“Danika!” Margot yells in disgust and Sydney only laughs as she uses her napkin to wipe the book clean. It’s taking a concerted effort to not bust out laughing and cause even more of a half-chewed mess on the table.
Margot tsks at me before heading toward the counter to get her own food.
“Why do you care so much about Arden being here?” Sydney asks, inquisitively but not overly assertive. Just the perfect amount. Very Sydney.
“I don’t,” I repeat, with much less gusto. But after a pause, I continue. “Know…”
Sydney nods in understanding, although I have no idea what conclusions she’s drawing about all this. I haven’t made any connections myself. All I know is, Arden Davis has imprinted somehow in my mind and I need him to leave so I can free up that space for bigger and better things. Like graduating. Like starting medical school.
When Margot returns, the table is free of half-eaten food and I have my sincerest apology face on.
“Sorry for being gross, Mars,” I say, my lower lip quivering to really get the full effect of my apology.
“Yeah yeah,” she says in reply but the slight smile on her face says everything I need to know. I can tell everything about Margot’s thoughts just by the look on her face and that look tells me she loves me even when I completely gross her out. I blow her a kiss across the table and she rolls her eyes at me as she lifts a forkful of her garden salad into her mouth.
“So, what are our plans for tonight?”
“Tonight?” Margot asks. “It’s Monday.”
“Monday before the end of our last fall semester of college!”
“Right, and tomorrow will be the Tuesday before the end of our last fall semester of college. And then the Wednesday and Thursday—”
I throw a piece of lettuce at her which she deftly dodges. “Sydney is bored, she wants to go out.”
Our roommate’s jaw drops. “Huh?”
“Just this morning you said you were bored and you wanted to join a club. How about wegoto a club instead!”
Both my roommates roll their eyes. “Is there something you’re perhaps putting off, dear Danika?” Margot asks, taking another bite of her salad.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Checked your email lately?” Sydney asks. Both girls are staring at me with that look that says they know something I don’t. And the thing they know is that I should be hearing back from the admissions office about medical school this week. This acceptance–or rejection–will shape the rest of my future. So, no. I haven’t checked my email. And fact is, they saw right through my ploy to forget about that.
“Give me the phone,” Margot says, putting her hand out.
With a sigh, I reach into the bottom of my bag and give it to her.
“You have like eight texts from your mom,” she says casually. Margot knows my relationship with my mother and father. She’s been through the worst with me. Without having to ask, Margot puts in my password and goes to my email app.
After a ten second refresh, she sighs. “Nothing.”
“I know that. So, now will you go out with me tonight?” I ask, hopefully.
“No,” both girls reply immediately. I drop my head on the table, my forehead landing on top of my dirty napkin.
“Y'all are the worst.” Gathering my trash, I grab my phone and backpack and head toward the door. “See you after class.”
Sydney waves and Margot look at me with that intensity that sometimes throws me off guard. “You’ll get in,” she says. I nod once before throwing my garbage out and walking out into the brisk cold air.
Chapter Three
Arden
Itshouldn’ttakeaslong as it does to find the registrar's office, but my mind is more than a little distracted. Who the hell was that kid touching Danika? Calling her baby? I didn’t know she had a boyfriend. Why wasn’t he at her birthday celebration? Maybe he ditched her party and that’s why she looked so upset to see him? Why he was begging her…
Margot would’ve told me if Danika was dating someone. Not that it would really matter to me.