Page 56 of Don’t Forget Me

“Now imagine being a Mexican born in America,” I replied as I plopped on my bed, examining the crevices of the ceiling. From the corner of my eye, I noticed how she rapidly pushed her chair to face me.

“I’m sorry, you know I don’t mean to offend you.”

“You’re not,” I chuckled before sitting up. “Tell me, is it mostly the girls of the school? The ones with ginger hair, freckled cheeks, and skirts that could literally be booty shorts?”

“Yes! Those girls are evil,” Camille gasped.

“Yeah. Don’t let them get to you. They’re just insecure little brats who feel threatened by us.” I shrugged.

Insecurity usually ran deep in girls like them. Although they made me falter at times, I mostly felt pity rather than resentment.

“I didn’t think of it that way.”

“That’s what I’m here for. To give deep felt revelations about human behaviors,” I joked.

I saw her change of thought through her facial expression. “Wait, you didn’t tell me how your interview went.”

I smiled. “I got the job!”

Her eyes bulged as she jumped from her seat and embraced me. It only took me two seconds to wrap my arms around her. “I’m so happy for you.”

Her excitement made me chuckle. “You deserve the whole world, my girl. I can’t believe you did it. You secured a job in Scotland in your one-week search. That should honestly be some kind of record.”

Camille continued to ramble as she held me in her arms. I never had this before; it felt nice, but odd. Not imposed upon me: if anything, I welcomed the warmth of her solace, but it felt unnatural.

“I’m enjoying the physical contact, but I do have to start getting ready.” I patted her back.

Cami stepped back, her blue eyes questioning me as I made my way to my dresser. I pulled a drawer open, pondering on the type of outfit I should wear. I should’ve asked Ezra what the occasion was to dress accordingly.

“Where are you going?” Camille’s gaze followed me.

“Ezra wants to take me somewhere,” I said mindlessly.

I rummaged through my drawer, looking for a different T-shirt than the one I had been wearing. There was only silence from Camille. Since the very beginning of the semester, Cami had been gushing about Ezra’s physique and qualities; it was odd that she’d been quiet when I mentioned his name. I looked back; she seemed on the verge of exploding with excitement.

“Again… are you okay?” I questioned.

“He asked you out on a date. Don’t you realize?” she exclaimed, nearing me.

I shook my head. “It’s not a date. We’re just friends.”

“Friends with an understanding that he has feelings for you, right?” she inquired.

“What? No!”

“I see the way he looks at you when you are walking down the hallways.”

I shook my head while crossing my arms. “A guy like that would never have feelings for a girl like me.”

“You never know,” she claimed, lifting her shoulders.

“We’re from two different worlds, Camille.”

“Yeah, so were Romeo and Juliette,” she said. I remained silent to allow the thought of the Shakespearean couple to simmer in her mind.

She waited patiently for me to reply as she furrowed a brow.

“They didn’t exactly have the best ending, did they?” I asked.