Vanya threw her duffle bag at the foot of her bed. It landed with a solid 'plop' and she threw herself onto her bed. Small clouds of dust rose as she did so, since it appeared that no one had bothered to make her bed while she was gone. That was okay though, she had much bigger fish to fry.
Item one on the list; exactly three weeks, two days, and four hours (Not that she was counting) had passed since she'd heard about Kraken's new girlfriend, Jennifer. Roughly the same time she had decided that she hated her, for reasons that she was horribly aware of. She had sent a letter in reply not even mentioning the girl and had opted instead to talk about her new math teacher who'd had to come in when the original got pregnant.
Item two; now that she was actually there, she wouldn't just be able to blow it off. What if he wanted to talk to her about her? Vanya gritted her teeth. She'd probably sock him one, and then it would be horribly difficult to explain to just about anyone why she had done it without giving anything important away.
Item three; this was going to be the worst summer vacation anyone had ever had. This would most likely include the time that her father had sent her to the boarding school three weeks early. At least she had been somewhat relieved when that had happened. Now that rule didn't apply anymore, and she wished that college would've continued for a little longer until she would be able to face this.
This brought her to item four; she would most likely never be able to face this. Irritably she got up from her bed and took of her jacket. It was only serving to make her feel more hot, and right now she needed to have a cool head. Rubbing her temples she glanced at her duffle bag, which she would probably have to unpack soon.
There was a knock on her window. She didn't have to ask who it was.
"Latch is undone," she said without bothering to turn around.
"See you've rolled out the welcoming mat then," smirked Kraken as he climbed in through the now open window.
"Don't suppose you could use the door like everyone else?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light.
"Doors are only for people who can't use windows," he said flatly, sitting down next to her, "So, college turn you into a hippie yet?"
"Not all colleges are like that," she said, smiling a little in spite of herself.
"You're going to a liberal arts college," he said, "You a vegetarian now? Picketed any military facilities? Grown any sunflowers? Smoked any-?"
She cut him off there with a playful punch to his arm. Perhaps this wouldn't be as bad as she thought it would.
"Don't be so fucking touchy," he grimaced, "They'll get you one of these days. Slowly but surely-"
"What the hell is that makes you think I'd turn into a hippie?" she queried, rolling her eyes.
"Not saying you'll want to," Kraken smirked, "But it'll be like a zombie virus, see? You'll be infected before you know it. You've already got a hippie roommate."
"I never should've told you about Diane," Vanya said, turning for the first time to face him.
"Too late now," he said, absently taking out a knife and twirling it, one of his more unsettling habits.
"I won't tell you anything if you're going to be like that."
He raised his eyebrows and tilted her chin up with the hand that didn't have a knife in it. She fought furiously to fight the rising blush.
"Something wrong?" he frowned
"Why do you say that?" she asked, slightly panicked.
"Little soon in the morning to threaten me with alienation," he said, "Don't you think?"
She shrugged and he let go of her chin. Inwardly she let out a sigh of relief. She'd gotten away with it.
"Anyway," he said, "Want to go down to Norton's 'round midnight? The band's supposed to be shit, but the beer's cheap and he still doesn't check I.D's."
Vanya hesitated for a moment.
"Maybe I shouldn't be sneaking out on my first night back-" she started.
"Body and the rest are going to be there," he said temptingly, "They're askin' 'bout you you know."
Sighing, she caved.
"Why not?" she said.
"That's the spirit. Gotta go before the bastard notices I'm gone," he smirked again, heading towards the window, "Supposed to be on patrol right now."
"I feel flattered that you took the time," she said.
"Not every day you come back from college," he said, "Besides, I need to get rid of the fucking liberal streak that's growing in you. Next thing you know you won't approve of me using this."
He brandished his knife for emphasis.
"Yeah, like you'd listen," she shot back.
"Who knows if you're doin' the asking."
Grinning she moved to open the window for him. Perhaps things weren't as bad as she'd thought. Maybe he'd already broken up with-
"Oh, by the way," he added casually as he was halfway out the window, "Jen's comin' too. Apparently she likes the shit bands, don't blame her for that. I'm workin' on it, I'm workin' on it."
Vanya's grin froze on her face.
"Besides that though, you might like her though," he said, making it the rest of the way through the window, "I'll come get you when the time comes, 'kay?"
Before she could yell the protest that her mind was already screaming he'd disappeared.