Bring Down the Stars

I crossed my arms over my chest to watch this convo, vanishing from their world.

“Maybe,” she said.

“Great,” Connor said. “See you there.”

She laughed. “I said, maybe.” She shouldered her bag and started off, then stopped and turned back to look at me. “Bye, Weston. Nice talking to you.”

I nodded stiffly. “Yep.”

Because that’s what all great writers say to a beautiful girl they want to impress. Yep.

As I watched her walk away, Connor slugged me in the arm. “She’s a stunner, isn’t she?”

“Mm.”

He slid into the chair Autumn had just vacated. “Not like other girls I usually go for.”

He’s ‘going for’ her. My stomach felt heavy.

“No, not like other girls,” I said slowly. “At all.”

“Sounds like a warning,” Connor said with a short laugh.

“I’m just saying I got the impression she’s not a one-night stand type of girl. She’s…”

Special.

“Different, right?” Connor said. “Classy and sort of elegant. I like it. Wait, did I interrupt something? Are you into her?”

Yes.

“No,” I heard myself say. “I think she’s into you.”

He leaned forward, a higher pitch to his voice. “Yeah?”

I could count on one hand the number of times Connor needed reassurance. You had to know what to look for. That higher tilt to his voice. A little uncertainty in his mega-smile. It was so rare, Connor wanting or needing anything his money, charm or looks couldn’t give him. Sometimes I felt as if college essays were all I had to offer our friendship, when the reality was I’d do anything for my friend.

“I’ll totally back off if you are. Bro Code, and all,” Connor was saying with a grin. “Even if I did see her first.”

I remembered the way Autumn’s face lit up when Connor took her hand, all the sadness melting away.

“She’ll be there Saturday,” I said. “To see you.”

“You think?”

“I know.”

“Awesome.” He got to his feet. “Come on, let’s get out of here. If you want to get laid this semester, hanging out in the library is not the way to do it.”

Tell me about it.

I gathered my stuff and we headed outside.

“Maybe Autumn will bring her roommate or a hot friend,” Connor said, slinging his arm around my shoulder. “There’s hope for you, yet.”

I brushed him off. “Have I ever needed your help getting laid?”

“Here?” Connor’s other hand