OK. So this is really happening.

I had that thought about a hundred times just walking from the Rising Shards cafeteria to Evy’s car. And as we started driving. I didn’t know what to say, mostly from nerves. I thought I’d just say hello to Evy, but now we were getting dinner together. Admittedly, when I thought to myself about what going out for dinner would be like with Evy, I pictured myself in a glitzy red dress that showed off my back when I’d twirl in front of her. But it was late fall, and we were cautiously driving through a blizzard. At least I wasn’t the only one that was quiet, Evy was focused on keeping the car steady as the road conditions got worse.

I wondered if maybe this was what she was always like. And the chatty version I saw of her was just a front. That could make things weird, but I guess I’d find that out at dinner.

That worry was quickly halted as soon as Evy pulled over at a bar and grill that looked like it was made entirely of log cabin. It was covered in snow already, but the big wooden letters of the sign were still readable. The place was called the "LIKE A SKI LODGE BAR & GRILL.” Evy burst out of the car and practically squealed seeing the place.

“Here we go,” Evy said. “I’m starving. Winter driving really takes it out of you, you know?”

“Definitely.” I said. “You just clench your muscles harder subconsciously driving in a blizzard.”

“Exactly!” Evy said.

As soon as I got out of the car, I checked my phone to see Zeta had texted me approximately one hundred and sixteen times already.

“Did you find a ride?”

“Stella?”

“Pleas message mabck uqickly”

“*me back”

“*quickly”

“Im really worried about you driving or getting a ride”

“in the blizzard I mean”

“Please write back soon especially if you’re getting a ride and please tell me when youre home”

“Stella?”

"Please dont get a ride froma stranger"

"*from a"

"i know stuba is always a stranger"

"but i mean like a stranger like some random person"

"like dont hitchhike in a blizzard"

"please text me back im just thinking about"

"the snow" 

"and you driving or getting a ride" 

"in the snow" 

"and I dont like it"

Zeta tended to text like that when she was really worried about me. I sent her a quick message back.

“I’m just getting some food, I have it figured out. It’s all OK, Zeta. I’ll keep you posted. Call if you get really worried and need to talk, OK? :)”

“ok”

I decided to not let my little sister know I was out getting dinner with her Cani doctor/teacher/advisor. I don’t think she’d react badly, but she was already in a state of worry, and I didn’t want to risk overwhelming her further.

I somehow got in front of Evy as we headed towards the restaurant. Part of me was wary, but another part of me really wanted to show off a bit for Evy. Just like slightly more hip sway than normal, nothing over the top. I did my interview good, I calmed Zeta down, I’ve been working out enough to actually look good in these, I get to show off my ass in yoga pants in front of Evy, I earned this.

I didn’t know if Evy was looking at me, let alone the type to immediately check out my ass on an impromptu dinner trip, but I hoped she was. I was being more impulsive than I usually was, but I still took time to worry about Zeta somehow randomly showing up to see me trying to get her teacher to check me out. One of her friends had teleportation powers, so it wasn’t entirely impossible.

The Like a Ski Lodge Bar and Grill lived up to its name, with a ski lodge cabin vibe on the inside as well, with a big stone fireplace on one end and every employee in woodsman flannel. I respected how in they went on their theme. We could just pick our seats, so I let Evy take the lead, and while her jumpsuit had a fairly loose fit, it still showed off her butt a bit. While I wasn’t sure if Evy was the type to immediately check out her dinner guest’s ass, it turned out I was the type to do just that. I enjoyed/felt guilty about that until we got to some booth seats and sat across from each other. I laughed nervously but was unable to come up with a good excuse as to why, so I just let it hang there. A waitress got our order shortly, sparing me the pains of dwelling on that awkward laugh too long.

“So the interview went well?” Evy asked as the waitress walked away.

“Well, I went to the right place, so that was good,” I said.

“I have definitely gone to the wrong place for a job interview before.” Evy said.

“Me too! I’m extra careful about it now.” I said. “I’ve been to the entire wrong building before. Luckily, I know the school a bit better.”

“That’s good,” Evy said. “The whole celebrity thing, was that weird? It was super weird for my interview.”

“Oh my god, totally,” I said. As I mumbled something about knowing the Kilanders through Zeta's stories about the ones in staff and from her close friend Oka being adopted by one of them, I nervously fidgeted with my purse to make sure I didn't forget anything.

“It only gets weirder, trust me,” Evy said. “I do really hope you get this job, though. I…have a very good feeling.”

I internally squealed at Evy wanting me to get the job.

“Wait, did you hear anything?” I asked. “Er, you probably wouldn’t have heard anything, I only just had the interview.”

Evy slyly smiled back at me. That “I’m hot and you know it” look hit differently when the implication of good news was behind it.

“No way, did you actually hear something?” I asked.

“Maybe,” Evy said. “It might be a bit secret though. Can you keep a secret? Only for a few days probably.”

“Waitwaitwait,” I said. “You seriously heard? OK, if you really did you have to tell me. Or wait, if you heard that I probably won’t get it, don’t tell me. But you wouldn’t say that like that if you heard I didn’t. Right? I hope? Because if you did…that’d be really concerning. Like, taking joy in the idea that I didn’t get a job—”

“Stella. Breathe, girl.” Evy said. “Unless your interview was a like ‘knee Penteldtam in the balls’ tier disaster, based on everything I’m hearing, I’m ninety-seven percent sure you got it.”

I externally squealed at that. When people nearby turned to look at me, I blushed and slumped in my seat.

“Sorry. That’s just. Really really good news,” I said. “What stuff are you hearing? What’s everything? I mean, not everything as in everything—”

“Remember how I just said to breathe?” Evy said. “I just heard your resume was a lot more impressive than the other candidates. When it was just Penteldtam in charge I’d worry about a curveball pick, but I think Berin Kilander is gonna play it safe.”

“Wow,” I said. A rush of thoughts flowed in my head like a dam had just broke behind a ferocious river. “Oh my god, I have to put my two weeks in at the college. I need to find a place here too! Sorry. I’m just…wow. Thank you so much for letting me know about this job in the first place.”

“It’s fine! I’m really happy too.” Evy said. “The librarian you’d be replacing well. They uh. Diplomatically speaking, I did not see eye to eye with them on a ‘argue so bad about a late fee they threatened to put a thousand dollar fine on my account’ level.”

“Wow.” I said. “Well, I’ll let you hold books as late as you want for helping me so much.”

“I like the sound of that,” Evy said.

The food smelled incredible as it was brought to us, a perfect blend of greasy, fried, and salty. Evy devoured her fries right away. She wasn’t a complete slob about it, but she was confident enough to make the slob levels not make her any less attractive.

“Probably good we’re just getting soda,” I said, my body tensing as it sensed I was about to say something cringeworthy. “Don’t want to be tipsy or anything with the roads already…er, tipsy feeling. With the snow.”

“Mmh,” Evy said after her first bite of her burger. “Yeah, good point. I have some stuff at home if I really have to drink tonight, anyways."

I took a sip of my ColaBlu soda, and noticed my hands were slightly shaking.

“I probably shouldn’t be drinking this,” I said. “It’s past four, I’m gonna be up all night.”

“That wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing,” Evy said.

“I, er.” I giggled. Is she flirting with me? That would be amazing. Alternatively, it could just be some odd take about all-nighters. “Are all-nighters good for Cani?”

“I don’t know if we get any specific benefit for them, but they’re kinda fun sometimes,” Evy said. “Really fun if you have the right person with you.”

OK. She’s flirting. I think. Oh my god. Don’t panic. And slow down on the caffeine.

I answered Evy’s likely flirting by letting out a horrible gut laugh that I only emitted when being flirted with, then eating my food quietly in embarrassment.