Fluctuate - Van McCann

14

I wake up to the sound of footsteps. My eyes flutter open, and I quickly sit up when I realize this isn't my dorm.

"Woah, you okay there?" Van asks. He was wearing only a pair of sweatpants and I couldn't help but stare.

"Yeah," I say. "I...I just... forgot w-where I was for a second." My stuttering and morning voice didn't help me not make a fool out of myself in front of Van at all.

"Well, don't you worry, you're safe," Van chuckles. He turns his back to me and puts on a plain black T-shirt over his exposed chest. I had to admit, I was a little disappointed.

"How many black shirts do you own?" I question. There was humor in my voice, but I also actually did want to know. He was wearing one yesterday, I'm wearing one of his, and he's wearing one now.

Van shrugs. "A few," he says. "Do you not like them?"

"No, no I do. You just seem to have a lot, that's all," I say. "Maybe you should broaden your horizons and try a grey one day."

"Grey?" Van questions. "That'd be a big leap for me." He looks over at me and smiles. "I'll think about it, though. Anyway, you should get dressed so we can grab something to eat before class."

I grab my phone from the table next to Van's bed and check the time, seeing that it was already 11:00. "God, why do I keep sleeping so late?" I groan, slightly frustrated with myself. "What time did you wake up?"

"Around nine. Probably would have slept longer; your snores woke me up," he says.

"Hey! I don't snore," I say. Maybe I do a little, but I'd call it heavy breathing, not snoring.

"Then why'd I'd wake up?" Van laughs as he questions me.

"I don't know. Maybe you were just done sleeping," I reason with him.

"Yeah, right," he says. "It's okay. You have cute snores, so I ll forgive you."

"I don't snore. And snores can't be cute," I say defensively.

"Whatever you have to tell yourself," Van shrugs his shoulders. I watch as he combs through his hair with his fingers.

"Have Anna and Bondy been here yet?" I ask. They probably have considering they were asleep when Van and I got home last night.

"Nope," van says. "Must still be sleeping. Now, go get changed so I can get you some breakfast." He motions toward the bathroom with his hands.

"What am I supposed to wear?" I chuckle. "My dress?" As much as I didn't mind wearing the dress, I'd never wear it out casually. "I don't want to disrupt Bondy and Anna in my room."

"You're right. I haven't thought about that. I guess you're going to have to go in my sweats and T-shirt," he says.

I look at him and laugh. "I look like a trash bag in your clothes," I say.

He nods his head. "Yeah, you do. But the best looking trash bag I've ever seen," he says with a smile.

"That's cheesy," I tell him and roll my eyes. "And we're wearing the same thing."

"Don't act like you don't love cheesy," Van says. "I have a feeling half the students here are going to be wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt today. It is college, after all."

"Fine. Let's go, then. I need to stop by and grab my backpack from my dorm, though," I tell Van. I hadn't thought about getting my backpack earlier when I said I didn't want to disrupt Bondy and Anna, but I couldn't really go to class without my backpack. I'll just have to be extra quiet so I don't wake them up.

"Alright," Van says. He opens his door and waits for me to walk out first before leaving the room as well. "You wanna get changed, too?" He asks.

"Not anymore, no," I say.

Van looks down at me confused. "You were just complaining, and now your fine with it. You're mad, Peyton," he laughs.

"Well, now I'm comfortable in them. Don't expect to be getting them back anytime soon," I sassily reply. Before I give Van a chance to reply, I enter my dorm room and find my backpack.

Bondy and Anna were still both sleeping. Bondy's arms were sprawled over the edge of the bed, which makes me laugh. They were probably missing a class, but I know neither of them would really care. They were more into college for parties. My backpack was at the side of my bed, exactly where I left it when I came home from classes yesterday. I grab it and silently walk back to the hallway where Van was waiting for me.

"So," I say. "Where are we going for breakfast? I'm starving."

Van grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers. "Up to you. I don't know anywhere except for the college diner," he says.

"What makes you think I'd know anywhere? I've been here for fewer days than you have," I tell him. As we continue walking, I look up at Van. He keeps his head faced forward, not realizing I was admiring how nice he looked with the morning sun softly shining down on his slightly messy hair.

"Ah, I forgot about that, ya know?" He laughs. "I guess we can just go to the diner today, if you're okay with that. We'll find something better next time we get breakfast."

"That's fine by me. I heard UCLA has good food, anyway," I say. That was one of the few things I paid attention to while I was researching colleges. It doesn't matter how good the education is, or how cheap it is, if you can't get a decent meal. That's how I view it, at least.

"Benji is always telling me that. I've never gone, though. Guess we'll have to find out together, huh?" Van says.

We walk to the entrance of the dinning hall and Van opens the door for me again, this time placing a hand on the small of my back as we walk inside. I know it's a small gesture, but it still made my stomach fill with butterflies.