Page 113 of Meet Me at the Metro

“Yeah, well, whoever it is is about to spend a good while behind bars.”

I hand Connor back his phone and tease, “Maybe the two of us will become cellmates.”

“Maybe so,” he chuckles.

We settle into a comfortable silence as a cool October breeze rushes past. I people-watch the crowds of students walking along the cobblestone sidewalks weaved through campus while Connor pulls his laptop out of his backpack.

I sit up as a flash of bright orange and yellow hair catches my eye among the moving sea of bodies. A set of familiar brown eyes locks on mine from a distance, and the squeal of my name echoes through the courtyard.

“It’s Evie,” I quickly warn Connor.

He quickly shuts his laptop as she hurries over toward us. As soon as his eyes catch sight of her, he’s straightening his back and schooling his face into indifference. “I thought she had teal hair?”

“Dyed it over the weekend.” I glance at him and snort, “Don’t look so threatened.”

He scowls. “I don’t look threatened.”

“Mhmm.”

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t two familiar faces,” Evie sings when she reaches us, merrily swinging her saxophone case at her side. She centers her attention on Connor. “Remember me?”

He smirks, but I can’t tell whether it’s an expression of amusement or indignation. “No, I don’t think I do?”

There’s a spark of challenge in her eyes and a saccharine smile on her face as she patiently reminds him, “Evie.”

“Oh, yes. That’s right—the loud one. Must have been the hair that had me confused.”

“You didn’t tell me your friend had amnesia, Ellie. Bless his heart,” she tuts. “I commend him for managing to survive through uni with such a piss poor memory.”

He laughs genuinely at her dig. “It’s nice to see you again,Evie.”

“Fuck you, too.”

Before they get an opportunity to egg each other on anymore, I ask her, “What are you doing out so early? I thought you andGrumpy Boyhad music rehearsal until 5:00 today.”

“Got dismissed early.Andspeaking of Grumpy Boy, he’s requesting your presence. Figured I’d try to come and find you so I wouldn’t have to hear his whining anymore.”

My phone dings in my pocket, and I’ve got an inkling of who the text is from before I even readit.

Dare you to come see me in the music room.

Be there in 5. :)

There’s a stupid smile glued to my face as I glance up, finding Evie and Connor watching me. My colorful-haired friend smirks at me knowingly with a dramatic roll of her eyes. “To be young and in love.”

Connor forces his attention toward his belongings and starts gathering up his things, and I feel obliged to ask, “Wanna meet up atCostalater to get coffee and copy each other’s essays?”

“Yeah, ’cause Henderson wouldn’t notice that at all.”

“We can swap out every other sentence, and he’ll never suspect a thing.”

Connor huffs a laugh. “Sounds like a plan.”

I pick my backpack off the ground and stand just as he does. “I’ll text you a time, alright?”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Bye-bye, Connor,” Evie lilts.

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