Page 41 of Little Do You Know

“Nourriture,” I respond, typing a few more words on my screen.

She taps her pencil on the table. “How do you use it in a sentence?”

“J’ai faim, j’ai besoin de nourriture. I’m hungry, I need food.”

Owen yawns, stretching widely. “Blake, I hate to break it to you, but you’re probably not going to pick up anything before her friend arrives in two weeks. Especially not if you’re flying to California this weekend.”

“It’s just a few days,” Blake says, but Owen looks away. Okay, definitely weird vibes there.

“Actually, Penelope changed her flight; she gets in this Sunday. She changed it to spend some more time here. I guess Paris is too boring for her now without me there.”

Blake groans, dropping her head back in defeat. “Seriously? I’ll never keep up with the two of you. I don’t know how anyone can think Paris is too boring. Please take me with you one day; I know you miss it.”

“You’ll have to ask her yourself. You’re right; I do miss France. Everything seemed easier there,” I mumble the last part under my breath, but Owen catches it. Half the time, I swear he can’t hear anything I’m saying, but this? This he hears?

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I reopen my computer, regretting that I let the comment slip in the first place. “Oh, nothing. Just something I’ve been thinking about.” I’m second-guessing everything with Vera after having a few days to think about her split personality. I also haven’t been able to stop thinking about the dirty, hot sex I had with Sebastian. Thankfully, Penelope coming early has given me something else to think about.

The further into the semester we get, the more I remember why I loved living in France. Working as a freelance photographer was satisfying because I didn’t have to answer to anyone.

My portfolio was extensive before France, but during France, I took trips nearly every week to a different area of the country, making plenty of money for someone my age. It was quite an adventure.

Writing papers and attending class daily is definitely not an adventure.

“So when you, Bash, and Vera were all home for the summer, did you guys hang out often?” I ask, trying to be subtle, because I’m still reeling from my earlier conversation with Landon. I’ve been unable to get it out of my mind.

Something had to have changed while I was gone. I know I’m different, but it’s a good kind of different. The Vera I’ve been noticing since coming back is an entirely different person than the one I said goodbye to all those months ago. I don’t understand what happened, but maybe I haven’t been asking the right questions.

Owen shrugs. “Sebastian and I saw each other every day. Vera was around more than I expected her to be with you gone, but it wasn’t a bad thing.”

I feel ridiculous. I’m not a suspicious person, and I’m really not. There’s just something about this situation rubbing me the wrong way. I don’t enjoy thinking about it, but I can’t help it.

“Was she acting differently or something?” I’m trying so hard to be nonchalant about all this, but I feel like I’m failing miserably. I can somehow hide everything that’s been going on with Sebastian, but when trying to ask about Vera, my brother reads me like an open book.

“Did something happen with you guys? She hasn’t been around much lately?” he asks, pushing his textbook to the side. Owen’s a better student than I am; I would have thrown it out the window a while ago.

I look down at my lap, avoiding his scrutiny. “Nothing happened. I think we’re just drifting apart. I’m overthinking something that Landon told me earlier. By the way, when will you shave that hideous beard?” My quick attempt at changing the topic doesn’t slip either of their attention. I hate being friends with intelligent people.

Owen rolls his eyes, irritated that I’m bringing this up again. “First of all, my beard isn’t going anywhere. I’d have weird facial tan lines if I shaved it now. Secondly, I didn’t realize you were talking to Landon again. Blake, did you know?”

“Nope. This is the first I’ve heard of it. It’s a good idea; you should shave your beard.”

I laugh and stick my tongue out at her. “You know, I can have good ideas, like getting rid of his truck! That stupid thing is about two starts away from breaking down.”

“Nice try, Thalia. What’s going on with you and Vera? You guys have been friends too long to let petty shit get between you.”

I cross my arms over my chest and stare at my unfinished essay. I have a few days to do it, but I’d rather get it done sooner than later. I want to hike in the nearby state park for some new photographs. It’ll help me clear my head of any filthy thoughts lingering about Sebastian.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll figure it out. She told Landon that I was interested in him, and I just…I don’t know why she’d do that.”

“That’s weird, but maybe she thought she was helping you?” He shrugs and shakes his head, playing off the idea that I’ve also considered. “You’ll figure it out. You guys always do.”

Blake rolls her eyes at Owen. “If you think something is off, can you ask her about it? What did she have to say about Landon?”

“I would think I could, but I honestly don’t know. Vera said she thought I would be interested in him if Landon told me how he felt.”

“Maybe you’re overthinking this if you’ve been friends for a long time?” she questions, and I can see where she’s coming from.

---