summer in st. louis

Chapter 23 - Tutti Frutti Problems

Chapter 23
Tutti Frutti Problems

"Are you sure you're OK with this?" I asked Jenny, lightly squeezing her arm. She was shaking uncontrollably, and her eyes were watering.

"Yeah, I have to break up with him. He'll be going to Mizzou, and even thought that's only two hours away, I wouldn't be able to handle knowing he's with other girls. It's..."

"Unimaginable?" I offered, and she nodded.

"If it makes you feel any better, I went to WashU for a football game the other day and there were plenty of hot guys," Heather said happily, hoping to brighten the mood. She continued to lick her spoon of frozen yogurt from Tutti Frutti.

"That doesn't make me feel better, Heather. At least you have Tucker," Jenny sighed, wiping her face.

"Well...I doubt that will last, so yeah," Heather mumbled, no longer confident. Oh shit. What happened with her and Tucker?

"What do you mean, you doubt it will last?" I placed my hand on hers, and Jenny lifted her head and became concerned.

Heather stopped eating her strawberry yogurt and looked up at us. "He's been talking about college like we're gonna stay together. He even mentioned--he mentioned us being together and..."

She stopped, and me and Jenny shared a glance. I could tell she was shook, and so was I.

"Tucker wants to have children?!" I finally burst the silence. Heather suddenly jerked her head up and her eyes opened wide.

"NO! No no no, Claire, not children. Really?" she whispered, looking around Tutti Frutti. The girl at the cash register was staring at us with disgust. Probably because Heather looks like she's thirteen, with her height and all.

"I was thinking the same thing..." Jenny confessed, her frown turning into a grin. She was finally feeling better.

"No guys, he wants us to live together! Like, he said after we settle into WashU we could rent out a flat or condo and live together. I kinda got scared and I...I left him."

"Shit. No. Heather, you broke up with Tucker?" I felt sick. No wonder I didn't see him this morning.

"Ugh guys stop assuming! No, last night we were having dinner and talking about college when he mentioned it. I freaked, then walked out. He was so confused," Heather cried, slumping down in her chair. Jenny sighed and took the frozen yogurt from Heather's grip, taking a bite for herself.

I looked at her, because normally she watched what she ate.

"What? I'm stress eating." She pushed the dessert away and crossed her arms.

"I don't get it. It's almost the end of summer, and we're all having boy problems." Jenny agreed with Heather, but I didn't. They both looked over at me.

"Not necessarily..." I began to blush. My friends grinned and leaned forward in their seats, the sadness washed away.

"Tell us Claire!"

"Did you get it on?"

I smiled at both girls and told them the story.