university

The Settlement of Eve

Evening. Everyone in Block 510 is home. Kuzya is in the kitchen, Michael is with a calculator, Anton is on the couch with his phone. The girls are in their rooms: Yana is with papers, Masha is painting her nails, Kristina is reading her notes.

There's a knock. Michael opens the door. Zoya Mikhailovna is standing there, carrying a suitcase, and a girl. She has dark, shoulder-length hair and brown hair. Her eyes are gray, looking straight ahead, unabashed. She holds herself calmly and confidently.

"Eagles, meet Eva Vorontsova. She's transferring to the psychology department. There's no room in the other blocks, so she'll be staying with you," Zoya Mikhailovna announces, pushing her suitcase forward.

Eva enters first, quickly and carefully scanning the block. She's not shy in front of anyone.

— Hello everyone. Eva. Where is the suitcase?

Kuzya jumps out of the kitchen with a fork:

• Oh, new girl! I'm Kuzya! Let me help!
  He grabs the suitcase and drags it into the women's room.

Michael extends his hand:
— Arthur, Michael, please. Graduate student. If you have any everyday needs, please contact me.
Eva shakes hands briefly:

• Eva. Thank you.

Anton doesn't get up from the couch. He doesn't even look up from his phone. Only when Zoya Mikhailovna raises her voice does he lazily say:

• Yeah. Anton.
  And that's it. He looks at the screen again. Eva stares at him for a second—her gray eyes narrow slightly, as if noticing something. But she says nothing. She walks into the room. Anton doesn't follow her with his eyes. He doesn't care.

In the women's room.

Yana gets up:
— Hi! Yana, I'm from the trade union. If you need help with documents, come straight to me.
“Uh-huh,” Eva puts her bag on the bed by the window and looks around.

Masha throws a nail:
— Oh, wow! I'm Masha. Let's be friends! Where are you from? Do you have a boyfriend?
"From Voronezh. No boyfriend," Eva replies briefly, disinterested in the small talk.

Christina looks up from her notes. She looks at Eva, calmly, searchingly. No hostility, but no warmth either.
— Kristina. Sokolovskaya. This bed. Bottom bunk. Rules: don't take what doesn't belong to you, don't make noise after eleven, wash the dishes right away.
Eva meets her gaze. Directly, without embarrassment:
— Got it. Anything else?
— That's all for now.
Christina returns to her notes.