Bedtime

Beth wasn't sure about the backstory that Kira was trying to feed her. It sounded rehearsed. But the other girl was finally talking. Elizabeth would take whatever conversation she could get.1

"So clearly we both appreciate the scent of fine literature," she smiled, turning around to sit in her chair backwards. "That has to count for something. I realize we aren't exactly twins, but let's try to keep it civil. Does that sound ok to you?"2

Kira nodded.3

"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" Beth asked. "I brought a lot of snacks for the first few days. You never know when they'll get around to feeding us." Kira shook her head, smiling.4

"Well, in that case, I think I'm going to cash in my chips for tonight." Kira made to turn off the lamp on her desk, but Beth waved away the motion. "Nah, don't worry about it. I sleep like a log. In my family, you take sleep when it comes and tune out everything else. I'll just be a second in the closet space, changing."5

Elizabeth slipped into the closet space, shrugging out of her jean shorts and t-shirt, pulling on pajama pants and an over-sized t-shirt. She reached through the holes in her sleeves and unclasped her bra, pulling it from underneath her shirt and stuffing it into a drawer.6

Leaving the closet, she jumped to the top bunk and snuggled under the covers. "Happy studying, Ms. Over-Achiever," she grinned, burying her head and closing her eyes.