how to catch feelings

10

It wasn't until Monday afternoon, horrible person that I am, that I remembered to text Amber back. Big oof.

So there I was, in the Starbucks line, waiting for my double chocolate chip frappuccino, struggling to compose a response.

You'd think it would be easy to answer "can we meet up?" but no.

No, no, no.

Nothing was easy about fractured friendships.

Being best friends with someone for seven years might've once meant something, but clearly everything was out the window when you go off to college. New friends, stop talking to the old ones, even when you're literally next-door neighbors.

Do I sound salty?

Unfortunately, I was never one to say no.

"Sure," I sent back.

I was kinda hoping she wouldn't text back right away, that maybe she was in class, but I wasn't that lucky.

"When are you free?"

When was I free?

I bit back an over-dramatic response and instead gave her my lunch availability.

"I have classes during those times... ☹"

Drat.

"What about 6 p.m. tomorrow?" she asked.

Too bad my evenings were wide open.

"Works for me," I said.

"Great! Meet at the café?"

Where's my flipping frappuccino?

"Sure."

"Yay!!! See you then!!!"

The barista called out my order, and I considered that excuse enough to not text Amber back.

***

"What's she want?" Damaris asked.

She hadn't been particularly close with Amber, but she still knew the situation inside and out.

"Beats me."

"She probably just wants to talk to someone about Dax."

"Oh. Right." I flopped down on the couch. "Ugh. I don't want to go."

"So don't."

"I already said I would."

"Then suck it up, buttercup."

"I hate you."

"You love me."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do." She laughed and went back to making her notecards.

***

As agreed, I met Amber at the café at six Tuesday evening.

"Hey, girl!" she said as soon as she saw me.

Cue the inward cringe.

"Hey."

"Wow, it's been forever. How have you been?"

"Fine. You?"

"Pretty good. I mean, considering..."

So yeah, suspicions confirmed, we were here to talk about Dax. Goody.

"Are you still writing?" she asked instead.

"Oh. Um. Yeah. I'm actually EIC of the newspaper."

"That's so cool!"