There was a definite blush when she said he was cute. It wasn't something Julian heard a lot. Geeky and awkward, sure. Weirdo art guy was another common one. Cute was new.
At her question, Julian groaned. "A week. They don't want me walking around yet. It'll rip the stitches in my hip. Apparently potential blood loss trumps the last week of classes before final exams." He rolled his eyes. "You'd think they'd never been to college with that attitude."
She seemed to float through the room, one bright and colorful spark of life in the drab place. The sunlight was just barely able to peek in through the drab curtains, and kept striking her hair. It was mesmerizing. Like a living kaleidoscope. His hands were aching for paints, a camera, something to keep this imagery in his mind into something tangible, something he could use to show it to the world.