Cath could call Abel but she knew he was leaving for Missouri Tech tomorrow morning. His family was throwing him a huge party tonight with homemade tamales and his grandmothers coconut yoyos which were so special, they didnt even sell them in the family bakery. Abel worked in the panadería, and his family lived above it. His hair always smelled like cinnamon and yeast. Jesus, Cath was hungry.
She pushed her protein-bar wrapper into the feminine-hygiene box and rinsed off her face before she went back to her room.
Reagan and Levi were walking out, thank God. And finally.
See ya, Reagan said.
Rock on. Levi smiled.
Cath felt like collapsing when the door closed behind them.
She grabbed another protein bar, flopped onto the old wooden captains chairshe was starting to like this chairand opened a drawer to prop up her foot.
Simon swept his honey brown hair out of his eyes and sighed. Just because I cant think of any heroic vampires doesnt mean they dont exist.
Baz stopped trying to levitate his steamer trunk and gave Simon a flash of gleaming fang. Good guys wear white, Baz said. Have you ever tried to get blood out of a white cape?
* * *
Selleck Hall was a dormitory right in the middle of campus. You could eat there even if you didnt live there. Cath usually waited in the lobby for Wren and Courtney, so she wouldnt have to walk into the cafeteria alone.
So whats your roommate like?
Courtney asked as they moved through the salad bar line. She asked it like she and Cath were old friendslike Cath had any idea what Courtney was like, outside of her taste for cottage cheese with peaches.
The salad bar at Selleck was completely wack. Cottage cheese with peaches, canned pears with shredded cheddar. What is up with this? Cath asked, lifting a scoop of cold kidney and green bean salad.
Maybe its another Western Nebraska thing, Wren said. There are guys in our dorm who wear cowboy hats, like, all the time, even when theyre just walking down the hall.
Im gonna get a table, Courtney said.
HeyCath watched Wren pile vegetables on her platedid we ever write any fic with Simon and Baz dancing?
I dont remember, Wren said. Why? Are you writing a dance scene?
Waltzing. Up on the ramparts.
Romantic. Wren looked around the room for Courtney.
Im worried that Im making Simon too fluffy.
Simon is fluffy.
I wish you were reading it, Cath said, following her to the table.
Isnt every ninth-grader in North America already reading it? Wren sat down next to Courtney.
And Japan, Cath said, sitting. Im weirdly huge in Japan.
Courtney leaned toward Cath, swooping in, like she was in on some big secret. Cath, Wren told me that you write Simon Snow stories. Thats so cool. Im a huge Simon Snow fan. I read all the books when I was a kid.
Cath unwrapped her sandwich skeptically. Theyre not over, she said.
Courtney took a bite of her cottage cheese, not catching the correction.
I mean, Cath said, the books arent over. Book eight doesnt come out until next year.
Tell us about your roommate, Wren said, smiling flatly at Cath.
Theres nothing to tell.
Then make something up.
Wren was irritated. Which irritated Cath. But then Cath thought about how glad she was to be eating food that required silverware and talking to someone who wasnt a strangerand decided to make an effort with Wrens shiny new roommate.
Her name is Reagan. And she has reddish brown hair. And she smokes.
Courtney wrinkled her nose. In your room?
She hasnt really been in the room much.
Wren looked suspicious. You havent talked?
Weve said hello, Cath said. Ive talked to her boyfriend a little.
Whats her boyfriend like? Wren asked.
I dont know. Tall?
Well, its only been a few days. Im sure youll get to know her. Then Wren changed the subject to something that happened at some party she and Courtney had gone to. Theyd only been living together two weeks, and already they had a slew of inside jokes that went right over Caths head.
Cath ate her turkey sandwich and two servings of french fries, and shoved a second sandwich into her bag when Wren wasnt paying attention.
* * *
Reagan finally stayed in their room that night. (Levi did not, thank God.) She went to bed while Cath was still typing.
Is the light bothering you? Cath asked, pointing at the lamp built into her desk. I could turn it off.
Its fine, Reagan said.
Cath put in earbuds so that she wouldnt hear Reagans falling-asleep noises. Breathing. Sheets brushing. Bed creaking.
How can she just fall asleep like that with a stranger in the room? Cath wondered. Cath left the earbuds in when she finally crawled into her own bed and pulled the comforter up high over her head.
* * *
You still havent talked to her? Wren asked at lunch the next week.
We talk, Cath said. She says, Would you mind closing the window? And I say, Thats fine. Also, Hey. We exchange heys daily. Sometimes twice daily.
Its getting weird, Wren said.
Cath poked at her mashed potatoes. Im getting used to it.