Georgia's Last Words

Chapter Five

  I open my door with a quick swing, readying myself to rush out to get to my first class. It’s a required course that I can basically sleep through and still pass with flying colors. Sometimes I wonder how many people are actually in the class; there seems to always be a new face each week and other faces seem to disappear on occasion. 

“Whoa, slow down missy.” A voice tickles my ear as my body slams into someone. 

I look up to see Miles standing in the hall with a blended coffee and a pastry hiding inside a crinkling brown bag. “Hey!” My voice sounds out of breath. 

He holds out the drink and what I now know is a muffin. “Heading off to Flinn’s class?”

I kiss Miles’s cheek and reply, “Yep and thank you for breakfast, again.”

“No problem. So I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight?”

I nod. “Sounds good.”

“Also I thought you should bring along that friend of your’s, Cooper? And Haley too. Make it more of a get-to-know-you night. What do you think?” Miles closes my door and we head for my class. 

I think about it for a bit while we walk. It seems like a horrible idea that could destroy every single one of my relationships with these people. My boyfriend, my best friend slash roommate, and my almost summer romance in one room, same place, eating food just seems like a horrid idea. 

“Um, you sure?” We stand in front of the building that houses my next class. 

“Yeah, I want to get to know your friend and having Haley there will lighten the mood. What do you say?” He nudges me. 

“Okay, sounds good. We can all meet at the dorm about seven and go from there.” I smile.

“Well I will see you tonight. Have a good day.” He kisses me softly on the lips. There’s just a small spark at the touch of his lips on mine. Almost enough to start a fire. 

“Bye.” I jog up the stairs, through the doors, and down the hall. The door to the classroom is open and I push in before the clump of students block the hall. 

I see Cooper sitting near the middle of the class. Next to him is the same empty seat that is always waiting for me. He makes sure to get here early so that I can have a spot next to him. I shake my head slightly and he cracks a grin. 

Sliding into my seat, I inform him of tonight’s festivities. “So do you think you can come out with Haley, Miles, and I tonight?”

Cooper’s head snaps around quicker than rubber band. “Huh?”

“Well Miles wants to get to know you, so he invited Haley and you for dinner with us tonight. Will you come?”

The teacher walks in just then, and Cooper whispers almost inaudibly, “If I have to.”

“Good,” I whisper back.

***

Haley is running around the room like a chicken with its head cut off. She keeps changing clothes every five minutes, or changing her hairdo. Her shoes are in disarray along the floor. It’s a quarter to seven and she has finally decided on a complete outfit with shoes, and her makeup is done. Now she is set on making sure I feel completely awkward. 

“So how’s this going to work for you? Going to have like a three-way or something?” She laughs at her ridiculous jokes. 

“Shut up!” I throw a pillow at her head. 

Haley throws the pillow back. “Sorry, I just wanted to know if I should find a home for the night.”

“You’re horrible. Now I can already see this turning into some miserable experience with even a greater blowup at the end of the night, so please don’t make this any worse.”