𝓕𝓔𝓐𝓡𝓢 ||𝚌. 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒...

it's been a week since my day at the amusement park with chris and matt.

already, the whole ordeal feels like a hazy daydream i conjured in my mind. i remember the emotions vividly, yet at the same time, they feel almost like they happened to someone else.

either way, the situation will likely just be another 온라인카지노게임 i have about living in L.A. yeah, i met billie eilish at a starbucks. i also rode roller coasters with famous tiktokers.

though, i have to admit that it felt like . . . more than that. i don't know how chris or matt felt about it, but to me . . . it's like there was something there. something deeper. like we could be friends or something, i don't know.

all i know is that the whole day felt special to me.

but i can't keep replaying the day in my mind over and over. it's been a week already, and they've probably already forgotten about it. it was just a one-time thing; no use dwelling on it.

what i should be focusing on is the glaring red word on my screen: 'missing'.

last night, i worked overtime at the coffee shop and completely forgot that i had an assignment due that night. so i missed the deadline, and now i likely won't get any marks for completing it, even if i do get it done.

i groan. this is really not what i needed. the year is wrapping up and summer is just around the corner, but a big ugly '0' in my gradebook is a hit i cannot afford to take. will it be enough to fail the class? how much was this assignment worth again? ugh, why do i do this to myself!

i really don't have the money to retake this class if i fail it. every credit matters, and if i lose one because of my carelessness, i will never forgive myself. 

out of options, i decided to write an email to my professor, explaining why i was unable to complete the assignment on time and beg him for forgiveness.

i've had my email open for the past 15 minutes and all i've got so far is dear mr. johnson . . .

ugh.

i slump my head onto my desk and contemplate whether it's even worth the trouble. he'll probably just say no and the grade will remain a zero. is there any point trying to reason with him? 

ding!

i drag my phone towards me and check the notification.

georgie 💕

was gonna study at the library tonight

wanna join me?

i sigh. maybe a change of scenery is what i need. i should really stop rotting in my apartment and contemplating going bankrupt and failing school. socialization will probably do me some good.

georgie 💕

sure!

okay! 8:00?

👍

do you need me to send you a
friendly reminder at 7:30?

you know me too well.

-

the library is busier than i thought it would be.

last minute cram sessions are starting to become commonplace. it makes sense; students are in a huge rush to get everything finished. in the midst of everything, mixed emotions are floating through the atmosphere: there's dread and agony about the upcoming exams and last-minute assignments, but there's also a buzz of excitement and anticipation that summer is almost here. summer, a synonym for freedom.

i maneuver through the tables full of students, searching for georgia. i pass a girl who looks like she's about to cry, and smile at her sympathetically. i pass a guy bragging about the summer holiday his rich parents are going to take him on. i pass three red bull drinkers and a girl dead asleep in her chair. i continue searching.

i finally find georgia in a quiet corner, eyes glued to her laptop, her blonde hair up in a bun and her blue-light glasses perched on her nose.

"hey!" i say at a library-appropriate volume. though the place is full enough that it's hardly necessary.

"hey bree!" she replies.

i sit down across from her and drag my own laptop onto the table. "you secured a good spot," i comment. "this place is packed."

"i got here early," she replies, eyes still locked on her laptop.

"what're you studying for?" i ask as i load up my own screen.

she groans, looking up for the first time. "this super confusing physics exam."

i chuckle. "remind me again why you're taking a physics class? while you're working on your fashion degree?"

she huffs. "my parents want me to be 'well-rounded'." cue the air quotes. 

"glad they're looking out for you, but couldn't you have taken an easier class?"

she throws her hands up in defeat. "i underestimated how much physics would make me want to jump off a bridge!"

"hmm." i fake a pensive look. "and when falling off said bridge, can you calculate the velocity at which your body will plummet to the ground?"

georgia makes a sound that is halfway between a laugh and a groan. "what do you know about velocity?"

"nothing. that's why i'm not taking physics." i turn my attention back to my laptop screen and let out a groan of my own.

"what?" georgia asks.

"i missed an assignment while i was working last night and now it's overdue."

"dang bree, i'm sorry. which prof?"

"mr. johnson."

"are you gonna try to get it excused?"

"well, i started to write him an email, but i don't know what to say."

"say you couldn't get it done 'cause you were working late," she says simply.

i wince. "you make it sound so easy."

"it is that easy!" she exclaims, gesturing at my laptop. "i know you're capable of forming basic sentences, bree. you just have a mental block about it."

dang. she's right. i wanted to give up on the email just because i assumed the prof would say no. but i won't know until i try. and there really is nothing stopping me, apart from my own head.

"you're right," i sigh.

"i always am," she teases. then her expression softens. "take it one thing at a time, bree. don't get so worked up."

keeping her advice close to heart, i begin tapping out a message to my professor while she goes back to studying. we fall into a focused silence for the next few minutes, only broken once or twice when i ask for her advice on my wording. 

after a couple more minutes, i finally hit send on the email, relieving myself of a small burden i hadn't realized i'd been carrying all day.

"oh my gosh!"

my eyes jerk upwards. georgia is covering her mouth with her hand and staring wide-eyed at her phone screen. her exclamation was not at a library-appropriate volume, and some nearby students turn to glance at her.

"what is it? is everything okay?"

"yes!" georgia says in a whisper-squeal. "oh my gosh. i can't believe this." she shoves her phone into my hands. "look!"

i squint my eyes at the screen, trying to figure out what was so scream-worthy.

her phone is opened to an email. the subject section reads 'space camp release party', and the email address has something to do with space camp as well.

"what is space camp?" i ask, though when i say it out loud, the words do sound familiar.

"nick sturniolo's lip balm brand!"

my eyes return to the screen. i scan the email quickly, my eyes widening as i take in the information.

"oh my gosh, georgia. so wait— you're invited to this release party?"

"yes!" she exclaims. i hand her back her phone. "nick is going to be there! and the email said it would be a very small event, so i bet that not even all of the models were invited. i think he really liked me!"

i lean across the chair to hug her. "who wouldn't? georgia, that is amazing! i'm so happy for you!"

"do you want to come with me?"

my stomach leaps in anticipation. i didn't realized how much i wanted her to ask me until she did.

going to this party with her would mean a chance of seeing chris again . . .

. . . where i would hang out with him as a friend, of course. i don't want anything romantic right now and i don't see him as anything other than a friend. obviously. i'm excited to see him because i enjoyed our friendship. nothing more. 

"georgia, i would love to, but don't you think it's kind of exclusive? the email said it's a small event."

"well, sure, but you've hung out with them before."

"and?"

"and, they'll remember who you are and totally be on board with you joining."

i raise an eyebrow. "you sure about that?"

"bree, i think this'll be super fun, and i want you to experience it with me! i'm sure they'll be thrilled if you came along. from what you've told me, you had fun with chris and matt already. and they're the ones who invited you out in the first place! come on, the worst they can say is no."

true, but hearing 'no' would hurt, i can't lie. "okay then . . ." i say, somewhat skeptical. "but i won't be surprised if the answer really is no." i hope they say yes. "either way, georgia, congratulations! it's such an honour to be invited, and you're going to have so much fun!"

she grins. "i can't believe this is real life."

i smile at her. "so, you don't want to jump off that bridge anymore?"

-

that night, just as i'm settling into bed, i get a text message from georgia.

georgie 💕

they responded!!!!!!

they said that they don't normally allow
plus-ones, but that they remember you from
the shoot last week!

they totally want you there

my heart soars with excitement. i really hadn't been expecting them to say yes. an exclusive party? it'd make sense for them to turn me down.

but they actually remember me.

wait fr?

yeah! i mentioned in the email that you went
to six flags with matt and chris, and they said they
would be happy for you to come.

butterflies flutter through my stomach.

really?

i can't believe they actually remember me

you're hard to forget 🤷‍♀️

i'll take that as a compliment

i meant it as one

may 23!

may 23.

seeing the date makes everything suddenly more real.

what i thought was a one-time encounter is about to turn into a second meeting. i truly believed that i wouldn't have any reason to see chris or his brothers ever again, yet here i am.

may 23.

9 more days.

author's note:

if i was bree i don't think i'd ever recover