looking at the clock, Jade saw that it was time for him to head off to his lecture on Legal Theory. Saying his goodbyes, he headed back down the stairs and over to the main lecture theatre.

“Jade!” someone called out as he walked past the grass area next to his theatre. He turned to find an old friend beckoning him over.

“James!” Jade exclaimed as he recognised the boy. “How you doin’ man? What’s up?” he greeted the boy he had not seen since they parted upon completion of their secondary studies.

“Same old, same old,” James replied. “You?”

“Yeah, couldn’t be better.” Jade rolled his eyes.

“Just like old times, eh?” James asked.

“The only thing old around here is your sense of fashion,” Jade smirked.

“That… and your mum!” James retaliated.

“That’s really lame,” Jade replied, staring blankly at James.

“Yeah, so’s your–”

“No James!” Jade cut him off. “Anyway,” he changed the subject, “I’m now late for a lecture. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“For sure,” James agreed.

Jade started to head to his lecture, but he caught sight of Lydia. Intrigued, he watched as she hurried to wherever she was going; whatever sense he had noticed that morning, it was completely gone, now replaced with hurriedness and worry. She was so caught up in whatever she was doing that she did not notice the people in front of her, and tripped over, losing the books she had been carrying.

Jade winced, knowing she was not quite as durable as most people. She was certainly not accustomed to the daily hassles of a ‘common’ life. He headed over to help her recover her discarded books.

“Thankyou,” Lydia expressed her gratitude, before looking up to see who had helped her. “Oh, it’s you,” she muttered.

“You’re welcome,” Jade smiled arrogantly. Looking at the books in his hand, he gasped. “No way, you bought these?” he asked.

“They were in the recommended readings,” Lydia replied.

“Recommended readings? You don’t actually consider them important, do you?”

“They’re designed to increase my understanding of the subject matter.”

“ Background, Lydia, background. These books aren’t designed for the course; they’re suited to expanding your comprehension and knowledge of the law in terms of the origins of what we’re learning. They’re only worth reading for interest.”

“Interest?” Lydia asked.

“Oh, no way,” Jade muttered. “You’ve actually been trying to read these on top of your required readings? Cut off your recommended readings and your workload will be much lighter.”

“But I won’t have as much information.”

“You’ve got a lifetime to learn!” Jade insisted. “Just learn what you have to, and learn what you want to. Don’t kill yourself trying to learn everything all at once.”

Lydia said nothing in response. Again, Jade had taken her by surprise. Realising she was actually grateful for Jade’s advice; Lydia shook her head and changed her tone. “Hard work is the only way to be successful,” she replied. “I suggest you not be so lazy and pick up some of these readings; they may help boost your grades a little.”

“My grades are fine,” Jade responded. “Lower stress levels increase productivity tenfold. Someday you’ll see what I mean.”

Lydia growled in frustration. This boy was nothing but a menace, she decided. Ignoring him, Lydia headed up the stairs and into her lecture.

Jade smiled again, feeling quite amused at Lydia’s antics. He also headed up to the lecture theatre. As he walked in, it did not take long for him to catch sight of Lydia, right up in the front row. Jade rolled his eyes, heading down to sit next to her.

He glanced down at Lydia’s book to see she had written ‘utilitarianism?’ and underlined it several times. Leaning over, he whispered “greatest good for the greatest number. Think of sacrificing one person for the good of mankind.”

“Thanks,” Lydia replied insincerely, “but I think I’ll wait until I can ask someone who knows what they’re talking about.”

“Mr Carroll,” the lecturer spoke. “What seems to be so interesting to you that you see fit to disrupt my lecture?”

“At the moment, sir, it’s wondering how you know my name. Is that even legal?”

“If it’s not, I trust I’ll be hearing from you soon.”

“Just finishing up my paperwork now, sir.”

“Well, Jade, since it seems you’re in fighting form today, perhaps you can explain the notion of postmodernism to the rest of the class.”

“Absolutely. Come the end of World War II,” Jade explained, “ France was so unhappy with Germany that they decided to reinvent their entire legal system, in an effort to make it the exact opposite. I don’t really know the exact details, hell, I doubt the French themselves even know, but the onus of legal interpretation gives sole priority to the language used. In other words, legislative interpretation is dominated by the literal rule, without the safety nets of the golden rule or purposive approach. Fine in theory, but so is Communism. Need I say more?”

“No, that’s a nice little summation. Don’t think of that as a free ticket to talking in my lectures, though. That’s merely a warning.”

Jade threw a glance at Lydia, who rolled her eyes. She was growing very tired of this boy and his know-all nature.

---

Lydia was again caught falling behind in her notes. She struggled to keep up, but to no avail. She had already lost what the lecturer was saying.

“Whoa, easy on the paper,” Jade said, looking at how many notes Lydia was taking.

“Note-taking is very important,” Lydia insisted.

“Come on! You’ve written down ‘law is reason free from passion.’ That’s a quote from Aristotle. You keep it up here,” Jade pointed to his head, “not down here,” referring to the paper. Philosophy is not theory; philosophy is designed to appeal to a higher sense of existence. You don’t need to ‘learn’ philosophy; if you believe what’s being said, you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.”

“Notes are the most important part of study.”

“No, that’s where you’re wrong. Notes are a good aid to study, but in the end, you’ve gotta learn it all. Seriously, put down your book and just listen to the lecturer. See what you manage to retain; notes should be used to fill in the gaps.”

“Alright, fine,” Lydia said, exasperated. “No book, no pen, nothing. I’m just going to sit here and listen. Happy?”

“I’d be happier without the attitude,” Jade teased. Lydia gritted her teeth in frustration. She did notice, however, that it was much easier to absorb the information when she was not trying to convert it into writing.

Lydia sighed as the ten-minute break began. She had done a lot better, but her frustration had left her with a headache.

“Another tip,” Jade added. “Don’t sit up the front. When you’re further back, you can ask people questions if you don’t understand anything. Down here, you’re on your own.” Lydia ignored the boy, even when he offered for her to sit back a few rows with him and his friend, Alyssa.

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Lydia declined. She headed outside to clear her mind and grab a drink, so she could focus again on the second half of the lecture. When she returned, she looked around the theatre. She was still not accustomed to the sight of people socialising rather than organising their notes, so she felt a little intimidated by the newly discovered atmosphere. She caught sight of Jade, but before she could look away he noticed her, and beckoned her over. Sighing, Lydia conceded and walked the few rows back, surprised at how much more appealing the position was.

“ Lydia, Alyssa, Alyssa, Lydia,” Jade introduced the two.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Alyssa nodded, shaking Lydia’s hand. Lydia said nothing in response, curious as to what Jade could have possibly told Alyssa.

Jade laughed. “Don’t worry; she’s referring to your first name. I usually don’t bother to disclose such information, though I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

“You’re like this to everyone?” she asked, surprised.

“Yeah. Sorry if I made you feel you were special,” Jade grinned. “Anyway, take a seat.” Deciding she did not want to sit next to Jade, Lydia instead sat next to Alyssa, but before she could try her hand at socialising the lecturer began again. She did not know why, but she had a strange desire to talk, even though she knew lectures were for listening, and listening only.

“I hate how he just drones on and on,” Alyssa whispered to Lydia. “Like, he spent fifteen minutes just talking about liberalism, and it can pretty much be summed up as ‘serves the interests of the individual.’ Really, does he have to talk so much?”

Lydia went to say something, but she retracted. She felt something she had never really experienced before; a smile crept across her face in the middle of a lecture.

“I never noticed before,” Lydia whispered to Alyssa, “but look at those shoes! Surely he can’t possibly see reason to wear those!”

Alyssa giggled. Lydia was in a position she had never been in before; she was entertaining a potential friend.

“His shoes?” Alyssa asked. “I’m more worried about the belt!”

The two girls continued to tease the lecturer, until he turned to them. “Something to say, girls?” he asked.

Jade peered over at the Alyssa and Lydia, awaiting their response.

“No, sir,” Alyssa denied. Lydia was lost for words, never before had she been singled out for causing trouble.

“Well perhaps you can explain to the rest of the class the meanings of ‘teleology’ and ‘deontology’, since you’re so keen to be heard.”

---

Jade narrowed his eyes. For the first time this semester, he realised just how irrelevant the lecturer’s on-the-spot questions actually were. No wonder the man was always frustrated at Jade’s ability to answer; Jade only got by through his seeking of information wherever possible. He knew there was no way Alyssa nor Lydia could answer the question, and the lecturer would single them out until he felt they were sufficiently embarrassed.

“Teleology believes in a higher meaning,” Jade explained, earning himself a sharp glare from the lecturer. “Creative design, if you will. Form follows the function; law exists today because its function is a higher concept of justice. Deontology is pretty much just the ethical theories, duties and obligations, et cetera.”

“I see. And you are answering on behalf of these girls why?” he was questioned.

“In the administration of justice, it is very often a case of the ends justify the means. The desired outcome on your behalf was to have your questions explained to the class, and I have done so.” Jade knew that the lecturer would not openly admit that he was trying to humiliate the girls, but he also knew that he was not doing himself any favours by standing up for them. “Besides, I’m their newly appointed representation. I have full legal authority to act on their behalf,” Jade nodded.

---

The lecturer gritted his teeth, knowing he could not make a scene during the middle of a lecturer. “See me after class,” he ordered. Jade cursed under his breath, subtle enough for Lydia to realise that he had not acted solely to cause trouble; Jade had willingly stuck his neck out for her benefit. She felt bad for all the assumptions she made about him being completely self-centred, when he had just taken the heat for her without even being asked.

Realising how disobedient her behaviour had been, Lydia did not open her mouth for the rest of the lecture. That was the first time she had ever been in trouble, outside the jurisdiction of her parents, since she was a small child. She felt absolutely terrified of being singled out like that again, and yet, Jade was doing it on a constant basis. She really could not understand just how he managed to remain so resilient.

“First time getting in trouble?” Jade asked as he moved seats from beside Alyssa to next to Lydia. Not taking her eyes off the lecturer, she slowly nodded. “Hey, don’t worry about it,” Jade soothed. He rubbed Lydia’s arm encouragingly, taking note of how much she was actually shaking. “More people fear public speaking than they fear death. Being singled out is worse, so, what you’re feeling is normal. You’ve just got to break the mindset, but you’ll get better at dealing with the anxiety over time.”

Lydia was relieved as the lecture finally came to an end. She wanted out; the thought of spending any more time than necessary in that room was not inviting at all. Lydia packed her things and quickly headed out the door, not even realising Alyssa was not following her. When she did realise, she turned to see she was waiting for Jade, despite the attention drawn to her via the lecturer and other students. How could she stand the notion of showing her face in front of those she had been humiliated before? Lydia was so amazed at the abilities these people possessed, however common they may seem. Being able to stare public humiliation in the face and not batter an eyelid is response was surely a remarkable feat; one that Lydia did not feel she would ever achieve. Shaking off her disbelief, she left the theatre and headed to the library, where she could sort herself out in a more welcoming environment.