"Sorry, I get nightmares a lot," I apologize, sitting up.
"It's fine. I was just concerned," She tells me with a smile.
"Are you hungry?" I look at her and she nods.
"We should go out and get breakfast."
"We should." We both get up and dig for something to put on.
"Is IHOP okay?" She asks as she brushes out her hair.
"Of course. I love IHOP." A smile forms on my face just thinking about stuffing my face with pancakes. I put my hair in a braid as I wait for Tess to tell Ms. Lilin.
"We have to be back before seven." She tells me as she slips on a beanie.
We leave the house, locking the door behind us and heading to the car. I notice Brielle and Jackie looking at us from the window, a glare on both their faces. I ignore it as I get in the car, Tess doing the same. We head to IHOP, talking about the future.
"So, Ms. Lilin said you have lots of money saved up. Is that how you're going to get through college?" Tess asks after we order our food.
"Yeah, I have enough for an apartment and probably most everything paid for." I respond taking a sip of my coffee.
"Maybe we could move into an apartment together?" She asks in a joking manner.
"Actually that's not a bad idea. Where do you plan on going?"
"Columbia University. I start next year." She explains taking a drink of her coffee.
"Wow, I'm talking with my counselor today about New York University. It's a great school for photography and I want to get started on my application."
"Ah, I've heard about that one. Brielle wants to go, but she can barely manage getting anything over a C."
"I've had all A's the whole time I've been at school. I hope that will persuade their decision."
"It might. You're graduating this year like me, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I have a few more classes to complete then I'll be done." Our food arrives after I finish talking and we start eating.
"Me too. I'll be done before Christmas break."
"I think I'll be done by the beginning of January."
"We should start looking at apartments." She looks at me.
"We should." I grin at her.
We continue eating, talking more about college and apartments. Tess is probably the only person I could imagine sharing an apartment with. It'd be easier for both of us and we wouldn't be alone in a big city. I think that's a reason we're both so keen on the idea.
☼☾☼
"Wait, this one looks nice," Tess states, sliding her laptop my way.
I read through the description, two bedrooms and two bathrooms catching my eye. I scan through the rest, liking it more and more. It's only about a five minute walk from my college, but a ten minute walk for Tess. It doesn't matter for her because I plan on getting a car for her, not that she knows that. I want her to be safe, it's a big city and she gets anxious being around strangers.
"It seems like a lovely place. The pictures are questionable, but other than that, I think it's okay," I reply.
"It's literally been like four hours and we've finally found a few. Thank the Lord." She sighs then leans back in her chair.
"We should see if we could drive to check a few of them out."
"It'd only be like three and a half to four hours. Pennsylvania is close enough."
"Sadly, I can't drive."
"You could if Helio went along." She wiggles her eyebrows, a mischievous smirk on her face.
"You want me to bring a guy along?"
"Helio is literally one of the only other people I like besides you and Ms. Lilin."
"Don't let him know that. His ego will skyrocket." I joke.
"Does your boyfriend know what you really think of him?" Jackie interjects, both grins on Tess and I's faces disappearing.
He doesn't even know I like him.
"It was an obvious joke, Jackie." Tess glares at her.
"Or was it? Are you two even dating cause if not . . I'd gladly take him." Her snarky tone is pissing me off.
Helio and I's facade is probably really easy to see through and I wish it wasn't. I like Helio and I just can't risk ruining our friendship, as cliche as that sounds. We should only be friends no matter what we feel towards each other. I'd rather be friends then enemies and I hope Helio feels the same. It's not like it's anybody else's business.
"Why is it any of your business?" I demand, not wanting to answer Jackie's question at all.
"Cause I need a new guy in my life. Helio is kind of perfect for me. The beautiful blond hair, the vibrant blue eyes, and don't forget his uneven dimp—"
Why do I charge at Jackie? I honestly have no idea, but I do and Tess has to pull me off of her. I only leave a scratch on Jackie's neck which is not want I wanted, but it'll have to do. Fuck her and her disrespectful ways towards men. I don't need to like her, I just have to put up with her for a few more weeks.
"I'm so telling on you, you fucking bitch." Jackie states as she tries to fix her hair which is already a mess.
''Go right ahead." I taunt.
"Hi, girls. How was school?" Ms. Lilin walks through the door, grinning when she sees us.
"Great, can Luna and I talk to you?" Tess quickly asks, saving me from getting in trouble.
"Of course. Come to my office." Ms. Lilin makes her way upstairs with Tess and I following, laptops in our hands.
"So, Tess and I have decided to move in together once we head off to college. We found at least four places, but we'd like to check them out over break." I explain.
"Really? That's great . . I love when my girls stick together." She exclaims making Tess and I breathe a sigh of relief.
We show her the four we decided on and a grin stays on Ms. Lilin's face. She is hesitant to the idea of us driving to New York by ourselves until we mention Helio. She then agrees, telling us that we can leave early Sunday morning. Helio has no idea of these plans and I'll have to tell him tonight after work.
Work starts in an hour so I jump in the shower then put on a nice outfit. Tess drives me to work since she has a job, too. When I walk in, there's maybe four customers and they're all part of Reagan's group. I divert my eyes and make my way to the cash register where Alden and Ambrose are standing. Ambrose instructs me to stock up the Gothic romance shelves to start off my shift.
I grab the cart and wheel it over to that area. The books of Jennifer Blake, Dorothy Eden, Victoria Holt, Lara Parker, Margaret Ritter, and Mary Stewart blur together and I finish quickly. I don't have to work a lot today, just four hours and I can hang out with Helio. One of Reagan's cronies notices me and decides to bother me.
"Hi, can you help me find a book?" He asks, smirking leaving me uneasy.
