Keanna
My pencil scratches across the paper, filling in the very last bubble answer on my scantron. Question number one hundred and twelve – answer D.
I drop my pencil on top of the English 101 Final Exam and slowly exhale. It’s done. My last final of the first semester of college. I know I shouldn’t be disappointed when I look up and see the time on the clock above the dry erase board in this college lecture room.
My last class of the day started at nine in the morning, and the final was over a hundred questions long. I knew I wouldn’t get done before ten. It was a total impossibility from the start.
Still.
I guess I had a shred of hope that I might somehow zoom through the exam and finish with just enough time to race home and say one last goodbye to Jett before he hopped in the taxi on his way to the airport.
But it’s now 11:28 and he’s long gone by now.
Slowly, I slide back my chair and bring my test and answer sheet to the front of the room. There’s really no rush now, and even though I’ve just completed my last final and my first four college classes are behind me, making me one step closer to a college degree, it doesn’t really feel like a victory because there’s a knot in my chest that’s missing Jett like crazy.
I know, I know. I’m pathetic. I just saw him last night. But still. Now that the summer races have begun, he’s going to be flying off to some new race every weekend, and I’m going to miss him like crazy. Now that he’s a member of Team Loco’s motocross team, he’s racing all over the place, not just here locally in Texas. It’s the best thing that’s happened to his career, but I doesn’t mean I have to love it.
Essence puts a hand on my arm as I leave the classroom, startling me from my thoughts. “Perfect timing!”
“For what?” I say, trying to smile back at her and Ashlee, the only two girls I’ve managed to become friends with in this class.
“We all finished our test at the same time,” she says, pushing a wave of her long black hair over her shoulder. Most of the time, Essence looks beautiful with matching outfits and fresh makeup, but today she’s dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and looks like she’s missed some sleep. No doubt her bum look today is from spending the week studying for finals.
Her eyes flit from me to Ashlee, who is wearing leggings and an oversized T-shirt. “Let’s get smoothies!”
Ashlee rolls her eyes. “How did I know you were going to say that?”
“Because she’s obsessed,” I say with a laugh. The college has a smoothie cart in the middle of the cafeteria, and they use fresh fruits and probably some kind of magic fairy dust because their smoothies are insanely good.
“I could use a celebratory smoothie now that finals are over,” Ashlee says. She turns to me. “You in?”
“Please!” Essence says before I can answer. “Don’t give me that boyfriend excuse. You are always rushing off to see him, but this is our last day of classes together, so we should hang out.”
“I’m in,” I say, ignoring the tightness in my chest. She’s right, of course. They invite me to dinner or for smoothies all the time, and I only ever agree to go when Jett is busy and I’d otherwise be home bored.
But what can I say? I’d way rather be with Jett than anyone else.
Sorry not sorry.
Essence takes a long time ordering her smoothie because she can’t decide if she wants to go with one of her favorite flavors or try a new one since it’s the last day of school before summer break.
Ashlee watches me reach for my phone. “What?” I say, putting the phone back in my pocket without checking it. They’re always giving me a hard time for texting Jett in class.
“How long have you been dating him?” She asks.
I give a shrug like I don’t know the exact time frame down to the day. “A year or something. Maybe a little longer.”
Essence finally chooses her smoothie and then places a twenty on the table. “I’m buying their smoothies too,” she says, winking at us.
We thank her and Ashlee and I place our orders. I go with the classic strawberry, kiwi, and banana because it just doesn’t get any better than that.
Once Essence has her change, we move to the side while the guy starts making our smoothies. “You know...” Essence says, staring me up and down. “I’m not sure if it’s cute or weird that you’re so in love with your boyfriend.”
I can feel my cheeks wanting to turn red but I beg them to stay a normal color. “Why’s that?” I ask, rolling my eyes.
“We’re college freshman,” Ashlee says. She bumps her hip against Essence’s. “We’re supposed to party and play the field.”
“...And pass our classes,” I say sarcastically.
They laugh, but they’re not letting me off the hook. My relationship with Jett always comes up with I hang out with these girls. They’ve been friends since high school and they planned their college schedule together since they both want a degree in teaching. I only had the one English class with them, so I’m more of an outside friend to their duo. Besides being the same age and having one class together, I don’t have much in common with these girls. But it’s nice having friends. I grew up without any.
When our smoothies are done, we take them to the water fountain outside and choose a seat under an umbrella.
“Ashlee and I had a ton of boyfriends in high school,” Essence explains between sips of her smoothie. “But those guys are all just immature idiots, so we made a promise to stay single in college and just date around for fun.”
“I don’t regret it one bit,” Ashlee says. She and Essence click their cups together in a toast.
“Well, maybe that’s why I’m different.” I stare into my smoothie as I talk. “I didn’t have boyfriends in high school. Not really anyone I could trust, either. So when I found Jett, he became both of those things for me and I don’t want to let him go.”
“Plus, that boy is hot as hell, so I guess I see your point,” Ashlee says. Essence nods along, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
Okay, now I do blush.
Essence leans forward. “Keanna, promise us you’ll still hang out this summer. We like you and we don’t want to, like, never talk again now that we don’t have classes together.”
“Sure thing,” I say, “You should come by the track sometime. It’s literally crawling with hot dirt bike guys.”
“Oooh...” The girls say in unison.
“That can definitely be arranged,” Ashlee says. “Wait... do I not have your number?” Her brows pull together and she takes out her phone. “Girl, we’re not even Instagram friends!”
“I don’t have one of those,” I say. I do have a Snapchat, but I only use it with Jett, so I don’t bother volunteering that information. “But you can have my number so you can text me.”
“Old school,” she says with a nod. “What is it?”
I give them both my number and they save it into their phones, then give me their numbers as well. Essence complains that her house is too small and her little siblings are too annoying, so we’ll have to do the hanging out at my house or Ashlee’s. They start talking about all the things we’ll do this summer – dirt bike races, beach bonfires, shopping trips – and I feel a little excitement sparking in my veins. Now I have three friends, including Maya.
I’m going to miss Jett like crazy while he’s off racing, but this can be fun too. Girl time. I could totally see myself having fun with these two.
“There’s always some sick parties in the summer,” Essence says as she slurps down the last of her smoothie. “But you’ll want to bring your boyfriend, otherwise all the guys will be all up on you.”
“Highly doubtful,” I say with a snort.
“Psh... firstly, you’re cute as hell—otherwise we wouldn’t hang out with you,” Ashley says.
“And secondly,” Essence chimes in, “You underestimate the horniness level of guys at parties.”
I think back to that drunken asshole at the New Years party a year ago and cringe. Guys can definitely be assholes when they’re drunk. Jett had saved me back then, and I know I’ll never go to another stupid keg party without him by my side. I like my new friends, but not enough to party alone with them.
“Look at her,” Essence says, nudging Ashley. “She’s thinking about him.”
I roll my eyes, but a deep red fills my cheeks anyway. They both laugh.
“Aww! You are so freaking cute! And so in love,” Ashley croons. “I hope one day when I decide to date again, I can find a guy who makes me as happy as Jett makes you.”
Essence holds out her hand. “Um, I’m pretty sure that kind of magic only happens once a generation, and this bitch Keanna already got it.”
“Sorry guys,” I say, holding up my hands. “I couldn’t help it.”
We sit outside a little while longer, and I let the girls talk while I think about Jett. They’re used to this, and since they both love talking and I love just listening, it works out well.
They go on about how settling down is just too hard and they can’t possibly imagine doing it at such a young age. I try to put myself in their shoes and understand where they’re coming from, but I can’t.
I am so very happy with Jett in my life. I like being “tied down” as they put it. Only when they say it, it’s in a bad way. I love it. I love knowing that Jett is there for me and I’m there for him and I never have to be truly alone.
Yeah, it sucks on the weekends when he’s in another state racing, but at least I know he’s still mine. And now that college classes are over for the summer, I can go with him if they don’t need me at work.
I take out my phone to text him, and that’s when I realize it’s been on silent this whole time. I have several texts from him, and a few snaps.
I glance up at my friends, who are now deep in a conversation about the last episode of The Bachelor. They don’t even notice that I’m not in the conversation, so I don’t feel bad when I check Jett’s messages.
Jett: Boarding! This is so boring!
Jett: I hope your exam went well! I love you!
Jett: I have sent entirely too many exclamation marks today....
Jett: Here’s! Some! More!
Jett: Haha... I miss you babe. Like... Tons.
I grin and then open up Snapchat. He’s sent me a picture of his view out the window of the airplane, and then another one of his face, his lips puckered downward into a frown. His hair is shaggy, even more so than usual, and it makes me smile.
Miss you babe, the caption says.
I bite my bottom lip to keep from grinning like a fool. Essence and Ashlee have made so many great points about why dating in college life is a bad idea.
But I wouldn’t have it any other way.