Shriyasi knocked on Alex’s door at eight in the morning, on an October Saturday. It was chilly. She knocked again and thought about ringing the doorbell. She was about to knock a third time, but Alex’s mom finally opened the door.
“Not you,” she said, bleary eyed, smiling, and pajama-wearing.
“Hey Ms. Brooks. Is Alex here?”
Ms. Brooks was too tired to joke about how early it was. “Right upstairs, honey. He is probably still asleep, but-.”
“Yeah, thanks Ms. Brooks.”
“But just come on in!”
Shriyasi had entered confidently and headed for the stairs.
Alex’s door flew open and Shriyasi came in. She looked at his sleeping figure for awhile- just stood there. His chest rose and fell steadily. Then she realized how cold it was and saw that his window was open, kneeled on his bed to reach across, and closed it.
Alex shifted in his sleep. Shriyasi smiled and got under his blankets with him. She closed her eyes for a second and breathed in his boyish, shampooey smell. Then she bit the back of his neck a little. He wiped her mouth away with a sleeping arm. She reached around his torso and poked his ribs.
Alex coming awake was funny. He snorted and thrashed almost violently and then groaned a long groan.
“Mornin’, buddy.”
“What the hellll? How did you get into my bed?”
“Walked.”
She put her thumbs in front of his earlobes, felt his scratchy stubble, and kissed his fun little lips.
“Hey,” he said.
“Your breath is terrible.”
“Is it already eight-thirty?”
“It’s nine. Get up! Breakfast, man!”
He stretched. “Murrr.”
“Get up.” She tapped his sternum.
He took her waist and she let herself fall on him. Then she pushed away his kisses until he fell off the bed.
“Go brush your teeth, dude. Quiero comer.”
He took in a breath, rubbed his eyes and complained with a drawn out noise of some kind.
She lingered in the bathroom while he brushed his teeth, playing with her hair a little and then smoothing out his.
After getting coffee and muffins, they walked along Grand Avenue in the cold. A pair of hipster guys walked past them. “Gay or just friends?”
Alex contemplated. “I’m really bad at telling.” And then, “Maybe they’re both.”
“I don’t know. Definitely sensed a spark there.”
There was a little silence.
“What’re you thinking about?”
“How you were literally in my bed when I woke up. Pretty weird. You?”
“I don’t know.”
“Tell me.”
“Honestly? Zane.”
Alex nodded.
“We’re hanging out today. I don’t know what to expect.”
Alex kinda smiled. “Well…”
