The Word Cloud

She smiled shyly, pushing back her short auburn. ‘It’s kind of loud in here isn’t it?’ she said, glancing at the door. ‘Do you smoke?’

‘Yes,’ Mattie lied.

‘Good,’ said the girl, grabbing his arm lightly. ‘You can keep me company.’ And she led him off, through the tiny crowded kitchen and the narrow hall filled with the low hum of the energy saving halogen lights above and the universal cheese music that everyone, everyone seemed to know the words to.

It was only the first night of fresher’s week but everything still felt a blur to Mattie Thompson. They’d pulled up to the enormous Glen Eyre halls complex like some vast hive abuzz with thousands upon thousands of excited freshers, as far ranging as they were numerous. Some had only brought a single suitcase and a toaster, others had seemed to have brought enough tinned food to survive a minor nuclear holocaust or a major zombie attack. After a frantic hour, a fussing mother by his side, Mattie had finally managed to find his way to his new home Old Terrace halls, where he’d be spending the next year of his life. He'd felt a flutter, the realization of months of anticipation coming to fruition as he began to unpack into a place unbound by such earthly laws as curfews or having to eat fruit. I’m never eating another apple, had been his first absurd thought.

The night breeze was cool which was just as well as Mattie wore nothing but his stone washed jeans, Fall Out Boy t-shirt and bright green two pound earrings (buy one get one free) he’d bought from Primark. The girl before him was dressed casually as well in jean shorts and a silken vest top that made her look a vision though Mattie couldn’t help but think she’d probably have looked fit in a Barney costume. She pulled out her tiny handbag and fumbled for her cigarettes and lighter.

‘Fuck.’ The wind had risen, snuffing the flame every time she clicked the lighter. ‘Could you give me a hand?’ He raised his hands around the cigarette and lighter till it grew red hot. She closed her eyes puffing a long trail of smoke. ‘ Ah seriously much better. My dad doesn’t know I smoke. You don’t know what a relief it is to smoke out here in the open without a canister of Febreeze.’ She took another long toke, before offering him the cigarette. ‘I’m Casey by the way.’

‘Mattie.’ He took a toke and coughed as soon as he'd drawn the smoke in. Casey grinned. ‘Errr what do you study?’

‘Medicine,’ she replied. The girl sat down on the steps in front of them and gestured for him to sit.

‘Ah yeah me too,’ said Mattie, trying to make his long fringe go the way he wanted, but the breeze was blowing from the wrong side and his long black hair kept going into his face. He pushed it aside. ‘Sweet, I guess we’ll be in the same year.’

She smiled again and gave him a high five excitedly. Marry me, thought Mattie. Her skin was ethereally pale and smooth…and she was showing so much of it. It was taking all of his willpower not to glance down where the tops of her small breasts were showing.

‘Ah cool! We can walk in tomorrow together if you want, I live over there in South Hill halls.’