Alex and Fred:
Alex had paid in order to avoid jumping. He still struggled with the New England winters. He'd acclimated to it but still, cold was cold. And Mother Nature on the east coast was going through some series crazy compared to the consistent warmth of southern California. He was keeping clear of the pits of water, and instead hung around where the others were in the areas of warmth. He partook of the snacks and drinks, and generally just enjoyed the social scene for what it was.
It was fun to just hang around his friends, and Alex seemed in better spirits lately. Probably because he had made a choice as to what he was going to do about the situation from last spring break. This spring break, he knew, would be different, and after this, he was going to see if anyone was sticking around and maybe make a day trip or two somewhere locally.