“You’re up already?” Katie’s sleepy voice distracts me from my phone.

I glance across the room to see her sitting up in bed, yawning widely. Her brown hair looks like a bird nested in it.

“Yup. I’m an early riser,” I reply.

“Ugh, my mom is too. Wish I could say the same. I’m sure I could get a lot accomplished if I dragged myself out of bed before nine.”

“It’s a blessing and a curse,” I reply, thinking of the many mornings I toss and turn, trying to sleep in just a little longer.

“Do you want me to show you around campus this morning?” Katie asks hesitantly. “We could stop by the school store so you can see what they have for decorations.”

“Yes, that sounds great.”

Katie smiles. “Okay, let me just get ready.”

I browse through my phone while she swaps her pajamas for a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and then heads into the bathroom, emerging just a few minutes later.

“Ready?”

I nod, and we each grab our phones and keycards. I take my credit card out of my wallet and copy Katie when I see her slide her cards into the back of her phone case.

When we emerge outside, the air temperature is much warmer than during my run earlier. Katie and I chat easily as we walk along, and I’m grateful Richard chose her as my roommate. She asks me a few more questions about my background, all of which I have prepared answers to. She also shares some details about her own, describing her hometown, and even mentioning her parents’ recent divorce. I school my expression carefully when she shares that detail, recalling how Richard mentioned it during the briefing.

Katie leads me to a coffee shop on the fringe of campus. We each order an iced coffee and a pastry before taking a couple of seats at one of the small metal tables to consume our breakfast. After we finish eating, Katie guides me back toward the center of campus for the promised tour.

My eyes are wide as I follow her across the campus, which is now bustling with activity. Massive brick buildings surround us as we walk along the gray stone pavers that comprise the wide central path.

Katie points out each building we pass, telling me which academic departments it houses. Just as she’s beginning to talk about the political science building, a skateboarder suddenly zips past us on the right. He calls out an apology to the pedestrians he’s displaced over his shoulder before continuing to careen down the smooth path.

“You’ve got to watch out for the skater guys along here,” Katie tells me. “They never pay attention to where they’re going.”

She’s barely finished speaking when another male voice calls out, “Coming through!”

His voice sounds as though it’s coming from directly behind me, so I reflexively jump to the other side of the path.

A gust of warm air blows by me as the skateboarder passes, sending strands of my hair flying about. I’m more distracted by the firm male body I’ve just collided with.