Nate was sitting in his room, typing on his computer when he heard the knock at his door. He smiled, went to the door and opened it to find Amanda standing there, looking slightly uncertain, and holding a couple of CD's.

"A vision of beauty doth appear at my door," He greeted her, ostentatiously. He waved her into the room, "Come in milady."

Amanda smiled, with a touch of embarrassment, and came hesitantly into the room. She handed him the CD's, "I brought the Rachmaninoff." She was looking around the room, still slightly anxious.

"If you're looking for secret files, I've hidden all my dossiers," Nate said with a laugh.

"No," Amanda said defensively, "It's just that the last time I was in here was pretty frightening. It's strange to be back in here again." She shook her head and mused, "I never thought I would be."

"I didn't think you would be either," Nate confessed. "But, I'm very glad you are. I want you to be comfortable." He waved his hand around, indicating the room, "I'll rearrange my furniture if it will help."

Amanda smiled, mildly flattered, "I'll be fine. It was just for a moment."

"Can I go and get you a soda?" Nate asked. "The machine is just down the hall."

"I remember," Amanda said. "That would be nice."

Nate left the room. Amanda carefully sat in his chair not touching anything on his desk until he returned with their sodas. He sat down on the bed and they opened their sodas and started drinking them.

Amanda looked around his room thoughtfully, "Are all the rooms like this?"

"This is a single," Nate said. "Most of them are doubles. I keep pretty strange hours and I'm not really good with roommates." He smiled wryly, "I'm not so good with people in general." He shrugged, "I'm trying to do better."

"I was just trying to imagine what my room will be like next year," Amanda said. "It's starting to feel real. Graduation's coming up next month."

"So you're not going to try to commute?" Nate asked.

"I'll be glad to get away from my mother as soon as I can," Amanda proclaimed. "My scholarship includes room and board so I can afford to stay on campus."

Nate smiled, "I'm surprised she let you come here tonight."

"I'm not here," Amanda laughed, "I'm off 'studying' at a friend's house."

"So you're being naughty," Nate said, raising an eyebrow.

Amanda blushed, "Only a little. I wanted to listen to Rachmaninoff with you."

"Well, then let's start the music," Nate said, "I have a good sound card and speakers so I just use my computer for music. Put the disk in the drive. What are we going to listen to first?"

"I thought I would start with his Piano Concerto Number Two," Amanda explained. "This is an old recording, the sound quality is somewhat flawed but it's Rachmaninoff, himself, at the piano."

She loaded the CD and the player loaded. She picked the track and in a moment the simple repetitive piano sequence started and began to build.

Nate lay back on his bed, obviously leaving half of the bed available. Amanda looked hesitant and then lay gingerly down next to him, carefully not touching. They lay side by side, listening to the rich, romantic music. As the concerto progressed, Amanda began to relax and not be as stiff. By the end, she was resting up against him.

After about a half an hour, the concerto came to an end and Amanda got up to select the next piece.

"What are we going to hear now?" Nate asked.

"Probably his most played work," Amanda said, "'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' there are twenty four variations, the eighteenth is probably the most recognizable."

She started the piece and then rejoined him on the bed, this time he was bolder and held his arm out to put around her. She smiled and only hesitated slightly before lying back down with his arm around her and snuggling against him. As the variations progressed, she was more comfortably lying against his shoulder.

When the eighteenth variation began he rolled onto his side and looked at her and they smiled at each other, the well known romantic theme inspired him to reach over with his free arm and stroke her hair. He leaned over and they gently kissed. He smiled at her and lay back down to listen.

When the final variation finished, Amanda reluctantly sat up, "This is really nice, but I'm going to have to go home now. If I don't my mother will be calling my friends to check on me." She leaned over and kissed him, "We'll have to do this again soon. I can leave the disks here for next time." She got up and took another drink from the soda she had set down on his desk when the music started.

"I'd like that," Nate said. He got up as well. He walked her to the door and reached to open it. She interrupted him by putting her arms around him and giving him an enthusiastic kiss. He was slightly surprised.

"That's for not pushing," Amanda explained. "Being alone with Charlie was sometimes a wrestling match."

"I want you to feel comfortable here," Nate said. "I want you to come back."

"I want to come back too," Amanda agreed. She kissed him once more, gently and then opened the door and left, saying "Good night, Nate."

Nate closed the door, heaved a deep sigh, and observed, "It's a long term project."