Rebecca shook her head. “You look great,” she said. “I’ve never seen you look prettier, Molly.”
I frowned. “Something’s not right,” I muttered. “I just feel so awkward!”
“Well, you look beautiful,” Rebecca said.
Alex’s taunts flashed through my mind and I shuddered. How could anyone be so repulsive and so attractive at the same time? It not only didn’t make sense – it felt like a cruel joke from the universe.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Rebecca said quietly. “And Molly, don’t. Don’t put yourself through the ringer just because my brother is an asshole.”
I sighed. “Okay,” I said. “I promise I’ll try.”
When the time came for me to leave for class, Rebecca handed me a little pouch with some essentials.
“There’s floss in there, and mints, and some blotting papers in case your face gets too oily,” she said. “And I put in some hairspray, too. It’s windy outside today.”
I hugged her tightly. “You’re the best,” I said. I meant it, too.
Rebecca smiled self-consciously. “I just want to help, that’s all,” she said. “I won’t leave the door open in case you stay out all night!”
I burst out laughing. “I highly doubt that,” I said. “We’re just getting coffee and it’s right on campus. I’ll probably be home an hour or two later than usual.”
Rebecca raised an eyebrow suggestively. “Just have fun,” she said. “That’s the most important part, after all.”
I shrugged. “I just hope I don’t get so nervous that I do something stupid,” I said. “God, I can’t believe this is finally happening!”
“I know,” Rebecca said. “You’d better go, you’ll be late otherwise!”
Grabbing my schoolbag, I slung it over my shoulder and went outside to wait for the bus. I didn’t have to wait long – in just a few minutes, I was bouncing all the way down the highway to my university.
Class dragged on and on. I kept looking at the clock expecting to see that twenty minutes had passed when it hadn’t even been thirty seconds. Still, being excited was a good thing. Is that what I was feeling? Butterflies in my stomach, my heart beating as rapidly as a hummingbird’s?
Am I excited , I wondered as I doodled my name on my notebook. Or am I just nervous? Is that what being excited is supposed to feel like?
Somehow, Alex’s cruel words came rushing back to me at that very moment and I almost passed out. I can’t do this , I thought. Just then, the clock struck four.
“Okay, everyone,” the professor called. “See you next week!”
With a groan, I hauled my heavy body from my chair and walked towards the door. Other people pushed around me in a crush of desperate bodies and I was dragged along, powerless to stop myself.
Dan was waiting in the student union, just like he’d said. When he saw me, he smiled.
“Hey,” Dan said. “How are you? How was class?”
I sighed with relief. Class was good – class was something I could talk about, and not feel flustered.
“It was good,” I said. “I mean, you know, not really. It felt like it dragged on forever.” I flushed. Oh, shit, I shouldn’t have said that, now he’s going to think I’m obsessed with him!
“For me, too,” Dan said. “I stayed up way too late last night and now I can barely keep my lids open.”
“Oh,” I said quickly. “Um, do you still want to get coffee? I mean, tea,” I added. “If you’re not feeling well, we don’t have to do this today. We could do it later, or next week!”
Dan laughed and put his hand on my shoulder. “Molly, relax,” he said. “I’m fine. I want to do this, okay?”
I nodded. “Sorry,” I said. “I’m just nervous.”
Dan gave me a friendly smile. “No reason to be nervous,” he said. “I promise, I won’t bite.”
I flushed. "I didn’t exactly think you would bite me,” I said, shaking my head.