The Sophomore (College Years 2)

I don’t know. I’m being ridiculous.

Instead, I call up my new friend, who answers on the first ring.

“Ellie, hey. What’s going on?” Carson asks, sounding wide awake, thank God.

“Um, my ride didn’t show up and I’m stuck at work, needing to get home,” I tell him.

“Say no more. I’ll come get you.” I can tell he’s getting up from whatever he’s doing and walking around. “I can be there in ten minutes. You’re not stuck outside waiting, are you?”

“No, not yet,” I tell him, glancing around the quiet restaurant. We’re pretty much done. Most everyone who worked has already left for the night. I’m just waiting for my manager to wrap things up before she leaves for the evening.

And then I’ll have to wait outside.

“I’ll be there soon, okay? Hang tight.” He ends the call before I can respond.

Three minutes later and my manager, Donna, is exiting her office, pulling the door shut and locking it, a cash bag in her hand. “I thought you already left,” she says when she spots me.

“My ride never showed up,” I tell her with a shrug.

“Oh no. I can take you home after I drop this off at the bank,” she says, waving the deposit bag at me.

“Thank you, but I called someone else. They should be here any minute.” I glance toward the front windows and out at the parking lot, but no cars have showed up yet.

“I’ll wait in here with you until they arrive,” Donna says.

“I can wait outside,” I start, but she shakes her head.

“No way. I’m not leaving you alone in that parking lot,” she says firmly. “I don’t mind.”

“Thank you,” I say with relief, grateful that Donna is so kind. “I appreciate it.”

“Not a problem. Perfect opportunity for me to tell you what a great job you’ve been doing since you started working here. You fit in perfectly, and everyone really likes you,” she says. “Which isn’t always the case. They can be kind of cliquey here sometimes.”

“Aw, thank you. I like everyone here too. It’s a great place to work,” I say, meaning every word. No one acted unfriendly or rude toward me when I started. Everyone was very welcoming.

A car pulls into the lot and I smile in relief at Donna. “That’s my ride. He got here fast.”

“Perfect.”

Donna and I exit the restaurant, me standing with her as she locks the doors. I turn to see another car pull into the lot and realize in a panic the first car that showed up is Jackson.

It’s Carson who only just arrived.

Oh. Shit.

I pull my phone out of my purse to see I have a text from Jackson.

Sorry I fell asleep.

I’ll be there in 5 min

Damn it!

Donna must see the stress on my face. “Everything okay?”

“I think I have two rides,” I say with an awkward shrug. “Not sure which one I should get rid of.”

My heart wants to get rid of Carson; my head says I should tell Jackson to get the hell out of here.