Trust me, babe

Chapter 16

Kathryn

"I'm so hungry," I complained as I threw my bag on the chair and sat down next to Persimmon.

Though it probably looked a bit stupid, Persimmon and I always sat next to each other instead of opposite to each other when we came to this café. That was because we usually — read: every time when it was free — sat at the corner table and neither of us wanted to sit with our back to the rest of the café. It wasn't nice if you could only see the wall instead of everything that was happening behind you at the café.

"Well, now you eat," Persimmon said and handed me my plate from our tray. Then she took her strawberry milkshake and started drinking. "Love this. Pure bliss."

I looked at my quiche. It looked so delicious. And it smelled so good. I was so hungry. Persimmon and I had been hiking the Clover Hill Trail in Macquarie Pass National Park and I had forgotten to pack anything to eat. Stupid me. Luckily Persimmon had been dying for a strawberry milkshake and had agreed to come to our favorite café together with me before heading home.

"So you're honestly considering applying to some university in New York?" Persimmon asked as I slipped a big piece of my quiche into my mouth.

I nodded, my mouth so full that I couldn't speak. I tried to chew quickly so that I could swallow and be able to answer Persimmon properly.

"Yeah," I said after a while. "I'm considering it. But I haven't decided anything yet. My friend just really wants me to go there because she studies there and, well, I've really missed her and it would be great to live in the same city with her again."

"Of course," Persimmon said. "But, honestly, is she the only reason you might want to go study there? I mean, of course you want to see your friend again but there are so many other cool things in New York as well. You can't be telling me that none of them intrigue you at all! You know, the sky scrapers, the yellow taxis, Central Park, Broadway, the Statue of Liberty... Hell, the mere word New York causes me to shiver from excitement!"

I laughed. Of course Persimmon would react like this.

"It isn't that special really," I said. "New York, I mean."

"Well, you're right, of course," Persimmon said, pulling her lips in a tight line. "There are no cool surfer guys braving the waves, no constant warmth and sunshine and no unlimited possibilities for splendid beach parties and grilling festivities."

I laughed again. I was feeling so happy and careless now that I was eating this marvelously delicious quiche. "Sydney sure has its own specialities," I said. "Every city does. And yet every city is just a random spot on this Earth where a lot of people have for one reason or another decided to settle into."

Persimmon snorted. "No need to start philosophising Kathryn. Anyway, have you ever been to New York?"

"Yep," I said, slipping the last piece of my quiche into my mouth. "My grandparents live in New York, in Manhattan actually, so I've visited New York several times. Though it's been a long time since I've last been there."

"I envy you," Persimmon said. "You yourself have lived in LA and your grandparents live in Manhattan."

Now it was my turn to snort. The thought that someone would envy my life was just plain ridiculous.

"Anyway," Persimmon said again. "My point is that maybe you should go to New York and visit the university you are considering applying to. That might help you to settle your thoughts about it. To help you choose whether you want to go there or not."