Abe dug through the box of teas his mother had sent with him, looking for her ‘don’t drink casually’ ones. If he was feeling this bad, he needed the really strong stuff. He found the specific one he was looking for and set it on his desk. Then he realized an additional obstacle in his path to that craved tea experience.

His options for drinkware were limited. He glanced over possibles… He could improvise and just pick up proper mugs tomorrow. So, some of his glass measuring cups it was.

He turned to ask Artemis if she wanted some tea as well, only to find her already reading a book she brought. Her slightly knitted brow spoke to the effort she was trying to focus on it. He couldn't tell if it was because she found the subject matter difficult to understand or not, but she obviously was serious about it. Instead of interrupting her, Abe just took out one of the blends meant to help with focus and studying.

Both his mother and Nicky would be proud of him for sharing, anyways. Nicky's approval would probably be accompanied by quite a few good natured but teasing nudges. Only the second week and he was already inviting girls over to his dorm? It was total playboy behavior and just the sort of thing Nicky would do…

But it wasn't like that at all. They really were just studying. Artemis needed somewhere to get away from her dorm to study and he had half his room not being used. It just made logical sense. Plus the opportunity for warm drinks without having to walk more than the distance to the bathroom for water was a major positive in his eyes.

And it wasn't like Artemis would ever be attracted to him that way. She could probably get whoever she wanted and he… Abe didn't have time for that sort of thing and it didn't have time for him. Simple and uncomplicated.

Still, a part of him wondered why he had suggested this arrangement. Any other person, he probably would have assumed they would take advantage of his offer and wouldn't have even opened his mouth. But the last few days, he had been feeling like he might have previously misjudged the young lady that now sat reading in his room. Once he gave her a chance, she was determined in her education and unbelievably kind. His new view of her made him feel safe to let her into his space. This could still all be a trick, but for now at least, he was going to trust her until proven otherwise. It was an honor he rarely extended to people he'd only just met. It was definitely odd, but she'd earned it with her actions and behavior.

The water looked almost ready so he put the homemade tea bags in two clean beakers and found his bottle of fresh honey. It was from his auntie and he could only hope the medium bottle lasted him until the next time he could get another. His family tended to go through such things surprisingly quickly.

By the time his prep was done, the kettle gave a soft beep indicating it was up to temperature. He poured the hot water in both, making sure not to mix the two containers up. That wasn't a surprise he wanted to cause Artemis.

Not wanting to interrupt the athlete, Abe put her tea on the desk out of the way enough that she wouldn't accidentally knock it over. After he had added an acceptable amount of honey to his drink, he left the bottle beside hers and took out some of his own work. 

He got started on it, taking a few careful sips of tea once it was cool enough not to burn him. It tasted just like being home again, he felt like he was melting with every sip. He could close his eyes and see it clearly. The sunlight on the gardens while he sat reading under his favorite oak, the breeze wafting scents from Mother's second kitchen. 

***

Arty finished reading the section and shifted to start on the accompanying questions. That's when she noticed the beaker of what looked like tea and a bottle of honey beside it. She looked over to see Abe had his own already as he was caught up in studying. That was really nice of him to pour her some as well.

She added some honey before taking a sip. The tea was really delightful. It was like the warm liquid was melting her exhaustion and drowsiness. 

It was only after a third of the container was gone that it hit her how much trust she was putting in this young man she'd only recently met. No one else knew she was at his room and he could have easily added something to the drink without her noticing. Would she be biased and judging if she said the trust came from him not seeming like the type? Honestly, she was quite aware those who seemed harmless were just as capable of doing horrible things and if anything she should be more wary of those who appear safe.

But she truly and fully felt safe with Abe. Was it logical? Not at all. But she tended to be a good judge of people and she'd never so quickly not been wary of someone as she was with him. It didn't make any sense. Could her judgment be clouded? Sure, that was a possibility but she chose to give him the benefit that she was actually right about him.

Arty looked around the room. After all, this was his personal space. He would have brought things he felt were important and thought he couldn't live away from home without. It was like a slice of him and thus, could help her to understand and know him better.

She hasn't really been paying attention before. She'd pretty much been too distracted earlier. Arty wasn't sure if his side of the room surprised her or fit perfectly with what she expected.

The area was surprisingly clean of clothes and such. There was wire shelving at the foot of his bed filled with books and different colored binders, along with a few small boxes. His bed was mostly made, if a touch messily, and sported a collection of various sized plushies. He'd even hung up a few posters on one of the bare walls of space and plants. The most out of place thing to see in a college dorm, though, was the shelving unit connected to his desk.

The desk surface  itself was standard enough with pencils and papers. The shelf closest to desk level displayed fidgets and a few nicer looking writing tools. The few above it neatly held rows of small bottles, all labeled with sprawling script. Then there were the beakers and other glass containers. Plus the single animal skull on the second to top shelf. And the various other knick-knacks like stones and loose dried plants. Was that a jar of tiny bones? She only then noticed he'd used command strip hooks to hang more drying plants on the side of the shelving unit. It was somehow a mangerie of chaos and tidy order at the same time.

What, was he secretly a forest witch? That would be so cool if he was. Maybe he could show or even teach her some basic spells or potions. 

She saw him catching her staring at everything on display, but he quickly turned back to his work as if embarrassed by it. “I like your displays…”

“Thanks…” He took a sip out of his beaker as if it would give him courage to interact with her. “My family grows or makes anything we can do ourselves. It's a habit to keep a lot of herbs and such around… My mom made the tea blends I brewed for us, but I probably could make a half decent one from my supplies if I ran out.” He was opening up to her. She had to do her best to relate and encourage him to continue.

“That's quite impressive. Best I can probably make is my Gran's secret cookie recipe. She only made them for very special occasions and finally passed on the recipe to me on my seventeenth birthday.”

“I grew up with it so it's just normal for me. I was going to not bring all this but it felt wrong every time I thought about being stuck here without at least some of my supplies. Like not packing any clothes or one's toothbrush for a trip…”

“Well, I for one think it's really cool. You might be the most well prepared first year students I've met so far… I mean, other than your one oversight concerning how to make tea in your dorm. But you already solved that and no one's perfect from the beginning.” Arty smiled. Her instincts were definitely spot on about Abe… She was glad she decided to befriend him.