New Friends
�Hello Hannah, good to see you again.� He says, holding open the door for me.
�Likewise,� I say following him down the hall toward the elevator. As we wait I ask him how his project is coming. He looks confused. �Which one?�
�The one you were heading to the lab Friday afternoon to work on.�
�Oh that! That I can�t tell you about right now, top secret.� A bell rings announcing the arrival of the elevator.
�So are you excited about your first jump?� He asks as we step inside. Now it�s my turn to look confused.
�How did you��
�You�re pretty well known yourself Hannah. It�s not everyday we have a Glacier Hopper Scholar in our midst.� Gosh, I�ve only been in class a week. I wonder how much about me is public knowledge simply because I�m a Glacier Hopper Scholar. The thought troubles me, though my expression is serene. Can�t let �em see you sweat.
�I think it�s a great opportunity to implement the skills I�ve been learning in the classroom in a real world setting.�
�No need to quote your admissions essay.� He says, grinning. Note to self: don�t sound so rehearsed. We get off on the 6th floor and wind through the maze-like hallway to number 605. We enter into the living room, where a blond haired girl sits huddled next to a guy with ruffled brown hair and goggles, her head bent forward in intense concentration to the material on the screen. Across from the two sits a tall, lithe girl with black hair trying to focus on what the guy is saying. They all look up as we enter the room.
�Everyone I�d like you to meet Hannah. Hannah this is Lisa� he says, gesturing to the blond girl, �this is Lyssra,� pointing to the black haired girl whose striking green eyes met mine upon introduction. Ah, a Lycanthrope. I wonder why she�s in quarter form?
�And this is my roommate Maxis.� Blitz continues. Maxis flashes a boy-next-door smile and holds out his hand.
�Nice to meet you.�
I shake his hand and return the compliment.
�So how do you know Blitz?� Maxis asks.
I�m about to answer when something over in the corner catches my eye. A small figure in surfer shorts, an undershirt and an impressive orange and red mohawk is perched atop a computer. His face is partially hidden by a miniature book, but his curious and mischevious eyes peer out over the top, revealing his only half-hearted attempt at reading.
�Nice Imp.� I say glancing in his direction. He takes one hand off the tiny book and waves.
�Oh, that�s Zabob.� Says Maxis, as if the imp is a standard edition to everyone�s computer.
Lyssra and Lisa look startled as if seeing the creature for the first time. Lisa seems particularly taken aback. Guess they haven�t had summoning yet, how odd.
�Zabob was a summoning project that didn�t want to leave.� Blitz explains.
�Do you have any idea how hard it is to learn anything in the imp world!� Zabob pipes up.
�It�s true, and now he�s making up for lost time. He�s like a black hole of books.� Blitz says in mock exasperation. � But he�s useful so we keep him around.�
The demon looks rather offended and storms off the computer and over to the coffee table. Making himself as tall as his full six inches will allow, his spiky hair bristling, he glares at Blitz.
�Don�t speak about me as if I�m not even here, especially when there are ladies around.� His eyes linger on Lyssra as he says this, his position on the table bringing him eye level with her long, toned legs. She seems amused by the attention.
�Besides,� he adds, the usual impish grin returning to his face �How do you know I�m not the one keeping you around.�