The wind wafted through the open window of the front room, inviting the smell of autumn leaves. The smell mingled with the aroma of fresh baked cookies and the sharp tang of nail polish. Tracy sat on the floor against the wall opposite Hannah. All of Hannah’s biology books were spread out on the couch as she attempted to finish up her presentation.

“Why haven’t you gone out with him again?” Tracy painted her nails one at a time. She leaned in toward her nails, chewing on her tongue in utter concentration.

“I don’t know. We just didn’t really hit it off.” Hannah stared at her textbook, avoiding eye contact with Tracy. She didn’t want to share the real reason with her roommate why she didn’t want to see him again. She had read the same paragraph three times and still had no idea what it said. Her right hand absently stroked Ginny’s head, as the dog lay next to her, asleep.

“If you didn’t hit it off, why do you keep bringing him up?”

“I didn’t bring him up!” Her voice rose an octave and she let out an exasperated sigh. She paused from her studies and glared across the room.

“Yes, you did. You said you had to get that homework done for class tomorrow, and you wished your group did more work. Then you said Simon hadn’t been to your group meeting. You brought him up.”

Hannah chewed on the end of her pencil. It was a gross habit she had picked up in the third grade, but one she rarely noticed.

“I guess I did.” She sighed.

Her roommate swiped on another coat as she chuckled a bit. “I think you like him.”

“I do not!” She sounded to herself like a little girl with a crush on the handsome boy at school. Her cheeks felt warm and she pretended to be engrossed in the textbook she still couldn’t focus on.

Tracy seemed to ignore Hannah’s childish outburst and take it in stride. She opened a clear coat for her nails and began application. “Well, I think you need to call him up. You said that he liked you. And I know you, Hannah. You probably sent off some bad vibes. He probably thinks you hate him.”

“I don’t hate him,” she said quietly. Tracy did have a point. She tended to make people think they irritated her or she didn’t like them, even if the opposite were true. Tracy herself had told her the first week of school that she thought Hannah hated her. Tracy wasn’t one to let conventional social protocol get in the way of anything.

“Well, then let him know,” Tracy finished her top coat and blew on the nails to dry them faster.

Tracy snapped a picture of her nails, and a few minutes later Hannah’s phone dinged. She checked and it was an update from Tracy on Instagram. She had just posted a picture of her completed manicure.

“How am I supposed to do that?” Hannah “liked” the post before turning the screen back off and back to Tracy. She had abandoned her textbook altogether. It was a waste of time to try and study right now.

“Try texting him. Tell him you need some help or something.”

“But I don’t need help. He might be the assistant professor, but he isn’t half as good as I am.”

Tracy snickered and Hannah realized a moment too late that her comment probably sounded slightly overconfident or conceited.

“Well, he doesn’t need to know that. Men want to feel needed.”

Hannah wasn’t sure if Tracy was right, but Simon hadn’t reached out to her since the date and she was pretty sure it was because of how she reacted when he had brushed her hair out of her face. That tender moment had been so disarming.

Hannah had felt intensely vulnerable in that second and she didn’t like it. He stirred up feelings within her that made her nervous. Feelings that she hadn’t experienced before.

She felt bad for the way she reacted and thought perhaps she could make it up to him. He seemed like such a nice guy and he probably thought she hated him. She should make this right. Then perhaps she would stop thinking about him.

I know what this is! I feel bad for hurting his feelings. That’s why I can’t get him out of my mind. All she needed to do was make this right. Tracy’s idea to make him feel needed was absolutely perfect. Then she could apologize for her reaction and finally move on.

Hey, can you help me with the group project? I can’t seem to get my part right.

Hannah put her phone in her pocket and began to plan what she was doing next, to work on her project. She had barely organized her thoughts before her phone tweeted.

Sure. Can I come by?

She didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t planned for this kind of response.

“Tracy!” she yelled, even though she was sitting right next to her. “He wants to come over… What do I do?”

Tracy flashed a grin at Hannah. “Well, let's get you something cute to wear.”

* * *

Simon was a bundle of nerves as he rang the doorbell. He hadn’t expected to hear back from Hannah. After the coffee shop fiasco he figured his chance was blown. She didn’t seem like the type to give second chances. A woman with tightly curled black hair and radiant glowing skin opened the door with a mischievous smile.

“You must be Simon,” she said quickly.

“Yes… yes I am.”

“Oh, delicious accent,” she said with a giggle.

Simon felt his cheeks warm at her direct words and quickly followed her in as she bounced into the front room like a deer frolicking through the forest.

Hannah sat on the edge of the couch with her back stiff, reading a textbook. She looked up as he entered, almost as if his arrival were a surprise. He knew she must have remembered he was stopping by because his text hadn’t come more than thirty minutes before, unless he really was that forgettable.

She looked beautiful. Her red hair was tied back in a low ponytail and her lips were a light rosy red. She set her book next to her and stood in greeting.

“You hungry?” the woman who had greeted him asked, interrupting his thoughts.

“Oh not really,” he replied.

“Well, I’m making food. You can have some while you study,” she insisted.

He sat down on the couch and pulled out his books. Hannah sat next to him, close enough to see his books, but not so they were touching at all.

A large black dog came bounding into the room wagging its rather long, whip-like tail. It jumped up onto the couch next to Hannah and laid its head in her lap. Simon reached across Hannah and scratched the growing pup behind its ear.

“Who is this beauty?” Simon asked. He was keenly aware of the fact that his side was pressed up against Hannah as he continued to scratch the dog.

“Her name is Ginny,” Hannah replied proudly.

“So what are you struggling with for your presentation?” he asked. What he really wanted to do was tuck that piece of hair that always fell over her face back behind her ear. But after her previous reaction to his attempt, he decided to keep his hands to himself.

She grabbed the book she had just set down and thumbed through it.

“I am trying to get the facts right for my presentation, but there isn’t a lot of material to work with for my portion,” she replied.

“Yes, that would be why nobody else picked up that particular subject,” Simon added.

She chuckled and sat back on the couch. Maybe she was slightly more relaxed than when he first arrived. Whenever they were discussing school work, she seemed like a different person altogether.

“Well, let’s get to work. I brought some back-up books to help you find more information. There’s only a small paragraph in the textbook.” He pulled out the extra books he had thrown into his backpack and handed her one he thought would be particularly useful.

She began to browse through it while Simon chatted with her about the project. Hannah's insight into the project was astounding and, although she claimed she needed his help, he was beginning to suspect that she was more fluent on the subject than he was.

“From the way you are speaking, I think you might be more knowledgeable than I am. Whatever did you invite me over for?”

Hannah turned a deep shade of red and started fidgeting with the corner of the book. She wouldn’t look at him. He waited for her explanation.

“I really wanted to apologize for how I reacted to you at the coffee shop. You just took me by surprise, really. I didn’t know how to respond. I invited you over here to help me so I could say sorry, but I really could use some help. I mean I know what I’m talking about, but I don’t know how to convey it to everyone without sounding boring and stuffy.”

Her eyes were full of fear, and Simon could tell that she was being honest and vulnerable with him. His protective instinct welled up inside him again.

“I can help you with that,” he replied quietly.

They worked on the project for a good half hour before the other woman came over and brought a plate of food with her. She sat on the floor in front of Hannah and Simon with her legs crossed together and the plate in her lap. Ginny perked up, her floppy ears propping up slightly. Hannah gave a sharp no and Ginny settled back down onto the couch.

“Oh, I love chips.” He took one off the plate she offered.

Both girls started giggling and Simon realized his mistake.

“I mean fries,” he corrected.

“Hannah loves accents,” the woman with the fries commented.

“Tracy!” Hannah complained.

“Aha! So your name is Tracy,” Simon interjected, trying to smooth over the comment made about his accent. The last thing he needed was for Hannah to get embarrassed again. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t get the luxury of a third chance should he fail his attempt to mend things today.

“Oh yeah, I forgot to introduce you two. How rude of me!” Hannah said. “This is my roommate and partner in crime, Tracy. Tracy, this is Simon.”

“The guy you can’t stop talking about,” Tracy said with a smile, tossing a fry in her mouth.

Hannah's face turned a bright shade of pink and Simon couldn’t help but smile a bit smugly. So she had been talking about him. Maybe he had more of a chance than he thought he did.

“I… I… umm…” Hannah stuttered. She couldn’t seem to form a cohesive sentence, so Simon swooped in, eager to alleviate her embarrassment, again.

“So, would you like to work on this project some more tomorrow?” More time with her meant more time for him to prove that he was something special. Well, maybe not that special, but Simon had the type of personality that grew on you.

“Uh, yeah sure,” she replied. “But first, do you think you can help me on one more thing? It’s this concept right here about transmission of biological pathogens. I mean I understand it completely, but I have no idea how to present it to the class. What am I supposed to talk about? It gives me very little material to work with.”

Simon leaned in to look at her notebook, and as he moved in closer the faint smell of cookies wafted from her, dazing him a bit. He shook his head to clear it. If he wanted to help her, he had to focus on the work and not how delicious she smelled or the way that his leg was pressed up against hers. He could feel the heat from her body emanating off her thigh.

He wondered if she noticed his breathing had quickened a bit, and how he was sweating. She had him at her mercy and, judging by her demeanor, she didn’t even know it. He took a deep breath to steady himself and read her notes. Presentation was something he was good with. Simon was a great performer. He always got top marks in his performance-based classes throughout his primary school career. And performing in front of people was probably something that Hannah sincerely struggled with because of her introverted personality type.

The prospect of her actually needing his help was rather exhilarating for some reason. It felt good to know he could help her in some way.

“Well, you just have to think about how you would describe it. Work with what you know. Don’t try to sound like you know everything about it, just tell them in plain words what you know about it. By doing that, you will help everyone understand it. And that is more the point of this activity than anything else.”

Hannah chewed on the end of her mechanical pencil while she stared off into space. “Alright, I think I can do that. I just want them to understand that I know what I am talking about.” She paused for a moment and grinned. “Even if I really don’t.”

“Well, now you are sounding like every other college student I have worked with in any group project. It’s all about sounding confident even when you have no idea if what you are saying is utter rubbish. That’s how they come up with podcasts.”

Hannah snorted, which made Simon smile. He liked to make her happy and loved how her eyes crinkled up in the corners when she laughed. She looked so carefree. Much different than the facade of calmness and serious focus that she portrayed during her classes.

“Don’t say that too loud. Tracy likes podcasts,” she said with a smile, directing her attention back to the textbook in her hands.

“Hey! Stop giving away my secrets,” Tracy exclaimed with mock embarrassment.

“I heard nothing,” Simon said, putting his hands up in surrender.

Tracy offered them both more chips and Simon took a couple, before standing up to leave.

“I really should head out. I have a meeting tomorrow before I am scheduled to assist class. I enjoyed working with you today, Hannah.” Simon laid on the accent a bit thicker than usual. He knew what would help him. American girls often liked his accent.

She set her book aside, stood up and walked towards the door. Tracy seemed to disappear, which left them alone in the room. Simon wanted to give Hannah a hug or something. Anything to get close to her.

“Thank you so much for helping me,” she said, staring down at the floor, fidgeting with her hands together.

Simon could tell she was a bit uncomfortable again. He didn’t want to press his luck, but he couldn’t get enough of this girl. She was beautiful and intelligent. Two things that he wanted in a woman. The fact that she made him smile constantly was a huge bonus.

He stepped in to hug her. As he did, Ginny decided to walk through his legs. He stumbled and accidentally stomped on Hannah’s foot. She yelped a bit and began to hop up and down. Her head clocked Simon under the chin, which caused him to bite his tongue and made him see stars. He staggered in shock and almost knocked Hannah on her rear.

Panic flooded through him. He was so embarrassed. What else would he do to ruin his chances with this woman?

“So sorry,” he pleaded as he walked out the door. To make matters worse, as he closed the door he spied Tracy doubled over with laughter in the hallway entrance. Just what he needed… another witness.

* * *

The spice burned the back of Hannah’s throat, then shot up through her nose. Immediately her nose started to run as her eyes watered.

“Oh my gosh, so hot,” she said as she grabbed at her napkin.

Tracy giggled mischievously. “It’s amazing though, right? I can’t believe you have never tried sushi.”

“I never saw the appeal in eating raw fish,” she said with a scrunch in her nose. The idea of sushi was slightly repulsive. But Tracy had talked her into it. She could basically talk Hannah into anything. Tracy was the bold one, the woman with her life already figured out and her ideas all set. She was the risk-taker of the two, as well. Something Hannah had never been very good at. “I still don’t see what all the fuss is about.”

“It’s amazing! Are you kidding me?” Tracy scooped up another piece of tuna with her chopsticks and dipped it into the soy sauce. She didn’t even flinch at the intense heat from the spicy green substance.

“What is that stuff called again?”

“Wasabi. It’s Japanese horseradish.” Tracy grabbed a piece of tempura and bit into it.

“I’ll stick with the fried veggies, thank you.” Hannah grabbed the last piece of tempura right before Tracy was able to and shoved the thing into her mouth, whole.

“Suit yourself, more for me.” Tracy shrugged. Between mouthfuls of tuna and eel, Tracy managed to ask, “So how about Simon? You two been out again?”

“We didn’t really go out. I mean all we did was group study. Besides, he’s not my type.”

“Yeah, sure. What is it about him that doesn’t suit your fancy? Tall, handsome, British? I’ll take him in a heartbeat.”

Hannah felt a pang of jealousy which she immediately suppressed.

“Besides, what is your mom going to say? You don’t have much longer until Thanksgiving break. If you still aren’t dating by then, she is going to have a heart attack.”

“I can let her know I’m too busy. I don’t have time to date right now. Plus, I told her about studying with him, twice. What more do you both want from me?”

“Well, I don’t know about your mom, but I want you getting together with the sexy British man. And go ahead and try to convince me that telling your mom you are too busy to date is going to fly with her.” Tracy took a sip of her tea and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “You better figure something out or you are going to have hell to pay.”

It was true. Ever since her mother had gotten sick, she had been particularly apt at bugging Hannah about her love life. And it had gotten worse over time.

The last time Hannah had visited her mother, she had insisted that if Hannah didn’t bring someone home over the Thanksgiving break she would set her up on an endless string of blind dates. Her mother loved to tease, but Hannah could tell this wasn’t a joke. Paige was a very determined woman. And if she wanted to find Hannah dates, she would find her dates. Of course Hannah had a hard time saying no to her mother as well. Paige knew this and used it to her advantage.

Hannah shuddered at the thought of having to endure even one date with someone she had never met. The awkwardness of dating was bad enough when you knew the person. How much worse would it be on a blind date? “I better think of something. I don’t want her to meddle in my life… but what can I do?”

“I’ve got an idea. You probably won’t like it though.”

“Probably not. But I’m sure you will tell me anyway.”

“Why don’t you give your mom what she wants?” Tracy said with a shrug.

“Yeah, all that would involve is to actually be dating someone… which I am not.”

“Or at least look like you are actually dating someone.”

“No way. She wouldn’t believe me if I lied to her. She would want proof. She said I had to bring someone with me.”

“Bring someone with you then.”

Hannah started to get irritated. “What are you talking about?”

“Ask someone to pretend to be dating you. Pay him if you have to. That way your mom thinks you are dating someone. Then after the break, you never see each other again. Your mom thinks you broke up with him and everyone is happy.”

Hannah jumped up and uncharacteristically threw her arms around Tracy. “You are a genius.”

“I know,” she said bowing her head in mock humility. She stuffed another piece of tuna in her mouth and smiled.

Sitting back down, Hannah dug around in her backpack at the base of the table. She found what she was looking for—a yellow legal pad and a pencil.

She started to write a list of all the things she would need to figure out in time for Thanksgiving. She would have to coach the guy she hired and they would need to work out how they would interact in order to convince her mother they were dating. The best way for her to do that was to spend some time with him before Thanksgiving. So she would need to plan some activities and get to know him a bit.

Now all she needed was a man.