It's as if the first week lasted all month," Kayla says. "And yet I am already behind."
"I know how you're feeling," you admit. "I'm running as fast as I can but I'm still not as far along with my service work as I'd like."
"I suspect a lack of time will be endemic for both of us this year." Kayla indicates a worn overstuffed chair by her desk, the one part of her office that looks welcoming.
"Why don't we grab something to drink?" you suggest. "There's the Coffee Hut in the student center."
Kayla tilts her head. "Are you suggesting that caffeine will compensate if our discussion is uninteresting?"
"I'm suggesting that caffeine makes interesting discussion easier," you say. "It helped when I went to school here, at least."
"Fair enough." Kayla slings a messenger bag over her shoulder.
You lead Kayla out of Gilman and along the length of the quad. "Have you gotten coffee at the Hut yet?"
Kayla shakes her head. "I saw a sign for it when I went to the luncheon. But I didn't need more coffee after I ate, and I haven't been back to the student center since."
At this time of day, there's a line of students at the Coffee Hut getting their morning drink. Kayla and you shuffle forward until it's your turn to order. You stick with your usual cappuccino, while Kayla orders something with pumpkin spice in the name.
You choose two overstuffed chairs by the windows at the back of the student center. The morning sun lights up the campus buildings further down the hill. Kayla relaxes in her chair. "You were right," she says. "I needed to get out of my office." She takes the lid off of her coffee and sips it. A moment later, pumpkin spice punches you in the nose. "Did you find this place when you came to the luncheon?"