Push came to shove, I would give as much effort as I could too. No matter how awkward or cheesy this class felt. I did want to change lives. Or, at least, do something that could affect someone in a positive way. I didn’t want to be a sidekick anymore. Not to Lizzy or Tyler or anyone. Instead, I would pick up my camera and make something great and make people care.
The next two classes of the day went by quickly. All my professors seemed nice enough. The class sizes were a bit large for my liking. Amber U’s film program was smaller than Westbrooke’s.
The whole campus felt like an overcrowded swimming pool. I moved through the throngs of people who knew exactly where they were going and what time they wanted to be there.
I managed to find a quieter place on campus, walking along a lake with students lounging in the grass. There were quite a few ducks with their small ducklings scurrying behind them in a straight line. They were so cute that I had to unlock my phone to film them. I walked slowly behind one of the duck troops for a few yards, getting prime footage. My focus broke when I heard Yara’s voice near me.
“Like last year, huh?” she asked the girl who was standing in front of her.
“Not at all like last year,” the girl replied. Her voice was light and careful.
Yara snorted, unconvinced. Before she could reply, her gaze met mine. I’d almost tried to sneak away before she could see me because the conversation sounded a bit serious. Once she spotted me though, her face lit up with a welcoming smile. At that point, I didn’t have any excuse to not move forward.
“Hey, Emmy.” Yara gestured to the girl standing across from her. “This is my friend Covee. She’s into art, too.”
Covee was a large girl like me. She had a sweet, round face that made her look innocent and kind. The flowy pink wrap dress she wore fell well below her ankles. Covee reminded me of one of the princesses from the theme parks I used to visit as a kid. The smile she offered me was a bit shy.
“Hi.” She waved. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.” I nodded, offering her a warm smile back.
“She’s lying about the art thing.” Covee waved her hand at Yara and laughed a little. “I’m a graphic design major. Which is art, yes, but I don’t know much about other disciplines.”
“She likes to be modest,” Yara teased and Covee shook her head, trying to keep her smile from growing.
“I’m actually in a rush to get to my next class,” Covee shared when her phone buzzed with a notification. “But…um, I’d love to talk more about your work. You’re new here, right?”
“Right,” I confirmed.
“I remember how that was.” She shook her head as if the thoughts were too invasive for her liking. “We should definitely hang out. And Yara…”
Yara made a face when Covee turned back to her.
“Just keep an eye on him, okay?” Covee pointed a finger which Yara swatted away. “He doesn’t say anything to anyone.”
Yara shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why do you think it’ll be any different with me?”
“You two spend time together, I don’t know.”
I raised a brow, and Yara realized I was out of the loop. “She’s worried about Dakota. Because she worries about everyone.”
“I don’t worry about everyone,” Covee countered in a tone that to even my untrained ears sounded a bit wavering.
“What’s wrong with Dakota?” I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. He seemed fine when we spoke this morning. If he wasn’t, he was good at faking, and somehow that made me feel sadder than I’d care to admit. I didn’t know him like Yara or so it seemed, Covee. If there was something to worry about, I felt bad for not knowing him enough to detect as much earlier.
Covee and Yara exchanged looks before deciding on what to tell me. I opened my mouth to let them know they didn’t have to share details about their friend if it was private. I was an outsider, after all.
“He’s been going through some stuff,” Covee said. “He’s not a big talker when it comes to his feelings, but I can tell something’s up.”
“He’s not going to talk to me if he won’t even talk to you or Weston,” Yara grumbled with a shake of her head. “Kota always brushes me off.”
“Could you at least try a little harder?” Covee’s eyebrows knitted. “He’d do the same for you.”
“He wouldn’t have to because I talk about my damn feelings with my friends,” Yara retorted and then, added, “Sorry. I’m a little tired of people not being straightforward. I’m tired of reading between lines.”
Covee let out a sympathetic sigh. “I know. Just… do your best.”
“Fine, fine. For you, I’ll try,” Yara promised.
