We share a smile and I just know I’m going to like her. She’s tall and beautiful. Her blonde hair looks silky soft, and intelligence shines in her warm, brown eyes.
“I love your hair,” I can’t help but pay her a compliment.
She lets out a burst of laughter. “It takes me thirty minutes to straighten it like this. I usually just leave it to air dry, but then it curls like crazy.”
I point to my curly mop of red hair. “Nothing can straighten this mess.”
We have to pay attention when the professor comes in, but I can’t stop smiling. It’s nice talking to a girl.
When class is over, I shove all my stuff into my bag.
“Do you have another class now?” Willow asks.
“No, I only have one later this afternoon,” I say. Right now I want to get something to eat and a cup of coffee.
“Want to join me for coffee?”
“That would be great.” I should’ve thought to ask her, but I’m glad she did. Maybe we can get to know each other and become friends.
The cafeteria is bustling with students, all looking for a caffeine fix after class. We grab our orders, and I choose a muffin for myself while Willow takes a bagel. We pick a table outside for which I’m grateful. It’s freezing in the cafeteria.
With the sun baking on my back, I enjoy some of my coffee before I ask, “Do you live on campus?”
Willow rolls her eyes and lets out a sigh. “I do. My roommate drives me insane though. She’s out every night, and when she comes in late, she makes one hell of a noise.”
A slow smile spreads across my face. I feel a little embarrassed and nervous as I say, “I have an apartment off campus, and I’m looking for roommates. You’re welcome to come look at it.”
Willow’s eyes widen with surprise. “I’d love to see your apartment. It would be wonderful to sleep an entire night through without being woken up.”
“We can go now. I don’t have any plans,” I offer.
“Are you sure?” she asks with excitement coloring her cheeks a pale pink.
“Trust me, I’m desperate for a roommate. The silence in the big place is killing me.”
“Do you want me to follow you?”
I frown, and for a minute I don’t understand what she’s asking.
“My car is parked in front of my dorm. If I’m going to follow you, I need to go get it quickly.”
“Oh no, don’t worry about that. The apartment is close by. We can walk if you don’t mind.”
We finish our coffee and breakfast before we walk to the apartment. All the way there I’m silently sending up prayers that Willow will like it enough to want to move in with me.