He sat by his computer sipping boiling hot chocolate. It was homemade; not that weird-tasting box kind. This was made with actual ingredients: baking cocoa, milk, marshmallows, sugar… the real deal. It was definitely better than the box kind, he decided.

Every so often his fingers would click over the keyboard, typing letters mindlessly as they came to mind. Partially because he was thinking, partially because it was cold and his fingers needed time to warm up. After all, it was the coldest day he'd seen since last winter. Sadly, it was only the beginning of October with many colder days destined to come. This is why you buy heaters, he told himself.

Just a few feet away were his roommate and friend mindlessly playing the PlayStation 2. Their constant chit chat nagged that he could be doing the same. But there was a reason he felt obliged to stay at the computer. There was a method to his madness, as his mom had said.

He sipped the hot chocolate again. It was getting cooler. The frothy marshmallows were a great texture for the drink; a good change in pace. The mindless idiots laughed at their game as they ran in circles, chasing each other with guns, and trying to see who could die first. They both gulped their energy drinks, getting wilder with every swig.

Still he sat at the computer. Still clicking the keys every few seconds after a thought had come to mind.

Then she signed on.

hey, she said.

Hesitantly, he hovered his mouse over the conversation box.

hey wats up, he said back.

Nothing much. How bout you?

Same. Just sittin in my room listenin to my buddies laugh at their stupid game.

Sounds like fun lol.

Yea lol its tons. She didn't say anything else.

--

She sat on her bed, staring at the computer. Her legs were crossed and she held them close, her arms keeping herself warm. It was cold in the room. I need a heater, she thought. Her bed blankets lay just next to her within a single reach. But she didn't, forcing herself to go to the computer.

"I brought you some hot chocolate," her friend said, carrying in two mugs of a steamy liquid. "I made it myself; my mom's recipe."

"Thanks, just set it on the desk. I'm getting up in a little bit." Her friend gave a small nod and grin and walked the hot drink to the desk. "You didn't have to," she said.

Her friend shrugged. "You look like you needed something a little closer to home." She said no more. With a quick turn of the heels, she was out of the room pulling the door shut behind her.

Still she sat staring, wondering what to do. If I get up, she debated, I'm going to talk. I'm going to say something.

She got up.

In a few small steps she was sitting at her desk, fingers sitting patiently on the keyboard, waiting for her mind to move them. Why can't I do it, she frowned.

Instead, she grabbed the slowly cooling drink sitting just in her reach. She blew on the steaming cup and took a drink. It instantly filled her with confidence; the endurance she needed to say something. She held the drink with her left hand and moved the mouse to his screen name. He was on.

She double clicked the name. Slowly the conversation box opened. I'm still set to appear offline, she said. He won't know I'm on. For a few minutes, she did nothing. Instead, she sipped her hot chocolate mindlessly as she debated her own choice.

Finally she typed those words. The words you see almost every conversation. Hey

There was a moment's hesitation. He's not going to say something, she thought. Hey wats up, was his reply. Nothin much. How bout you? She said back. That was stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Same. Just sittin in my room listenin to my buddies laugh at their stupid game. What a guy, she thought. Do they do anything besides play those stupid games?

Sounds like fun lol.

Yea lol its tons.

She stopped.

Maybe she expected him to carry the conversation on. Maybe she was supposed to say something next. Maybe no one said anything. There were no rules to instant messaging were there?

--

So I wrote this. In like 30 minutes… eating popcorn and drinking… HOT CHOCOLATE! Yes. Amazing you got something outta me? Damn straight.

I dunno where this is going. Just something completely random that popped outta my head. So we'll see shall we? I felt inspired. Its been a few years… yes years… since I updated something. I thought I should keep ya'll informed.

Hopefully not too many of you have died yet…. So… yea… byes

-chibi-inuyasha-girl (is that still my name even?!)