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Ifailed.
I failed my exams.
I wasn’t even close to passing.
My heart sank as I looked at the scores on the computer screen. What was I going to do now? I could retake them in about a month and apply again for dental school, but that meant another month of endless studying, and since the semester was over, I had to leave the dorm. I wouldn’t have anywhere to study. Ophelia and I had planned on getting an apartment together. We were in the thick of finding one. I would need a place to studynow,not in a month. Once we had the apartment and I could hide in my own room, studying wouldn’t be an issue. But for now….
What was the point?
Tears welled in my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but that only made it worse. The computer screen showing my ruined future blurred as the tears pooled in my eyes. I pushed myself up from the desk and looked out the window. Ophelia hadjustclimbed in Clay’s car, leaving me to wallow alone. I was certain I was going to pass, so I told her to leave and that we’d celebrate tonight.
But here I was, crying and alone. A failure.
My bottom lip shook, and I fell back into my chair, slamming my laptop shut, not wanting to see that number any longer. Biting my lip to keep it from shaking, I reached out for my phone. I needed someone. Ophelia would be home later tonight. I could talk to her then. No need to disrupt her night with Clay, but that didn’t leave me many options when it came to people to call.
My mom? I mean, she was the default. I adored my mother, but I didn’t want to hear any inspirational, motivational suggestions…I just needed someone to listen to me and let me cry.
I thumbed through my phone, suddenly very aware of how few people I knew. Studying all this time really put a damper in my social life and look where it got me.
My thumb stopped once I got to a name I had thought about a lot in these three weeks. Milo.
I sighed and then without thinking twice about, I hit that small green phone next to his name and quickly put the receiver to my ear. I didn't remember if he had saved my number. He had given me his, but did I give him mine? I sniffed as the phone rang over and over. My heart fluttered as I thought about him answering, and then my throat closed when I thought of him purposefully ignoring my call, not knowing who was on the other line. So many possibilities here.
“Hello, this is Milo.” I heard his soft voice, just the same as I remembered it, and suddenly, all the fears I had been thinking of before vanished.
“Hey, Milo…” I smiled. Even though he couldn’t see it, I hoped he could hear it. “It’s Madeline. Do you remember me? I’m sorry to just call you out of the blue.”
“Madeline.” His voice raised an octave. “Yes, of course I remember you, terrible kiss and all.”
I rolled my eyes. Why wasthatwhat he remembered when the kiss was in fact his doing. “Ha. Yeah, that's me.” I stood from my chair and sat on the edge of my bed, shifting my weight to try to get comfortable. My cheeks were warm, and my eyes were still blurry with tears. Not only did I have the fact of my failing grade on my mind, but now it was being clouded by that kiss.
“Well, Madeline”—Milo’s voice caught my attention—“what brings you to call me so suddenly?” I could almost hear his grin, the same one from the bar that captured me.
I sniffled. “Well,” I choked out, “I just…” How did I say this exactly? I let out an audible sigh and tried to form the words. “I just needed someone to talk to, and I just remembered how easily we talked that night at The Piano Bar. I came across your number on my phone, and well, here we are.” I stumbled over my words, nervousness seeping through.
“Are you okay?” Milo asked, the strain in his voice was heavy.
I inhaled, and then it all came out. Every tear, every worry, that looming word of failure over my head. “No…” I muttered, “No, I’m not okay.”
“Um…” Milo hesitated. “Is Ophelia with you? No, wait…. Shit…Clay left to go get her a few minutes ago. Um…” I heard fumbling and then rattling of keys. “I’ll be right over.”
I didn't expect Milo to come over when I called him, but there he was, sitting in his Toyota in the Common’s parking lot, waiting for me to come down. He had texted, letting me know he was here and that he would take me to go get some coffee, just so we could talk. He even emphasized there would be no kissing in his text. I slipped on my shoes, grabbed a jean jacket, and left my dorm, my computer still humming even though the screen was shut.
We were silent on the way to the coffee house, besides my few sniffles. Milo had rubbed my back when I slid in the passenger seat and had given me a warm smile. When we arrived, he ran around to my car door and held it open for me, hesitating to take my hand and help me out of the car. He led me inside and gestured to an open table, asking me what I wanted to drink, only to return moments later with two cups in hand, setting mine down in front of me.
“How are you still single?” I asked once he settled himself across from me.
He laughed and shook his head, shrugging his shoulders. “Apparently, I’m a terrible kisser.”
I scoffed. “Aside from that,” I grumbled. “You didn't even have to ask me what was wrong. You heard that I wasn’t okay, that I needed a friend…you don't even know me that well…and you raced out your door. I’m asking again—how are you still single?” I lifted my coffee to my lips and drank in the mocha sweetness.
“I don't really have time to date,” Milo answered. “First, it was school and work, and now it’s just work. My shifts are longer and…tough.” He took a sip of his coffee, and I suddenly wondered what was in the cup. “I could just tell you didn’t want to be alone.”
My lips tugged a grin. I ran my fingers along the outside of the coffee cup. “Well, thank you. I didn’t want to cry alone in my dorm.”
“Hey, we’ve all done it. What’s wrong?”
I met his gaze. His eyebrows were raised, and the look of concern sat in his eyes.
