Four.

It’s October 31st and I wake up to the sound of tea boiling. Lillian has already taken Caillen out, and I am alone in the apartment. I rub my eyes, and pull myself out of bed, lazily walking into the kitchen, to turn off the stove. Its beautiful outside, and light shines through the stained glass and shatters across the kitchen floor. It's Halloween, and across the street strangers have set out jack o lanterns, waiting to flicker for the night. Orange and yellow leaves have turned the streets into an acrylic playground, and children skip along the sidewalks, dreaming of the candy and costumes tonight. Halloween is today, and so I know that Caillen is wearing his batman outfit, like i know all the children will wear tonight, until October turns to November and the orange fades away.

I shake myself from my thoughts and turn back towards my bedroom, skirting around the stacked books by the couch. Inside I get dressed, and check the time. It’s twelve, and I have classes at Miller Community College in two hours, before dinner with Adam and Charlotte and Rebecca and probably a boyfriend, caught in Char's trap.
Outside the wind bights my cheeks, turning skin pink. I take the Marta four blocks south, then change trains as I head towards Miller. Its a decent school, although somewhat off the map, and I take abstract classes, still deciding on a major. I only have two classes today, Roman history and philosophy, the first slow and sleepy, full of keyboard clicking and hushed voices as the class stares down another powerpoint. Afterwards I have a small break, where i walk to the on-campus cafe. Inside it is warm, the smell of coffee mingling with new ink, as a printer in the corner spins out essays. I sit down with chai tea and daydream out the window. Soon after, i check the time and realize Its time to go to my next class. Its way across campus, and I don't have a car, so I Im not paying attention when a boy turns the corner and slams into me. My notebook tumbles across the sidewalk, papers scattering in the wind.
"Oh god im so sorry! Are you ok?!"
I look up at him, slightly dazed. "Yeah...I think so."
"Here.." He starts scrambling to pick up my books. "Shoot, im so sorry. Im a disaster." He smiles, looking flustered. "My car is just around the corner. Can I give you a ride?"
I nod and let him lead me to his car.

When we get to class, he has already told me most of his life story, about how he was raised in Kansas with two little sisters and his mom. He's endearing in the best way, not noticing that we've stopped.
"Oh sorry, I'm rambling aren't I?"
I laugh, forgetting that I'm late to class. I get out of the car, gathering up my papers.
"Hey." He blushes, looking at me. "I think I owe you a coffee.... Would you, uh... Do you have classes next week?"
"Yeah, I have psychology." I smile, waiting.
"Oh well maybe I can, um, bring you it then or something."
"Thats ok, don't worry about it."
"I'll see you next week though?" He stumbles over his words, blushing more.
"Yeah, okay. Hey, I never got your name?" 
"Its Calvin. Oh, and, uh, Happy Halloween!"
I smile again and turn around to walk up the stairs and through the double doors to class.