"oops, sorry. i lost track of time. rob and i spent hours talking. he's so smart and funny. he's some kind of business major, but he writes this poetry that makes your toes curl," she gushed as she flopped backward on my mattress, popping the few remaining balloons on her back that still had air in them.

"you don't say," i mumbled. i was used to her immediate fascination with something that was new and shiny. i closed the bathroom door behind me, but i could still hear her chattering away like i was in the room.

"so, how did you meet this rob the poet character?" i asked once i was back in my bed.

"bobbing for apples. he tied my hands behind my back," she sighed happily, pulling the balloons off one at a time.

"honey, i'd watch who i mentioned that to. you know, the whole bondage thing," i teased, stifling a yawn.

"ha, that's so not funny," she growled, throwing a balloon at me that missed the mark completely as it fluttered harmlessly toward the floor.

"i try. now shut off the light. i'm exhausted."

"fine, party pooper," she grumbled before plunging the room into darkness.

i fell asleep to the sound of more deflating balloons and melissa still chattering on about how fantastic rob was and how she couldn't wait for me to meet him. she finally quieted down after i chucked a pillow at her, even though i heard her complaining quietly how it would have been easier to take her costume off if she had a little light.