Page 18 of Falling

Eva

I agree.

India

Darcy is going to kill us. We’ve not thought of anything.

Madelyn

I’m dropping out. I can’t deal with this stress.

Eva

Can’t you ask your mom to do somethingabout this, Wren?

I’ll try, but it seems like it’s up to us to drum up some support for the team. I’m not quitting.

Augustus

You might as well.

??

See you at practice.

Sometimes,I wish me and my friends could enjoy a casual lunch together without someone or something ruining it.

We’re sitting in Florentino’s, Kennedy’s workplace, and the on-campus café that sells the best food and drinks that anyone student could want. I’m pretty sure Ken is two more shifts away from getting fired because even though we’re in the middle of the lunch rush, she’s taking her break now, chatting away like she doesn’t have a job to do.

“I think you should just fuck him,” Kennedy says, shrugging.

“We’re barely even friends, Ken, no.”

“Friends can fuck,” she argues, shrugging again. Scarlett and I exchange a glance and then look at her. “Come on, don’t try to act like you haven’t thought about it. Friends with benefits situations totally all work out.”

“And you’re basing that analysis off experience, right?” Scarlett asks, smiling smugly. We both know that Ken isn’t as sexually active as she wishes she was. She loves to give us sex advice but will never take it for herself. Which is a shame because she’s one of the most stunning people I have ever met, and if she gave any guy the time of day, they’d be falling at her feet.

“I’m basing it offvibes,” is Kennedy’s response, looking at me. “He asked you out on a date. He’s clearly so into you.”

Theheshe’s talking about, of course, is Miles.

I think they’re more interested in whatever it is that’s going on than I am. I think he’s a good guy, and the date was really sweet, but I don’t have the mental stability for a crush or a relationship. Liking people from afar has been my go-to response to anyone of the opposite sex since Augustus, and I really don’t want to think about that right now.

“And you’re into him,” Scarlett adds.

“I’m…” I fight for the words because I can’t lie to them and say I don’t find him attractive. That would be a crime against humanity. “I’m indifferent.”

“Indifferent means you want him to see your lady parts and you want to see his,” Kennedy says, bouncing in her seat.

I give her a pointed look. “I want to see his lady parts?”

She scoffs. “You know what I mean.”

“No, Ken, I don’t know what you mean. Please enlighten me.”

She huffs, folding her arms against her chest. “Scarlett, can you take over? She’s being difficult, and I’m clearly the only one doing all the heavy lifting.”

“She’s also right here,” I say.

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