I let my eyes wander over the crowd one more time. If I don’t find her this time, I’ll stop looking. I just saw her earlier today in class, but we didn’t talk. I thought after finding out we’re both Black Phantom fans we might be able to properly start up a friendship. That I might get a chance to explain about Halloween night, how I lost her number to a puddle of beer, and that at least once a day I wish I could text her and ask her to grab lunch with me so we could just talk. I just want to spend time with her. Apparently my hopes were too high.
But I am nothing if not persistent, so when I actually spot her in the crowd, I don’t hesitate. I tell Xavier I’ll be back and take my liquid courage with me to go say hi.
I weave through more crowds, and by the time I get to her I’m sweating a little despite the temperature.
“Hey, Jessie. And Jade, right?”
Both girls turn to me, wide eyes paired with smiles.Smiles?Over the years, Jessie has had many reactions to seeing me. They usually involved rolled eyes or a “Why are you talking to me?” face, or the ever-classic “I made a better grade than you and I already know it” look.
Xavier always tells me I fall for girls who are mean to me. Which isn’t strictly true, but when banter and sarcasm are a love language growing up, it’s hard not to be excited by a girl who can dish it out as well as it’s dished out.
But now she’s smiling at me. Her cheeks are pink and her eyes are bright, which could be the cold or the alcohol. I’m just optimistic enough to believe it’s a little bit because maybe she’s happy to see me.
“Yes!” Jade lights up. “You remembered. I’m impressed.”
“Hi, Mac,” Jessie says. She’s got a half-empty beer, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s her first drink. It would explain the lack of eye-rolling.
“You guys excited for the game?” I ask.
That was so fucking lame.
“Yes,” Jade says at the same time Jessie says, “No.”
“Not a football person?” I ask.
“Not a sports person,” Jade says, leaning across her.
Jessie shrugs, the movement slightly muted by the fleece blanket wrapped around her shoulders. “More of a library girl, really. Want to sit?” She scoots a little closer to Jade, and I accept her invitation, warmth spreading through my chest.
“How very un-American of you,” I say, and Jessie smirks.
“I’m sure you’re the poster child for American college students. Plays seven sports, gets all As, graduates top of his class,” Jessie says. There’s a playful tone in her voice. It’s exactly the kind of banter I’ve come to expect from her—the kind that defines our relationship. The kind that makes me even more confident I’m right about why she won’t talk about the Halloween party. It’s all just part of the game we play.
“Jury’s still out on graduating top of my class. Got some fierce competition.” I wink at her and she looks away, trying to hide a smile as she takes a sip of her drink.
“Want some candy?” Jade holds out a fistful of Twizzlers.
“My favorite,” I say and happily take two.
“Is it really your favorite candy?” Jessie asks, sounding surprised.
“Why? Do I seem like a Snickers guy?”
“Yeah, kinda.”
“Should I be offended by that?”
“Snickers are a respectable candy. There’s a lot going on. I think a Milky Way is way worse. What does that have? Caramel? Nougat? Boring.”
“Wow. Should I ask how you feel about Twizzlers?”
She grimaces, and it’s something between a smile and a guilty face. It’s adorable.
“Yikes. We’ll skip the Twizzler opinions. All right then, what’s your favorite candy?”
“Not really a big candy person, to be honest.”
“Those are some hot takes then for someone who doesn’t even like candy.”
