Page 3 of The Baller

They wanted to spend time with her because ofher, not because she could propel any current or future political career they may have. Or because it would make a good story; a hefty deposit into the bank of cultural currency.

“I think you’d be fine.”

“I’m just saying, I don’t want to make any new friends. I have all the friends I need with you.” Out of habit, Millie moved half a step ahead as we passed by a long line of students waiting for their chai/Frappuccino/cold brews outside a coffee-shop, blocking me from their view.

It wasn’t until we passed and they were out of earshot that I realized I’d been holding my breath before I spoke again. “Thanks. But…”

“Radley, you would have hated staying in D.C. If you hadn’t lived at home, your mom and dad would have made you go home every night for dinner. The fraternity thing wouldn’t be any different at G.W. than it is here, and at least in New York we’re far away from that…amoeba...” She almost spat out the word and I found myself grinning, because while we’d agreed to never mentionhisname again, amoeba was a new alternative. She followed with a lopsided shrug. “I mean, we could have been in the Californian sun at Stanford, learning to surf at the weekends or getting drunk in the vineyards, but New York will have to do.” She turned to me with a wink. “You’ll love it here, Rad. We’re gonna have the best time. People will soon get bored of seeing you, I promise. Columbiawill be the best years of our lives, and the last eighteen months will be forgotten before you know it.”

My shoulders dropped by half an inch, and the constant swirling of anxiety slowed down but didn’t stop. It never stopped.

I wanted to believe her so badly.

“You think?”

“I know.”

“Thanks, Mills. I love you, and I’m glad you’re with me. I’m lucky to have you.”

“We’re lucky to have each other.” Her gaze flicked to mine, a split second of excruciating sadness flashing behind her chocolatey irises as we reached a set of crossroads. I pulled her out of the way right before she stepped into the road at the same time a car turned left. All it did was make her grin, whereas it gave me a near heart-attack. “See? Lucky.”

I could almost feel Jake’s tut from behind me, and when the orange flashing man lit up, I held onto her and walked us safely across the street. Fifteen yards ahead, Ethan set off again.

“What did you think of class this morning?”

She tapped a long, manicured finger against her lips and blinked slowly. The intensity built in her narrowed eyes before she answered. “I think I’m glad I didn’t live in Victorian times.”

My laugh burst out. “What?”

“What?” she grinned. “I’m just saying, everyone was so repressed. I would have much rather been alive during Austen’s times. She seemed like fun, plus she was an advocate of dating an older man.”

I was tempted to glance back at Jake, but held it in. “I guess she did. I’d live in Shakespeare’s times. What did youthink of Professor Hawkes?”

“I liked her. I like that she’s not old and fussy. She felt like someone I’d be friends with… ya know… if she was our age. Her class was fun this morning.”

“Yeah, she seemed cool. I was expecting all our professors to be way older.”

“Me too.”

We walked in silence for a minute, or as silent as you could in New York City with the sounds of sirens and car horns echoing over from the surrounding streets. A guy passed by on a bike, a stereo strapped to the back blasting out hip-hop so loudly I worried for his eardrums.

There was something about this place that wasn’t found in D.C. New York had life and vibrancy; it wasn’t tangible, but it lingered in the air and fired up your synapses until it had taken over your nervous system. A thought so fleeting it could barely be classified as one, flashed in my brain… could New York heal me?

Cutting through Morningside Park, we were treated to a fiery palate of orange, gold, red, and pink leaves holding firm on their respective trees, which warmed my heart, even in the cooling September air. Washington might be picture perfect in the spring with its blossoms around the Tidal Basin, but New York in the fall was magic.

“Why’ve we stopped walking?”

I grinned at Millie, so wide my cheeks ached, and pulled her in for a hug. “No reason, just something about this place. Look at the colors! They’re so pretty, Mills. It’s making me happy.”

Craning back, her head tilted in that way it always did when she was putting serious consideration into something, right before her face creased in amusement. Slinging her armaround my shoulders, she planted a kiss on my cheek. “Good. I’m happy that you’re happy. You’re right; itispretty once you get out of the dorms and off campus, and we have three years to explore it.”

I hummed in quiet response. The entire city seemed like a lot.

“Hey, we don’t have any plans tonight, do we? We should go out. We should go and play pool.”

I stopped gazing at the trees and turned to Millie, my brows furrowed. “What?”

“Pool. We should play it.”

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