Chapter Text
Will typed the last phrase on his blog, which consists basically in analyze with details and describe the thinking of the murder of the most famous crimes that happened in the last years.
Some people argued with him in the comments, saying he was mad for being able to reconstruct such thoughts, others recommended a psychological treatment, and just a few praised his intelligence and effectiveness. Receiving more negative comments than positives, he considered delete the blog, but it was like a particular therapy, and helpful to keep himself more or less stable.
He turned off the computer and went to the bathroom to wash his face. He hated how he looked that tired, with terrible dark circles. He should have aged about ten years during the last week of tests in college.
A college that he was leaving behind. Not because he wanted to, he wouldn’t do it, mostly, in the middle of the semester, but the financial reasons forced him to go. And because he got a very generous scholarship to a traditional college, he decided it was time to take chances. Well, and he couldn’t be there anymore.
He would miss the place, and more than anything, he would miss Alana. She was a pretty and kind girl with whom he shares some of his behavior classes, and she had become a great companion. He liked the way she didn’t judge him, and even if she studied psychiatrist she didn’t treat him like the rest of the students did, who seemed to analyze him every time he opened the mouth.
“I’m gonna miss you, Will” said Alana, upon entering Will’s bedroom and looking at the bags that were already made.
He smiled and hugged her. “I’ll come to visit you”
“You better come, huh?” she gave him a slight push on his chest. “Are you sure you can’t stay until the end of the semester?”
“I won’t be able to concentrate in classes, knowing I’m taking more money from my father than I should”
She nodded.
“Well then… Take care of yourself, Will. And good luck”
“I’ll come to visit you” he repeated.
…
The distance from college to where his father lived was exactly 370 miles. He got there fast, but heisted when leaving the car, getting more than twenty minutes in absolute silence, facing the façade of his new temporary home.
“Will you call me if something goes wrong, Will?” asked his father, who knew the peculiar personality his son had, and always seemed a little worried.
“I’m gonna be okay” he answered, picking up the suitcase and walking to the reception, without look back, not until he had sure the car was already gone.
The campus was huge, and several students were chatting in the college entrance. All of them separated into groups. Will was able to clearly identify which were. The smokers and bikers, the girls who were very Mall of America – those ones always despised him. And of course, the nerds group, sitting on a bench, reading or playing some complicate puzzle.
He sighed, knowing he wouldn’t fit in any of them so soon, he never did.
He opened the reception door. The room was small, all of it painted in white, but incredible organized. He went to an old lady who seemed very friendly, and asked information.
“I’m Will Graham” he introduced himself, trying to smile. “It’s my first day and I want to get my class schedule, my dormitory number, this kind of things”
“Ok, sweetheart. Hold on a minute” she typed some information in the computer, while Will was fixing his glasses. “Your bedroom is number 42. You’ll stay with the young Brian. Here is your class schedule”
He took the paper and the keys from her hands, kept both in his pocket and followed to inside the campus, hoping that Brian was at least someone nice. The part he less enjoyed about his old college was the annoying roommate, who used to stay playing the guitar when all he wanted to do was concentrate on books.
Fortunately, Brian was a very focused person, and didn’t seem someone who would judge him because of his… different behavior.
“You’re Will, right?” the young guy stood in from of him, reach out his hand. “Brian Zeller. I’m a future investigator of the FBI”
“We will work together then” Will shake his hand and explain. “Forensic Psychology”
“Do you like to study the crazy, huh?”
“Now and then, yes”
Brian agreed, and pointed to the bunk beds in the corner of the room. “Mine is the top”
“No problem”
“Oh, and I use the bathroom first in the morning” he warned. “Well, except when I wake up early, which is really rare. Half of the shelves are yours. And please, I only have two coexistence rules. A: Privacy; B: Don’t make noises if I’m studying”
“It seems like we will get along. I agree with both of them”
“Great” he took his jacket, and turned to Will before leave the room. “You want to come? First day, I bet you’re dying to start socializing”
“You can’t even imagine” answered Will, following him. He didn’t know if it was a good idea, given much antisocial he was.
…
Brian introduced him to his best friend Jimmy Price, who was a nice fellow with a funny voice, and he also intended to work on FBI. They ate french-fries with ketchup, until Will’s phone warns he first class would start in twenty minutes.
The best part: he didn’t know anything in the college, so it took forty minutes to find the classroom and he had to get in there, with everyone staring.
He felt like he was at school again, always the new guy, always the stranger. He went fast until the end of the room, hoping that he could, at least, talk to someone, to ask the material of the classes he lost.
“Ok, ladies and gentlemen” the teacher named Anderson start talking. “Now I want you guys to go on and sit with your respective pairs. We will start a group activity. Mr. Graham, you will be… ” he scanned the room. “Lecter, your pair didn’t come today?”
“She no longer has class of behavioral psychology”
“Excellent!” he said, and then added. “I mean, we’ll miss Bedelia. But Graham, now you already have a partner to the next classes”
Will lifted, and went to a young man really well dressed with an impeccable white suit – he was dressed even better than the teacher. Lecter smirk, mysterious, and then indicated the chair by his side.
“Graham?” he asks.
“Will Graham”
“Hannibal Lecter” he introduced himself, and then realized that Will was looking down, avoiding his eyes. “Not fond of eye contact, are you?”
“Eyes are distracting you see too much, you don't see enough” Will started “And-And it's hard to focus when you're thinking, um, "Oh, those whites are really white", or, "He must have hepatitis", or, "Oh, is that a burst "vein?"” Hannibal smiled. “So, yeah, I try to avoid eyes whenever possible”
“Graham?” the teacher called him.
“Yes?”
“You can know your partner later, I’m trying to start explain here”
“Forgive good Will, Mr. Anderson” Hannibal apologized for him. “I made him a question, and he answered. It’s entirely my fault”
“Well, then stop distracting the new students with your charm, Lecter”
The class went incredibly fast. Will likes the way Anderson talk, how he wasn’t one of those teaches who insisted in staring during the whole bloody time, like he was wearing a clown nose or something.
He also appreciated Hannibal company, who offered his material when he assumes that Will didn’t have caught with anyone yet. The young man left his room number with Will so he could take to him once he finished, or he could give him in the next class.
“What about the homework?” Will asked.
“My memory is good” said Hannibal. “But perhaps I will hunt you around the campus, if I need my notes”
“Don’t worry. I can finish in two days” Will guaranteed, and the bell rang. “Until the next class, then?”
“Of course” he nodded. “Well, unless you want to join me during the lunch. As Mr. Anderson pointed out, my partner didn’t came today”