Rory slaps Bryden’s shoulder hard multiple times.

“Ow!” Bryden exclaims, hissing from the pain. “What’s that for?”

“How the hell did you get a fifty-three on a midterm?” Rory rebukes. “You literally failed a midterm!”

Bryden shrugs. “I mean, I passed all the others.”

“Yeah, barely,” Nora retorts, snorting. “Let’s see, you’ve scored a sixty-six, sixty-nine, sixty-seven, and a seventy-two. So seventy-two is your highest.”

“Hey, not bad,” Bryden grins, praising himself. “Seventy-two—I think that’s the highest I’ve gotten in a while. Looks like I’ve beaten my personal record.”

Nora gapes at him. “And you’re proud of that?”

Rory rolls his eyes, crossing his arms. “That’s just how underachievers like him act with a score like that.”

“Hey!” Bryden exclaims. “Stop lecturing me like getting a fifty-three is the end of the world. I’m sure plenty of other students got way lower than me. Didn’t Sabine get a forty-six on a midterm?”

“Yes, but that’s only because it was about quantum physics,” Nora explains. “That’s one of the most difficult classes. She was having a hard time understanding the topics, even when she worked her butt off. But that was the only midterm she failed throughout all her years of college, and she aced all her other midterms. And I don’t think this is your first time failing a midterm now, is it?”

“Are you serious right now?” Bryden scoffs. “You’re okay with failing if it’s a hard class? Well, my classes were also hard. I don’t remember a single thing my professor said in my risk management class.”

“That’s not even that hard of a class!” Rory insists. “I got a ninety-two on that midterm. I’m literally the same major as you and we have so many of the same classes together. How did I get over a ninety on all of my midterms and you failed one and barely passed the others?”

“That’s just because you’re a nerd,” Bryden says. “Or maybe you cheated. Maybe the professors favored you so much that they all gave you the answers to the midterms.”

“Okay, okay,” Nora says, unable to help rolling her eyes at him. “The midterms are over. Right now, we’re here to fix Bryden.”

“Fix me?” Bryden laughs. “Oh, come on. What is there to fix? I’m perfect.”

Both Rory and Nora eye him with raised brows.

“Okay, okay, I was just joking, calm down,” Bryden assures with a grin.

“First order of business is to fix Bryden’s problem with that phone of his,” Rory begins with a straight face, taking a glance at the phone in Bryden's hands.

“Huh?” Bryden can’t help but sneak a glance at his own phone. “What’s wrong with my phone?”

“I’ll take it from him,” Nora says, snatching his phone away from him.

“Hey!” Bryden exclaims, leaning forward to take his phone back. “Give that back!”

“You’ll have it back later,” she tells him, setting it aside.

“The reason for this is because that phone is getting in the way of your studies,” Rory explains. “I know that you sneak in your phone during our study sessions, even when I told you not to.”

“Sheesh, alright, you’re not my father,” Bryden says, clutching onto a mannequin head with a long brown wig over it from who knows where. “Then I’ll just play with all my wigs when I’m bored.”

“You ain’t having that either,” Nora snatches the mannequin head wearing a wig away from him.

“Hey, you know how much money I spent on that wig?” Bryden pouts, huffing. “It’s a high-quality wig, perfect for practicing my hair styling skills.”

Nora rolls his eyes. “I still don’t understand what it is about this hobby that you like so much, but if it causes a distraction, we have to remove it.”

“Look.” Bryden holds his hands up in the air. “I admit it, I’m guilty as charged. But let’s be real here, who in our generation doesn’t procrastinate? Don’t lie to me now.”

“Of course we procrastinate,” Nora tells him. “But at least we know when we should get to work and still end up with decent grades.”

“For you, however, your grades are borderlining failing,” Rory puts bluntly. “So no phone for you for the time being. Or, until your grades bump up.”

“Oh, come on!” Bryden complains. “We’re seniors, and it’s nearly the end of the year. We’re graduating in a few months. My GPA is pretty much already set. What’s the point of bumping my grades up if they have no effect?”

“Well, for starters, to improve your work habits,” Rory tells him. “If you’re too lazy to handle college workload, how are you going to handle a job after graduating?”

Bryden shrugs it away. “I’ll be fine. Don’t they say that grades aren’t an indicator of future success?”

“No, but your laziness is,” Nora retorts. “Along with that short attention span of yours. When we went out on dates, I felt like you were always on your phone. Like, I get that it’s a big part of our generation, but being constantly on your phone during dates—that’s just rude.”

“Yeah, I know,” Bryden nods in agreement. “My brain just automatically zones out during long conversations, especially lectures. I’m already having a hard time concentrating right now.”

“That’s just from years and years of habit,” Rory remarks. “You have to change soon, though. No employer or coworker would like someone who doesn’t listen to a word they say.”

“Yeah,” Nora chuckles. “You’ll get fired in an instant.”

“Hey, I know how to listen,” Bryden insists. “Don’t tell me you’re going to give me lessons on listening? I’m not going back to kindergarten.”

“Relax, we’re not going back to kindergarten,” Nora assures him. “Just listen to what we’re about to say.”

“Don’t go on your phone randomly when you talk to people,” Rory tells him. “That’s just rude.”

“I don’t know about you, but I consider flirting a form of cheating,” Nora says. “Please do not flirt with other girls if you are currently dating someone. And please do not just dump a girl abruptly because someone else catches your eye. Otherwise, you’re just seeking to break people’s hearts.”

“If you have trouble with that, then just don’t date altogether,” Rory says. “No one’s stopping you from dating people, but whoever you date, please do not neglect them.”

“Yeah, respect them,” Nora adds. “In order to be a good boyfriend in the future, don’t ignore the person you’re in a relationship with. Listen to them properly.”

“Oh, yeah, and please work on that ego of yours,” Rory adds. “Please don’t put yourself on a pedestal and go on and on about yourself. No one likes narcissists, okay?”

“Okay, okay, jeez,” Bryden butts in. “I thought you already made all of this clear the other day. And didn’t I just tell you guys that I zone out very easily? My gosh…”

“Hmm, if only there was a way to test him…” Nora thinks for a moment. Her eyes widen, an idea coming to her. “Hey, why don’t we go to Marla’s? Let’s see how well you resist flirting with girls.”

“Hey, that’s a great idea!” Rory agrees. “Let’s go. Come on, Bryden. Let’s see how much you’ve ‘changed’ and listened to what we said just now.”

Bryden groans, covering his face with his hands. “Bro, I probably didn’t even catch half of what you guys said.”

“Then use your brain,” Nora tells him, standing up. “Use your judgement to tell you if what you’re doing is wrong.”

“Get up, Bryden,” Rory gestures at him, getting up himself. “You used to love going to Marla’s.”

“That was before I had to be accompanied everytime I went there,” Bryden retorts, standing up. “Alright, alright. Let’s go. Be prepared, guys. I won’t flirt with a single girl I see. You’re going to be so proud of me.”

Nora snorts. “We’ll see about that.”

When they leave the dorm, Nora whispers in Rory’s ear, “I can’t wait to see Bryden’s face go red from his excruciating effort trying to resist girls.”

Rory laughs. “Oh, that’s going to be hilarious. I know he’s going to have so much trouble resisting it.”

“Hey, what are you guys laughing—” Bryden stops midway through his sentence when a girl’s soft, sweet voice cuts through the air.

“Hey, Bryden!” Jessica greets him with a smile. “How have you been?”

Bryden flushes, his feet frozen in place. “J-Jessica! Hi! Uh, I-I’ve been p-pretty good. Uh, what about you?”

Jessica smiles. “I’ve been good too.”

“So, uh,” he stutters. “Wh-What’d you get on your midterms? They were pretty tough, right?”

She thinks for a moment. “Hmm, there was quite a bit of pressure, but they weren’t too bad. Unfortunately, though, I got a disappointing score on one of them.” She frowns, her head drooping down.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Bryden assures. “Plenty of people failed the midterms, including m—”

“I got an eighty-seven,” she blurts, face reddening. She covers her face in embarrassment. 

“An eighty-seven?” Bryden gapes at her.

“Yes,” she murmurs. “I studied so hard, yet I didn’t get as high as I’d hoped. Oh, how much my GPA will drop…”

That isn’t the reason for Bryden’s shock, for the only thought in his head is, That high?! Dang, Jessica’s smart too? Well, duh, she’s the most popular girl on campus! Of course she’s smart. And she thinks an eight-seven’s bad?! What’s she going to think of my meager scores?

Jessica asks, “So, what did you g—”

“Oh, right, I forgot,” Bryden interrupts, clearing his throat. “So, is there another part-time position at Marla’s for me?”

“Ah, I almost forgot about that,” she laughs. “Thanks for reminding me. And yes, there is another part-time position for you, with the same hours as me.”

Bryden grins, his hands shaking a little, struggling to contain his excitement. “That’s awesome! So when do I start?”

“Tomorrow,” Jessica tells him. “Just come over to Marla’s by one o’clock.”

“Okay!” He nods at her. “I’ll make sure to be on time.”

Jessica smiles. “Well, see you then!” She turns around and walks down the hall.

Bryden sighs dreamily, unaware of the glares that the two behind him are giving him.

“No, no, no, no, no,” Nora mutters, shaking her head. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Hm?” Bryden glances behind at her. “Don’t think about what?”

“Don’t tell me you have a crush on Jessica,” Rory scoffs, squinting at him.

“Shh!” Bryden shushes him, pressing a finger over his lips. “I don’t want the whole school to find out!”

“And I thought you promised to not go flirting with other girls anymore,” Nora reminds him, raising an eyebrow. 

“Oh, come on!” Bryden groans. “I never even flirted with Jessica. She’s the only exception. I’ve had a crush on her since freshman year. I can stand not dating any other girl for the rest of the year because she’s the only girl I actually like. I’m planning on confessing to her after graduation.”

“Are you saying that you dated all those girls when you liked someone else?” Nora scoffs, placing a hand on her hip.

“I like dating girls,” Bryden says, shrugging. “I don’t need to have feelings for them in order for me to enjoy flirting with them. I can date pretty much any girl I lay my eyes on, as long we’re close in age, even if they’re not the prettiest. Every girl is pretty in my opinion, anyway, so it’s hard to resist flirting with them. It’s like a hobby of mine.”

“You—” Nora sighs, shaking her head. “And what makes you think she’ll accept your confession?”

“I’m positive she’ll like me back,” Bryden says with confidence, without a hint of hesitation. “I mean, why wouldn’t she?”

Nora rolls her eyes. “Jeez, what arrogance. Well, too bad, Bryden, ’cause she’s way too good for you. She’s smart, sweet, pretty—completely opposite of you! Just give up now before she rejects you.”

“Listen, I know that she’s out of my league,” Bryden admits. “That’s why I want to spend some time with her and win her over slowly before confessing.”

“So that’s why you asked her for a job at Marla’s?” Rory inquires with furrowed brows. “So every weekend, you two will work alongside each other, alone…”

“Yeah…” Bryden sighs, grinning. “Isn’t that great?”

“You dumbass!” Nora scorns, pinching his arm. “Didn’t we have an agreement that you can’t go to Marla’s alone?”

“Ouch! Come on, guys, it’s not like you’re my parents.” Bryden rubs the spot on his arm where she pinched him. “You guys can’t boss me around. I promise to not flirt with any girls other than Jessica. She’s the only girl I’m going to—”

“Not on my watch,” Rory states, a mischievous grin creeping onto his lips. He hurries down the hall, calling out, “Hey, Jessica!”

All the way down the end of the hall, Jessica turns her head around. “Oh, yes?”

“Does Marla’s have room for one more person to work part-time?” Rory asks her.

“Hm?” Jessica blinks. “I believe so. Oh, yes, there is. My boss told me that there are two part-time positions available.”

“They both have the same hours, right?” Rory asks.

“Yes, they do,” she confirms, tilting her head to the side. “Is this because you want to work alongside Bryden? You two are friends, right?”

Rory smirks, rubbing his hands together. “Yes… we are good friends indeed. Thank you very much, Jessica. I can start working with Bryden tomorrow too, right?”

“Um, yeah, I guess,” Jessica says. “I’ll talk to my boss tomorrow.”

“Okay. Thanks again, Jessica!” Rory waves to her with a grin before hurrying back down the hall.

Jessica smiles, waving back. I guess it’ll be nice to have some friends working with me.

“Looks like I’m also going to work part-time alongside you and Jessica,” Rory snickers at Bryden.

“What?” Bryden splutters. “B-But… no! Me and Jessica… it was only supposed to be… ugh, you suck!”

Rory sticks his tongue out at him. “I know.” He presses a finger against Bryden’s chest, his eyes cold. “And if I see you make a move on her…”

Bryden sighs. “I know, I know. I won’t make a move on her, okay?”

“Good,” Nora says, giving Rory a high-five. “Dang, that was smart of you, Rory. Now you can keep a close eye on Bryden and reprimand him if he tries to do anything.”

“I’m a genius, aren’t I?” Rory smirks. “I couldn’t possibly have left Jessica alone with Bryden, especially knowing that he likes her.”

“Hm, now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bryden flirt with her or try to date her,” Nora mentions. “I guess if he really likes a girl, he’s too scared to ask them out. So much for that confidence and big ego of his.”

“Poor Jessica,” Rory sighs. “She’s so sweet and innocent—she’s way too good for Bryden.”

“Yeah, that’s why everyone loves her,” Nora agrees. “She treats everyone with kindness. I’m honestly surprised that she’s still nice to him, even after rumors about him have spread around campus.”

“Uh, guys, you know I’m still here, right?” Bryden butts into their conversation. “I can hear you guys talking about me.”

“Do you think we give a damn?” Nora laughs. “We’re purposefully making you listen to us.”

Rory laughs with her. “Alright, alright. Come on, let’s go to Marla’s.”

As he walks with them to the café, Bryden inwardly groans. Ugh, this sucks. Rory’s going to be watching my every move, leaving me absolutely no opportunity to be alone with Jessica! Great, there goes my one chance with her.