Sit Next to Dani

“Let me guess,” Dani says, as you sit down next to her. “STEM major?”

“I think so. It’ll probably be chemistry for me, but I’m a bit undecided,” you say. “You are too, yeah?”

“Oh, most definitely. She’s enrolled in a PhD level math course right now,” Mars says on Dani’s behalf. “Now, what I don’t get is how you two both instantly knew.”

“We have our ways of knowing,” you say.

“But we can’t share them with you,” Dani continues. “It’s not a technique for the uninitiated.”

The waiter swings by just then, and you all order, before the conversation resumes.

“Did I hear you right just now? You’re taking a PhD level course?” you ask incredulously.

“I was going to ask you if you were taking any grad level classes, but I guess that’s another no, then,” Dani sighs. “Why can’t I meet anyone else that does? Would it really be so hard?”

“It’s because nobody as insane as you are,” Mars laughs. “Seriously, I’m still betting you drop out of it before the semester’s up. Alex, if you can get her to quit it, there’s a hundred bucks waiting for you.”

“You do realise that everyone in that class is a massive nerd, right Dani?” you ask, stepping up to the challenge. “As in, by joining that class, you’re going to massively hurt your chances with the guys?”

“Well, that doesn’t matter if I’ve already got a guy,” Dani says.

“Bullshit! You haven’t met anyone,” Valentine says, breaking her silence. “You’re my roommate. I would know in an instant.”

“What’s the big deal? It’s not like you’ve met anyone either,” Dani says.

“But what if I have…” Valentine says mysteriously, just as the plates of pasta arrive.

“Oh, you’ve got to tell me who it is,” Mars says excitedly, digging into the food.

“Later, later, all in good time,” Valentine says.

“You can tell me. Unlike them, I can guarantee that I can keep a secret,” you say. Valentine only smiles at you and shakes her head in response.

“Oh, it’s Keegan, isn’t it. Yeah, definitely Keegan,” Mars says. “He was the goalie on the co-ed team last year. Probably this year too,” she adds for your benefit.

“Nah, he’s not my type,” Valentine says. “You’re never going to guess who it is.”

You all spend the next ten minutes doing exactly that, and the rest of the hour passes quickly in lighthearted conversation. Before you know it, you’ve said goodbye to Valentine and Dani, and head back to your dorm with Mars.

Mars +10
Dani +15
Valentine +10