Chapter Three
Nearly three hours had passed by in what to Serenity and Parker seemed like only seconds. Her out spoken question had broken the ice between them to where they were both lightening up. They had talked of simple things, like books, movies, poetry, favorite colours, the easy topics. Nothing was spoken yet of family or pasts, nothing hard.
Serenity glances up finally taking note of the time as Phil and the girls are busy cleaning things up and taking care of normal closing procedures. She looks at Parker again having finished her second and even her third chai, which she knew was going to keep her up half the night now. She didn't care as she smiles sweetly in that shy manner of hers. She had still forgotten to remove her glasses from the first moment she had walked in the door. " I think they're trying to close on us you know. It's getting late… I should probably get back to the dorm, I can't miss curfew. My RA is not exactly the nicest guy in the world. " She offers a lopsided smile as she finally pulls her hand from his grabbing her book into her other hand and standing to her feet. She looks towards Phil and the girls, " Thank you. It was a pleasure meeting all of you. " A shy smile gracing her gentle features.
He stands as she does, grabbing his coat from the back of the bench and waving good night to Phil and the girls. " Can I walk you home, Serenity? " He asks her softly. " It's the least I can do after keeping you out so late. " He offers her his coat knowing how cold it is outside at this hour.
She turns her back to him letting him put his coat over her shoulders then turns back to face him taking his hand into hers as they leave the café. " I live in the West Hall. " She offers as they make their way back towards the campus.
He smiles with surprise, " Me too! Are you on second floor then? " He easily matches strides with her. Upon entering the hall, Matt his RA, calls him over. " I need to go see what he wants. " He sighs rolling his eyes slightly. " I'll see you tomorrow all right? " He asks not bothering to ask for his coat back, the Hall was always cold so he would get it back later. " Good night Serenity. " He waves softly to her as she nods in agreement before finally walking over to see what Matt wants.
She smiles softly, rather happy at having finally made an actual friend in this large and sometimes overwhelming place. She heads up to her room on the second floor, room 217. Which she had of course told him in their walk to the dorms. She steps into her dorm room closing the door behind her and setting his coat carefully on the chair in front of her computer desk. She brushes her index fingertip over the pad on her laptop to activate the monitor and take it out of sleep mode. The computer generated voice calls out " You've Got Mail. " the very instant it leaves sleep mode. She shakes her head sitting down at the desk and opens the letter she knew would be from Annette. She reads it quickly then begins to type her response, she knew this would kill the rest of her night easily, and tomorrow, was a brand new day.
