Page 79 of To Love or to Lose
I nod in understanding. “Yeah, I know him very well.”
Her eyebrows furrow. “How?”
“He has been a part of my friend group my entire life. We grew up together, and he went to prom with El. You remember Eloise, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I still talk to Eloise and Winnie.” I nod, not having much else to add. “So, does Luke study chemistry? Or what?”
“He’s still in high school, so not yet, but I’m not sure whether or not he’s planning to.”
“That’s why I was confused. I’ve never seen him in any of my science or lab classes. It seems odd that he showed up there.”
“How do you know his name, then?” Her face is immediately covered with a guilty expression, and I raise my eyebrows at her.
“I hacked the sign-in form.” She admits after a few moments of silence.
“You what?” My eyes go wide. “How do you even do that?”
“We sign into the lab building electronically. One of my friends who’s a tech major taught me how to get into it last year.”
I don’t even want to know why she would even need to do that in the first place. “Well, if he was there to do forbidden activities, he wouldn’t have signed in using his real name; he’s smarter than that.”
“Just not as smart as us,” she amends.
I smirk. “Oh, my dear, no one could ever defeat us in that department.” My faux old, English accent could probably cause ears to bleed, but Val only smiles at it.
“You are right, darling.” She uses the same type of God-awful accent as she grabs my hands. “No one could defeat us. Ever.”
We’re smiling like idiots. “Not when we’re together.”
“You know, usually you’re a lot more serious, even around me.”
It’s true, I’m typically serious and stern around everyone. I don’t enjoy letting go of my sophisticated composure.
Lately though, especially now that I’ve gotten a chance to hang around Valerie, I’ve felt less of a need to keep this type of posture around the people who don’t care about it.Valerie doesn’t care if I’m serious and sophisticated. She likes being around me, and that makes me want to let go and have more fun than I usually allow myself.
“I don’t know,” I answer. “I feel like it makes being around me easier when I don’t act like a stuck-up bitch.”
I don’t think her face could spread into any wider of a grin. “I appreciate you being authentic around me, Gen.”
My voice wavers. “I’m not sure if it’s authentic yet.”
“Well, then I don’t want it.” She speaks concisely, with a power that I respect beyond belief.
I love her almost as much as someone could platonically love a best friend.A type of love that nears the type I have for Winnie or Eloise.
“I’m glad you’re keeping tabs on me, Val. I really love having you here.”“Even if you’re beating me at chess yet again,”I almost add, but don’t.
“I will always be here.” She sounds sincere, and I know she means it. “Wherever you are, whenever you need me, I’ll be here.”
“When’s your next class?” It’s Sunday, so I know she doesn’t have any today.
“Tomorrow.” She almost groans. “Chem 310. Bright and early at eight in the morning.”
I almost laugh at her misery. “I warned you not to take early morning classes.”
Her pointed look says it all. “I’ve been in college longer than you have; there’s not much for you to warn me about.”
She was right. I changed the subject. “Have you talked to your mom?”
