NINETEEN Jessie

NINETEEN

Jessie

Jessie loved her job behind the information desk, but she hated that it took away time from finding out more about the letters. Now their quest was stalled because they wouldn't be able to see Professor Barnard until the next day.

Ravi seemed to take it in stride. His argument about taking a break and focusing on their real lives for a few days seemed like a good idea. It allowed her time to process and to take an extra shift at the information desk. Ravi, who always seemed to finish his homework quickly and efficiently, had bought a new thriller from one of his favorite writers and said that he'd come and read in the student center until she finished.

She didn't know why his love of literature shocked her so much. He preferred thrillers and mysteries and horror, but occasionally picked up graphic novels and romances as well. Once Jessie started asking him about the stories he liked, Ravi could talk for hours. He'd tell her about his favorites, the plot holes that he wished the writers would address, and the new releases he was looking forward to.

Jessie checked her phone when she received an incoming text message.

RAVI: Sorry I'm running late! I know I said I'd come and read in the student center today, but I got sidetracked. Be there soon.

Jessie sent a thumbs-up emoji, then looked down at her physics homework again. She'd excelled in all her midterms, but she needed to keep her grades up through the rest of the semester if she wanted to start off strong. It was just that one seminar class that had her worried.

She glanced up at the sound of the student-center doors opening, then stiffened when she saw Sahdna and Tanvi walk in together. They both wore spandex workout sets and carried water bottles with their key-card wallets.

"Hi!" Tanvi said as she approached the information desk. She crossed her arms and leaned against the ledge. "Busy day?"

Jessie held up her physics book. "Brutal." She loved physics, and sometimes doing the assignments calmed her at night, but it did take a lot of concentration and work.

"I know you said that you were almost done with your shift," Tanvi added. "How about playing hooky from the library today and coming to yoga with us? You liked it last week!"

"I did," Jessie admitted. Tanvi had demanded she take a break and spend some time in the gym. They were over the halfway mark in their first semester of college, and it was clear that Tanvi was her only close friend on campus while the rest of her classmates remained at a safe distance so they didn't distract her from her classes. But like Ravi, Tanvi refused to stay at arm's length, and now they were friends, and that meant Jessie was dedicated to cultivating their relationship just as much as she was dedicated to everything else that was important in her life.

But right now, under Sahdna's watchful eye, and with Ravi's texts popping up on her phone, she had no choice but to say no. "Unfortunately, I have plans."

"We saw Ravi on the way here," Sahdna said, as if reading her mind. "He mentioned you guys were doing something."

Jessie looked at her phone. "Oh? Where was he?"

Sahdna pointed to the glass doors. "We were at the frat house because I wanted to use their deck for a video series I'm shooting, and he had just stopped by to talk to Vik and Deeps. He said he'll be right behind us."

"Great," she said, trying not to smile. She knew that Sahdna and Ravi were friends, but were they close enough that he would tell her about their relationship? For the last few weeks, they had managed to convince everyone that they were just friends, but Sahdna and Ravi were close.

"What were they talking about at the frat house?" Tanvi asked.

Sahdna shrugged. "The guys asked him for his help, and he's such a nice guy, he probably couldn't say no. When we were leaving, I think they were making summer vacation plans. Ravi was arguing about this internship he's supposed to do with his dad or his brother."

Jessie stiffened at the mention of an internship.

Tanvi cocked her head. Jessie was pretty sure she was completely oblivious to the tension that existed between her new girlfriend and her roommate. "I know this is, like, super privileged for me to think," Tanvi said as she lowered her voice and leaned closer across the desk, "but I thought we got to a point where families pressuring their children to enter specific careers was no longer a thing. Is Ravi really fighting with his parents about an internship that most people in his shoes would die for?"

"I doubt the fight is about South Asian expectations," Sahdna said.

"No, I think it is a little bit about being South Asian," Jessie said. "His family had to work to be the powerhouse it is today. It adds a whole layer of importance to what Ravi is turning down. Or better yet, what he thinks he can accomplish on his own with his wri—er, his media studies major."

Sahdna pursed her lips.

"I'm sure he'll figure it out," Tanvi said. "He's still a Kumar, right?"

"Right," Jessie said. She hoped that her roommate was right.

"So what are you guys working on?" Tanvi asked, turning back to Jessie. "Some group project or something?"

Jessie wanted desperately to tell Tanvi everything. She knew that even though Tanvi was bubbly and cheerful all the time, she was incredibly smart. She constantly scored the top of her class and had even helped Jessie with math homework the day before. Hopefully when they figured out the letters, she could buy Tanvi dinner and gush about the whole story.

But for now, she remained evasive. "It's something like that," she said.

"Here comes that Kumar now," Sahdna said when the doors of the student center opened. Jessie looked up, warming at the sight of Ravi walking in with his backpack slung over one shoulder, a thick university sweatshirt fitted to his toned frame. His hair was starting to grow a little long, and curls peeked out from under the rim of his signature backward hat.

He smiled when he saw Jessie, then waved at Sahdna and Tanvi. "Hey, I told you I was right behind you," he said.

Jessie wasn't sure how they were supposed to greet each other now that they were together. Her fingers trembled as she ran them down the page of the physics textbook in front of her. "Hi," she said.

In a move that both surprised and delighted her, Ravi gripped the ledge of the desk, hoisted himself up so he could lean over, and planted a noisy kiss at the corner of her mouth. "Hello, gorgeous," he said.

She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. "I heard that you were visiting your friends at the frat house."

"I was," he said. He looked back and forth between Jessie, Sahdna, and Tanvi. "Vik is on student government. They're involved in providing student feedback for the tower renovation, and he needed help with his presentation. I also wanted to see if he knew anything about what was going on."

"It's a shame that they're going to take down all of that stained glass," Tanvi said.

Jessie nodded. "I feel the same way."

"Actually," Ravi said slowly, "there's a good chance they might not do it anymore. They still have to convert the tower into more computer space, because there's just not enough on campus and in the library, but after talking with Vik, he said I might be able to use my name to convince the renovation committee to keep a part of it."

Jessie's mouth dropped. "Are you serious?"

He nodded, and the corner of his mouth curved up in a half smile that made her stomach flutter. "My father is always looking for ways to be philanthropic that will make him look good. A big-ass donation should do the trick. What do you think?"

"I think that's amazing," she said. Her voice shook at the thought of being able to see the kaleidoscope room and its full glory after the renovations were complete. "But why?"

"Because of you," he said. "And because of me. If that room was powerful enough to bring two people together like that, shouldn't it be memorialized?"

"Yeah," she said, then cleared her throat.

The alarm on her phone went off, breaking the tension. "Ah, my shift is over. Maybe we can celebrate or something. Even if it's not a done deal, I feel like that's good enough for truffle fries."

"I love the truffle fries at Rothby's!" Tanvi said. She pressed her hands against her stomach, then turned to Sahdna. "Babe. Maybe we can go to a later class and join them for truffle fries instead?"

"I'd actually really like to go to the class," Sahdna said.

"Ugh, I know you're right, but those truffle fries."

Sahdna laughed and squeezed Tanvi's arm. "After. Jessie, Ravi, we'll see you guys later!"

"See you later, roomie," Tanvi called out cheerfully as Sahdna dragged her out the front door. Then Ravi and Jessie were alone again.

"So, truffle fries?" Ravi asked.

"Yeah," she said. She shook off the icy coldness from Sahdna's presence and logged out of the computer at her desk. "Truffle fries."