by A N Busch
“What? No, yuck, cream and sugar, lots of sugar! You know that.”
“Wow, no sense of humor this morning, huh? I know how you like your coffee crabby Abby. Now for my sake, please hurry up and drink it!”
Abby nodded and drank the cup quickly; she wanted the caffeine to hit her system fast too. “Ok I’ll get my bag and meet you in the hall.” Abby turned to her room and yelled over her shoulder at Melanie to remember to lock her door this time.
The brisk walk across campus to the bookstore was nice; it helped to wake her up a little more. As she walked by the dorm where yesterday she had seen the handsome mystery man, she could not help but look for him again. But there was no one there. ‘Of course not,’ she thought to herself. He was probably sleeping like any normal person would be at this time. Classes didn’t start until tomorrow and most people were still enjoying one last late morning.
“How many credit hours are you taking this semester Mel?” Abby asked but she knew more than likely Melanie had over loaded herself again.
“I have twenty-one; and I didn’t cut my hours back at work. I really am going to need you to help keep me sane this semester. What about you?”
“I have fifteen, but with history, it might as well be twenty-one for me too. American History, two Architecture classes, and I let Rach talk me into taking Greek Mythology with her. She thinks I need to take a ‘fun class’ that won’t mess with my GPA.”
“Figures, all Rachel ever takes are ‘fun classes.’ It’s a good thing she is going for fashion merchandising. Pre-Law would kick her butt. The only plus for me is that I’ll be done by the end of this summer. Then I’m off to grad school.”
“Don’t remind me; I’m so not looking forward to having a new suite mate next year. Did you apply anywhere yet?”
“Tell me about it. Who is going to lock my door when I forget?” Abby giggled along with her; it was true. “But yes, I just sent out my application for Harvard last week, and I have three others to fill out in my room.”
“That’s great Mel. I hope you get into Harvard; I know it’s what you want. It really is going to suck around here next year with you gone though.”
“Thanks. Stop worrying so much about me being gone, you’ll be fine. Really the only down side about going to grad school is that I've worked to pay for school all these years. Once I’m in grad school, it will be all on loans.”
“Yeah, but it’s better than all the years together on school loans.”
“Very true!” Melanie looked at her watch and smiled. “Good, we should get to the bookstore right when it opens. Should be very easy to get our stuff quickly.” There were never enough hours in the day for Melanie. She wouldn’t know what to do if she ever lost her watch.
“Sounds good to me. I can get back to bed faster.”
“Oh you’re up now, just stay up. Like I keep telling you, you can sleep when you’re dead.”
In the bookstore Melanie just kept grabbing more books off the shelves, even with her arms already full. Abby ended up having to carry some of them back to the dorm for her. The added weight of books made the walk back across campus even longer. At least Melanie’s bag was on wheels. She took her bag almost everywhere with her; it looked like a small piece of luggage. Along with her watch, it was her lifeline.
Last year Melanie needed a purse for a dinner that she had been invited to. She borrowed a black purse from Abby that was fairly large, but it still was not big enough for Melanie. When Abby went shopping with Rachel the following week, she found a purse that looked like a small version of luggage. She got it for Melanie as a joke and left it on her bed with a note. Melanie howled with laughter when she got home and found it. When Abby heard her she rolled on the floor with laughter.
“I’m glad I didn’t major in pre-law; you’re crazy Mel. I don’t know how you take so many classes, have an internship at a law firm, and have a job that pays for school and everything else. To top it all off, you are never run down.”
“Coffee, lots and lots of coffee!” Melanie held the door open to the dorm and smiled.
They were still laughing together as the elevator doors opened. When they looked up, Jamal was coming out. He looked up from his papers and his face went from Melanie to Abby. Then his eyes went back to Melanie and he spoke with a big smile, “Well this morning just keeps getting better for me!”
“Hey Jamal, how was your vacation?” Abby hoped he didn’t see her rolling her eyes at the way he was looking at Melanie.
“Great thanks. I have to admit though I did miss the gym here; the one at home is terrible in comparison!” He was still looking at Melanie smiling. “I have been spoiled by what we have here I guess.”
The girls both laughed and stepped into the elevator together. Abby watched as Melanie batted her eyelashes at him when she spoke, “Bye Jamal, see you later.”
“Yeah? Um, at Rachel’s party?”
Melanie looked over at Abby confused. Abby rolled her eyes at her. “Maybe,” was all she said as she let the doors close between them. While they were on their way up she told Melanie about Rachel having a back to school party tonight. “She said she invited about thirty people over to her place. I understand if you have to work late. I’m not going for very long, but she will kill me if I’m not there at all.”
“I’ll be off by eight tonight, and I should be back by eight-thirty. If you want to wait for me to go, I’ll just run in and get changed then we can drive over together.”
As the elevator doors opened onto the fourth floor, Abby started to giggle.
“What? Why are you laughing? I said it sounded good.”
“Sorry, it sounds good to me too. I was thinking that I don’t want to have to deal with Jamal tonight if you’re not there. When are you going to see the way he looks at you? It’s so obvious he is into you.”
“I know, I know. The truth is, when the hell do I have time for a boyfriend. Between classes, working to pay for school and studying, I’m lucky to get the amount of sleep I do get. But he is cute!” Melanie leaned against the doorframe and closed her eyes with a smile. “Oh his muscular arms and that broad, firm chest.” Her eyes fluttered and then rolled back in her head. “Umm, okay enough of that. I have to change for work and get out of here. I’ll see you at eight-thirty sharp.”
“Alright, I’ll be ready to go. Have a good day at work.”
As Melanie walked into her room, Abby shouted, “Don’t forget to lock your door, please.” She grabbed a pack of Pop-Tarts, dropped her bag on the bed and plopped down in front of her computer. Turning it on she hoped to find that a couple class syllabuses were online by now. It took longer for her computer to boot up than to find they that weren’t. She pulled up her school email deciding since she was online she should write a short letter to her family.
Abby put her books and other supplies away and organized them on her shelf when she was done. She then finished unpacking the things she had skipped last night, placing Melanie’s three books on the bathroom counter. Thoughts went round and round in her head about her classes and the semester ahead. Awful American History, she could see the D on her report card now. She would be lucky if her grade was that high. “I guess it would be a good idea to get a head start,” she mumbled and groaned as she stared at the book on her shelf for a long moment, waiting like it was going to answer her with a, “No you don't.”
Abby pulled down her book and moved her computer keyboard to the top of the monitor. She was not reading for long when she decided the lamplight would not be enough to keep her awake and stood up to open the curtains. As she pulled them back she looked into the courtyard below. To her own surprise, she saw him right away sitting alone under a tree bare of leaves. As soon as her eyes saw him there, she knew it was the same man she got a glimpse of yesterday.
He was leaned back against the tree, reading a book. As much as she knew she needed to get back to her history book, she couldn’t stop watching him flip from page to page reading. From time to time he m
ade a note in the book. He was left handed, and even from the fourth floor and half way across the courtyard, she could see his hands perfectly. Something about them gave her butterflies in her stomach. When he looked up and around at her building’s windows her heart dropped and she stepped back quickly. Did he feel like he was being watched? What if he saw her there? Would he think she was watching him?
When he stretched and changed his position, Abby wondered if he was going to leave. Unmoving she watched as he removed the hoodie from his head. His bright blond hair was revealed, and her breath caught in her throat. He rested his elbow on his crossed legs and his chin in his right hand.
It seemed like forever that Abby stayed in the window and watched him. Even afraid he would see her, she was not able to look away. Abby watched everything about him. It was like she could not pull herself away even if she tried. She wondered about the book he was reading, it didn’t look like a textbook but it was thick. What was it he was so into that at times he would not move at all but to turn the page?
When he shut the book and set it beside him, Abby frowned. He started to stretch and she found herself not wanting him to leave. It was like he heard her silent wish and pulled his hoodie back on and moved over to lay on his back and stare up at the sky. Trying to see the details of his face, Abby looked at him even closer. Her eyes only left him to look up at the clouds herself. When he stood up Abby felt her stomach drop.
She didn’t even know him, why was he so intriguing to her? Why could she not pull herself from the window? She watched him until he walked out of sight between two buildings on the other side of the courtyard.
Abby glanced across the room toward her alarm clock as she went back to her desk. Two hours she had spent watching him there! Was she crazy? It was lunchtime now but she felt more tired than hungry. She took her history book over to her bed to read. The truth was she was really only thinking of him. Her mind replaying every movement he made. Abby soon drifted off to sleep with a small smile on her face and a couple butterflies still lingering in her stomach.
Three and a half hours later a ringing phone woke her up from her nap. On the third ring she gave a little grunt as she reached for it, “Hello.”
“Abby, how is your day going? Did you get your books yet? What have you been doing today?”
“Missa, one question at a time please. You know you make me crazy when you fire off questions faster than I can answer them. Not to mention I was sleeping.”
“I know I do, but you still love me. Something exciting is going to happen for you this semester! So no more napping, you might miss it. I could feel it this morning when I woke up.”
“I was taking a nap because Mel woke me up very early to go with her to get books. She had so many I helped her lug a couple back as well as my own. Trust me, I'm sure I didn't miss anything.” Her yawn was so deep she was surprised her aunt didn’t ask her to repeat herself.
“Any plans for tonight? Hot date I bet, huh?”
“Sure, if that’s what you want me to tell you, but we both know the truth.”
“Well, can you blame me for hoping it would be true?”
“When I have a date you will be the first to know I promise.” Abby rolled her eyes as she said it. It should be an easy enough promise to keep; she wasn’t going to have one. “Rach is having a few people over tonight and when Mel gets home we are going to head over there for a couple hours. Nothing very exciting at all just talking to people about their break I’m sure.”
“Ok, well I have to get back to the band; we are practicing a new song that Jimmy wrote. I’ll call you tomorrow night before I go on stage. Please try to have some fun tonight will ya, Sugar?”
“When are you going to quit that band and get a day job?”
“Never! Are you crazy? I love this! I have a great life, besides what other job would let me dress in tight jeans every night?” Melissa was laughing. Even her laugh somehow had a thick southern twang to it. Abby had one herself but it had never been as thick as her aunt’s.
“Bye, Missa.”
“Bye, Sugar. I’ll call ya tomorrow.”
As Abby put the phone back on the side table, her stomach growled loudly. It was clearly time for some food, but what kind was the question. She got up slowly and went to the bathroom to splash some water on her face. She was still so tired she decided to take a hot shower to wake herself up. Later in the cafeteria she couldn’t find anything that looked good. After walking around three times, she grabbed a couple small things and found a seat near the window.
When Abby returned to her room, it was time to get ready for the party at Rachel’s. There was no need to dress up really, but she put on her jean skirt and a turquoise sweater that she had received as a Christmas present. The sweater was a little risky for her taste, but Rachel would like it. She went into the bathroom to mess with her hair. Her emerald eyes stared back at her in the mirror, as if they were saying, “Really? You’re going to wear that?”
As she ran the brush through her long blond hair, she found herself thinking of the man in the courtyard. Would he like this simple looking girl? Could she talk to him if he showed up at the party tonight? Chances were if Rachel saw him she would have jumped at the chance to talk to him and invite him. She was just like that; she would have introduced herself right away. Abby was just sitting back watching him like a crazed stalker.
Abby pulled her hair back into a long braid, for lack of anything better to do with it. As she went back into her room to look for some shoes, she heard Melanie’s door open. “Hey, Mel. How was your day?”
“Great, I’ll be ready in five.”
Abby pulled her black cowboy boots out of her closet and was pulling them up as Mel came into the bathroom. “Wow that may be the shortest skirt I have ever seen Mel. Wearing it for Jamal?”
Mel shrugged and placed a smile on her face. “Maybe. If that were the case, what would be wrong with that? My legs are my best feature you know.” Melanie stretched out her legs making her toned calves more muscular than they already were.
“Mel you are going to drive that boy nuts, and yes we all know they are your best feature. I could never wear a skirt that short.”
“Sure you can, it’s all about the attitude you wear with it.” Melanie started swishing her hips from side to side. “You have to know you look good. By the way, you do. Nice boots!”
“Thanks, gift from my Mom. I like my old worn in pair better but I thought these would look good with the skirt.” Abby’s skirt looked even less dressy next to Melanie’s mini. The length coved her legs with a slit on the sides that went up past her knees. For her this was a lot of skin to show off when it wasn’t even summer yet. Shorts in the summer were one thing but even her smallest pair would cover more than what was covered on Melanie for the night.
“They do, here put on a little lip gloss.” She tossed the small tube at Abby and almost hit her in the head. “If you’re going to do it, do it right!”
“Fine, but just the gloss.”
Once they were in the car, it only took five minutes to get to Rachel’s off campus apartment. As they walked up the stairs, Abby wondered if she had made a mistake wearing the skirt. The door was wide open and they walked right in. It wasn’t even nine yet and the place was already jammed with well over 30 people.
Melanie looked at Abby and laughed at the sight of all the people. “Guess word got out about the party.”
Abby rolled her eyes and headed toward the kitchen to look for Rachel with Melanie right behind her. The counters were covered with food and drinks like always. Rachel was sitting by the sink flirting with a guy. It only took a second for Abby to catch her eye and she jumped down and crossed the room quickly to greet them.
“Abby, Mel! Great party huh? I think I need a bigger apartment though.”
“Yeah, great party, but please don’t let us keep you from your friend over there.”
“I’m so glad you could make it Melanie. The two of you are looking hot to
night. Are we on the hunt for a man? I knew I would rub off on you two at some point.” Rachel glanced over her shoulder to the guy that was still watching her. “As for the boy he will follow or find a new girl, no worries. I have plenty more options in my place tonight." The smile on her face was devious.
Together the three of them walked to the living room laughing and sat down on the couch. They talked until Jamal showed up and joined them. After fifteen minutes, Rachel winked at Abby and grabbed her arm pulling her into the kitchen, leaving Melanie alone with Jamal on the couch. “I think they need some alone time, don’t you?”
“Yes, good idea. I have a feeling though that you had that all planned out.”
“Who me? Of course I did.” Rachel and Abby started laughing again as they got a can of soda from the fridge. Abby relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the night with friends. Only a few times did she catch herself looking around for her mystery man.
It was much later than Abby and Melanie had planned on when they got back to the dorm. Neither of them were surprised to find Paul at the desk when they walked in. A “Hi Paul, night Paul” was all either of them could say between yawns and giggles.
“Night girls.”
When they got in the elevator, Melanie told Abby she had to get up in six hours for class. Abby yawned talking back to her, making it almost inaudible, which made Melanie laugh.
“Sorry, what I was trying to say was thanks for coming with me Mel; I hope you had some fun tonight.”
“I did thanks. It might be a while before I can just hang out like that again. Night Abby, sleep well.”
"You too, and please lock your door." Abby was fast asleep in her bed as soon as she crawled into it and pulled up the covers.
Chapter 3
When the alarm went off the next morning, Abby rolled out of bed slowly. The first day of classes was always long, but at least her day was broken up into two segments three days a week. Last semester they were spread throughout the day all throughout the week. She felt like she never got any actual studying done. American History was going to be her last class of the day, but she was already worrying about it. Getting ready Abby decided she really needed to stop fretting over the history class for now and go at it head-on later.