The girl is stinking drunk.

If I weren't so surprised to see her, I'd be irritated. The last person I expected to run into while walking Hemy on a Friday night near my house was Purity – for a million reasons, least of which is that the girl isn't a partier.

Yet, there she is, drunk as a skunk and hardly able to stand up – obviously stumbling home from some frat party.

On second thought, I'm definitely irritated. "Are you drunk, Purity?"

I should just say hello and walk past them. I should let Purity behave like a regular college student and run off to whatever party they're on the way to next. But the thought of her heading off to some party in this state – potentially being taken advantage of – is enough to make me sick.

"What?!?" she squeals, collapsing into giggles. "Drunk? Who's drunk? I'm not drunk!"

Her friend sighs. "We're on our way home."

"Did you get her drunk?" I ask, my voice tight. I shouldn't ask any more questions, but I can't seem to help myself.

"Um, do I look like a complete asshole?" the friend snips. "I wouldn't do that."

Purity giggles harder. "Don't worry, Luna. He's only protective of me because I grew up with him."

Luna's eyes grow large.

Goddamn it.

"Is that right?" Luna asks, looking at me pointedly. Then Purity lurches against her, and I have to reach out to steady her.

Fuck. I can't believe I'm about to say this.

"You're not going to be able to get her all the way back to the dorm without the cops seeing you. They're all over on the weekends once you get closer to campus. What were you thinking?"

"Well, I wasn't thinking that I'd be carting Purity back to the dorm like this," Luna says harshly.

"My house is less than a block from here."

"No, no, no," Purity slurs, pointing at me. "You don't get to boss her around – and you don't get to boss me around. I don’t like you anymore."

"Sorry, the girl has spoken," Luna says, shrugging. "We're not coming to your house because we don't know you – and apparently, we don't like you, either."

Purity waves dismissively. "Oh, I know him."

Goddamn it, the girl has a big mouth when she's drunk.

"I knew him when I was six," she continues. "Mr. Gabe. Miiiister Gabe. He's not a serial killer or anything. Ohhh, man, I feel really dizzy."

"Oh God, are you going to puke?" Luna asks. "I really hate puke."

"No barfing!" Purity exclaims. "I hate barfing too! We have something else in common! Roomies forever!"

Luna looks at me. "Okay, where's your house?"

By the time they make it down the block, Purity seems even drunker than she was a few minutes ago. When she stumbles going through the doorway, I bend down and pick her up in my arms, carrying her to the study.

"Don't you go picking me up," she protests, but her head lolls against me and her eyes close. "I don't like you anymore."

She mumbles the last part.

She's rightly angry with me, but damn it if I don't hate hearing her say she doesn't like me anymore – especially when holding her like this all nestled in my arms makes me want to keep her this way.

"That feeling is not mutual," I tell her softly.

She murmurs something I can't understand as I lay her down on her side on the sofa. She curls her knees up just a little bit and her breathing becomes steady.

When I turn around, Luna is standing in the study doorway eyeing me skeptically with her hand on her hip. "Just making sure you don't try anything funny," she says bluntly. "Do you usually bring drunk girls to your house?"

"This would be a first," I admit. "Can I get you some water or coffee or something?"

"I'll take a soda - in an unopened can, please. And I'll stay right in here with Purity, if it's all the same to you."

I hide a smile as I turn around and head toward the kitchen. I'm not sure whether to be offended by the fact that Purity's friend thinks I might be Charles Manson or impressed that she's really protective of Purity.

When I return with the soda, Luna is sitting on the other end of the sofa where Purity is even though there are two other chairs in the room, like she's determined to make sure I don't get anywhere near the girl.

"Did you really know Purity when she was a kid?" she asks.

"We're from the same small town," I tell her.

Luna visibly relaxes, as if my being from the same town as Purity means that I probably am not going to murder both of them, at least not this minute.

"I didn't get Purity drunk, just so you know," she informs me. "Some guy gave her booze at the party. I shouldn't have left her alone, but she was just going to the bathroom. I didn't think she was going to shotgun a bunch of alcohol. I don't even think she drank all that much, but she's clearly never had alcohol before."

"Yeah, I know."

"So do you know Purity's father, then?"

I exhale. "Yep."

"He's kind of a wing nut."

I bark a laugh. "That's an understatement."

"She never told me she knew you."

"Her father and I grew up next door to each other," I tell her. I don't know why I'm explaining this to her roommate, except that I kind of like Luna. Purity needs someone like her in her corner, someone fiercely protective and loyal. "I left town a long time ago."

"Yet she ended up here in your class."

"It's a small world."

Luna sets her soda down on the end table and crosses her arms. "I'm not going to just leave her here with you. If that's what you're wanting, I mean."

I choke. It would be almost funny if Luna weren't so serious about thinking that I'm a creep. "I have no nefarious intention with either of you. Just so you know."

She grunts. "Yeah, well you can't be too safe," she responds. "I have pepper spray, too. Just so you know."

I can't help but laugh. I like the roommate more and more. I grab the television remote control and toss it to her. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like. I can also call you a cab or drive you to the dorms myself."

"Dragging my semi-conscious roommate into the dorm might be a little difficult, even for me," she says, sighing. "And I don't think you want to be seen helping us into our dorm room."

"Probably not the greatest idea," I agree.

"She only had one drink, so… maybe she'll just nap for a little while."

"Probably." I walk over to my desk and take out my laptop. "Watch television, and I'll work, and we can keep an eye on her until she wakes up. I can work in another room, if it makes you more comfortable."

Her face softens as she changes the channel on the television. "It's fine if you stay."

"Alright." I focus on writing as Luna settles back on the sofa to watch television.

I wake up sometime much later with my head on my arm, bent over my desk. On the sofa, Luna is curled up and Purity is snoring, her feet in Luna's lap. I turn off the television and get a couple of blankets, covering them up before I go upstairs to bed.

The next morning, the two girls are still fast asleep even after I take Hemy out for a quick walk around the block and return to shower and get dressed. I'm in the kitchen making coffee when I hear footsteps.

Luna stands in the kitchen doorway. "Purity is still asleep," she informs me. "But she's breathing. I checked."

"Breathing is good," I say, sipping from my mug. "Want some coffee?"

"I actually have to go pretty soon," she replies. "I'm supposed to hang out with my mom this weekend."

Purity appears behind Luna, her clothes rumpled and her hair disheveled. "I'm mortified," she admits, her voice hoarse.

I want to wrap the girl up in a blanket, take her to my bed, and care for her.

Luna laughs. "It was your first time getting drunk. You're in college. It's basically a rite of passage, so… congratulations." She looks at her watch. "I have to get back to the dorm and shower, though. I'm supposed to drive down to visit my mom this weekend."

Purity grimaces. "I'm sorry you had to take care of me," she says, then glances at me. "Both of you."

"Ugh, I don't do apologies," Luna mumbles. "It wasn't a big deal."

"I think I'm going to stay for a few minutes and talk to Professor Ryan."

Luna raises her eyebrows. "Are you sure?"

Yeah, are you sure, little girl?

I should insist she leave. I should insist she go back to the dorm room with her roommate. I shouldn't be here alone with her.

But seeing her out like that last night, knowing she went out and got drunk and that anything could have happened to her…

I want to punish the girl.

I want to protect her.

"I'm sure," she insists.

Luna looks back and forth between us. Then she nods. "Okay, as long as you know what you're doing."

"I know what I'm doing," Purity replies.

I don't think Luna was talking to her. I'm pretty sure that warning was meant for me.

I'm not at all sure what I'm doing right now.