31. Sandra
Sandra
I get to Viv’s place around noon on Saturday and I may have gone a little crazy getting stuff to keep our thoughts organized.
When I knock on the front door, Nox answers.
I can’t say I understand the relationship Viv has with these guys, but it makes her happy so I don’t question it.
Something about her makes me think that Viv deserves all the happiness the world.
Besides, I don’t have to understand her relationship to be supportive of my bestie.
“Hey Sandy,” Nox says as he opens the door wider for me.
“Hey,” I say in greeting, looking around as I step inside.
Through a short entryway I find the living room.
It’s cozy, and I’m surprised that a group of men decorated this place.
There are throw pillows on the couch and a plush carpet laid out on the floor in front of it.
Something about the room makes me just want to sink into a couch cushion and binge watch Friends.
Nox walks into the room behind me. “Viv ran out real quick with Sloane to grab some coffee. Do you want anything to drink, or eat?”
I shake my head and hold up my water bottle. “I’m good, thanks, we’re ordering pizza later.”
The silence between us is a little awkward.
He’s the one I haven’t interacted with much.
Since he graduated last year, I just haven’t spent as much time with him as I have Zane and Sloane.
It’s not that I don’t like him, I just don’t really know him outside of one study session and walking in on him sleeping in Viv’s bed once.
Steps sound on the stairs and Zane walks into the room. “Sandy! Have you come to steal Viv away from me?” He practically pouts at me.
I grin. “Just for one night. You can have her back tomorrow.”
He groans. “Just know I’m only accepting this for the environment.”
My head shakes as I laugh at his antics.
He’s perfect for Viv, though I can also see the appeal of the other guys.
Sloane is athletic and Nox is smart. All aspects that Viv also has.
Maybe I understand this relationship she has going on more than I thought.
I just don’t think it would make sense for me, and that’s okay.
As long as they treat her well I don’t care who she sleeps with.
I think back to the posts that were circling the day before where people were calling Viv horrible names.
She just doesn’t deserve that. She’s such a nice person.
I’ve never met a friend who would give up their entire Saturday just to help me plan something that might not even be possible.
Besides, it’s not like they’re hurting anyone.
College is supposed to be the time to do crazy things and experiment romantically.
I had a tiff with Carol back at the sorority house the day after the game. She was saying a bunch of horrible stuff about Viv and how she ‘uses’ Sloane. I couldn’t stop the laugh that tumbled out at that. She sneered at me and demanded, “What’s so funny?”
I rolled my eyes, “It’s just funny how jealous you are that Sloane would rather have a piece of Viv than all of you.”
Her face had turned so red I thought she was going to pop a blood vessel. Instead she just stomped off without even trying to give a reply.
The door opens, drawing my attention away from my thoughts, and Viv and Sloane walk into the living room each carrying three drinks.
Steps immediately sound on the stairs. “Please tell me that’s coffee.
I would literally kill for caffeine right now.
This was a horrible time to run out of coffee grounds.
” Cain Price walks into the room, still rambling.
When he sees me, he freezes. “Oh, you must be Miss Russo’s friend. It’s nice to meet you.”
He holds out a hand and I shake it. “You too.”
He lets go and pauses for a second. “And just to clarify, I wouldn’t actually kill someone for caffeine.”
Nox scoffs, “You threatened to stab me because I finished off the coffee and haven’t had a chance to replace it yet. I’m pretty sure you were serious about it too.”
Viv smiles over at me, rolling her eyes at Nox’s words, before plucking a coffee cup from the holder she’s got in her hands. “Here. Take the coffee and chill out. We should have spiked it with valium or something.”
Dr. Price takes it and scowls at her. “If I wasn’t already so busy with exams coming up, I would assign your class an insanely long essay just for that comment.”
Viv shrugs. “I would ace it anyway.”
He rolls his eyes and waves a hand. “I’m off to do more grading.” He stops at the door and nods his head at me. “It was nice meeting you.”
I nod, but don’t say anything. I figured it would be awkward for Viv to be living with a professor but she seems friendly and casual with him.
Probably helps that she knows almost literally everything about him.
Either way it feels awkward for me to be around a professor outside of school.
I couldn’t imagine interacting with my environmental science teacher over breakfast in the morning.
Viv takes the last two coffees out of her carrier and hands one to me. “Lets get this thing started.” She looks over to Zane. “When we order pizza could you bring it up for us?”
“Sure,” he says with a smile, and gives me a wave as I follow after Viv up the stairs Dr. Price just disappeared up.