"Thanks. If I ever finish, I'll send it to you."
As I smiled, Lola tilted her head to the side.
"So, you and Tolliver. That's a surprise."
"I know," I said. "We're so different."
"No, that's not what I meant," she said. "He's cool. You are too. You'd be good together. I've just never seen him with anyone."
I couldn't quite hide my shock, and Lola laughed.
"I mean, I could be wrong. But Lennox and Tolliver have been best friends since freshman year, and yeah. In that time, he's never had a girlfriend."
"Seriously?"
"I always figured he was waiting for the right person," she said.
I couldn't fully take it in. According to Lola, Tolliver hadn't dated. My eyes went to him and Lennox where they were talking in the far corner of the room. My fake boyfriend looked exasperated, but Lennox, who wore a shit-eating grin, seemed to be enjoying the conversation very much. There were several girls at this party. At least half of them were eyeing the two, possibly because they were popular, maybe because they were gorgeous, probably for both.
"Uh oh," Lola suddenly mumbled.
When I met her eyes again, she was frowning.
"Don't look, but Wayne is coming this way. He's such a jerk. I can't believe you ever went out with him."
"Yeah, me neither," I said, feeling the need to avoid, avoid, avoid.
"I'll run interference if you want to escape."
"Thanks, Lola. I owe you."
"No you don't," she said with a smile. "You never owe your friends."
Something was caught in my throat.
"Go. I've got this."
With another grateful nod, I walked away, quickly losing myself in the crowd, vaguely aware of Wayne's loud curse and Lola saying, "Oops, you should really watch where you're going." As I looked back, he was fuming, looking down at his shirt which now had drink all down the front, as Lola stood there innocently. I quickly closed myself in the library and leaned my head against the door.
"Are you hiding too?"
I spun at the words then breathed a sigh of relief. "Hey, Scotlyn," I said.
She waved at me before turning back to the laptop in front of her. Her auburn hair was plated in two long braids, and I noticed she was wearing headphones around her neck.
"What are you doing in here?"
"Trying to write and stay away from people," she said. "I've got almost a chapter and a half done."
"That's awesome," I said.
"I wish I wrote faster."
"Said every writer ever."
She chuckled at that.
"Do you know Sabrina?" I asked.
