the beauty of it

There was something familiar about his face. But it was late, and Candy couldn't think straight. She was so tired.  Even getting out of her ex-roommate's place was a struggle. He didn't want her to go during the holidays. Yet, it was now or never she thought. When the manager said she could have the keys to the place, Candy went with it.

"I live here," he said and introduced himself. He offered to help her with the boxes. He went to the university too. He was only a freshman. It was like looking at a fish out of water. He was doe-eyed yet a wee bit hipster.

He took the elevator with her and carried the boxes to the apartment. He was grinning.

She looked at him a bit bug-eyed, wondering if she'd been wrong about him.

"Um, I promise I'm not a stalker." Simon confessed she lived on his floor. "If, if there is anything you need." He was in 217 only a few doors down.

She nodded, letting him into the bare bones of the apartment.

"Do you have a bed?" He wanted to know.

"Not yet." She'd never had her own bed. "I've got a sleeping bag." She shrugged. She told him about moving around a lot as a kid. Her father liked to camp. She didn't mind roughing it.

Simon nodded. "If..if you need anything, let me know, OK. I would even help you find a bed." He looked around at the open spaces. "Even furniture."

Candy couldn't help but crack a smile. "I'm a minimalist by nature." She assured him.

Simon smiled back with his hands in the back pockets of his skinny jeans. "If you say so."

It would definitely be a cold night ahead. But she had her electric kettle and packets of hot chocolate.