Page 4 of Let's Get Textual

I grab the door for him and watch with sadness as he steps over the threshold.

“Smile for me, pretty girl,” he says, turning back to me. “It’s not over. It’s the beginning of a new adventure.”

I give him the grin he’s wanting before he turns his back to me, leaving me standing in the doorway, staring after the boy I could have loved.

I close the door and give myself a shake.

“It’s not the end, Delia.”

“Are you talking to yourself again? It’s too early for that crap.” My roommate and best friend Zoe scuffles down the hall, curly caramel hair a mess, hazel eyes puffy from sleep. “I need coffee ASAP.”

“There’s a fresh pot,” I tell her, pointing to the barely touched brew.

“What’s not the end, Delia?”

“Huh?”

She pours her coffee and dumps enough creamer in there for a village. I make a face as she blows on the hot liquid. “Don’t start on me. You know I like my coffee the same color as my skin, so just shut it.” I wrinkle my nose more and she ignores me, taking a sip of her morning brew. “What were you just talking about? What’s not the end?”

“Oh.” I brush a hand through my hair, tucking the long brown strands behind my ear. “Caleb and I broke up this morning.” Zoe lets out a gasp, sloshing hot coffee all over her hand. “Well, technically it was last night.”

“Last night? Broke up? What the hell, Delia! Why didn’t you wake me up? I could have been there for you.”

Since our first day of freshman year, Zoe’s been my rock. We met at orientation and have been inseparable since. After having to spend the last three years in the dorms, living in separate residences, we finally managed to score an apartment off campus this year. If we thought we were close before, it was nothing compared to now.

“You were sleeping. We talked, and we’re fine now.”

“Fine as in you worked your shit out and you’re back together?”

“No. Fine as in we’re friends. We made the right choice.”

She plops down on the counter, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open. “I…I can’t believe it. You and Caleb, huh? That’s…wow.” She huffs, blowing a stray hair out of her face. “I never expected it. I believed you’d last the long haul. He was such a good guy.”

I nod, taking a seat next to her. “Is, Zoe. He’s still a good guy. It was mutual.”

“So we don’t hate him?”

I smile sadly. “No, we don’t hate him.”

“Good, because he has one hell of an ass.”

She bumps my shoulder and I laugh. When I realize it doesn’t hurt to do so, I know I’ll be okay.

Two

Liam: Who is this?

Me: Um, Delia…

Liam: Who?

Me: Your sister?

Liam: I don’t have a sister. Is this a joke?

Me: Liam? What, no! Are YOU joking?

Liam: Who’s Liam?

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