Mary Lily bent at the waist, flipped her hair over her head, and suspended her torso in the air. She inhaled one long breath and held it tightly. It grew inside her until she pushed the air out of her in one long, "Whooosh!" She flipped her hair back up as she resumed a standing position. She stared at the hated mirror, her reflection the same as always: curling, brown hair, touching just below her shoulders and framing a round face with teal-lined eyes, curvy torso, hidden beneath a light blue, button-down shirt, and tapering legs, covered by a dark purple skirt.
"It's not gettin' any better than this," she murmured to herself. Her roommate stirred in her bed. Mary Lily hastily removed herself from her enemy, grabbed Ben and her backpack, and went out the door. She sat in the hallway and slowly put left Ben and then right Ben on her feet. Another day begins with breakfast, alone once more she thought to herself. Though it was only the second month of school, and the first week of that month, she still felt unused to eating breakfast alone.
Wide awake from Pilates that morning, she began walking briskly to her destination, the school dining hall. Sometimes she wondered if the word "din" came from dining halls. It was always too loud for her taste in the cafeteria. It made her grateful, though, at the same time because it seemed quieter than the dining building at the big state school she had wanted to attend. She continued out her dorm building door, down one diagonal sidewalk, straight for one minute, diagonal for another, and then straight for two minutes. Dining Hall on the left. She got there. 7:30am.
"Oh no, I have to occupy myself for thirty minutes. All I have is my phone and Bible!" she spoke softly to herself. She then thought to herself, I will look like such a loner or a nun. She came to her turn at the card swipe, temporarily gave up her identity, and then walked through with her card back securely in her hand. She grabbed some utensils and headed towards the far left corner of the large room. It was quieter over there. More students did homework solo at those tables. She was also more likely to be away from pitying eyes. She grabbed a table bathed in the soft autumn morning sunlight. She set down her stuff and headed towards the food.
She returned to her table with a neat plate in hand: scrambled eggs, fruit, and peanut butter toast. In her other hand she carried a cup of coffee. She sat at her table, prayed softly to bless her food and ask God for a friend that morning, and then opened her eyes. That was a mistake.
There he was. Andrew Pagliuca. Walking in with his floor buddies, he looked like the ideal college boy: classic Sperries, well-fitted khaki slacks, black sweater (probably from vineyard vines), perfectly coifed black hair, and clean shaven face with the most startling blue eyes practically glowing against his light brown skin . His warm smile flashed to people he passed. He was an "it" guy. Sure, he was a little on the short side, but he oozed perfect. It wasn't the first time he had showed up to breakfast at the same time as her. They both attended the church on the corner, but they never spoke, except for a quick hello. He always sat with the guys, just like he did for breakfast. His gaze traveled towards her table. Mary Lily quickly averted her gaze. What if he caught me staring??
He and his friends sat at a table about 50 feet from her. His back was to her when she looked up again, but she decided she needed to stop. She contemplated whether she would be a nun or a loner today. She decided nun would be more accepted in a place where everything was about looking like you weren't alone. She quickly pulled out her Bible to read her daily dose of "God loves you, even if it feels like you don't have friends yet" reminder from the Word. Soon she was absorbed in Romans. Suddenly, in the middle of Paul telling her she didn't need to be ashamed of God, a plate landed on her table. Startled she looked up. Bad idea again. She was staring into Andrew's gorgeous blue eyes and smiling face. Her breath caught and she blushed. Maaaaryyyy, stahp it! Control yourself! Ben started rubbing together like cricket wings on a humid, southern summer night and tapping patterns on the floor. They expressed her anxiety better than anyone.
"Can I join you? Unless you want to be alone, that is," Andrew asked quietly. Dreamy.
"Ye..." she coughed, "yeah. Yeah, sure. I'm used to eating alone, it's nice quiet but please, sit. Unless you feel bad for me, in which case, you'll have more fun eating with your friends than with someone you pity," she responded. I responded. Did I really just respond like that? Oh my gosh, I accused him of pitying me. He's going to leave because he's so honest. Ohhhh nooo, Maaaaryyyy!
Andrew laughed, loudly, and said, "You're honest. No, I really want to sit with you. Let me go grab my stuff." He went to grab his stuff. His friends made knowing faces and teased him. He just smiled and came to sit back down.
Before Mary Lily knew it, she was eating breakfast with Andrew Pagliuca and hearing him talk about his family, the conservatory, and making general small talk. Ben slowly stopped tapping their patterns and then stopped moving altogether. Suddenly it was 7:55.
"Hey Andrew, don't you have class?" asked Mary Lily.
"Oh yeah, what time is it?" he questioned in return.
"7:55."
"Oh no! Mary Lily, you made me forget time altogether. We should do this again sometime," he said, and with that, he stood up, grabbed her stacked dishes, and put on his jacket. He stood there for a second. "Aren't you coming?" he asked, confused because he knew she had class too.
Mary Lily sat, taken aback. Andrew had eaten breakfast with her, asked to hang out again, and now he was waiting to walk out with her. Her Wednesday couldn't get any better. Ben popped her to her feet and she found herself staring at her trusty shoes thinking, What friendship did I just get myself into?
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