What I Expect

Reading Week

It's week 6 of my course, which is reading week. I have all the material, great, it's just finding the motivation to read it. I know it's easier to motivate yourself in group study sessions rather than studying individually so for sociology I make plans to study with Yugi at Starbucks, the same one we drank coffee at on my first day here. I'm still wearing that coat - as unflattering as it is, the weather is still biting cold so layering up is a must. I'm shameless enough to beg for something more tangible than a black coffee, so I do until Sweet-Buttercup-of-Fairyland Yugi caves and gets me a vanilla cream frappe. I know, I'm basic but they taste amazing. "I hope we get Sociology of Media in Section 1," Yugi prays to the unseen Gods, or to the Starbucks ceiling. Either one. "That's closest to my course, I can go into the most detail to get marks for the KU,"

"I'm just happy we're guaranteed to get Sociology of Migration for Section 2," I grin, taking a sip of that cool liquid and flinching when it lands on my tongue, ice cold. Like a sugar burn, an addictive as Hell sugar burn. "Okay, I'll help you with that bit. Try this question: what role have race and class played in the construction of desirable migrants in UK government policy?"

"Desirable migrants aren't a thing!" Yugi retorts.

"I'll have you know I'm very desirable!"  And anyway, he's wrong. We are a thing sociologically. He's just too focused on his Media Studies, which I can understand since it's his main course. My phone buzzes and I check it, scowling at the offending machine and tossing it with a clatter onto the table. "It's Mai,"

"But don't you like Mai?" Yūgi inquires, wondering why I'm not answering.

"Yeah, but she keeps inviting me to go shopping with her. I mean I wanna so bad, I just don't have any money!" I throw my head back, proclaiming to the skies. "Why have you forsaken me?!" I chuckle, leaning back in my comfy leather Starbucks chair that's a little too low to the ground for my liking.

"I'm gonna get more cocoa. Want another frappe?" Yugi offers, too nice for his own good. I guess he's like his Grandpa in that regard.

"Still nursing this one," I shake my cup in the air. Besides, I wouldn't want Yugi spending more money on me. I'm a shameless beggar sure, but I never want to actually burden someone. His grandfather does enough for me, I should be ashamed of myself for even this. When Yūgi returns I close my book, distracted by buzzing thoughts, little electric charges skirting around different areas of my brain making me jump between topics. "And anyway, how's your love life?"

"Not great," Yugi admits with a sigh, fiddling with the cuff links of his black dress shirt. "There's a girl I like here who's studying Drama and Theatre. But she likes Yami, the pop-punk aficionado who studies Fashion Design. Fashion Design! What even is that?!" It's his turn to throw his hands in the air and growl in existential turmoil.

To distract himself I guess, Yugi bounces back the question. "What about you? Anyone you have your eyes on?"

"Hm," I place my fingernail with chipping lilac nail polish to my jawline, pretending to think. "Maybe," I hint as I stare at the Architecture building that towers above the Multiplex, so tall and grand I can see it from here even though it's behind the main campus.

"Wow, you really are falling for him!" Yugi laughs. He must have known Akefia studies architecture, which would have been useful to tell me sooner!

"Am not!" I freeze, but my position betrays me. Twirling my hair in my long fingers, that doe-eyed look I get whenever I think of Akefia, the silly smile spreads across my face at the goofiness he hasn't shown me yet but I know is a hidden part of his personality. "Fine, a bit," I admit, so embarrassed I blush.