Walter was sitting patiently on the steps of Dallas Hall, leaning against one of its large columns. It was cold and he had his arms folded across his chest, trying to keep warm.

María softly made her way up the long front steps of Dallas Hall. She saw Walter at the top of the step hunched over and arms folded and went directly to him.

“Hey, Walter,” she said in a soft, effervescent voice.

Walter perked up, suddenly feeling warm inside, and approached María.

“You came,” he said. “I must admit I was getting a little worried.”

“You should have more faith in me,” stated María.

“I’ll never doubt you again,” said Walter.

Walter put his arm around María as they took a seat on the steps. They talked long into the night, not leaving their position until the sun began to turn the dark sky a blackish blue. As morning was quickly approaching, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways, promising to meet again at sunset.

At around one in the afternoon, Walter woke up to the sound of explosions, firing lasers and the sound of clicking buttons. His roommate was playing a videogame.

“Hey, man, can you keep it down?” groaned Walter.

“No way, Walter, I’ve been quiet all morning; I can’t take it anymore,” said his roommate, not moving his eyes from the television screen as his thumbs moved in all different directions, guiding his video game character.

“C’mon,” pleaded Walter. “Just one more hour.”

“No can do.”

Walter groaned, stretched his arms, threw his covers off and jumped out of bed. He stumbled a little bit before regaining his balance. Walter stretched again before locating his phone. He picked it up and dialed Peter.

“What’s up, buddy?” asked Peter.

“Not too much. I just crawled out of bed,” replied Walter.

“Just now?” asked Peter.

“Yeah,” said Walter. “Hey, have you eaten yet?”

“Nope,” said Peter. “I was waiting for you as usual.”

“Kuby’s?”

“I’ll meet you there in 30 minutes.”

“Deal.”

Thirty minutes later at Kuby’s German Restaurant in Snider Plaza, Walter took a seat across from Peter in one of the booths along the side of the wall.

“So, where did you run off to after we got back last night?” asked Peter.

“I met María at Dallas Hall,” said Walter.

“Really?” said Peter. “How’d that go?”

“Wonderfully,” said Walter. “I just wish we could hang out in public without Bernie and his damn goons harassing us.”

“Yeah, that guy’s a jackass,” said Peter. “I’m probably gonna see him tonight, too.”

“Where?”

“I’m going with Liz to some formal event – tuxedo and all,” replied Peter. “It’s for some charity, but I’m not really sure. I just know a bunch of fraternities and sororities will be there.”

“Huh.”

“What?” inquired Peter.

“María never mentioned that. In fact, I’m supposed to meet her tonight,” said Walter.

“Well, maybe she’s not going,” suggested Peter. “But either way I’m gonna start something with that Bernie kid. I can’t stand him. He needs to be put into place.”

“I don’t know about that, man,” said Walter. “That probably wouldn’t be the best decision.”

“Whatever,” said Peter. “But let me know what happens with María. Send me a text message or something. Because unless I’m in a scuffle with Bernie, I’m likely to be bored. I can take only so much of following Liz while she chit-chats with her friends.”

“Can do,” assured Walter, as he picked up his menu to see what might pique his appetite.

Later that night, Walter waited patiently on the steps of Dallas Hall. He was confident he would soon see María. He was right.

As he saw her walking toward him he smiled. “Hey,” he said happily.

“Hi,” she replied. “It’s good to see you again. I’m growing fond of our clandestine meeting spot.”

Walter laughed. “My friend mentioned that you might be going to some formal tonight,” he said.

“Nope,” she said. “I backed out so I could be with you.”

“It’s probably better this way anyway,” said Walter. “My friend said he was gonna start a fight with that kid Bernie. I’d hate for you to get caught in the middle of that.”

“A fight?” said María. “You cannot let that happen. You’ve got to stop it.”

“But, María, I’m not fighting,” said Walter.

“I don’t care. Fighting is bad,” said María. “And even if Bernie gets carried away, he’s still my friend. I don’t want to see him hurt.”

“I don’t know.”

“Please stop it,” pleaded María. “For me.”

“All right.”

At the formal, Peter was politely following Liz around the room. He was dressed in a tuxedo, as was every guy in the room; the girls were in elegant dresses and gowns. It was a very nice party.

“Are you having a good time?” asked Liz.

“Of course,” said Peter, trying to feign enthusiasm in his voice and expression.

“Good,” responded Liz, as she turned back to her friends to talk about the latest episode of “Gossip Girl.”

Just then, Peter’s phone vibrated. He had a text message, and he flipped it open hoping to see good news from Walter’s end. To his surprise, however, the message read, “Look at the front door.”

Peter turned to see Walter and María sticking out like a mustang at the Kentucky Derby, that is, they were dressed in a nice manner – Walter was wearing slacks and a blazer and María was in a nice cocktail dress – but they did not quite measure up to the tuxedos and dinner gowns. Surprisingly, people cared, giving them strange looks as they made their way through the room toward Peter.

Just as they reached Peter, Bernie, who was picking up a drink from the bar, noticed Walter with María. He was infuriated and made his way directly toward them.

As Walter approached Peter he held his arms out wide and smiled. Peter, however, noticed Bernie jetting toward them and pointed toward him, making Walter aware of his presence.

Walter turned to see Bernie and began to say something along the lines of “Hey, man, I’m just here to make sure nothing bad happens,” but Bernie did not pay attention, throwing his rum and coke on Walter’s white shirt and blazer.

Peter pushed Bernie to the ground, grabbed Liz’s fruit punch and threw it at Bernie, the drink splattering all over his tux.

María ran in the middle of them. “Stop it! Stop it now!” she yelled. “How many suits must be ruined?! How many suits before we learn?”

Walter and Peter looked at each other. Bernie looked furious.

The party was now entirely quiet. The music was still playing, but it seemed to be restricted to the background. Everybody was watching the unfolding scene.

“Can’t we just put aside our differences?” pleaded María. “Can’t we all just get along?”

Everyone glanced around at each other, glaring, glowering and gazing, but no one answered.