Harper’s voice was low and hesitant, as if to match the suddenly awkward tone of their imminent departure.“So, the theater’s back in the quad.Do you want to just meet there, or...”
“Sure, yes, absolutely.”
Harper gave a little grin, nodding as if he understood.“This is awkward, right?I mean, not quite a date, but it feels like a date and...”
“Right?I mean...”
“Not that it would ever be a date, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
“Just not sure what else to call it.”
“Maybe 7:30 in case it’s really busy.”
“Oh, sure, well...”
They were talking simultaneously, little snorts and laughs and giggles and awkward gestures like punctuation marks as they both finally paused to take a breath.Banks drifted away first, giving a little wave before turning to make sure.“So, 7:30, right?”
Harper was still standing at the little intersection between the three dissecting paths that led to the student dorms.“Thanks, Banks,” he said, their eyes meeting in the day’s last light.
“For what?”
“For not ignoring me the way you used to.”
Banks snorted, tapping his chest before spreading his arms wide.“New school, Harper.New me, remember?”
Harper nodded before turning slightly away.“We’ll see,” he murmured before turning and, far more quickly than he’d loped across the campus, disappeared around the bend toward his building.Banks watched him go, feeling suddenly lonely as he stood on the path to his own building.
Chapter Eight
Harper
“Congrats!”
Harper and Banks stood in front of the ticket counter, a droll cashier behind the counter pausing from filing her nails to peer at them sarcastically.
