Blue (The Spectrum Series: #3)

Chapter Eight

I have the dorm room to myself for the weekend since Riley is spending her time with her boyfriend, Connor, who lives in a different dorm wing on another floor. I spend my Saturday completing a week worth's work of homework and assignments. When I wasn't studying and reading my assigned novel for English for the third time, I was practicing in the dance studio and working out.

It's now Sunday afternoon and I'm getting dressed after my morning run in Central Park. To say my muscles are sore and stiff would be an understatement. But it will be worth it when the school's annual Snowflake Showcase rolls around. The Snowflake Showcase is a performance the school endorses to flaunt our practiced crafts leading up to December. I've always dreamt of participating in it; the videos I watched, it looked like the entire city showed up just to watch the flawless dancers and listen to the devoted musicians and get lost in the passionate actors and actresses.

Fully clothed in my Walkers High School sweatshirt and plain blue shorts, I sit on the edge of my bed with my planner. I have the rest of the day to do whatever I want. I've already finished all my academic assignments, danced until bruises appeared on my feet, and read all my entire novel collection I brought to college. In other words, I have nothing to do. I can watch a documentary on Netflix or start a new TV series. When I'm not dancing or studying or researching or reading, I become the biggest TV and movie fanatic in the world.

Too bad I don't know Riley's Netflix password.

With a frustrated grunt, I let the remote fall on my bed and pull out my phone. Maybe I can hang out with Finn. Otherwise I will bore myself to death. And I believe in productivity. There's not enough hours in the day as it is, so why waste it by staring at a wall with nothing to do?

He answers on the third ring. "Hey! What's up, Lily?"

"Nothing." Literally. "I was wondering if you'd want to hang out today? Maybe go to the park or visit the Statue of Liberty, or whatever New Yorkers do." I laugh.

He laughs along with me and huffs out, "I would love to, but I'm going to be busy all day."

"That's alright, I understand." I try not to sound as disappointed as I feel. Over the past week he's become a real friend to me, Riley included, even if she tries to get me to go to a party every time there's one happening. "What are you doing?" I curiously ask.

I hear the smile in his voice when he answers, "I'm volunteering at the local homeless shelter. I do it every Sunday. It's nice to give back and I try to get my friends to join me, but they all either have something else to do or just don't want to step foot in here." He pauses, and I hear a croaky voice say thank you. His smile practically grows through the phone. "But the people here are very nice people. Unless it's Fried Chicken day, then it's all-out war." He laughs playfully, and I laugh with him.

Finn is undoubtedly the kindest person I know. Maybe he's rubbing off on Blue. It would explain why he took me all the way back to school, even though he ditched me minutes before, and why he apologized for his little mean stunt. Who knows? If Blue really concentrates on his sweet roommate, he can be serving food to the less fortunate. I imagine him wearing a hair net with a genuine smile on his face and laugh.

"What's so funny?" Finn asks.

"Nothing," I lie. It's better than telling him I was thinking of his roommate... that sounds a lot worse than it actually is.

"Okay – hey! Do you want to come down and help out? We can always use an extra set of hands."

"I'd love to! Just send me the location. I'll be there soon," I say, and we exchange goodbyes before hanging up. I've only ever served at a homeless shelter once before, two Christmases ago. I brought a whole crate of children books for the kids at the shelter and hung out with the people there for the whole day. I had a nice time and there's no better feeling than helping those that can use some brightness in their rather tough life.