Page 44 (2/2)

"Knock knock," I said outside My hands were full

She opened the door wearing sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt "You didn’t have to do this"

I ignored that co all the booty down on her desk "Do you want the bagel with so halfsies"

Bella cleared her throat "The bagel?"

I passed her a cardboard clamshell container and a coffee cup Then I moved a stack of books off her desk chair and sat in it, opening my own coffee

There were a couplelike six , then carried Bella up the stairs I was desperately hungry

Across from me, Bella nibbled at her breakfast and snuck looks athall," she said eventually The Beau room was eat-in only, except for coffee

"I work there" I shrugged "I knohere the takeout containers are hiding"

"That’s handy And I guess you can’t beat the commute"

"Sure But it’s really all about the paycheck The dining halls are unionized, so I get fifteen bucks an hour"

"Not bad," Bella said "That’s er"

I doubted that Bella actually needed the money "It’s almost that an office or library job pays And the weird thing is that very few students take dining-hall jobs I guess people don’t want to be the guy in the paper hat, serving their friends"

"But for twice the pay…" Bella took a sip of her coffee She was looking ood I’ line anyway I’etables,in et paid"

"I don’t kno to cook," Bella admitted "But it’s on ot up to put the e off the floor and took out a bottle of nail-polish re and tried to re for the ride, scattering in my lap and onto the floor