"No. Latin was tough. I'm rusty."
Grandma scoffs. "It's a dead language."
"I know."
"Pointless."
"Like life?"
Grandma laughs. "You know me to well, Kay-Bear." Her voice drops to something sincere. "You doing okay staying with that hot friend of yours?"
"Brendon?"
"Hmm."
"Huh?"
"Your voice changed. Something's wrong. Don't tell me it's school."
"No. It's good. Really."
"Work?"
"No. Jake gave me the schedule I requested. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. Closing shifts."
"No wonder you're cranky. Who wants to work all weekend?"
"People who want money."
She laughs. "You and Em okay?"
"I think so."
"Kay." Her voice lifts. "It's that boy, isn't it? Things going okay with him?"
"I don't know."
"They're not. I know that tone. I was your age once, you know. I remember how it felt, those early crushes. It was like he moved the stars."
That's a good way of putting it. "I miss you."
"I miss you too, Kay-Bear. But you need to focus on school."
"But—"
"No buts. You have a bright future. You're the first woman in my family to go to college. That's what I want for you."
I have a million objections. I can start school next year. She might not be here next year. What's an extra year of education compared to time with Grandma?
"Tell me you've got something good to read me. Something Days of Our Lives."
"I haven't been watching."
"Then another one about Peeta and Gale double-timing Katniss."
"Grandma!" My cheeks flush. "I didn't write that one. It was something I found on that fan fiction website."
"Why not write the sequel?"