18

I made it home when I realized I haven't really talked to Karina in a while. So I texted her to come over so we can have a girl chat session. She responded immediately and said she was already on her way over and that she was grabbing food.

Ten minutes later I heard a knock on the door and it was her, two chick fil-a bags in hand like always, already talking as she walked through the front door. I was still in my lounge shorts and hoodie—Kamala's hoodie, actually—but I didn't think Karina would notice. She'd seen me in hoodies before. She didn't know this one used to live on someone else's body. Someone whose mouth had been on mine forty eight hours ago.

We kicked our shoes off and flopped down on the couch in the living room, music playing low from my speaker, food spread across the coffee table, everything chill. On the surface, at least.

"I'm telling you right now," Karina said, unwrapping her sandwich, "if we get assigned another group project in Social Theory, I'm dropping the class. I'm not doing that again."

I smiled, even laughed, but I could feel it in my chest—tight. Like i couldn't fully relax. Not with Kamala's text notification still sitting unread in the corner of my screen. I was trying not to check it. Trying not to light up. But I wanted to.

"You're quiet," Karina said suddenly.

I looked over. She wasn't even eating—just watching me, brows raised.

"I'm listening."

"No, you're somewhere else. Mentally. Like your body's here, but your soul is off writing poetry and smiling at your phone."

I forced a laugh. "I'm just tired."

"Mhm."

She took a bite, chewed slowly, then pointed at me with a fry. "You've been acting real different lately."

I looked at her. "Different how?"

"Just...I don't know. Off. Distracted. Smiling at nothing. Avoiding questions. And don't get me started on how many times you've flaked on me this month."

"I've been busy."

"Busy getting laid?" she asked, smirking.

I almost choked on my lemonade.

Karina sat up, eyes wide. "Wait."

I avoided her stare, which was basically a confession.

"Oh my God," she gasped. "You are. Who is it?"

"It's nobody," I said quickly.

"You suck at lying." She was already grinning, shifting into full detective mode. "Okay, hold on. Let's think. You've been all glowy and mysterious for weeks. You keep checking your phone like it owes you rent. And—wait. Is that a hickey?"

She leaned in, eyes narrowing at my neck. I yanked the hoodie higher.

I groaned, slumping back against the couch. "Can we not do this right now?"

"No, we absolutely can and will." Karina dropped her food on the table like this was now a federal investigation. "Who is it?"

I shook my head.

"Is it someone from campus?"

Silence.

"Oh God, it is."

I stood up and started collecting wrappers to throw away, but she followed me into the kitchen like a damn bloodhound.

"Is it someone older?"

"Karina."

She gasped. "Oh my God. It's the professor, isn't it?"

I froze.

"I knew it," she whispered.

I turned to face her slowly. "You don't know anything."

"You just confirmed it."

I set the wrappers down on the counter and folded my arms. "Fine. Whatever. Yes."

Karinas face was stuck somewhere between shock, judgement, and awe. "You're sleeping with professor Harris?"

"Keep your voice down," I snapped.

"We're alone."

"You never know."

She leaned against the counter. "When? How?"

"Im not doing a whole story time."

"Oh, I bet there's a story." She crossed her arms too. "This is why you've been sneaking around?"

"It's not like that."

"You canceled on me last weekend."

"Because I was studying."

"With your tongue?"

"Karina!"

She snorted but sobered quickly. "Okay but like.. are you serious about her?"

I swallowed. "I think so."

She blinked. "Wow."

"She's not just some professor to me. We talk. She listens. I feel like I can breathe around her. And yeah, maybe it's reckless and messy and all of that, but I've never felt anything like this before."

Karina stared at me for a long time. "So this is real."

I nodded.

"And she feels the same way?"

"She wouldn't be risking all of this if she didn't."

Karina sighed, walking over to the sink to rinse her hands. "Look, im your best friend, and I love you, but this could go really bad. Like 'academic misconduct hearing' bad. 'Dropped from school' bad."

"We're careful."

"You think you are. Until somebody sees something. Or one of her colleagues catches a weird look between you two."

I didn't answer.

"Does anyone else know?"

I shook my head.

"Im not gonna snitch," Karina said quickly. "I just... I don't want you to get hurt."

"I wont."

She gave me a look. "You say that now. But you don't know what could happen. You don't know if she'll protect you if things get messy. What if she chooses her career over you?"

I looked down, my fingers tightening on the edge of the counter.

Karina stepped forward, voice softer. "I've seen you crushed before, Riah. You pretend like you're tough, but when someone breaks your heart, it wrecks you."

"I know."

"So just... be sure. Be really sure this is worth it."

I nodded slowly.

After a moment, she pulled me into a hug. "I got you no matter what. But if she plays with your heart, I'll smile real big in my mugshot. Period."

i laughed into her shoulder. "You're ridiculous."

"Deadass."____________

I love their friendship 😭.