“So… how are things going?” Leah asked.

In answer, I let out a long and noisy sigh of frustration.

“Wow… that great huh?”

I missed Leah a lot. She and I had been best friends since primary school, but college had taken us in different directions. Now she was studying IT in Washington State, and I didn’t get to see her as often as I would have liked.

“I told you I was kicked out of my dorm, didn’t I?”

“I got that message,” Leah replied. “Didn’t you explain that you had nothing to do with the party or the pot?”

“I tried,” I said. “But apparently Sandra went in there and swore up and down that I knew everything and that I was involved in every party. I was just trying to palm off the blame by saying I didn’t know about it.”

“What a bitch!” Leah said, in obvious outrage.

“I know… I can’t believe she did that. I honestly didn’t think she would stoop that low,” I said.

“But she got kicked out of the dorms too, right?” Leah asked.

“She did,” I nodded. “But that’s small consolation. She’ll find another place to stay easily enough. She has a dozen different boyfriends to choose from. I, on the other hand, have limited options.”

Leah laughed. “What about your mom’s place?”

“She has a new boyfriend,” I said. “His name is Cliff… and he seems alright for now, but I just feel uncomfortable staying there for too long.”

“Wait… so you’re not staying at you mom’s currently?”

“No, I’m at Seth’s for the moment,” I admitted.

“Isn’t his place tiny?”

“It is,” I sighed. “And he moved in with Cory a few months ago too.”

“Ah,” Leah said. “Is she ok with you staying there?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “She was very sweet and gracious when I first arrived, but that may have been for Seth’s benefit. She can be a little passive aggressive so staying there long term is not an option either. I’m going to have to find a decent job soon so that I can afford rent for an apartment of my own.”

“You’ll need a roommate,” Zoey pointed out.

“I know,” I nodded. “I wouldn’t be able to afford an apartment without one. I spent the whole morning surfing the net trying to find decent options that aren’t too far from campus.”

“No luck?”

“Not so far,” I said, in frustration.

“Are you looking for a job?”

“Started the search for that too,” I nodded.

I had worked all through my first three years at Columbia, and I had actually managed to save a little, and because of that, I had decided to focus exclusively on my music for my final year so that I could take part in a few more concerts and really immerse myself in the music world. It had been a luxury even then, but it had been something of a gift to myself. Now it was downright unrealistic.

“What about trying to get one of your old jobs back?” Leah suggested. “You had a good relationship with your last boss, didn’t you?”

“Tony,” I nodded. “He ran a pizza parlor just outside campus. I went in yesterday after my lectures, but he’s not hiring anymore. He told me he’d keep me in mind if anything opened up but I’m not optimistic. I’ve applied for a couple more jobs in and around the campus… so hopefully I’ll get one by the end of the week.”

“Of course you will,” Leah nodded. “With that face of yours, you’re bound to get a job.”

I frowned. “That’s not exactly why I want to be hired.”

“Who cares why you’re hired?” Leah asked. “As long as you are.”

“Fair point,” I sighed. “I’m far past the point of desperation.”

“Hang in there, kid… you’re just building character.”

I smirked. “Is that something your dad told you growing up?”

“Of course it is,” Leah nodded. “That was his party line every time I was going through something. It used to piss me off, and now I find myself repeating it to myself whenever things don’t go my way.”

I laughed. “How are you?” I asked. “I miss you so much.”

“Oh, dude, you have no idea how much I miss you,” Leah replied. “I have a good group of friends here but… it’s not the same.”

“At least you have a group of friends… I don’t even have that to distract myself.”

“That’s because you’re so damn committed to your music that you forget to get out there and have fun.”

I wanted to argue with her, but I knew Leah was right to an extent. “You know I hate parties,” I said.

“Oh, boy, do I know,” Leah nodded. “I used to have to drag you to any party we had in high school. Do you remember Ashley Benson’s party?”

“Of course I remember it,” I nodded. “I was in love with her brother—”

“Which was the only reason I was able to convince you to come with me,” Leah nodded. “You spent the whole night hiding in a corner, and when Ashley’s brother finally made an appearance, you walked the other way.”

“I was cripplingly shy back then.”

“What was his name?”

“Jason,” I replied, but instead of picturing Jason, the handsome firefighter I had met the other day at Seth’s station popped into my head.

“That’s right… wonder what happened to him.”

“He probably went off to college, met some hot girl and married her.”

“Please, he was not the marrying type,” Leah said. “Last I heard about him his parents caught him with drugs in his room, and they sent him off to some camp.”

“No way!”

“True,” Leah replied. “Ashley told me herself.”

“Wow… how did I not know that?”

“Because you kept your head down all through high school… and you were averse to gossip even back then: probably one of your worst qualities to date.”

I smiled. “How are things with you and Byron?”

“Meh,” Leah replied.

“Meh?” I repeated. “Translation please?”

“Things are fine between us. I suppose,” Leah said. “I suppose I’ve just been getting a little bored lately. We’ve been together two years now, and I feel like I’ve missed out by restricting myself to one guy during my prime college years. I should have been out there experimenting.”

I laughed. “Sounds to me like you just need to spice things up…”

“True, he has been getting really comfortable with me lately,” Leah said. “I’m going to have to remind him that just because I agreed to move in with him after we graduate does not mean he gets to take me for granted.”

“I know you like to complain,” I said. “But you have it good.”

“Excuse me; I do not like to complain.”

“Of course you do,” I said. “Ever since you met Byron you’ve been complaining about him. But you stick it out in the end because you love him and he loves you. Admit it, Leah; you’ve got one of the good ones.”

There was a second of silence, and then I heard a little grunt of acknowledgment. I suppressed my laughter and waited.

“Ok, fine… I suppose as boyfriends go, he is pretty great.”

“He’s amazing,” I said. “Do you know what I would give to have a boyfriend as awesome as Byron?”

“Um you could easily have what I have if you just put yourself out there a little more,” Leah said immediately, and I instantly regretted going down this particular road.

“I—”

“Don’t even bother to defend yourself, we both know that you’ve avoided intimacy since you developed breasts.”

“Gee thanks,” I said. “That was kind of you.”

“Friendship requires honestly; I’m just being a good friend here,” Leah said. “Tell me, how many guys have you dated since you started college?”

“Uh… a few.”

“Can I have a number?”

“Like three or four,” I said.

“And how many of those dates turned into relationships?” Leah pressed.

I sighed. “One.”

“And how long did that relationship last?”

“It lasted awhile,” I said defensively.

“Four months is not a whole heck of a lot.”

“Not when you compare it to two years—”

“You’re going on twenty-two, Zo,” Leah said, cutting me off. “And you’re still a virgin!”

“Because I choose to be.”

“Or because you’re scared?”

“What would I be scared of?” I demanded. “Sex is not really a big deal anymore.”

“But it has always been a big deal to you… hasn’t it?”

She was not wrong. I just wasn’t willing to have this conversation, so I decided to change the subject, and the only thing that popped into my mind was the handsome fireman that had invaded my thoughts in the last few days.

“Guess what?” I said.

“What?”

“I met this really hot guy at Seth’s station,” I said. “I was dropping off some cupcakes for the boys, and he was there at the front of the station.”

“Really?” Leah asked, immediately interested. “How hot are we talking… on a scale of one to ten?”

I smiled. “Um like nine-point-five… I would even go so far as to say he was a ten.”

“Damn girl,” Leah said. “Did you get his number?”

“No.”

“Did you give him your number?”

“Uh—”

“Zoey!” Leah said, in frustration.

“Calm down; I know where he works remember?”

“That’s right… but what are you going to do with that information.”

I smiled. “I… well I need to sort out a few things first.”

“Yeah… I thought so,” Leah said, with disappointment.

“Even you have to admit; I have a lot going on at the moment. I don’t have the time to invest in a new relationship. Plus… he’s a fireman.”

“So?” Leah asked. “They’re hot.”

“They’re also known for being players… that’s what Seth’s always said.”

“Seth is just trying to keep you a virgin. Don’t pay any attention to him.”

I smiled. “Maybe when I get a job and find a place to stay… and if I can keep ahead of all my school work… maybe then I’ll go down to the station and—”

“And what?” Leah demanded. “Ask him out? It might be too late by then, especially if he is as hot as you claim he is.”

“Well then maybe it wasn’t meant to be.”

“Oh man, not this again.”

“What?” I said. “I happen to believe in signs.”

“Fate, destiny… all that is bunkum.”

“I disagree.”

“Fine,” Leah said. “Well then I hope the universe sends you a good enough sign, but I hope you know that you’ll be honor-bound to see it through. If you believe in signs, then you have to believe in following them through too.”

“I will,” I said confidently.

We spent a few more minutes talking and arguing and laughing, and when I finally hung up, I felt a lot better. It was nice to have someone to talk to every now and again. I seriously missed Leah, and sometimes I wondered if she was the only friend I was ever going to have.

I picked myself off Seth’s couch and started tidying up a bit. His apartment was a tiny one bedroom, which meant that the couch was my bed. I was in the kitchen making some dinner for Seth and Cory when I heard the door open. A second later, Cory stuck her head into the kitchen, but she didn’t look all that pleased to see me.

“Oh,” she said. “Hi.”

“Hey, Cory,” I said brightly. “I thought I’d make some dinner… any preferences?”

Cory’s dark eyes flashed around the kitchen, probably checking to make sure I hadn’t changed anything. When I had first met her, I had thought she was pretty, but the more I got to know her, the less attractive she became. I felt that Seth could do better, but he seemed to be happy, so I had shut my mouth.

“Pasta?” she suggested. “There’s a fresh packet in one of the cupboards.”

“Great,” I nodded, trying to be helpful. “I’ll get right on it.”

“So... how’s the apartment hunt going?” she asked, sitting down at the table as I retrieved the packet of pasta.

“Not that great,” I admitted. “All the apartments I’ve seen are a little out of my price range… or else they’re really far from campus.”

“Well… beggars can’t be choosers.”

“Uh… I guess not,” I said, getting the impression that she was leading me somewhere.

“So… how come staying at your mother’s place didn’t work out?” Cory asked bluntly, and I realized she wanted to know why I was intruding on Seth and her when I could have been staying with mom.

“Oh well—”

I was about to mention that mom’s new boyfriend was sleeping over most nights and that made it awkward for me because I was crashing on her couch. But then I remembered that Seth didn’t know about Cliff yet, and I had promised mom that I wouldn’t tell him. I didn’t trust Cory not to tell Seth, so I was forced to backtrack.

“Well… her place is so small,” I said, realizing that Seth’s place was even smaller so that excuse didn’t make sense either, but I went on anyway. “She moved into this apartment when I moved out, and it’s really… small.”

“Smaller than this one?” Cory asked, with raised eyebrows.

“Uh… well no but… her couch is terrible compared with your couch,” I said. “Yours is wider and more comfortable.”

“Huh… I’m glad I spent so much on that couch so that you could enjoy it,” Cory said.

She gave me another passive-aggressive smile and headed out of the kitchen. I stared out after her and sighed. I would have to find someone place to stay sooner rather than later. Cory was right about one thing… beggars really could not afford to be choosers.