I shifted on the bench I’d laid claim to over forty minutes ago. I was waiting at the smoker’s area for Jade to finish her last class, so we could go home. My stomach hadn’t stopped growling since mid-day (since Monday, I hadn’t bought anything but pop on campus. The prices were just too ridiculous), and I swore I’d take to eating the cigarette butts soon if Jade didn’t appear.

“You’re lucky, not starting until next week,” I said to Karen, who’d been on the phone with me since before I’d gotten to the smoker’s area.

“Not really. I’m going stir-crazy.”

“Don’t they have a ton of events to participate in?”

Karen snorted. “Most are lame as hell. I skip all the ones that aren’t mandatory.”

“Alone?”

I hated that the question came out more desperate than I intended. I didn’t want Karen to know since she’d left for St. Bonaventure last weekend, how terrified I was that she’d replace me. Sure, we’d been best friends since she’d moved to Falconer in fourth grade, but maybe that was only because our options were limited. Karen would meet people from all over New York at college, possibly even the world. There had to be people better suited for friendship than me.

“There’s this girl Micki I’ve been hanging out with a lot. We’re in the same dorm building, right down the hall from each other. She’s pretty awesome; sort of reminds me of you.”

My heart pounded. “Yeah?”

“But she’s different, you know? She’s kind of a more innocent version of you.”

“So, she wouldn’t make a fabulous character like Tels?”

“Nah, she’s more into sports. She does like to read, though.”

It didn’t fade completely, but my anxiety did lessen to a more manageable level. “She sounds nice.”

“She really is. I’d love for you two to meet.”

I didn’t mean it, but I said, “I’d like that.” Just then I spotted Jade approaching. “Hey, I got to go.”

“Sure. Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Yep.”

“Okay. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Karen hung up, and I slipped my phone into the tattered My Neighbor Totoro messenger bag my mom had bought me for my sixteenth birthday. I should have retired it a long time ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to do the sensible thing. I’d regret my decision when the bag busted, yet I’d cross that bridge when I got there.

I wiggled my fingers at Jade. “Hey.”

She nodded. “Ready to go?”

“Not yet,” a tall, fit guy who’d been trailing behind Jade said.

Jade blanched. “Oh, I totally forgot.” She pointed at me then the guy. “Ramona, this is Justin. Justin, this is Ramona. He’s in my economics class.”

I waved. “What’s up?”

“Not much,” Justin replied. He swallowed hard, and a blush crept into his cheeks. His hickory brown eyes wouldn’t meet mine. “I, uh, was wondering if you’d like—Wanna hang out this weekend?”

His question floored me. “To...?”

“Get to know each other.”

“I...” Jade had stepped behind Justin and nodded her head. I shrugged. “Sure. Sounds fun.”

Why not?

Justin’s face brightened, and I couldn’t believe how white his teeth were. “Good. I’ll text you the details.”

He took off.

“Wait!” I called. “You don’t have my number.”

Jade bit her lip. “I, um, might have given it to him already.”

“What if I’d said no?”

Jade rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you’d totally pass up hanging out with a hottie like that.”

“He is a looker, isn’t he?”

“Plus, he’s into a lot of the same stuff as you, and he thinks you’re cute.”

“Is he nice?”

“I think so. I’ve also talked to a few people, and they all have great things to say about him.”

I grinned. “When did you decide to become a matchmaker?”

“It’s about time you got out there again.”

I didn’t disagree. Though I hadn’t told anyone, it was clear how much my break-up with Violet had screwed me up. Over half a year was long enough to start going out with other people, even if it didn’t lead to a long-term relationship. At least it’d show that my ex didn’t have power over me anymore.

Also, it might make Violet back off.