It's Always Been You

Harebrained Ideas

I scrambled into the cozy campus cafe, nearly tripping over my own feet as I dropped the numerous heavy textbooks I was carrying onto the table with a loud thud.

"Woah," Michelle mused, looking up at me with an amused grin. "Someone's got a lot of work piled up."

"I hate chemistry," I gritted out tiredly, plopping down into the worn vinyl booth beside Wes, with Michelle and Chris sitting across from us. "Sorry I'm late. My lab class ran way longer than it was supposed to."

Chris shook his head, waving off my apology easily. "No worries, you're all good. We've just been catching up."

"Here," Wes pushed the steaming mug of coffee he had been nursing towards me without hesitation. "Looks like you need this way more than I do right now."

I looked at him with undisguised awe and gratitude. "My prince charming. You sure you don't mind?" I knew how much he valued his caffeine fixes.

Wes nodded, giving me an odd look but his warm brown eyes remained lit up and carefree. "Is that even a question? Of course, take it." He gestured for me to drink up.

I smiled gratefully as I helped myself to his proffered coffee, cradling the ceramic mug between my chilled hands and inhaling the rich, invigorating aroma. I was utterly exhausted after such a long day of back-to-back classes already. My brain felt utterly fried.

I moved my stack of books out of the way and then folded my hands on the tabletop, looking between my three friends expectantly. "So, what did I miss while I was slaving away?"

"Not much," Chris shrugged, taking a long sip from his fruity smoothie. "We were just hanging out and bitching about classes as usual."

I nodded, stifling a yawn. "Fair enough. Are you guys ready for exams next week? Because I'm definitely not feeling prepared at all."

"I'll be ready to get the hell out of here," Michelle scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "The closer we get to finals, the more homesick I'm getting. So I, for one, am excited to go back home for the break."

I sighed, propping my elbow up on the table and resting my face in the palm of my hand as exhaustion washed over me in waves. "I, for one, would much rather be stuck here on campus than have to go home. God, this upcoming trip is going to be absolutely brutal."

Chris's mouth formed a surprised 'O' as realization seemed to dawn on him. "Right...you're going to your sister's wedding solo? Without Nate?"

I blew air out into my puffed cheeks as I slowly nodded my head in confirmation, feeling my stomach twist anxiously at just the thought. "Yes, sir. I don't know if the timing of this breakup could be better or worse, honestly. Part of me is absolutely dreading all the criticism and judgment I'm going to receive from my family. While another part of me is almost glad I don't have to watch Nate kissing my parents' asses the whole time."

Michelle's perfectly groomed eyebrows pulled together in a concerned frown. "I'd offer to drive back home with you for moral support, but I have to go even further south to meet up with my sister and her kids."

I shrugged nonchalantly, trying to play it cool even though my heart rate picked up at the thought of being alone with my family's digs and snide remarks. "It's all good, don't worry about it. I've dealt with their crap for my whole life already, what's another couple of weeks going to do?"

Michelle gave me a deeply sympathetic look, clearly not buying my blasé attitude for a second. "If only I actually believed you could handle that unscathed, Fia."

"Is it really going to be that bad?" Wes asked, peering at me with a soft, concerned look in his warm eyes that made my heart flutter traitorously.

I shrugged again, keeping my expression carefully neutral as I tried to downplay the situation-mostly for my own benefit. "They'll just give me the usual spiel about how I'm incapable of love, too focused on the wrong priorities, how I somehow let a 'fantastic' guy slip through my fingers. How I need to settle down soon before I'm destined to be all alone for the rest of my life." I forced an unconvincing laugh, like their predictable judgments rolled right off my back. "I already know exactly what they're going to say, so I guess I'm as prepared as I'll ever be."