Nick unwrapped a piece of gum and set it on his tongue. Was it about taking her advanced class?
No.
You have to make an appointment to talk to her about it, he said, chewing. Its like an interview. Im meeting with her next weekIm hoping shell give me a teaching assistantship.
Yeah? Cath sat up a little straighter. Thatd be great. Youd be great at that.
Nick gave her a sheepish smile. Yeah, well. I wish I would have talked to her about it before that last assignment. It was my worst grade of the semester.
Really? It was hard to make eye contact with Nickhis eyes were almost buried under his eyebrows; you had to dig into his face. Mine, too, Cath said.
She said that my writing was overly slick and impenetrable. He sighed.
She said worse about mine.
Guess Ive gotten used to writing with backup, Nick said, still smiling at her. Still sheepish.
Codependent, Cath said.
Nick snapped his gum at her. We writing tonight?
Cath nodded and looked back at her phone.
* * *
Reagan isnt here, Cath said, already closing the door.
Levi leaned into the door with his shoulder. I think were past that, he said, walking into the room. Cath shrugged and went back to her desk.
Levi flopped down on her bed. He was dressed in blackhe must have just gotten off work. She frowned at him.
I still cant believe you work at Starbucks, she said.
Whats wrong with Starbucks?
Its a big, faceless corporation.
He raised a good-natured brow. So far, theyve let me keep my face.
Cath went back to her laptop.
I like my job, he said. I see the same people every day. I remember their drinks, they like that I remember their drinks, I make them happy, and then they leave. Its like being a bartender, but you dont have to deal with drunks. Speaking of Hows your sister?
Cath stopped typing and looked at him. Fine. Shes fine. Back to normal, I guess. Thanks, you know, for driving me. And everything. Cath had told Levi thank you Friday night, but she felt like she owed him a few more.
Forget about it. Did you guys have a big talk?
We dont have to have big talks, she said, holding two fingers to her temple. Were twins. We have telepathy.
Levi grinned. Really?
Cath laughed. No.
Not even a little bit?
No. She went back to typing.
What are you working on?
A biology essay.
Not secret, dirty fanfiction?
Cath stopped again. My fanfiction is neither a secret, obviously, nor is it dirty.
He ran his fingers through his hair, making it stick up in the middle in sandy blond plumes. Shameless.
What do you put in your hair to make it stick up like that? she asked.
He laughed and did it again. Nothing.
Nothing? Something
I think it does that because I dont wash it.
She grimaced. Ever?
Every month or so, maybe.
Cath wrinkled her nose and shook her head. Thats disgusting.
No, it isnt. I still rinse it.
Still disgusting.
Its perfectly clean, he said. He leaned toward her, and his hair touched her arm. This room was too small. Smell it.
She sat back. Im not smelling your hair.
Well, Ill smell it. He pulled a piece down his long forehead; it came to the bridge of his nose. It smells like freshly mown clover.
I dont think you mow clover.
Can you imagine how sweet it would smell if you did? Levi sat back, which was a reliefuntil he picked up her pillow and started rubbing his head into it.
Oh, God, she said, stop. Thats such a violation.
Levi laughed, and she tried to grab her pillow from him. He held it to his chest with both hands. Cather
Dont call me that.
Read me some of your secret, dirty fanfiction.
Its not dirty.
Read me some anyway.
She let go of the pillow; hed probably already filthed it beyond redemption.
Why?
Because Im curious, he said. And I like stories.
You just want to make fun of me.
I wont, he said. I promise.
Thats what you and Reagan do when Im not here, right? Make fun of me. Play with my commemorative busts. Do you have a stupid nickname for me?
His eyes sparkled. Cather.
I dont exist to amuse you, you know.
One, are you sure? Because you do. And, two, we dont make fun of you. Very much. Anymore. And, three
He was counting on his fingers, and his cheeks were twitching, and it was making Cath laugh.
Three, he said, I wont make fun of you, to anyone but you, from now on, if youll just once, right now, read me some of your fanfiction.
Cath gave him a level stare. A mostly level stare. She was still giggling a little. And blinking hard. And occasionally looking up at the ceiling. Youre curious, she said.
He nodded.
She rolled her eyes again and turned to her laptop. Why not. She didnt have anything to lose. Yes, but thats not the point, part of her argued. What do you have to gain?
Its not like Levi was going to be impressed by her fanfiction; entertained wasnt the same as impressed. He already thought she was a weirdo, and this was just going to make her seem that much weirder. Did the bearded lady get excited when cute guys came to her freak show?
Cath shouldnt want this kind of attention. And Levi wasnt even that cute. His forehead was lined even when he wasnt making a face. Sun damage, probably.