“What do you mean,all our classes?”
“Ace,” Drew greets, finally making it over to us against the stream of students leaving the room. “Surprised to see you here.”
“Oh hey, man.” Ace smiles at him, clapping a hand on his back. “Yeah, I’m changing it up this year. Focusing harder, you know?”
“Mm-hmm,” Drew hums, handing me my coffee and wincing as he checks his watch. “I’m sorry I have to run, but I’ve got physics to get to. It starts in five minutes, and I have to make it all the way over to Vincent Hall. Everyone says Grudeau is a hard-ass about being on time.”
Both Drew and I are taking physics this semester, but we didn’t end up in the same class.
“Of course. I’ll text you later.”
“Yeah,” Drew agrees. “Maybe I can come by tonight.” My cheeks feel hot. I’m annoyed at Ace; I’m feeling a strange jealousy vibe coming from Drew. It’s all too much.
I nod. It’s all I can manage.
We’re not officially a couple, but I do like spending time with him. But I’ve explained the situation with Ace before, and he needs to trust me too.
I don’t know. I’m just…caught off guard. And overwhelmed.
Drew leans down and kisses my cheek before taking off for the back of the classroom on fast feet, glancing over his shoulder at Ace and me when he gets to the door. I sigh, slinging my bag up on my shoulder and willing myself to get over this in less than fifteenminutes. I mean, I’m going to get over it anyway; I may as well get over it now before it stresses me out.Right?
“Do you not have class this hour?” I ask Ace as he puts on his own backpack, letting me go up the aisle first and following behind me. He’s quiet for much longer than he’s ever quiet, so I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him, his earlier words ofall our classeshitting me again like a Mack truck.
“Ace, what’s your next class?”
He smiles sheepishly. “Psychology 201.”
“Ace! Are you in…are you inallmy classes?” I ask, outrage making the pitch of my voice much, much higher than normal.
He winces. “I’m guessing from the way you said that, that’s a bad thing?”
“Ace!”
“Yes. I…yes. I’m in all your classes. But you’re my best friend, Lia. And I want to get better at being a student, and you’re the best student I know. It felt like the best place to start—the best of both worlds, you know? Are you mad?”
“Yes!” I snap.
“I’m sorry!” he apologizes, reaching out for my hand that I jerk back.
“Really. I didn’t think it’d be a big deal, but I can see now I should have considered the extra strain on you. But I promise I won’t make you babysit me. Swear. I’m gonna handle this shit on my own for the most part.”
I sigh. His face is so earnest, so Ace. It’shardto stay mad at him. I don’t know if my brain chemicals are just used to getting over it quickly after this many years of our rule or what, but it is what it is.
I love him, for better or worse. He’s my bestie.
With one more deep heave of air, I reach out for his shoulders and pull him into a hug. He returns the gesture, wrapping his arms around my back and tucking his face into my neck. I soak in the comfort of him for a long second before pulling back.
“I just have one question.”
“Yeah?”
“The tweezers, I can get. The slip ‘n slide, even. But why in the fresh hell do you have a turkey baster in your backpack?”
“It’s all for later. Me and some other sophomores decided on an innocent little slip ‘n slide event by the new fountain on the pedestrian court to welcome some of the more interesting freshman. I was obviously going to tell you about it. I just didn’t get a chance. The turkey baster was the best way I could think to surreptitiously steal some water from the fountain to wet the slide.”
“The group ofmore interesting freshmanyou’re referring to wouldn’t happen to include Finn’s twin brothers, would it?”
He smirks. “I don’t know. Trav and Jackarepretty interesting.”
