SHE REREAD HER last three texts from Kendra as she thumped her foot in her chair in the campus grill. Madi was certain Kendra had asked her to meet her there for lunch, but Kendra was twenty minutes late. Kendra had been more preoccupied than usual with her music classes this semester. She could play several instruments beautifully, thanks to her affluent upbringing, and was working on her final composure for a class. Madi wondered where her inspirations came from. She was extremely talented, but sometimes lacked drive. Her texts sounded anxious as Madi read them, and they made her start to worry something was wrong.
As Madi studied her texts for clues, she could feel Kendra’s presence from the sudden change in the room. A waiter dropped a tray and two guys tripped over themselves to get her attention. Madi glanced up to see heads turn as Kendra strutted toward her.
“Hey, bitch. Sorry I’m late.” Kendra plopped down in a chair and her backpack fell to the floor.
Madi frowned. “I was beginning to think I’d made a mistake. What’s going on? You have me worried.”
Kendra’s eyes darted around the room. “I need to talk to you, but first I need food. I’m flipping starving.”
Madi knew all too well that Kendra couldn’t focus when she was hungry. Kendra grabbed a menu and eyed Madi suspiciously.
“You don’t need to see a menu?” she asked.
“Nope. I know what I want.”
“Let me guess: the standard boring chicken salad you always order?” Kendra rolled her eyes as she glanced around for the waiter.
“No, today I’m having a chickensandwich,” Madi said proudly.
“Wow,” Kendra said sarcastically. “The fine piece of ass has really changed you.”
“Hey… I thought you’d be happy I’m trying something different.”
“It’s a real stretch, Mads,” Kendra laughed as she put her menu down.
“I’ll have the steak the next time I see Jake,” Madi whispered with a smirk. Kendra rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but smile at the comment.
After they placed their order, Kendra began munching on some chips at the table. “Okay, I need to ask you something, and you have to promise me that you’ll be completely honest, no matter how much you think the truth may hurt me.”
Madi broke a chip in her hand as she turned her head and thoughtfully glared at Kendra. “You know I’m always honest with you. What’s going on? Is this about that drummer from Louie’s or that selfish prick, Max?”
Kendra waved her hand in the air. “No, fuck them both. This about me and my future.”
“You have my interest. Spill,” Madi said as she leaned forward, focusing intently.
“So, I’ve given it some thought, and I think that after we graduate, I may want to teach music. To kids… You know, like first graders.”
Madi could feel her face scrunch up into a ball. “Umm… kids? First graders?”
Kendra’s shoulders fell. “Yes. Why do you sound so surprised?”
Madi clenched her lips together, attempting to keep herself from laughing. “You do realize that you can’t call them little fuckers, right?”
Kendra chuckled. “I know, I need to work on my vocabulary, but I was thinking I might like to mold the little shits. You know?”
Madi laughed. “Little shits?”
“Little bastards?” Kendra questioned.
“Little darlings might be better,” Madi giggled. I’m having a hard time trying to picture you talking to nervous parents at a recital.”
Kendra sighed. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She shoved another chip into her mouth and scratched her head.
“Is that really what you want to do?” Madi asked, concerned.
“I don’t know… My adviser told me I need to make a decision before next semester. I need to plan my final classes. He said I should go where the jobs are.”
“What does your heart tell you?” Madi asked as she furrowed her brows.
