Go study

You need to be responsible. Especially since you just made a boneheaded mistake.

You put your backpack down in the foyer and shuffle tiredly into the kitchen, where Dorothy is unloading groceries from bags. She’ll start cooking in a few minutes. You aren’t sure why, but you automatically look up to Dorothy.

“Need something?” she asks as she works.

“I’m just going to take something upstairs.”

“What me to fix it?”

“No, I got it.” You make yourself a sandwich and get a drink, then head back, grabbing your backpack and going upstairs. You pause, frowning.

There’s a sock on Aki’s doorknob. You calculate that there is about a 3% chance that she’s getting it on in there and a 97% chance that some other idiot has put it there to be funny. You aren’t going to involve yourself. You have such a crush on Aki that it’s not even funny. It’s not easy to be in CCL and still have dignity, but Aki does. She’s so great.

You hear a noise from downstairs and backpedal to the landing to look down. Beth and Duni are dragging a… tub? Into the party room. Julieta is with them, struggling to carry shopping bags full of huge bottles of cheap rum. What the hell?

You don’t want to know. You retreat to your room and close the door. Finally, you’re safe. You take a minute and procrastinate with your phone, then sit at your desk and make a plan for the weekend. You have two tests to study for. You’ll do anthropology tonight, relax tomorrow, and do biology Sunday night. You get your book open, open your laptop, and get to work, sipping soda.

You look up when you hear a creak from the ceiling. Must be the storm.

But then you hear Lotte’s voice outside your room. You stand up, brushing crumbs off, and go to the door, finding Lotte and Cynthia in the hallway.

Cynthia is thin and wears glasses. She leans into her nerd look, which checks out because she really is very smart. She’s already dressed for bed in fleece pajama pants and an undershirt, while Lotte still has on her outfit from the day: a cute skirt with a green top.

“What do you think?” Lotte asks, a look of almost sinister amusement on her face.

Cynthia rolls her eyes. “I think the path of least resistance is to appease you.”

Lotte laughs. She has a pretty laugh.

“Good,” she says, touching Cynthia’s waist. You feel a flash of jealousy, but control yourself. This is CCL.

Looking annoyed, Cynthia goes back into her room, which neighbors yours.

“Lotte,” you say, and the blonde turns to you.

“Sally,” she says.

“Are you doing anything?” you ask bravely.

“Hmm?” She cocks her head. She has huge, staring eyes, and they are fixed on you. Your skin gets hot.

“Tonight?” You clarify, hoping there aren’t any crumbs on your face.

Lotte smiles. “You are so cute.” She reaches out with a finger and touches the tip of your nose. “Wait for me.”

“OK,” you say nervously, watching as she walks off down the hall. She’s so pretty.

Blushing and heart racing, you go back into your room. Saying something was the right move! Wow! Maybe not so much studying is going to happen tonight? You look around nervously at your room. You better clean it up a bit. And you better clean up and wear something cute.

You’re supposed to use the pledge bathroom that’s in this hall, but there IS that bathroom in the next hall that only Aki, Olivia, and Julieta use. You could clean up in there with way less chance of having to wait in line or deal with anyone else.

Use the pledge bathroom to clean up? Or sneak into the officer one?