Page 24 of Surfside Sisters

“Okay. You know he’s at UMass, too.”

“Yeah, but I never see him. There are, what, twenty thousand students.”

“I friended him on Facebook, and he IM’d me, wanting to see me. That was three weeks ago. We’ve been with each other every minute except when we’re in class.”

“At last! I’m so happy for you, Isabelle.”

“Thanks! Keely, he says the sweetest things. And his kisses—”

I’m going to be a spinster,Keely thought as she listened to Isabelle recount every moment of her time with Tommy.I’m going to get a cat and live alone in someone’s attic and spend my life reading and writing novels.

Actually,she thought,that didn’t sound like a bad life at all.

“…he told his parents about us and they’ve invited me and my entire family to Thanksgiving dinner at their house, and Sebastian is invited with his girlfriend, but Sebastian’s going to Sweden for Christmas…”

Great,Keely thought. Sebastian would spend Christmas with his gorgeous artistic Swedish girlfriend, eating lutefisk and drinking aquavit.

“…and I told my parents, and they’re so happy for me. I mean, I know Tommy and I are only eighteen, and we’ve got four years of college to slog through, but we’re so much in love I know we’ll stay together even after college.”

“Lucky for you Smith and UMass are about three inches apart,” Keely joked. “You’ll have to spend sooo much time traveling to see each other.”

“Listen, Keely. Istillwant to write novels, and I amseriousabout getting a good education, and I’ve told Tommy this and hetotallyunderstands. But he’s not into studying as much as I am. He’s an action guy. He’s really all about getting out on the ocean, having a deep-water fishing business, but his father’s pressuring him to get a college degree, so he is.”

Keely nodded, listening. Isabelle couldn’t talk fast enough. Keely had never seen her quite like this. She wouldn’t be surprised to see Isabelle spin right up to the ceiling.

“Sorry sorry,” Isabelle said after a while. “I’m hogging the conversation. Tell me about you. Do you like your classes? Do you like your dorm? Have you met any cool guys? Gone to any insane parties?”

Keely held her hands up in a “stop” sign. “Whoa, Isabelle, slow down. You act like you’re on speed.”

“Ifeellike I’m on speed. And look, I haven’t drunk a sip of coffee!” Isabelle held up her glass as evidence. “Sorry. Seriously, I want to know how you are.”

“I’m good. I like all my classes except physics, which seems invented by a committee of asylum inmates.”

“Ha!” Isabelle laughed. “Keely, you’re so funny! I’ll have to tell that to Tommy. He’s good with physics, but I hate it, too.”

And Isabelle was off again, confiding Tommy’s every phobia or preference, why he didn’t like sugar in his coffee, how he had seven shirts exactly alike because that saved him from thinking about what to wear, his favorite beer—of course Whale’s Tale Pale Ale—his favorite food—Mexican.

“Who’s his favorite superhero?” Keely teased.

“Oh, Superman, for sure.”

Keely couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing.

Isabelle went quiet. “You’re making fun of me, aren’t you? I don’t even care! Ilovethat I know Tommy chooses Superman. I love knowing everything about him! I love knowing what kind of toilet paper—”

“Stop right there. I refuse to listen to a Smith College student, a woman attending the same college Sylvia Plath attended, talk about her boyfriend’s toilet paper.”

“Sorry. I’msorry. It’s just that I’ve been dying to share this with you, Keely. I didn’t want to email or text you about it. It’s too important for that. It’s too huge! And you’re always working or in class, so it’s hard to talk to you.”

“It’s fine. I’m truly happy for you, Isabelle. I hope this lasts.”

“Why wouldn’t it last? Don’t you think Tommy can be faithful—”

“Whoa! I never said that. I meant I hope you can have everything you want without any problems. I mean, like, you can’t write while you’re spending all your free time with Tommy.”

“I know. You’re right. I know I’m on a high right now. I know this mad crazy rapture phase can’t last, but I’m sure our love will last. And I’m not stressing about writing now. I mean, my classes are really challenging. I have to work hard to keep up. Everyone is so much smarter than I am. So my life is basically two parts: school and Tommy.” Isabelle stopped to catch her breath.

“Very cool, Isabelle. Seriously.”

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