Untitled

for I think it’s hideous.
I drop my hand. “Yeah. That’s why I did it.”
“You know, I wouldn’t pull it back like that. You
kinda look like a skunk.”
“At least she doesn’t reek like one.” Rashmi
appears behind me. She’d been visiting Meredith; I’d
heard their muffled voices through my walls.
“Delightful perfume, Amanda. Use a little more next
time. I don’t know if they can smell you in London.”
Amanda snarls. “Nice glasses.”
“Good one,” Rashmi deadpans, but I notice she
adjusts them anyway. Her nails are electric blue, the
same shade as her frames. She turns to me. “I live two
floors up, room six-o-one, if you need anything. See
you at breakfast.”
So she doesn’t dislike me! Or maybe she just
hates Amanda more. Either way, I’m thankful, and I call
goodbye to her retreating figure. She waves a hand and
moves into the stairwell as Nate comes out of it. He
approaches us in his quiet, friendly manner.
“Going to bed soon, ladies?”
Amanda smiles sweetly. “Of course.”
“Great. Did you have a nice first day, Anna?”
It’s so peculiar how everyone here already knows
my name. “Yeah. Thanks, Nate.”
He nods as if I’ve said something worth thinking
about, and then says good night and moves on to the
guys hanging out at the other end of the hallway.
“I hate it when he does that,” Amanda says.
“Does what?”
“Check up on us. What an asshole.” The
bathroom door opens, and a tiny redhead maneuvers
Anna and the French Kiss | 50