{Eros, the Bittersweet}

            Spencer stood frozen in the doorway as she stared at Natalie, her jaw slacked and her eyes wide.  Natalie’s arms were folded across her chest, stone faced as her temple throbbed and jaw clenched. 

                “Well are you just going to stand there?” Natalie finally asked.

                “Uhhh,” Spencer adjusted the sheets around her body and stepped out into the hallway, while keeping the door only open enough to not lock herself out.  “What are you doing here Nat?”

                “Well, I mean, I haven’t seen you since Friday and when I text you, you give me one word answers…”

                “I haven’t been feeling well, I told you.”

                Natalie rolled her eyes, “Yeah you told me.”

                “What’s your problem?”

“What’s my problem?  Are you serious?”  Natalie looked at Spencer incredulously.  A student walked passed the two feuding girls and raised an eyebrow.  “Look, why are we doing this in the hallway?  Let’s just go inside and talk.” Natalie moved towards the door, but Spencer quickly shuffled in front and blocked her off.

“Um…that’s not a good idea.”

“Why?”

Spencer couldn’t think of a lie, so she just shrugged her shoulders.  “Just ‘cause.”

“Spence!  Did I leave my keys?” Chelsea was walking down the hall to the dorm room with CJ in tow.  When she reached the girls, Chelsea saw Natalie and quickly glanced at Spencer confused.  “Um…hi Natalie.”

Natalie gave a weak smile.  Spencer reached out to give Chelsea her keys.  “Oh!  Great, thanks.”  Chelsea moved towards the door to open it, but Spencer quickly blocked her as well.

“What do you need?  I’ll get it,” Spencer asked quickly.

“Um…I need to use to bathroom and since I’m here…”

“No, um…don’t go inside.”

“Why not?” Chelsea asked, looking at Natalie as if she might have an answer.  Natalie shrugged.

When Spencer didn’t answer, Chelsea pushed pass her and opened the door, flicking the light on as she stepped in. 

Ashley threw the comforter over her head quickly, but not quick enough to not be noticed.

“Oh!” Chelsea said, stopping short and clamping her hands over CJ’s eyes.  “Hi Ashley.”

A muffled ‘Hi’ came from underneath the covers.  Chelsea looked over at Spencer who had since hung her head and was slowly rubbing her temples.  She didn’t dare look over at Natalie.