I would light a match and blow it out to move forward into the new year.
I’d made wishes on stars like birthday candles once when I saw the moon at its highest and danced as an offering, however ridiculous that sounded now.
Denied funding didn’t mean I couldn’t fund the on-campus event somehow, right?
“Do you have any of that shea lotion bar thing in your bag yet? The soap in the lab is ruining my hands,” complained Vadika. She leaned back against her own backpack, rubbing her palms together as she soaked in the sun.
“Yeah.” I reached toward my front bag pocket and tossed her the mini canister. As well as being extremely intelligent, Vadika was also well coordinated. She caught the lotion with ease. “Here.”
“Why, thank you.” Popping the cap, she made the same motion as Ryan had last night, bringing her nose down to the salve. Her eyes closed as she breathed it in. “So good.”
I chuckled as I shook my head. I couldn’t help but feel delighted by the comment. I was always protective over my scents, afraid if they smelled too floral, too medicinal.
“You should really think about selling this stuff, you know,” Ryan had said.
My eyes narrowed as I watched Vadika lather her hands in the melting oils. She capped the tiny metal container and extended it back without residue. I stared down at the square box in my hand. Orange and lily. Sweet and cloying.
“So, do you have a plan for what you’re going to do next?” Vadika asked.
The brightness shining in my eyes must’ve been visible as she asked the words. Hers widened with interest, lips pursing.
“Well, go on. Share, mighty Luella. How do you plan on taking over the world today?”
Or maybe the look in my eyes might’ve been a little wilder than I’d thought.
Either way, she was right. I did have an idea. However, I was going to need her help. I was also going to need hands and mastery of the student handbook to see if I could pull this off.
I’d figured out the problem. I’d figured out exactly what I planned to do next.
I stared up at Ryan and his messy head of hair as he approached us across the grass. The answer for Vadika died on my lips. I might be looking at exactly the person who had solved my problem hours ago without realizing it, in all his light-eyed, wavy-haired glory.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Ryan grinned, holding on to the straps of his backpack as he came up next to us.
Vadika gave a wave, eyes wide and just as delighted. “Hi there.”
“Hi, I’m Ryan.” He adjusted his bag’s straps. “You must be the one and only Vadika.”
“The one and only.” Vadika grinned at her nickname. “I guess so.”
“Great to meet you. Properly anyway. I think I was in a gen ed class with you second year.”
“I think so,” she agreed. “Lu has been talking about you.”
“Has she?” Ryan’s expression opened up as he turned toward me with pure humor. The longer I stared at him, however, the faster it dwindled. “See? I can say hi. Wait, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Remember what I said about a little sacrifice?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
As he swallowed, Ryan’s face blanched, but he didn’t look away. “Plan on cashing in?”
I bit my bottom lip and looked between him and Vadika. Neither of them was running yet.
Good start.
15
“Okay, I’m not going to lie. You really scared me before with the crazy eyes,” Ryan said from where he stood next to me.
“Crazy eyes?” Hands busy, I made a face.
