“Oh! Hey Karen, are you covering for Alex too?” I asked, looking up from my computer screen.

“Yup! I am supposed to start at 1:30!” Karen said swiping her id card on our scanner before pulling up a chair beside me.

“You’re here early,” the clock read 1:00, “Did you come to keep me company?” I loved having discussions with Karen: she’s always sweet with just the right amount of sassy.

“Nah,” Karen smiled. “I need to get some work done and I figured this would be the perfect place to do it. Buuuuuuuut, I am always down to check your horoscope before getting to work!”

“Girl, you know if you do that, we’ll be sitting here for the next two hours with out getting any work done. I need to work on my lab report anyway.” I smiled as Karen stuck her tongue out at me then nodded. She pulled out her computer and started her work and I turned back to the lab report I was working on. This 15-page report on GFP isolation wasn’t going to write itself.

Karen and I work as desk assistants for a tutoring service at my university. All it really entails is welcoming students to the center and asking what class they are there for, so we can get away with doing homework or chatting quietly. Today I was at our main center, where I usually only work one hour a week on Monday mornings. Most of my shifts are spent at one of our sister locations, where I work from 5-11 pm. Our other coworker, Alex, texted me thirty minutes into my shift asking if I could cover for him until 1:30. Alex frequently got migraines, but this was the longest he had ever asked me to cover. It was odd, but I needed the hours, so I gladly accepted.

Just as I was about to complain about my shitty gel results, a group of students walked through the doors.

“Jasper! Jared! So good to see you! Welcome in.” Karen looked up from her computer to see the group of swoon worthy guys I had just welcomed.

“Vi!” Jasper and Jared said in unison. Both swiped their id cards and waited for the typical barrage of questions.

“Jared, let me guess… You are here for Math 267, correct?” I asked, making eye contact and smiling sweetly. What can I say, I am a sucker for tall, tan, muscular men with close-cut dark brown hair and amber eyes?

“You know me all to well Vi! That is exactly what I am here for,” Jared returned my smile.

“And Jasper,” I shift my eyes to him. “Are you here for Chemistry my dude?” Jasper was beautiful, but in a different way. Jasper was pale with sky blue eyes and long but tidy black hair.

“Vi, you know that Chem is always my vice! But hey, I got an 88% on my last exam because of you! I am working really hard to get an A on the next one. I am even studying now, just like you suggested!” Jasper high-fived me.

“I am really proud of you Jasper; I knew you could do it! I do have to warn you that I can’t help you here like I do at the other center.” Jasper’s smile faltered for a second, but you would really have to know him to be able to tell.

“That’s not a problem Vi, I know that this center is busier than the other… Wait a second. What are you even doing at this center?” Jasper’s smile turned to confusion. “I come here every week at this time and Alex is usually here.”

“Ahhh, you’ve caught me!” I put my hands up. “I am just covering for Alex today: he had a bad migraine and couldn’t make it in.”

“That’s very sweet of you,” Jared rejoined the conversation.

“I try my best,” I winked at both.

“Ah-hem”

“Oh, I am so sorry: welcome into the tutoring center!” I was so caught up in chatting with Jared and Jasper that I completely missed the third person that walked in with them. “You must be Jace!”

The man swiped his id card and sneered at me. Sneered. At me. I guess I deserved it for talking to the others for so long, but I did I deserved such a nasty look? I don’t think so.

“Yes, and how did you know?” He seemed concerned and angry.

“Well, you look exactly like Jared,” Jared had mentioned his twin on more than one occasion, but I had never had the chance to meet him until now. “Plus, I can cheat a little; when you swipe, your name comes up on my screen.”

Jared placed a hand on Jace’s shoulder and gave him one of those ‘you best calm down’ looks. I was grateful for him stepping in. His brother did not seem as open and kind as he did.

“What are ya here for, Jace?” I smiled, trying to lighten the mood once more.

“Just to study,” Jace mumbled as he walked past the desk. I couldn’t help but think of what a grouch he was. His brother and Jasper always seemed so down to earth.

“Don’t worry about him,” Jasper reassured. “He is like a giant teddy bear, it just takes a lot of time to reach the fluff.”

“Exactly what Jasper said. And Jace just has a really big test coming up and it has been making him really stressed. Speaking of tests, Jasper and I better get to studying! It was great seeing you at a different center! See you tonight.” Jared winked as he as Jasper walked to where Jace had already sat down.

Karen’s head snapped towards me. I knew she would be interested in this.

“Who were those lovely humans?” Karen cooed.

“Just some regulars from the other center.”

“’Just some regulars’ come on Violet-Rose! I figured that! I need more details!” Karen could be an aggressive whisperer.

“Well, Jared and Jasper started coming to the other center right at the beginning of the semester.” I whispered back. “They are always there from when I open it at 5 until I close it at 11. They usually leave from 7-9 for a dinner break, and after I got to know them, they started to bring me snacks back. You know how I am… I just love chatting with people! I saw them all the time, so I figured I would get to know them. Plus, there would be some nights when the Chemistry tutor left but Jasper still needed help, so I helped him out. When he found out that I was a senior Biochem major, he sought me out all the time.”

“And what about Jared,” Karen raised her eyebrows. It seemed that she could sense a crush from a mile away.

“Okay, Okay, I find him totally amazing!” I squealed, looking around to make sure no one else heard.

“I think he likes you too!” Karen had stars in her eyes. “What a cute love story!”

“Rex!” I was saved by another student entering the center. “I was wondering if you were going to come in today too!”

“Vi! Oh my gosh, fancy meeting you here!” Rex was also a regular at the other center. He would usually come in around 8 though and stay up until closing. He was even taller than Jared and Jace, with sandy red hair, creamy skin, and one hazel eye and one green eye. When I found out that he was in the same Chemistry class as Jasper, I recommended that they work together and help each other study. It seems like they have been inseparable since.

“Yeah, I am covering for a coworker, but I get off soon,” the clock had somehow made it to 1:20. “Jasper, Jared, and Jace are here if you wanted to study with them!”

“Thanks! I’ll make my way back there.” He swiped his id card and started to walk away. As he made his way towards the table, he turned and smiled. “And not that you didn’t already guess, but I am here for Chemistry.”

“Thaaaaank you, Rex!” I waved as he walked away.

“Damn Vi, how many people do you know?” Karen asked.

“Hey, it’s not that impressive. The center is small and it’s easy to get to know the regulars. Especially when I work there almost every day for the whole shift”

“Yeah, yeah. Sure. I think that memorizing people is just your superpower. Like, I bet you will personally know the next person that walks in the door.”

“Come on Karen, it’s not like I can know everyone. Plus, being friendly and greeting people is a work thing.” I chuckled at the thought of having such a mundane superpower as recognizing everyone. “It’s not like everyone I know realized that I would be working today and decided to come in.”

“Bet then,” Karen stuck out her hand. “Five bucks.”

“Deal,” I grabbed her hand and laughed.

“Oh, hello Violet-Rose.” We both turned to the student who had walked through the door. “I did not expect to see you this early in the day.”

“Ha, I knew it!” Karen cackled.

“Hi Dave, welcome in! Are you here for Math 300?”

“You know it!” Dave told me his student id number instead of swiping. “Thank you, Violet-Rose.”

“You’re welcome, have a nice day.” I turned back to Karen. “Don’t even start. I know what you’re going to say. He is in one of my Anthropology classes. And we have a lot of in class discussions there, so of course I am going to know his name.”

“You owe me five bucks!” Karen did a little victory dance.

“Okay, how about another bet? I don’t have to give you five bucks if I don’t know the next person who walks in.” I was keeping an eye on the door: through its window I could see that the next person to enter was not one that I knew.

“No way, you just want to get out of giving me five bucks!” Karen could see right through me.

“Fine, fine, I’ll pay up.” I started to reach for my wallet but waited because another student entered.

“Hello! Welcome to the tutoring center!” This indeed was not a student that I knew. He seemed as if he had never been to one of our centers, which is often the case. But, something about him seemed off. I turned to gauge Karen’s reaction, but she was still too busy dancing at the thought of getting five dollars.

“Uh, hi. This is my first time here…”