Page 27 of Choosing You

“It’s fine, but I’m finding it hard to get comfortable.”

“Well, go ahead and do what you need to do to get comfortable.”

I adjust myself next to him, but I can’t figure out where to put my head with his arm up there like that. It either has to go on his arm or against his chest—both options that will bring us even closer together. Or I could scoot down really far so that I’m underneath his arm but not touching it which would really look stupid. I try a few variations of those options and finally decide to just rest the back of my head against his chest.

“Are you good now?” he asks, laughing at me.

“Yes. Now stop talking so I can hear the movie.”

His arm slides down around me and we watch the rest of the film.

I don’t know why I’m trying to pretend I don’t like him. We both know this friendship is starting to go somewhere. I’m just not sure where that is.

* * *

On Monday morning,which is also Labor Day, I take the campus map that was in my housing packet and get familiar with the buildings. It’s not a big campus, but I don’t want to end up going to the wrong room on the first day of class.

I’m taking a mix of subjects because I haven’t decided on a major. I’m still not sure what I want to do after college. I’ve always been good at math and science, but I don’t know what that means for a career. I’ve kind of been thinking about going to med school like Ryan but it’s too early to decide that yet. I haven’t even told anyone I’m considering it.

When I get back to the dorm, I knock on Harper’s door but she’s not home. I go up to Garret’s room and he’s not home either. I return to my own room and call Ryan. He answers right away.

“Jade, where were you last night? I tried calling several times.”

“I was watching a movie. Sorry. How’s Frank?”

“Good. He’s back home and seems to be doing better. He’s sleeping now but I’ll have him call you later.”

“So if he gets better can you go back to school?”

“No. I start job hunting tomorrow. I haven’t told Dad, yet. He’ll kill me when he finds out, but we need the money.”

“I’ll get a job, too. There has to be something on campus I can do. I’ll send you whatever money I make.”

“No, Jade. This isn’t your problem. Your job is school and that’s it. Now tell me what’s new with you. Did you say you went to a movie?”

“No, I stayed here and watched a movie.”

“With one of the girls on your floor?”

“Yeah.” I don’t like lying to Ryan but I know he wouldn’t like the truth. “I met this new girl from California. She’s on the tennis team. We spent the whole day together.”

“Good. I’m so glad you’re meeting people. Listen, I gotta go. But I’ll call you later this week to see how classes are going. And Dad will probably call you tomorrow, okay?”

“Yeah, bye, Ryan.”

After we hang up, I grab an old blanket, a book, my potato chips, and some soda and go find a big shade tree to lie under. After a few hours of reading, I drift off to sleep.

“Jade. Wake up.” I feel someone nudging me. It’s Garret, sitting beside me on the blanket. “How long have you been out here?”

“I don’t know. What time is it?”

“Six. We have a swim date in an hour. You should stretch a little before we go.”

“Nah, I don’t need to stretch. I’m ready.” I sit up, checking to make sure my book is still there.

“You should at least eat something. What did you do for lunch?”

I hold up the empty potato chip bag and my almost empty bottle of soda. “Lunch.”

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