"You look like you could use some coffee."
I yelped and almost dropped my tray as Alex came up next to me carrying two paper cups.
Victoria quickly put hers down, pressing a hand to her chest. "You scared the crap out of us!"
"Sorry," Alex said, sapphire eyes glinting with amusement. "I brought one for you, too." He held up the coffees.
"I forgive you," Victoria exclaimed. "Were you watching for us?"
"Maybe a little." He smiled. "Hope that's okay."
"The coffee makes up for it," she replied.
I managed to get my heart to stop racing long enough to find a place to sit. Victoria and Alex joined me, and he slid the two coffees over.
"I hope you like lattes, Victoria. I didn't know, so I just got two of the same."
"Right now, I'd drink coffee grounds, but yes, I like lattes. Thank you, Alex."
I nodded and clutched the cup like the lifeline to an unfogged brain that it was. I didn't know why I felt so tired. I didn't remember waking up at all last night, or sleeping lightly.
Not really willing to spend much time trying to figure it out, I sipped the coffee and hoped no one would expect me to speak coherently for a few more minutes.
"Sofia!" Ed's eager and cheerful voice broke through the fog, and I glanced up from the steam coming out of my cup.
"Morning, Ed," I mumbled.
"Are you okay?" He grabbed the other free seat at our table.
"Yeah, just tired."
"Hi, Victoria," he said after a moment.
"Oh, you did notice me here," she teased.
"Of course. You didn't look like a zombie, though. Alex, right?" Ed's voice went neutral when he greeted the other guy.
"Yes, good morning." Alex said flatly.
I was too tired to try and sort out why, though the caffeine was slowly cutting through the fogbank.
"Are you free later, Sofia?" Ed asked.
"She and Victoria are going dancing with me later," Alex replied before I could.
I could feel Ed's eyes on me, and I glanced up, trying to actually engage in the conversation. His sky-blue eyes darkened, and his expression fell.
"Victoria is in charge of my social life." I grinned. "You have to schedule in advance with her."
Ed's eyebrows rose, and he glanced over at my roommate.
I caught a hint of outrage in her expression before she laughed. "I scheduled this weekend."
"Ahh." That eased whatever conflict he felt. "Well, I'm claiming her next weekend."
"Both days?" Victoria asked.
"Yes."
All three of them looked at me, and I stared back wide-eyed. "Okay?" I took a sip of coffee.
"Well, I'll note it on Sofia's social calendar then." Victoria pulled out her phone.
I snorted, finally catching up to the fact that this conversation was actually happening.
"Then I'm claiming Friday night," Alex stated.
"Victoria and I have a standing pizza engagement," I replied.
"Have an early dinner, and I'll take you out after," he insisted.
I glanced at Victoria, and she shrugged.
"Okay, I guess put that on my calendar, too."
She sputtered, and I managed to laugh. "I think you started it." I grinned at her, and she just shook her head.
Alex looked less than pleased when I snuck a glance at him and Ed. Ed studied Alex with an appraising look. Or maybe it was a predator trying to decide if the thing he studied was another predator or prey.
"Where's Allan?" I looked around. They were nearly always together.
"He's helping Doc with something. What are you up to until you go out with Alex later?"
"Uh." I glanced at Victoria who just held up her hands. "I really don't know. I might get ahead on some reading."
"Good idea." He leaned back in his chair, apparently not intending to go anywhere.
Alex glared at him, but Ed stared at his phone, acting oblivious.
I laughed and focused on my food, now that the latte had cleared most of the fog from my brain.
A phone chimed, and Alex frowned at his. "I need to get going. I'll meet you at your dorm around three."
"Thanks, Alex. And thank you for the latte." I smiled at him, and he grinned back, his eyes lighting up.
He ignored Ed, said goodbye to Victoria, and left.
Once I finished shoveling food in my mouth, I studied Ed. He still stared at his phone, though I suspected he was paying more attention to what was going on around us than whatever was on his screen.
"I'm going to go back to the dorm and work on stuff there," Victoria said. "I'll see you back there."
"We'll walk you." Ed stood.
I did the same, and we returned our trays and headed back to the dorm, Ed in tow.
"Hey, I hope I didn't make you mad saying you were in charge of my schedule," I said. "I was in such a brain fog, it just kind of slipped out."
Victoria laughed. "No, not at all. It's going to be tough to coordinate ourselves, though, if we can't go anywhere alone."
"During the day, you should both be fine. Especially on campus," Ed interjected. "I'm more worried about the evenings."
"That won't be as hard to figure out," I replied.
"If you're not worried about us during the day, why are you here?" Victoria asked when we reached our dorm.
Ed smiled. "Because I don't like Alex."
"Feeling seems to be mutual." Victoria laughed. "I'll see you both later."
She went inside before I could come up with a reply.
Ed held out his hand, and after a moment's hesitation, I slid my hand into his. I was sort of used to him just taking my hand, and it surprised me that he asked this time. There was no Doc here to hand me off to, and he kept my hand clasped tightly in his. My heart sped up a little as our arms brushed.
"Where are we going?" I hadn't consciously decided to go with Ed instead of Victoria, but when she had basically assumed I would, I hadn't really fought the idea, either. Why would I? He was nice. He knew my secret, and I really wasn't ready to wander around campus by myself after last night.
"Library."
Though
