Never Say Goodbye or A Love Story in Hellos

Three.

Sasha sighs for the umpteenth time. The words and numbers in her Econ book have stopped making sense about two chapters ago. It is frustrating. The library is almost empty this close to the holidays but Sasha wants to at least create the illusion that she is being productive.

Her hands fiddle with her purple highlighter. Maybe she should just highlight random words and numbers. The question if they make sense is something she will worry about later.

Her short hair is probably standing up in every direction from how much she has carded her hands through it in frustration. It does not help. She decides to call it a day.

Just as Sasha moves to close her book, someone sits down across form her. She looks up. It is Nia. Wearing a black hoodie and a tired expression. And a smile. “Hello” she greets. Sasha greets back. Hesitantly she asks: “You look tired. Are you okay?” Nia groans and drops her head on the table in front of her.

Then she peeks out from underneath her hair and grins cheekily. “I just hate numbers is all. Econ has me by the metaphorical balls. And I am way too petty to let it ruin my GPA.” Her exasperated tone makes Sasha giggle.

“Fuck. Same. I have been looking at this for the last twenty minutes without understanding a single word. And my notes make even less sense.” She shakes her head in distaste. “But thanks for that though. That you gave me your notes from last Monday.” She was sick. That had been a nasty cold.

Nia flicks her hand “No problem. But I missed you. I really like that we always sit together now. Share the agony and stuff.” She is grinning again. Sasha smiles. Contemplates for a seconds. Then: “You know. If you want to, we can study together. Fight the enemy as one.”

Nia looks relieved. “That would be awesome. I have no fucking clue what I´m doing. I´ll treat you to some hot chocolate later.”

She is already taking her notes and books out of her bag. Sasha smiles at the way her sleeves cover her hands. Only the tips of her fingers peek out and show off her blue painted nails. She looks comfortable. Shame to ruin that with maths.

Belatedly Sasha responds: “I don’t think I´ll be that much of a help though. So, sorry in advance.” She does not want Nia to think she has any more idea about this than the other herself. Still. Studying together sounds like a great idea.

So she opens her book on the first page and looks back up at Nia. A little helpless, probably. “I´m sorry to brake it to you but this is where my questions start” she admits bashfully. “It´s okay” Nia shrugs “I´m not any better. But, like, we can maybe start by just making sure we both understand the scientific terms?”

She starts ruffling through a stack of paper. “I have like – made a list of them. Not that I understand any.” She shows Sasha the list. “That´s good.” She nods and marvels again at Nia´s neat handwriting. “Can I copy that real quick?” Nia agrees.

They do actually manage to get something done. At least a little portion of the assigned topics. A start.

And they do get hot chocolate after. In a tiny little hole-in-the-wall place Nia recommends. It is very motivating.