“Ask Mia and Ayumi before you wreck their beds. Maybe we could do a book-turned-movie?” Books-turned-movies are my favorites. Sure, they’re never quite right, but I like seeing my old book friends again.
Sophie beelines to her room and pushes her mattress on its sidethrough the hall.
I do the same, except I compulsively fold my blankets first and set them on my desk chair. Ayumi is in here studying at her desk.
“Sophie has a harebrained idea to put our mattresses in the lounge and make a trampoline. You in?”
Ayumi says, “Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, ‘Would an idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing.”
My head tips back in laughter for the second time in two minutes. I love these girls.
She purses her lips, pleased I love her Dwight impression. “Sure. You can take it now, or I can bring it when I’m done with this.”
An hour later Mia does a running cannon ball into the lounge, surprising squeals out of the rest of us. College life is weird and wonderful.
Things between Sophie and me are so much better. I get to live with sweet, hilarious friends. I’ve made improvement in my quest to take up more space. Still, I don’t get it. Why is God answering all of these minor prayers instead of the emotional handicap I beg daily for healing from? Was the Levi-hallway thing an answer to prayer, or was it just me being reckless?
I meet up with our crew at MSC for another movie night. Levi, knowing it’s a favorite of mine, suggests Live-ActionAladdin. Austin and Haymitch tease him for it, but he takes it in stride. Apparently Austin’s little sister has already made him watch it more than once.
I love watching my friends watch my favorite movies. Afterward, we move outside to make room for another group and end up laughing and messing around until late. When everyone starts heading off, Levi asks to walk me back. But with MSC only two minutes from Griffin Hall, I veer toward the auditorium instead. He doesn’t mention it apart from a flicker in his eyes.
As we walk, a guy I don’t know calls out, “Jeeves, my man.” A frequent occurrence. Levi seems to know every dude on campus. “How’d you do on that test?” Friend Guy stares at me, apparently amused.
“Hey buddy. Glad it’s over.” If I know Levi, he aced it and won’t dare say as much. He doesn’t brag anyway, but he’d die if people knew he ruined the curve. “How’d you fare?” he asks.
“Had a good cry in my room after,” Friend Guy says.
“Kit, this is Arjun. Or Jimmy.”
“Floor name?” I ask.
“Short for James. James Bond,” he says with flair.
Levi chuckles.
“They still won’t tell me what it means so I’m going with that.”
“Bond for sure,” I say. “I’ll be sure to spread the word.”
“You’ve got a keeper here,” he says to Levi. “Thanks, Kit.”
Arjun starts to raise his hand—oh no, not a high five—but Levi holds out a fist bump, suave as ever. What a relief to avoid the awkward hand drop.
“See ya, dude.” Levi guides me back to our path to nowhere.
I wave over my shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Arjun.”
“Nice to meet you, Kit,” he calls with a teasing voice.
“How’s your family?” Levi asks. “Excited to visit them at Thanksgiving?”
“Well, no.” I pull the sleeves of my oversized sweater over my hands. “I’m not going home. I’m … nearly out of money.”
“Oh.” His head jerks back. “Kit, I’ll?—”
“No, Levi.” I so wish I could accept that from him.
“Please? I want to.” He playfully tugs on my sleeve. My fingers tingle in false anticipation, and I almost cave.
