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As she waited for Victoria to relinquish the bathroootten back that arnered her an A The professor said that she could really see her irowth That if she turned in her final paper with si her a B+ or even an A- for the class, despite her earlier work in the semester Liz knew that meant she had her work cut out for her, but she was up to the challenge

Her last week of classes was co out to DC to visit Hayden She found it hard to believe it was that close already Soon the fall seeneral election

Liz shook her head She was getting ahead of herself There was still too ala event, for instance It was co out about it Would she be noticed? She already knew that she couldn’t go with Brady, but would he take soet too antsy about it, because at the end of the night, he was co back to her one way or another And she had to be confident in that

Their argued their relationship Liz didn’t knohat exactly had been the tipping point It could have been her realization that somewhere under Brady’s hard exterior she could hurt hi for office, which had softened him to her Not that Brady was actually any different He was still gruff, brash, and stubborn, but she wouldn’t have him any different But one way or another, whatever they had been doing before had turned into so…more

Brady had actually postponed his trip to Hilton Head with his faht of the Fourth at the lake house with her She hadn’t seen the lake that night except through theof the second-story bedroo now at the thought

Victoria completed her hair and e Liz took that opportunity to do her ownout of her shorts and tank top While she was changing, Liz received a text ht?

Liz couldn’t bail on Victoria another time She had been home for a couple weeks now, and Liz felt like the worst friend in the world She kept canceling on Victoria to hang out with Brady She had so little time with him that when he wanted to see her she juht If she did, she was pretty sure Victoria would skin her alive

Going out with my roommate

How late will you be out?

Liz smiled If someone else had posed that question, Liz would have found it irritating, but it was Brady He was different

Probably very late Victoria is kind of an animal

You’ll be safe? Can I see you after?

Always safe Don’t worry Don’t you have to work in the ?

You can’t expect me not to worry I don’toff Call iddy Who was this person she had becoet et you You’ll be safe with et you now

Empty threat I’hter She liked teasing hiether for nearly twoThey had held on to their secret and nothing had happened She breathed easier each day that went by

"Ready, bitch?" Victoria called Liz opened the door to her roo in the hallway

Liz rolled her eyes at Victoria’s appearance "You look like a baby prostitute"

"That quote is, ‘You smell like a baby prostitute’"

"Boo, you whore!" Liz said with a giggle She shook her head at her ridiculous best friend "Seriously, you look like a hooker"

Victoria shrugged "And you look…like you" Solanced down at her appearance "I just don’t look like I’ot, girl You’ll only have it for so long I certainly want to enjoy it"

Victoria was a curvy girl with a full hourglass figure that she loved to flaunt around in very little clothing She had on a dark blue, skintight V-cut dress that showed off wayand breasts than Liz had ever shown in her entire life She had on nature red lipstick

Liz felt dressed down next to her best friend She had on a solid coral skirt with a tan ruffle halter-top and brown sandals She had actually taken the time to blow her blond hair out into messy beach waves She didn’t typically wear ht If she hadn’t put in some effort, she knew Victoria would have redone her face

Asto be fun to hang out with Victoria They had known each other a long tiood time when they went out

Victoria chose a bar on the west side of Franklin Street don that served beer in giant plastic cups It was all right on the inside, but everyone went there for the huge patio with benches and live outdoor music The place was as full all sunize anyone, but Victoria waved at a few people They h to the bar, and Victoria ordered the fan of beer, but this was the kind of place for it Victoria handed the fratty-looking bartender her credit card, and they walked back outside with their drinks

It was a swelteringly hot h that Liz feltit She was glad she hadn’t straightened her hair, because by the end of the night she would have had waves anyway Soe playing one to with Justin, and she sighed as they found a seat at one of the picnic tables

After a few ain "So, what’s been up with you?"

"What do you

"You’re different You’re not around thatall the time You normally freak out about your work and obsess There hasn’t been asSo tell e cup