9

The next morning, I took my regular trip to The Roasted Bean before starting on homework. I was hoping to find something to replace the atrocity of the pumpkin coffee from the day before.

Then, my phone pinged with a text.

Chloe: I'm sorry about the other day

I waited for more, but nothing else came. I replied.

Me: It's fine. Don't ever do it again

She didn't respond, but I really hadn't expected her to. At least she recognized that what she did was wrong, but that didn't mean that I wanted to be friends with her again. Civil, sure. Friends? I couldn't see that happening.

I took my matcha tea latte from the barista and tried it as I headed back to my dorm. It was definitely better than the pumpkin coffee from the day before but nowhere near my favorite.

***

"What would you think about me joining Alpha Delta Beta?" I asked Everly and Sabrina at dinner later that night.

Everly dropped her fork to her plate. "Why would you do that? Are you seriously interested?"

I hadn't meant to ask the question. I hadn't even really been thinking about joining, but I was happy to hear her opinion about it. The question wasn't addressed to Sabrina,

I shrugged. "I don't know. I'm so tired of fighting with my mom. It obviously wasn't for Sierra, but what if I really do like it?"

"You're really going to join just because your mom wants you to?" Sabrina asked. "You don't strike me as the sorority type."

I shrugged. "Just throwing the idea around."

"If you join, you'll be around Chloe. All. The. Time," Everly said. "Do you really want to be part of the Huntington family drama again?"

Everly had never understood our on-again, off-again friendship. Especially after I had dated Chloe's brother. My relationship with Everly had always been so simple, so strong. There was never any need or room for drama. We just knew that we'd always be there for each other. But, Chloe wasn't Everly, and there had never been anything simple about our relationship.

I saw Sabrina eyeing my hand playing with my friendship bracelet.

"Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea," I mused, wrapping the loose string around my finger absently.

"Do you actually want to be friends with her?"

I shrugged, stacking my plates and standing to leave.

"Not like ‘friends' friends, but having her in my circle could benefit me. At any rate, it would get my mom off my back."

"We both know you would absolutely hate it," Everly caught up with me as I placed my plates in the bucket.

"Let me run something else by you," I said as the three of us left the dining hall. Looking directly at Sabrina, I added, "Both of you."

"What's up?" Everly asked.

I led them to one of the picnic tables outside. Sitting down, I said, "So, there's this guy."

Everly and Sabrina exchanged a look, and Everly plopped down across from me. Sabrina gracefully slid onto the bench next to her.

"Tell me everything," Everly leaned across the table, eyes sparkling.

I hesitated, unsure where to start.

"Alexia, don't do this to me. Tell me."

"There's really nothing to tell yet," I said, looking down. "He's in my History class and has the brightest green eyes."

"Ooh, she does have a thing for guys with green eyes," Everly pretended to whisper to Sabrina, nudging her in the side.

I dramatically rolled my eyes at both of them.

"There's really nothing to tell yet. He's just really quiet. I sit next to him in History and he's my partner for that final paper." I stopped, unsure how to continue.

Everly drummed her fingers on the table. She didn't say anything, just watched me. Sabrina opened her mouth to say something, but Everly held one finger up, still waiting for me to continue.

"Apparently he lives in our dorm," I said.

Everly's jaw dropped and she eyed me more intently. I continued before she had a chance to jump in.

"My mom sent Chloe over to try to get me to join ADB. Chloe is in History too, and she made some rude comment about Tyler. I told her off and she left and then I got a text from Tyler thanking me for sticking up for him. Then I blew up at him a little but I think we're okay because we had dinner the other night. I think maybe I like him," I finished in a rush, whispering the last sentence.

I fidgeted with my bracelet, avoiding eye contact with either of them.

"I knew it!" Everly cheered. "I knew you were going to find someone.

"Don't get all excited," I said, smiling. Her joy was contagious. I glanced at Sabrina who playfully rolled her eyes in Everly's direction. "I don't think it's going to turn into some epic love story for me. He probably just thinks I'm some girl in his History class."

"I bet you'll change his mind," Everly said, winking at me. And I bet it happens sooner than you think."