Home for the Holiday
It was a Wednesday evening and Mick was sitting in the food court grabbing a bite and going over the progress of his English Literature term paper. Over two weeks had passed since he had gone on his research mission and had his unexpected encounter with Julie Martin at the public library in Denver. The experience however had already begun to drift from his mind but not because it had been some meaningless liaison, but because it had become rather common for Mick to have visitors in his private shower on any given day. In addition, some of the girls in the dorm were knocking on his door and offering to trade favors for a trip to the package store. Except for his English Lit class, things in Mick's life were going pretty well.
Mick took a bite of his burrito and continued reading through his notes. As he consumed the mouthful of carne asada deliciousness he held up his dinner choice and looked at it saying, "That's a good burrito!" "The Hacienda kiosk also does a really awesome breakfast burrito," said a voice in front of him. Mick looked up to see Kimberly leaning on the back of an empty chair at his table. "Have you had one of those yet?" she asked.
Mick instantly recognized the attractive girl from his first week of living in Bradley Hall when they were all roused out of bed for the early morning fire alarm and he lent her his robe to keep warm while they were outside. Mick had not had the pleasure of crossing paths with her since that encounter. "Can't say I have unfortunately, but thanks for the heads-up," he responded.
The young lady started in, "My name is--," "Kimberly!" Mick interjected, "I remember you, certainly." She smiled in response as Mick gestured for her to join him at the table. "I haven't seen you since that night," he said before quipping, "Hopefully you have been keeping warm since last time I saw you."
"Actually," Kimberly replied with a laugh, "Now I know why they are re-doing the old dorms. Mick looked at her with puzzled look as she continued. "My room is so cold I may as well be sleeping outside," she remarked with a tone of disgust.
"GOTCHA!" someone squawked as Mick felt the poke of someone's fingers in both his sides, but he quickly recognized the voice coming from behind him as Abigail's. Nonetheless, she did indeed startle him and cause him to jump slightly. Mick could see Kimberly laugh as Abby came around into his view. "Can I still join you?" Abigail asked. "No," he stated sternly as Abby sat down regardless.
Kimberly and Abby traded hellos with each other in a seemingly familiar manner. "You two know each other?" asked Mick.
"Kimberly and I are on the student association together... You know," she continued, "the party you skipped out on?" Mick flung his head back and sighed while looking up at the ceiling. "She's never going to let it go," he thought. "Nope," said Abby out of the blue, seemingly with the ability to read her friend's mind.
"So what was the conversation before I interrupted?" inquired Abby.
"I was telling Mick how bad my room sucks," offered Kimberly. "I'm hoping while people are away for Thanksgiving and winter holiday I can squat in someone's room where the heat actually works and the windows don't leak, because I'm not going anywhere," she remarked. "Well hands off my room," replied Mick. "It will be occupied over Thanksgiving and winter break.
"That reminds me!" exclaimed Abby. "I wanted to talk to you about your plans for Thanksgiving break next week."
"Yeah, ok," said Mick apprehensively. "Where is your conjoined twin tonight by the way, if I could ask?" he said facetiously.
Abby replied with a terse tone to her voice, "Zoe is in her Woman's Studies support group."
"Like I'm supposed to know that?" Mick replied.
"Okay then," Kimberly interrupted, "I actually have to get to my own study group and just wanted to say hi to you, Mick." He thanked her for taking the time to say hello. See you both later," said Kimberly before waving and walking away.
"That was rude," Abby threw at Mick.
"You're right," he retorted, "Apologize to her the next time you see her."
"Keep it up buddy, and I'm going to think twice about inviting you to my parents for Thanksgiving," she said. "Whoa, hey," he replied, "Let me save you the trouble."
Mick told his dorm mate that he really appreciated her and her family wanting to include him in their holiday plans, but Mick respectfully declined." Abby asked, "You already have some plans I take it? Are you going home?"
"Bwaaah! No way!" Mick erupted, "Just staying in the dorm and buckling down for my English Lit term paper and finals."
"That is why you need to come with us," she replied, "because I won't be here at school to help you."
"I noticed you said we," Mick observed sounding leery. "I take that to mean Jimmy and Zoe are also going?" he asked. When Abby answered she didn't look happy.
"No to Jimmy, yes to Zoe.," she told him. Abby did not volunteer and more information and after a few uncomfortable seconds Mick tried to prod her by saying "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it with me."
"He decided to go snowboarding with his friends!" she snapped in a raised voice sounding agitated. Mick started to say jokingly, "So I get to be second fiddle?" but he did not want to risk upsetting her any further.
"It is fine," said a perturbed Abby, "I just thought it might be nice to invite my friends to spend the holiday with me at my home, show them around, especially if they had no other plans for Thanksgiving... Obviously that was a stupid idea".
Mick let out a very deep breath and said, "Well... um... uh, let me think about it, okay?"
"Cool!" Abby exclaimed, suddenly very perky. "My mom and aunt are really great cooks," she stated before telling him further, "There is a hot tub on the deck and you'll have your own room and bathroom." Mick thought to himself, "For the most part, I have that now in the dorm already."
An energized Abby jumped up from her seat. "Eat your dinner and work on your paper. I'll talk with you more about this later," she said gleefully before turning and leaving.
A week later, Mick found himself in the backseat of Abby's car between bags of dirty laundry, wondering how he got there and why Zoe was riding shotgun instead of him. "Where are we going again and how long does it take?" asked Mick. He could see Abigail glance into the rearview mirror at him.
"East of Albuquerque and about five hours," she said. He thought himself, "That's five hours I could have spent on my paper."
"So we are about halfway," Mick stated. "Roughly," replied Abby. "Which reminds me... I wanted to talk to you guys about a few things," she said.