Chapter 2

October started off very busy. Every single one of my teachers decided to give either a midterm test or paper. Most of what I did was easy, but very time-consuming.

Despite our academic obligations, Andy and I never missed a Tuesday lunch. It was our way of taking a little time for ourselves in the midst of all the studying we had to do. I knew he mostly ate prepackaged foods, so I started making the vegetable dishes that my namesake had taught me.

We talked about a whole lot of things during those lunches. Soon it felt like we’d known each other a lot longer than two months. The things that were hard to say to each other were said in letters slipped under each other’s doors. Andy responded to my letter telling him about my disastrous Grad Night like a gentleman–sympathetic and supportive.

Melvin started sending me a series of postcards called “A Teacher’s Observation On Test Days.” They were funny and very creative.

Fred and Joe liked to call when they took breaks from projects. They sounded tired but very happy. They were talking about filming at Union Station over Thanksgiving break, which sounded great to me–I hadn’t been there in about ten years. Fred’s Uncle Damon owns an apartment complex near Universal Studios, and offered us one of the vacant furnished apartments.

State South’s colors are black and orange, so the students like to celebrate Halloween with gusto. There was a haunted house competition amongst the sorority and fraternity houses, a costume contest and fashion show in the theater department, and the film students put on a Horror Movie Fest with a different theme each year.

The only thing that really caught my attention was the fact that there would be a midnight showing of Young Frankenstein the night before Halloween. It caught Andy’s attention as well, and we decided to attend together.

After a thoroughly enjoyable experience watching the movie with a bunch of other people who had never seen it on a big screen, Andy and I walked back to our building together, arm in arm. It was a nice night, and even though we hadn’t declared it an actual date, it was sure nice to be treated like a lady.

“That was cool to be able to see Young Frankenstein in a theater. I’ve only ever seen it on TV.” Andy said as we approached our building.

“Yeah, me too. My namesake said she loved to go to see new Mel Brooks movies in the theater. That’s the only reason I’ve seen so many of the more recent ones.”

“Sounds like a great woman.”

“Yeah, she was.” I sighed. “So, would you like to come back to my place for a cup of tea?” I asked as he opened the door to our building.

“Sure!” He smiled at me. “Let me drop my jacket and shoes off at my place.”

We parted ways at our front doors. I let myself in, turned the lights on, and headed to the kitchen. I set up my electric teakettle, and it had just started to boil when Andy knocked on my door. I unplugged it and answered the door, dropping the sugar bowl off on the table on my way.

“Great timing—the water’s ready.” I said, walking back to the kitchen.

“Wonderful!”

“Have a seat. Chamomile okay?” I asked, opening a cabinet.

“Yeah, I don’t want to stay up all night.”

I plunked two teabags into two mugs, filled them with water, and walked over to my table. I put the mugs down and sat next to him. We sat in silence for a moment. The mention of my namesake brought her into my mind again.

“You know, one of the things I miss the most about my namesake is her sense of humor.” I took the tea bag out of my mug. The tea was still quite hot. “She’s making college easy on me, and I’m quite thankful. I don’t know how I’d juggle a job with all the work I’ve had to do lately!”

“Yeah, I’m grateful my folks are letting me live off my savings as long as I keep my grades up.”

“I wouldn’t mind staying around here this summer, so I’ll probably end up getting an apartment and a job.”

“Are you going to live in the dorms next year?” Andy asked.

I shrugged as I took a cautious sip of tea. “I like it here, but it’s a little pricey compared to what else around here.”

“I know what you mean. How’s the Thanksgiving plans coming along?”

“Great! We’re going to do some filming in the apartment we’re staying at. They have a couple ideas for spoof commercials they want to try out.”

“That sounds like fun. My friends are coming over the day after Thanksgiving to play video games.”

“Cool.” I took another sip of tea. “I’m definitely spending most of the winter break with Livia and Melvin. They insisted.”

“I’m so glad we get such a long winter break! All my friends are jealous.”

“Yeah, Fred and Joe are on the quarter system, so they have to go back the second week of January. I may spend a week with them.”

When we finished our tea, he took the cups and put them in the sink for me.

“Thanks!” I said, rising to follow him with the sugar bowl. I put it on my counter.

“Well, it’s late, so I should get going. Thanks for the tea.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks for paying for my movie ticket.”

“No trouble at all.” Andy said.

We walked towards the door. He reached for the doorknob, but turned around instead.

“May-may I kiss you?” He blushed.

I smiled. “You may.”

He leaned down and kissed me softly. I kissed him back a little bit harder.

“I’ve wanted to do that for weeks.” Andy said, still blushing.

“Why didn’t you?”

“Well, I didn’t want you to think I was only out to have a lover across the hall.”

I laughed. “You don’t seem that type.”

He laughed. “Thanks. I care about you, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I know. You’ve been a gentleman, always, and I trust you.” I kissed him again.

I don’t know how long we spent kissing at the door. It was nice to be kissed by a nice guy for a change. He felt warm and safe. I knew that if I pulled away and said goodnight, he’d walk out the door without protest. However, I didn’t want to pull away or say goodnight.

Andy pulled back and smiled at me. “That was better than I imagined!”

I laughed. “Thanks. It’s been awhile.”

“I suppose I should get going,” Andy said, “It is quite late.”

“No, stay.” I insisted. “We just got started.”

“Shirley, I don’t want to uh, cover too much ground too fast.”

“Neither do I. Why not spend the night, anyway? I’ve never literally slept with another person before.” It was true—Claudia preferred sleeping alone, and I had never been alone with Elodio overnight.

Andy smiled. “That would be nice. Should I go next door to get my pajamas?”

I laughed. “Go right ahead. I’ll change into mine while you’re gone.”

Thanks to the chamomile, we didn’t do much more than kiss in bed before we both fell asleep.

We woke up around noon. Andy looked at me and smiled. He leaned over and kissed me.

“Good morning. I’ll treat you to breakfast if you’d like.”

“Good morning. That sounds lovely.”

Andy got out of bed. “I’m going to go shower and change at my place. I’ll be back in a half hour.”

“Great!” I yawned and stretched before I got out of bed.

We had breakfast at a little diner that wasn’t too far from campus.

“Thanks for that. It was nice to be able to get close to you.” Andy said.

“That’s exactly how I feel. Let’s keep things at this level for now and see what happens.”

“Agreed.” Andy reached over the table and shook my hand.