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"Same old, same old," Liz told her

Victoria narrowed her eyes "Don’t bullshiton, Vic?" Liz asked, deflecting

"I don’t know," she aded She wanted to tell Victoria about Brady, but she couldn’t They had gotten through two ht She wasn’t about to jeopardize that by telling anyone as happening

"Does this have to do with Hayden?" Victoria asked, taking a shot in the dark "I oing to see hi up there I’e around me before he left, but he still wants me to cos for s and I think he does I’ood that you’re going up there I can tell he likes you I think you guys have just been apart all suain it’ll all come back," Victoria told her

Liz’s sto with Hayden to suddenly come back She didn’t knohat that would be like With her feelings for Brady swirling around in her head, she couldn’t i with that Then as she going to visit hiood answer for that except that she had agreed to…and she still wanted to see hi to concede

"I think you should just fuck hi about it," Victoria said flippantly

Liz shook her head There was no way she was going there with this conversation Not that she and Brady were open about their relationship, but she couldn’t sleep with souy, Victoria"

"What kind of guy? Every guy wants that"

"That’s not what Ito sleep with hiet it out of my system or whatever you said Hayden didn’t make his move at the end of the semester when he could have I doubt he’d do it now"

"Then why don’t you make the move? I swear I’ve told you this before," Victoria said

"If he’s not interested, then I’ to putabout Hayden was too confusing with Brady on her mind

They were friends Just friends Hayden had made that perfectly clear last se because of the paper, and it was even a stretch to say he wanted to do anything with her All she got fronals She much preferred to have it all out on the table, like with Brady Hayden was too confusing

"Fine We’ll drop it, but I still think you should consider walking around naked You’ll find out real quick what he thinks of you," Victoria said with a shrug

"Thanks for those enlightening words," Liz said with an eye roll "Anyway, I have a big gala event this weekend that I have to go to"

"Work?" Victoria asked

"Yeah" It wasn’t exactly work, but she couldn’t tell Victoria about Brady Her friend would probably be ecstatic for her, but it was too scary to have people know The e of their secret, the more people who could spill it Even if by accident

"Do you get to at least wear a rocking dress? Oh o with you?" Victoria asked, perking up at the thought of shopping

Liz shrugged her shoulders as if she didn’t kno to answer the questions "I, uh…was going to go in so I already had That’s what I did for the last one"

Victoria leveled a gaze at her that was equal parts how are we friends and are you sure you’re feet you so new!"

"There’s really not time," Liz told her

"We’ll make time for this You’ll be less nervous about the event in a brand-new dress! Scientific fact I would know," she said, then finished off her drink "Drink up, bitch I’ you another"

Liz stared down into her half-full drink and sighed It was going to be a rough night

As the night wore on, Liz felt her intoxication gradually sneak up on her It wasn’t like at Justin’s frat party, where the hunch punch had hit her instantly and she had just been gone This was the best kind of drunk She and Victoria were barhopping up and down Franklin Street, following friends to new places, and enjoying the coers in ways that only Victoria could

She had been trying to convince Liz quite loudly for the past twenty edly hitting on her Liz tried to tell her that the guy was only interested in her to get to Victoria, but she didn’t believe her When he and Victoria startedeach other at the bar thirty h So s

The guy and his friends followed them to the next bar and one of them actually did try to hit on Liz He wasn’t her type, if she ever had one, and Liz repeatedly had to re the s her aruy’s face in in two seconds It uy leaned in, taking it as encouragement

"No, really No, thanks," Liz said, and walked away She giggled the whole way to the bathrooo, she would have stayed and beento feel coh to stand up for herself She didn’t need to spare his drunk feelings just because he couldn’t take a hint

Victoriaher dress "Can we get out of here?" she asked

"Sure What happened?" Liz asked, following on her heels

"Too drunk, I guess," Victoria said, "if you knohat Iwhat I think you’re saying?" They were back out in the open air, wandering Franklin Street for another bar

"Couldn’t get it up Not hed and shook her head "You astound h a doorway and took the stairs to a rooftop bar "What was I supposed to do with that, Liz?" Victoria shuddered "The answer is nothing I can always call Kirk"

"Who is Kirk?" Liz asked, never able to catch up to Victoria’s love life

"That TA I was telling you about Reland?"