Excerpt: Hide the Cheeseburger - Again.

L.Rakalago: Hello there!

Jennifer blinked at the instant message that popped up from her godmother.

J.Oaaru: Hi Luna. Isn’t it ridiculously early where you are?
L.Rakalago: It isn’t that early! What time is it there?

She checked the clock on her computer, and realized it was off by a few hours. She looked at her watch, reset the computer’s clock, and turned her attention back to the instant message.

J.Oaaru: Eleven at night.
L.Rakalago: It’s seven in the morning here. How was your first day on campus?
J.Oaaru: It was… weird.
L.Rakalago: Weird? How so?
J.Oaaru: Well, not that it’s anything unusual, but Dairyn and Draco were really obnoxious when I was trying to get stuff for my dorm.
L.Rakalago: I hope the ‘happy going away to college’ card got there in time?
J.Oaaru: Yes, it did, and thank you very much, Luna. I still have some money left over. Here, let me wave the webcam around the room really quick…
L.Rakalago: It looks very nice! I like the lava lamp.
J.Oaaru: Seventy five cents at the Goodwill store here!
L.Rakalago: A good deal. J You’re quite the bargain hunter. So what happened that made your day ‘weird?’
J.Oaaru: Well… someone got lost, and thought they were in the dorm room I’m in. So they tried their key in my door, and it didn’t work, and by that time I’d already heard the noise and got up to answer the door.
L.Rakalago: And..? The dramatic buildup is killing me, here.
J.Oaaru: Do you want the long version, or the short?
L.Rakalago: Give me all the details!
J.Oaaru: Okay. Well, I open the door, and this boy’s standing on the other side, looking totally bewildered.
L.Rakalago: Was he cute?
J.Oaaru: Luna!
L.Rakalago: Well, was he?
J.Oaaru: Let me tell my story, here!
J.Oaaru: Yes, he was cute. He’s a little taller than me, maybe like 5’10”, black hair, pale eyes
L.Rakalago: Is he huggable height? And what exactly do you mean by “pale” eyes?
J.Oaaru: I guess he’s huggable height. His eyes are this unusual silver-gray color, with a tint of blue. He has very fair skin, as well.
L.Rakalago: Ugh. Another pale scrawny boy? You have the oddest taste in men.
L.Rakalago: I can see you glaring. J
J.Oaaru: He isn’t scrawny…
L.Rakalago: Touched a nerve, did I? See, I told you that you would forget about that Severian boy!
J.Oaaru: ANYWAY. He’s never been out on his own, so he was feeling really overwhelmed. I helped him get stuff for his dorm room. He’s, uh…

Jennifer couldn’t help herself - she stopped typing for a few minutes to string Luna on a little bit.

L.Rakalago: …He’s what?
J.Oaaru: LOL. I was waiting for you to ask that. ;)
L.Rakalago: Evil girl. Hurry up and tell your godmother what she wants to know!
J.Oaaru: He’s the son of the Alterran Minister. His name’s Syrus Ylvaen.

The look on her godmother’s face displayed by the webcam was priceless.

L.Rakalago: You’re joking!
J.Oaaru: I’m completely serious.
L.Rakalago: That shy little creature? Who the hell got him out into society?
J.Oaaru: Wait, you know him?
L.Rakalago: Not on a personal, first name basis, but I’m acquainted with him.
J.Oaaru: From where?!
L.Rakalago: Lectures at the Alterran Institution in Safe Quarter City. Someone pointed him out to me. I gather he spent a lot of time at the National History Museum there on the Institution campus. I wonder what he’s doing all the way out in California?
J.Oaaru: Going to school, I guess. He mentioned one of his friends is coming here soon. And I think he had a falling-out with his father.
L.Rakalago: Huh. That’s interesting. So you met the Minister’s youngest son… He is rather handsome, in his own way, looking back. So you earned his gratitude by helping him settle in?
J.Oaaru: He didn’t know dorm rooms come unfurnished.
L.Rakalago: …Wow. Rather naïve, is he?
J.Oaaru: You have no idea. Today, we discovered electric blankets, grocery stores, and sports bars. And he seems to be offended by my taste in music. I asked if I could turn on the radio on the way back to the dorms. He scowled when I turned on a rock station.
L.Rakalago: Sounds like you have your work cut out for you.
J.Oaaru: What do you mean by that?
L.Rakalago: Aren’t you going to ask him out?
J.Oaaru: I already did.
L.Rakalago: What did he say?
J.Oaaru: We went to dinner.
L.Rakalago: Did he seem like he wanted to go out with you again?
J.Oaaru: He asked if I wanted to go out for lunch tomorrow.
L.Rakalago: I told you that you’d find another boyfriend.
J.Oaaru: He’s not my boyfriend by any means. Just a friend.
L.Rakalago: That’s how they all start out. “Oh, he’s just a friend, it’s nothing serious,” and then you have a kid.
J.Oaaru: Uh… it isn’t like that at all.
L.Rakalago: Ahem. Never mind. I have to get going, breakfast is ready.
J.Oaaru: Okay, Luna. Thanks again for the money.
L.Rakalago: You’re welcome. Use it to take your boyfriend on a date!

Luna signed off before Jennifer had a chance to respond.