Page 123 of June

“I like the balcony and the street view, so why not?”

They walked out to the hallway and told the woman that they wanted to put in an application. They’d still look at the other units before making a final selection, but Caroline was pretty sure this place would be just fine for them for a year or two. She could even see the cheap furniture they’d fill it with and the fun times they’d have hanging out in the living room while they watched a movie or had friends over.

When they got back to the dorm, Jodie disappeared to shower for her date, and Caroline went to her room to figure out what she was going to wear for her own date that night. Shefound Viv fresh out of the shower herself and staring at her open closet, likely doing the same.

“Hey,” Caroline said. “I heard someone has a date tonight.”

“Hi. I need to figure out what to wear. What does Jodie like?”

“You,” Caroline replied as she climbed onto her bed, deciding not to worry about her own date clothing for the time being.

“That’s funny.”

“It’s the truth. She asked you out.”

“And you’re okay with it?” Viv asked. “Your best friend going out with your roommate?”

“Totally.” She smiled at Viv when she turned around. “Wear the blue sweater and the black flats. You look nice in those. And just relax, okay?”

“No way. It’s a date with Jodie.”

Caroline laughed a little and said, “She was the girl you wanted to ask out, right?”

“Yes. But she was your friend and fun and exciting, and I’m lame and boring and–”

“No, you’re not. And I think you two will be cute together.”

“The blue sweater?”

“Yes,” Caroline said.

“Will you be here when we get back?”

“Depends on when you get back. I’m going out with Enid.”

“You two are cute together, too,” Viv said as she pulled her sweater out of the closet and placed it carefully on her bed.

“Thanks,” Caroline replied. “I think so.”

“What do I do on a date, Care?”

“You’ve been on a date,” she replied.

“Not with Jodie,” Viv argued. “I’ve been into her for months now. Even when I asked you out the second time, I was kind of already into her.”

“Wait. What?” Caroline asked, laughing. “You askedmeout when you were into Jodie?”

“Kind of.” Viv sighed. “I mean, I liked you, but I’d been spending more time with Jodie by then. She was really nice to me and made me laugh, but she was dating around, and that’s not for me. I still liked you, so I thought I’d give it one more try, and if you say no, then I’d have to move on, and I–”

“Moved on to Jodie?” Caroline asked.

“Yeah.”

“She likes you a lot, too, Viv.”

“But is it just like a friend she might like to go out with kind oflike, or that she could really… you know, with me?”

“Are you asking me if she wants to have sex with you?”

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