“Did you hear back from anywhere?” Emily asked Seb once they were back on solid ground, sitting on lounges with soda cans in their hands.
“Not yet. I might take a year off if I don’t hear back from the couple I applied to,” he waved his hand casually.
Emily would have loved to be that casual about this or anything at all, really. But she also knew Seb could back his nonchalance with a great academic and sports record. “You’ll get everywhere you’ve applied! Then you can continue your perfect relationship in California,” she assured.
Seb looked confused. “You know I’m not leaving the state,” he said.
Emily did know that, but she hadn’t connected the dots to what that would actually mean. “But Ray is going to CalTech,” she said, processing.
“I’m almost sure she’s leaving to get rid of me,” Seb joked, jumping on Ray’s lounge and cuddling with her.
“Yeah, and studying at the best tech university in the world wasn’t a motivator at all,” Ray said, letting Seb hug her.
They were the most stable, perfect, and mature couple she knew. Emily wanted what they had someday. She didn’t understand how they were so alright with leaving it behind.
So, Emily slowly sipped her soda and looked at the water in front of them, soaking in the last moments she had with her best friends.
***
A couple of days later, Emily had an acceptance letter from NYU and a new car from her father as a gift. She’d honestly never seen him happier.
She drove the car to Ray’s and found her still sound asleep. She practically jumped on her and hugged her despite Ray’s valiant efforts to wrestle her off the bed. It took some time for her to wake up and process what was happening.
Once she did, they drove to Seb’s. His mom greeted them with hugs, as she always did. When they went in, there was a huge cake with “congratulations” written on it.
“Seb already told you?” Seb’s mom asked at their surprised faces.
How did she know they were coming? Wait, Emily hadn’t even told Seb yet.
“Told us what?” Ray asked from the couch, where she looked all but ready to go back to sleep.
“The NYU acceptance. Why aren’t you guys replying to my texts?” Seb’s voice boomed from upstairs, followed by him running down in a tank top and shorts.
“How do you know about that?” Emily asked, confused.
“Oh, you got it too, then! I was so worried,” he said before wrapping her in the biggest hug.
He was worried? Emily was touched, so she hugged him tighter. Then ruined the moment immediately because emotions, ew! “Aw, you do have a heart!”
“I’m so proud of my kids,” the lump, formerly Emily’s best friend, said from the sofa.
“Congrats, Emily,” Ms. Raux said and hugged her again. “You all should cut the cake together,” she added. Ray immediately sprang up from the sofa and joined them in the kitchen at the mention of cake.
“I’m so jealous you’ll be together in school,” Ray said when they were back in Emily’s car, this time with a grinning Seb. They decided to brunch at their favorite cafe. Emily’s treat, of course.
“There’s always breaks,” Emily said sympathetically.
“Yeah, I’m never coming back if I can help it,” Ray said. Emily saw Seb gently pat Ray’s shoulder from the back seat.
Emily understood that. Well, kind of. Ray’s family wasn’t the most present one. But she didn’t know she hated them somuch. Maybe Emily would ask about that when they weren’t mid-celebration.
“We’ll visit you whenever we can!” Seb said, assuring her.
“Of course! I’m sure my parents will emotionally blackmail me into spending most weekends at home, so I can do whatever I want during the breaks. I’m pretty sure that’s why I got the car,” Emily pointed out.
“Same!” Seb said. “See, everything will work out,” he promised.
But it didn’t, did it? With so many secrets that Emily was never a part of, she should have seen it all crumbling like it did.
