October 13

7:20 P.M.

For the first time in a while, Charlize just couldn't focus on her math homework. The numbers and symbols that usually enveloped her brain just appeared as a blur. She shut her textbook.

Although it was only a quarter past seven in the evening, she yawned and stretched her hands towards the ceiling. Charlize inadvertently glanced sideways at her cell phone, and quickly looked away. She knew better than to hope for a call from her "therapist". After all, it was about five in the morning in India, not that she had checked or anything. He was probably not even thinking about her, and for some reason, that made her feel a little bit empty inside.

She curled up on the futon in her dorm room and cracked open the ridiculous prank book that her mystery boy had given her. On a night like tonight, when she was feeling a little bit lonelier than usual, the book provided some level of comfort. Ariana, her ever-sociable roommate, had left for a party in a neighboring dorm, leaving Charlize alone with her books. She didn't mind that at all.

She inspected the cover and almost cringed as she noticed the dog-eared pages and the handwriting in the margins; the book was obviously far from new, and as someone who liked to keep her literature in pristine condition, Charlize didn't quite appreciate the appearance. 

Nevertheless, she opened the book to the first chapter, and read the first few lines:

Q: What does a nosy pepper do?

A: Get jalapeno business!

For some reason, Charlize thought that was the funniest thing she had ever seen, and she burst into laughter. 

And after a week like the one she had, it felt really good to laugh. 

***

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks so much for 10K! You guys are the best <3