“Okay, but it doesn’t have to be something serious,” Fern says. “Once you’re back, you could just have some fun. Be casual.”
Casualis all Fern knows—she’s commitment-averse.
Unfortunately, I made time to go to Fern’s rooftop party four months ago and found myself staring into Jordan’s dark eyes, lined with thick black lashes, his impeccable black hair blowing in the breeze, and I kissed him. Itriedfun and casual, but then he got attached.
And even if I knew him well enough to like him, I’m too busy for a relationship. So, lesson learned.
“I don’t do fun and casual. I’m not interested, Fernie. I’m sorry.” Maybe I’ll have time for boys after I get into Columbia, but until then, I’m laser-focused.
Fern’s sigh nearly blows me over all the way from New York. “Just think about it, Ellis. Listen, I gotta go. I’m meeting up with Franky for dinner at the Nervous Donkey.”
My stomach grumbles. “Ugh, I’ve been dying to eat there since they opened.”
“I know, babes. We’ll go when you’re back.”
“Let me know how it is,” I say.
“You can watch my video,” Fern says. There’s some shuffling on her end. “Let me know how school goes Tuesday.”
I smother my groan. “Yeah, sure.”
“Love you, Ell. Bye!”
The line goes dead. I toss my phone on the mattress next to me and lie like a starfish, closing my eyes and letting the air fromthe fans wash over me. Maybe this is where I wake up and find out this has all been a nightmare.
I’ll open my eyes and be in my bedroom in NYC, sunlight pouring through my giant window, photos of Fern and me tacked up on the pale pink walls, my toes sinking into my soft white rug on my way to sit in my armchair and sketch some designs.
A soft knock pulls me from my daydream.
“Ellis, we’re coming up,” my mom calls from downstairs. She hasn’t once announced herself today. I sit up and listen closely.
“Of course I remember you,” my mom says as two pairs of footsteps grow closer. “Ellis talked about you formonthsafter we last left here. I think it was the best summer she ever had.”
“Oh yeah?” a deep voice full of doubt says.
Oh no.
No, no, no.
I completely forgot Cooper Barnett was coming over.
Chapter Four
“Ellis, come out here and help us,” Mom says, her voice just outside the curtains now.
I look at my plain gray shorts and sweaty yellow tank top, covered in dirt and dust from trying to clean my small section of the attic all day. I don’t have a mirror, but I can picture my high ponytail, loose and messy, and what’s left of my makeup smudged under my eyes.
There’s no way I’m going out there looking like this.
Mom rips the curtain open.
“Are you ignoring me?” she asks, barely looking at me.
“I was sleeping,” I lie. My eyes flit to Cooper, who turns quickly toward the boxes full of decorations, pretending he wasn’t watching us.
“No, you weren’t,” Mom says. “Now get up. It’s all hands on deck.”
“Whatever,” I mutter.
