William gave her a big t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants to change into and she laid on his bed with her hand over her eyes while he popped something in the microwave and poured her a glass of water.
At first, Kristen didn’t speak. She was thinking about all the things he’d told her as they sat on the steps.
“My name is Kristen Murphy. I hate being called Krissy. I’m from the UP. In Michigan. It is very, very cold. You probably wouldn’t survive. My favorite animal is a moose, and I could literally live off of carrots and celery. My mom told me I should’ve been a rabbit. I’m at Parsons to study fashion design, but I don’t fit in. At all. I’m a first year.”
Kristen finally uncovered her eyes, and looked at William, who was watching her. “And, you’re right. I’m not that type of girl.”
He smiled a little and brought over a bowl of oatmeal. “I hope you like this…” he said, setting it down on the table by his bed. He helped her sit up, although she was feeling much better now, and handed her the bowl.
“I do,” she said quietly, taking a small bite.
“Michigan, huh?”
Her eyes flicked up to his, and he continued. “Do you get a lot of snow?”
“It’s unbelievable.”
“Maybe I’ll have to go there sometime. To test myself.”
She laughed a little. “The Upper Peninsula in winter is not for the faint-hearted.”
“Who said I was faint-hearted?”
She just smiled, and continued to eat her oatmeal.
“So tell me more,” he prompted. “What’s your family like? Siblings or no? Do you have a boyfriend back home?”
Kristen spoke slowly, in between chewing bites of food. “My parents are very earthy. My dad builds houses and my mom is a painter. But they also do pottery and wood carving for fun. I don’t have siblings, but I have a kitten named Fern. She’s grey striped with white paws, and I tried to sneak her into my bag, but my mom noticed.”
She paused to take another bite. “I have a boyfriend named Lewis that I’ve been with since my junior year.”
William nodded. “My mom is an artist too. She’s a photographer, which is how I got into film. We always had cameras around the house. My dad just owns a fast food franchise. Which is why I’m so chubby.”
He wasn’t. At all.
“I have a sister who’s a senior in high school named Louisa, but we call her Lou. She hates it. We have a dog named Madge. She’s a jack russel terrier. And I haven’t dated anyone since my sophomore year of high school, because I like to be friends first. Apparently there aren’t many girls that think that way.”
Kristen looked at him for a minute, smiling slightly. “I think that’s sweet,” she said after a pause. They both looked at each other for another moment before she looked down to finish her oatmeal.
~
Kristen woke up the next morning in an unfamiliar bed. Not that her own bed was familiar yet, but either way, something wasn’t right. Her eyes fluttered open and the light from the window flooded into the room, making her early morning eyes squint. She rolled over and all the events of the previous night came back at once, like a brick of guilt dropping on top of her heart. She noticed that she’d been tucked in to bed, because she couldn’t remember ever getting under the covers herself. William was sitting against the bed, head tipped to the side, mouth lolling open. He’d never taken his glasses off.
