Not because the noise had changed.
Because she had.
The girl who challenged professors and threw statistics around suddenly looked twenty years old and exhausted.
“Do you want to know what I think?”
Her eyes lifted.
“What?”
“I think most people are making it up as they go and pretending to have it all together. Fake it till you make it. And having everything planned for you ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
I looked down at my watch and realized we’d been at the booth talking for close to three hours.
We’d been here long enough for Millie to refill our drinks twice and for me to realize I wanted another three. I knew we had to part. I just hated how I felt about it. I stood and helped Skye out of the booth. We made our way outside. She took a slow breath and let it go, in no more of a hurry to leave than I was.
She turned to me and smiled.
“You may have been moved up to best friend. I need to sleep on it, though.”
“Well, take my number down so you can confirm if I earned that title or not in the morning,” I said, handing her my phone.
“Damn Ducane Simmons, that was smooth. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
She turned and walked back toward campus.
I decided right there that I was going to have her back. She hadn’t asked me to. She didn’t need to. Some things you know.
spring semester senior year
I was on my bed with my legs in the air, singing Yuna like I was her background singer and on payroll.
I had found my rhythm at Coupeville and made friends, even some outside of my best friend and lover boy, Ducane. One milkshake had turned into the most intense feeling of love I had ever felt. It felt unhealthily healthy. It felt crazy. It felt like butterflies erupting every time I said that man’s name.
Boy, you bubble wrap my heart
And all the things that I used to be afraid of
Suddenly, it all disappeared
I stood and grabbed the hairbrush beside the Dean’s List letter sitting on my nightstand. I had read it four times since yesterday. I was not above celebrating myself in private, and today that looked like bare feet, short shorts, a sports bra, andFavorite Thing on repeat loud enough that Fee had knocked twice before I heard her.
She opened the door with her shoulder because her hands were full.
I removed my headphones with wide eyes.
“What the hell? Ophelia, you got a secret admirer?”
“Girl, you know this delivery is for you,” Fee, my roommate and best friend, said. She walked into my room carrying a bouquet that had no business being that large. I clocked the garment bag draped over her arm and the small envelope balanced on top, with my name in handwriting I knew without needing to see.
“Tell Ducane, unless he’s delivering these heavy ass flowers himself, he needs to keep it at a medium.” She set everything down on my desk with her whole chest.
I stared at the flowers and melted before falling back on the bed with a squeal.
From not knowing what’s next to the Dean’s list. Proud of you, Skye. I’ll be there to pick you up at seven. I hope you love the dress. – Sugar Cane
I rose from the bed and unzipped the garment bag.
