She sighed and pulled her hair back into a makeshift ponytail. “How about I call you crying about someone breaking into our dorm? I can mess things around a bit in case he follows you in. I’ll hide my laptop, and we can say someone stole it.”
“If Noah even bought that, we’d need to report it to campus security, and they’d check the security cameras.” I shook my head, being careful of the comb this time. “It’s a good idea, but they’d be able to prove it wasn’t real.”
Teresa puffed out her cheeks in thought before I saw the metaphorical lightbulb flash on above her head.
“Aha! I’ll say I started my period and can’t move because of the crippling cramps, and I need you to stop by the store for some Midol.” She looked wholly too excited for someone who was going to fake bleeding out of her vagina in copious amounts.
But who was I to judge?
“Perfect,” I agreed, thoroughly impressed. “It’s just uncomfortable enough to make him too embarrassed to question it.”
“Make sure to pick me up some Twizzlers, too. I’m running low.”
“Wait, am I actually going to the store? And we’re a Red Vines dorm, Teresa. You know that.”
“If you need a fake emergency, yeah. Noah might drive you to the store on the way back if I say I need Midol, right?”
“True. Maybe I can pick up some more toothpaste while I’m there,” I added thoughtfully. “Mine’s almost out. It takes me like five minutes to squeeze a drop out of it each time now.”
“And we need more Pop-Tarts. I finished off the last of them yesterday.”
“Well, now I really want to go to the store.” I frowned and turned to face Teresa. “Even if it goes well, I might just tell him you texted me anyway.”
“How romantic.” Teresa ran a hand through her long dark hair, and a small smirk blossomed. “Then you can hold hands while strolling down the tampon aisle and—”
A knock sounded on the door. Teresa and I turned toward the clock.
7:00 p.m.
I dropped the comb I’d been running through my hair.
“What the heck?” I whisper-shouted before turning and gaping at Teresa as I wrapped the towel tighter around my chest. “He’s on time. Why would he be on time? What college guy shows up to a date exactly when they say they will?”
Oh, right. This was Noah.
“Should we pretend you aren’t here?” Teresa was just as confused.
“How will that help?” I asked. I’d rather not have to jump out the window and sneak up behind him. One of my goals for the night was tonotbreak any bones.
“I don’t know, but you look like you’re freaking out right now!” Teresa’s arms flew around in a way that I didn’t understand.
“That’s because Iamfreaking out!” My heart galloped into overtime as I started mindlessly flipping through hangers while clutching the towel securely around my chest. “Holy macaroni, what am I going to wear?”
“Jeans,” Teresa said in another whisper. “They’re safe date clothes. Nice ones, though. Fancy jeans.”
“You think I have fancy jeans?” I continued the whisper-yelling match as my heart threatened to beat out of my rib cage. I thought I had at least ten more minutes. “He said something nice. Maybe a skirt—”
Another polite knock sounded on the door.
“Coming!” My voice bordered on hysterical as I fished a bra out of a pile on the floor.
“Oh my God, you can practically tell there’s a stick up his ass from the way he knocks,” Teresa said with wide eyes.
I pierced her with a glare as I stumbled for the door. “He can hear you, Teresa!”
She shrugged before rummaging through the closet. “Just saying. He’s not exactly the laid-back, surferesque, bongos-playing, hipster-coffeehouse-squatter, homeless bum I pictured you with.”
I froze in front of the door before turning on her with a scowl. “Excuse me? Teresa, let me make thisveryclear. I would never, ever, in amillion years, go out with a guy who prefershipster coffeehousesover cozy cafés. Never.Do you understand me?”
