Forever

Chapter Six

The morning was quiet as the trio reminisced on the long night they had less than ten hours ago. All three were on their phone with separate tasks at hand. Lana was probably texting Julian. Jessica was probably organizing her clientele. Dana was positively staring at the text from Chandler that she didn't respond to.

She dropped her spoon in her cereal bowl and turned to face the preoccupied girls. "What would be going through your mind if someone didn't respond to your after hours text?"

Jessica shrugged while Lana placed her phone down in curiosity. "Depends," she smiled, "boy or girl?"

"Boy."

"Hm?" She looked to Jessica for some form of an answer and got nothing. "If I was a boy who got his text ignored by a girl then I'd probably be petty and block her. It would most likely bruise my ego and I couldn't live past it. Maybe after I'll flirt with her best friend just to show her what she missed out on as well."

A sigh escaped Dana's lips as she replied to the text to let Chandler know she was sleeping when in fact she stared at his message for almost an hour. "Thanks for the advice." In one movement, she grabbed her bowl of soggy cereal and placed it in the sink. "So, where are we going for brunch?" She smiled.

Seventy degree weather wasn't uncommon at this time of year in Lafayette. The girls had their sweaters and traveled to all the popular teen spots in town. One place that they always ended up almost every weekend was the hottest brunch spot where boba and bagels were served like air. It was an upbeat atmosphere filled with laughs and tons of gossip. Jessica was guilty of knowing everyone while Lana hoped she'd run in to her boyfriend's friends every now and then. Dana only had the two of them so she expected good conversation and lots of tea.

She ordered her usual tea and avocado toast before claiming a spot near the large glass window that looked out to the street. Cars and people passed endlessly which often distracted her from the usual conversations about boys and school work. She often searched for an escape especially when her mind was continuously occupied with things she told herself weren't important.

Her phone buzzed next to the puddle of water that accumulated at the base of her tea cup. Chandler's name was on the screen and she wasted no time trying to read his reply.

It's all good. Just wanted to talk about my paper.

She could feel her heart beating through her ears in excitement. She never thought she'd be texting him or even have his number in her phone. But here she was.

"What about it?" She replied.

Got a B minus. Thank you.

Although it was probably meaningless. His gratitude added years onto her life. Since surrounded by Jessica's razor sharp instincts, she had to hide this information and the conversation entirely. She clicked her phone off and set a mental reminder to reply later. She didn't want to seem desperate for a conversation or as if she was staring at her phone constantly waiting for more.

"Julian said if I grow my hair out then he'd grow his hair out." Lana's hair was already to the middle of her back. Dana couldn't imagine it being any longer. "I saw a post about how Hispanic men with long hair are becoming a thing."

"I think men doing anything is becoming a thing," Jessica rolled her eyes. "We're allowing them to get away with murder as long as we crave a man. They really aren't craving us. Why do you think it's women who come to me wanting to chase the man? It's like the world is reversing and we don't know how to act anymore."

Both the girls listened intently to Jessica's rant. It seemed personal but if Jessica had a crush then the news channels would know.

"The women proposing is also becoming a thing," Dana added. "I've seen it."

Lana groaned while sliding her hands down her face. "Social media is a literal cancer." They all agreed in unison. "Julian likes other girls pictures. Mainly the ones in bikinis. And I mean, I look good in bikini but I don't look ten thousand likes good. It's literally emotional cheating right? Or is it eyeball cheating?"

"It's some kind of cheating if you don't like it! Tell him!" Jessica snapped. "It's giving he doesn't give a crap." Dana agreed. "You are too fine to be settling for a man who thinks every other girl deserves his time."

Lana rolled her eyes before mindlessly scrolling through her phone. "I don't want to throw away an 8 month relationship because he can be a bit... rude." Dana's eyes darted to Jessica who had a response for everything. The two went back and forth for a while before Lana caved in. "I'll say something but I need to think about it first, of course."

"You say something or I do. I'm sick of that man," Jessica pointed. "And what about you?" Everyone's attention turned to Dana who was trying to hide behind her silence. "You haven't spoken a single word about a guy in like years. Is it gay that you seek?"

It was the question she hoped would never be asked but it was a matter of time before it required a discussion. "I'm not gay. I just haven't found anyone who I really can turn my head to. School has been important lately especially if I can get the scholarships to pay for whatever university we decide to go to."

Like a light bulb went off in Jessica's head, she pulled out a notepad and a pencil from her knitted purse. "So glad you brought that up because we are definitely supposed to talk about that this weekend. Time is dwindling!"

Relieved that the subject had changed, Dana let out a quiet sigh of relief before she scooted her chair closer to get in on the suggestions.