"please don't judge my dorm," I plead as I jiggle my key in the lock, "I haven't had the bravery to clean it."
syd smiles, "I wouldn't dream of it."
I smile at him as I open the door, then politely hold it open for him. he steps in tentatively, looking around my messy shared living space.
"is your roommate home?" he asks as I shut the door as quietly as I can. it's late and there are classes tomorrow and I'd rather not be held responsible for disturbing a fellow student's sleep.
"no, I met her on the first day and she occasionally comes here to study but she sleeps somewhere else," I explain, "natalie is a mystery to me."
he smiles and awkwardly surveys my dorm a second time, "so where do you want to study?"
"the floor seems like the best bet considering all the other surfaces are covered," I conclude, feeling slightly embarrassed over my unseemly living conditions. my tables are a blanketed in a tapestry of dirty dishes, magazines, old and newspapers, basically anything and everything.
"the floor it is," syd jokes, he looks so awkward and I get the feeling he's not well acquainted with visiting girl's dorms.
"let me get my homework."
at twelve both of our backs and necks are unbelievably stiff, but I don't mind considering the mess that was my understanding of physics has been properly cleaned by syd. each movement brings an orchestra of cracking joints that make me cringe inwardly.
the sound of keys jiggling in the lock startles the two of us and I turn my head abruptly to see natalie enter.
she seems mildly surprised to see me on the floor but a light fills her eyes when she sees syd and her face cracks into a huge smile.
"syd crane?" she stares at him incredulously before tackling him with a hug. I can only stare at the pair in surprise. I've never seen natalie act like anything less than cold and unwelcoming but she clings to an uncomfortable syd like a child clings to a teddy bear, saying it's bizarre is an understatement.
she pulls away and smiles at him, her light blue eyes alight with joy, "wait until I tell everyone from greenoaks. your family was the talk of the town for awhile."
syd smiles at the ecstatic girl, but his skin has a translucent quality to it and upon further inspection I realize he is shaking.
"I don't doubt it," he says slowly as if he is forcing each word, "kirk and tracey left a mark didn't they?"
