for now we're two sparks

 Caitlin went to bed as soon as she got home from class. Yes, she actually went to the University.

It was strange, but what wasn't strange these days. It was a meeting how they were going to do mostly online learning, meet up once a month, at least. to discuss their papers on trending news.

Her legs hurt from all the sitting or maybe it was all the walking. Whatever, it was probably her own damn fault. 

She awoke to her jingling phone. It was Melvin, but she didn't answer. 

Maybe she was coming down with something. Just her luck.

She hated the thought of catching anything, but still she needed the essentials. Food. Her stomach growled. She reached for her sweat pants and zipped up her gray hoodie and pulled on her trusty cat slippers.

When she opened the door she heard a quaint melody. Honestly, she didn't know what playlist Megan listened too but it was always indie, nothing pop.

She scratched the back of her neck and yawned. She blinked and noticed both Megan and Cori were in the kitchen. He was doing the cooking and she was cleaning up, right behind him.

"What are you two doing?" Caitlin was in a pout. It wasn't fair those two would get along so well. And Megan was smiling. She hadn't smiled since New Year's eve when she got tipsy on champagne.

Caitlin looked at both of them as if they were way too happy.

"Melvin's coming over," Megan smiled.

"Seriously?" Caitlin felt like shit. "Why are you doing this to me?" She mumbled how putting two strangers together didn't mean anything would develop into a relationship. Of course, neither Cori nor Megan would listen. They were busy in the kitchen.

She yawned once more and went to take a shower. Honestly, she didn't even know if she had clean underwear. This was her me time and no one was letting her enjoy it.

Of course, she probably would be drinking something right now. Vodka in her room. Oh her vodka. Where was it? She started to question if she even had any while she let the hot water hit her face and hair.

The shower didn't wake her much. It felt as if she'd gone on some voyage of a lifetime where perhaps she'd had to fight monsters in an H. P. Lovecraft novel. 

After her shower, she rubbed some citrus face oil on her face and got back into her sweat pants and pink wifebeater. No way was she dressing up for Melvin. She could definitely have a better time by herself than with Melvin.

She went back to the dining area and the table was set. The lovebirds were still at work.

"What are you making, anyway?" Megan asked.

"Egg foo young," Cori told her as he was still working with a huge skillet of food.

Megan edged around him and got out something from the oven. "Crab rangoon, too."

Caitlin heard someone at the door. She knew it was him, but she didn't want to go. Naturally, Megan gave her the eye that she better do it. A meal was ready to be served.

Caitlin sighed and went to the door. There was Melvin holding a box.

"It's cheesecake with strawberries," he told her, but she doubted he had anything to do with it.

"What are you trying to do? Make me fat?" Didn't anyone know? She'd given up dairy and fried foods. She was on a steady diet of hemp hearts and anything else she could put in her Ninja bullet smoothie machine.

She gave him a frown wanting to shove the box right into his gut, but she guessed she'd see where the night went. Hopefully, nothing strange would happen.

"Are you OK?" His voice was caring enough.

"No, I'm not OK." She shot him a look that she'd give him a fat lip yet. "I am sick."

"Covid sick?" He wanted to know as he winked in despair. "Do..do you think it was me."

"Probably," she wasn't letting him off the hook.

But he came in with the cake and everyone else was all smiles to see him. She felt like a bystander. Why did everyone like Melvin but her?