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I’ him to move to one of the other empty tables, but instead he stays where he is while I drink h s: our Starbucks orders—A collie, an exhibit on protest art he saw at the conte I had the day he drove o, that he’s weirdly easy to talk to for a teacher
Not just for a teacher For a guy
I feel a blush creeping upover at the baristas behind the counter and wondering idly if they think Bex and I are on a date And like, obviously I don’t think we’re on a date—he’s my teacher, and he’s like thirty years old—but as we sit here I can i someone like hi in Boston Someone who knows the name of the Speaker of the House
I drink my coffee slowly on purpose, both in an atte to shake froet dark I know I should probably get back to the tourna out in this Starbucks all night That’s when Bex’s phone dings in his pocket
“Holy sh,” he says when he looks at it, glancing atthe swear “Is it really after four o’clock? How did that happen?”
I shake h I’ done”
Bex shrugs “Let’s be real,” he ad done anyway” Then he grins “Besides, the conversation orth it”
He stands up and slings hisover his shoulder, lifts his empty cup in a salute “Enjoy the rest of the weekend,” he says with an easy smile “And send that admission essay off before you co time is officially over”
“I will,” I promise I watch his back until Bex disappears into the crowd outside
Four
My dad makes a double batch of chicken noodle soup for dinner on Sunday night, so on Monday after school I head over to Sunrise Senior Living to drop a container of it off for Gra ho, but I’ve been co at this point that the bleachy s person don’t really bother me that much
“I mean,” I pointed out to ether, “depending on your perspective, it’s not actually that different froh school”
I check in at reception before cli hello to Ca scrubs printed ildflowers and a pair of bright green Crocs Camille has scrubs in a riot of different patterns and Crocs in every color of the rainbow; she’s wearing a different co like she’s a walking, talking paper doll
“Hey, Marin,” she says, tilting the plastic tub of cat-shaped Trader Joe’s cookies on the counter in e apps submitted?”
“Yup,” I reply, reaching for a cookie I took Bex’s advice and hit send over the weekend, dorkily emboldened by his pep talk “They’re all in”