I arrive just a couple of minutes late for my first class, but the fast pace of my walk left me out of breath. The professor turns an ugly look my way, but doesn't say anything, proceeding with the class as if nothing changed. I stay put in my usual chair in the last row, trying to get my mind to focus in the monotonic voice of the lecturer; the hour drags slowly, as I write down the notes on the tablet that always accompanies me to class. But I feel wound up, this morning's event steeling my concentration. Olivia should be more careful about who she brings home for her play nights; one day we're gonna wake up to find the house empty of everything that has some value. Sure it's not a lot, but we do have a nice TV and then there's our laptops that often spend the night on the coffee table in the living room.

When the hour ends I leave the room, joining my classmates by the door, calmly waiting for the flow of bodies to diminish; I have a free period next. Usually I use that time to go to the library and go over the last class, but today I don't feel like it. So instead I go to the bar and sit quietly on one of the tables that's further from the cashier and, thus, also from the big cluster of students.

However, I don't stay still for long and my brain is censoring me for spending an entire hour doing nothing but look at other people. I search my bag again for my helpful little gadget and my hand brushes on the thermos, which is still full since I didn't even have the time to get some coffee. That realization makes my head pound, the lack of caffeine along with the sleep deprivation squeezing my brain next to nothing.

The scent of the strong beverage hits my nose once the cap is off and I am about to take a big gulp, but stop halfway. I look at the line of students that are waiting to be attended and quickly decide that is better to have the coffee I brought with me, after all it can't be poisoned, Cosima did drink it.

The coffee is strong with a bitter edge, just like I love it and after a few small sips I find myself drinking it with pleasure. At least I get good coffee from my roommate's escapade! When it's time to go for my next class my mind is much more alerted and the next few hours pass faster.

At the end of the day I force myself to go to the library and go over the day's classes. The silence that fills the big hall sends my spirit to rest, this is my world, where I feel more comfortable. I'm totally immersed on the large textbook in front of me, my eyes travel between it and the notes next to it. I scribble something on the notepad.

"Hey'a sexy, wonna make out behind the bookshelves?" Someone whispers next to my ear.

I'm startled and it causes me to cross a big line over my notes. I turn and face the same annoying grin from this morning, but now her eyes are hidden behind big spectacles. "What are you doing here?"

She moves around the table and sits in front of me without asking permission. "That doesn't answer my question!" Cosima says, the smile always on her lips.

And now I'm really pissed, not only is this girl half the reason for me not to be able to sleep last night, she also managed to ruin my morning and now she invades my world. I chose to ignore her, returning my attention to my notes, but I can't concentrate, I feel her eyes piercing me, making me too selfaware. I sign deeply, so my voice won't rise over the acceptable levels for the place we are in. "Do you have to be here? There are plenty of free tables."

"Yeah, but you're not in them, frenchie." She answers, leaning forward over the table.

"So, you're on a mission to piss me off!" I turn a page on the textbook, even though I'm nowhere near finished reviewing that page, but I just need to do something with my eyes to avoid her stare. "And don't call me that!"

"It's either frenchie or blondie," she raises two fingers in front of my face "you chose."

"I thought you got all the information you need from Olivia." I point out.

She scoffs. "I did, but I rather this much more." She finishes the sentence with a wink.

I hum and refocus my eyes on the book, I shouldn't be turning red, but the blush is fast escalating to my face. Cosima remains still, but I feel her gaze, the little hairs on the back of my neck rise, as if they're liking the attention. But I'm not, I'm absolutely not liking the attention her stare is giving me; I need to study and I just can't with her here.

I'm about to voice my protest when Mrs. Croft, the library's guardian, as she's affectionately known among the students, reaches our table with the arms filled with large textbooks.

"Here you go, Cosima." She places the books in front of the little brunette. "Just be sure to return them Monday, okay?"

"Sure, G, no problem!" Cosima stands and wraps her arms around the big stack of books.

I watch Mrs. Croft leave with a small smile on her face and Cosima giving her a wide grin. Not until now I notice that she has dreads on her hair. "You go here?" I ask suspiciously.

"Don't sound so surprised, I might get offended." She says, her eyes on me again, the playful expression never leaves her face.

"No, I just never saw you, that's it!" I try to explain.

"No wonder, you always have your nose stuck in a book." She starts to walk away.

I find myself watching her leave and feel a weird bang on my chest to which I pay no attention. I manage to stay until is almost eight, even if my study hours are not as productive as they usually are.

As I leave the library I wave my goodbye's to Mrs. Croft, who has a cryptic smile on her lips, as if she knows a secret that she won't share.

I arrive at my place to find Olivia's slender body drapped on the couch, remote in hand, zapping the TV's channels. I say "hi", but move fast to my bedroom, getting my things ready for the shower.

It's not until we're seated at the kitchen table, having dinner, that I gather the courage to ask my roommate. "What have you told Cosima about me?"

Olivia looks confused. "You've met her?" She asks, her fork halfway to her mouth.

"Yeah, this morning. She hasn't told you?" And now it's my turn to be confused.

"No! We've hardly talked this morning, she was in a hurry to get to class." Olivia's clear green eyes are staring at me behind the glass that's stuck to her lips.

"I saw her at the library in the afternoon." I say between bites.

"Really? Does she go there?" My roommate asks with a raised brow.

"You ask me? You're the one who brought her home last night!" I look at Olivia annoyed.

She just snorts. "We didn't talk much..." She simply answers.

I can't believe my roommate's lack of judgment. "Okay, so what do you know about her?" I ask, trying to get the big picture.

Olivia starts to raise fingers as she talks. "I know her name is Cosima. I know she's hot. I know she has magical fingers and a wonderful tongue."

I blush, but I'm used to my roommate's casual approach to her sex life. "I know! I heard!"

"Yeah?" I nod. "Girl, I'm sorry, but…" She laughs loud. "What am I saying? I'm not even a little bit sorry. Tough you caught the bad end of it."

"Yeah, thanks for the solidarity." I say sarcastically.

I'm on the couch typing fast on the computer, if I don't start working hard on my thesis I'll never meet the deadline to apply to the PhD program. Olivia enters my sight, she's getting ready to leave for another night out.

"Do you want to come?" She asks with a smile, this is a typical joke between us. Olivia knows very well I'm not going out. Unless is a special occasion I usually don't. "C'mon Del, is Friday night! You need to get out and have some fun." She tries, she always does.

"You know I can't. I'm so lost with my thesis, I don't even know what I'm going to write about." I complain.

"I thought you were already decided." She sits next to me and points at my computer's screen. "If you don't know what is it, what are you writing?"

"Just playing with some ideas…" I scroll the mouse, making the screen show page after page of words, I get angry and shut the lid. "If only I could settle for something!"

Olivia gets to her feet again and grabs my arm, starting to pull me, trying to get me up. "Let's go, Delphine! I promise you'll have fun!"

But I don't budge. "I don't see how that could happen, remember when you brought all your friends to dinner here? Well, that was a disaster."

"That's because you didn't make an effort to be nice." She stops pushing. "But fine, I know they can be a handful." She was grabbing her purse. "You can talk with Cosima, find more stuff about her."

"I don't want to find more stuff about her, she's obnoxious. All I want from her is distance." I bitterly say.

"Too bad, 'cause, if I'm lucky, she's gonna spend over another night." She winks and gets out the door.

Even when my eyes are screaming for rest I force myself to stay up, fumbling with ideas, but no light sparkles in my mind. As the night progresses I get more and more upset. I need to find something so I can start working on it and get my dissertation moving or I'll be in hot water.

It's almost three in the morning when I hear voices outside the door, then keys jingle and shortly after I hear them fall to the ground and a loud. "Oh, fuck!", then giggles. After some time they are turning in the lock.

Olivia enters and a small figure follows suit. Their eyes are bloodshot, it's clear the two women are not in possession of their entire capabilities. My roommate goes to the kitchen without looking at me. I think she hasn't realized I'm still up and seated in the couch, on the same place I was when she left. But Cosima stays by the door and looks at me with her, apparently, typical grin.

I turn my eyes to the computer and restart to type. The brunette walks a little closer and when I say nothing, she sits by my side. I can smell the alcohol in her breath and the distinguish scent of pot, which I became familiar with since Olivia and I moved in together. "What are you working on?" She asks, her voice is raw and she clears it.

I half-close the lid of my laptop, preventing her from seeing what's on the screen. "None of your business!" I say, turning my head to face her stare.

"Jeez, what rubbed you the wrong way?" For the first time since we met, she acknowledges my not so nice mood around her.

"You did…" I mumble, looking away.

Cosima says nothing and I'm glad that for the first time I manage to give her an answer which she has no comeback to. My eyes go to her again so I can glow over the achievement. But when I see her face, my heart sinks: Cosima's smile is gone and in its place a straight line on her lips, her brows arched and her eyes show something that resembles hurt just a little too much.

"Oh crap, Delphine, I didn't know you were still up." The voice of my roommate distracts me to another place in the living room.

She's standing by the kitchen door, two beers in hand. "Yeah, I was trying to get some work done." I reply.

"Did you?" She moves closer and hands Cosima one of the beers.

"Not really." I shut my computer's top all the way and place it on the table in front of the couch. "I think I need some sleep. Good night." I get up and start to walk to my bedroom's door.

I glance back and see Olivia pushing Cosima's arm, making her get up. The smile reappearing in the small girl's lips. "C'mon Cos!" Olivia encourages, pushing Cosima to her bedroom.

Before I close the door to my bedroom behind me, I can hear them chuckle and the door closing roughly.