Page 67 of June

“No, let’s go to the dorm. Want to see if Viv can come?”

“We can, I guess. I’m sure she’s in class.”

“I’ll text her,” Jodie said.

Caroline watched her pull out her phone and text Viv, but Jodie didn’t put her phone away. She just stared at it as they walked, which was odd even for her.

“She’s in,” Jodie added. “She said she’ll meet us at the dining hall.”

“Okay,” Caroline said, wondering what was going on.

To get back to the dorm, they had to walk past the quad, which meant Caroline would see their table. Now, no matter what happened between them, she would think of that table astheirtable, and that meant that if it didn’t work out, she would have to walk by this thing until she graduated and hate the stupid ornate, swirling decorative patterns of the chairs. If it worked out and they were together by the time she graduated, she would love those patterns. Caroline smiled, thinking about that, and looked up just in time to see Enid heading right toward it with two cups of coffee.

“Wait. Why two?” she said.

“Huh?” Jodie asked.

“Enid’s at our table. She has two cups of coffee.”

“So?”

“So, who is the other coffee for? Is she meeting someone? Jill?”

“I don’t know, Care. Why don’t you askher?”

“I can’t do that. What if itisJill, and she walks right up and wonders whatI’mdoing here. Do you think Jill knows about me like I know about her?”

“I have no idea.” Jodie sighed. “I’ll help you out here. Ready?”

“What?”

“Hey, Enid!” Jodie yelled it from a good football field away, but Enid still heard her.

“Holy fucking shit! What were you thinking?” Caroline said to her about-to-be-formerbest friend through gritted teeth that she hoped looked like a smile from far away.

“Just talk to her. I’ll meet you in the dining hall.”

“What? You’re ditching me after you just did that?”

“Yes. Now, grow up and go talk to the pretty girl you like.”

Jodie gave her a playful shove in that direction and kept walking.

Caroline had a good distance to walk before she got to the table, so she could technically turn and pretend like she hadn’t even noticed Enid, which was stupid because, no, she couldn’t. Jodie had just yelled at her, so Enid had seen them.

“Hey,” she said nervously.

“Hi,” Enid replied with a smile.

“Sorry about Jodie. She just saw you and wanted to say hi.”

“Where did she go?” Enid asked, looking around.

“To the dining hall. We’re having lunch with Viv.”

“Oh,” Enid let out, looking disappointed.

“So, are you hanging with someone right now?”