I was starting to get used to the idea of having my actual, literal dream girl around in real life. While I wanted to pretend like I had been joking about it all along, some part of me deep down felt like maybe my dreams really were prophetic, in a bizarre, trippy way. Why else would I keep seeing her, right? But I knew it was more than a little weird, because when even Summer wouldn't buy into some abnormal bullshit, you had to know it was at least a bit hokey.
Still, whether my dreams meant anything or not, Nora didn't seem like the worst person in the world to live next door to. Maybe we'd be friends. Just friends. And maybe I'd get used to it, and forget all about how she was like the absolute personification of the sun, lighting up my surreal dreams. Maybe, right?
Summer had been texting me about her all morning while we'd been in different classes. I hadn't paid any attention all day because my phone wouldn't quit buzzing, constantly lighting up with Summer messing around, sending me pictures and video links to ad campaigns and modelling shoots Nora had been in. She'd even found one of Nora from when she was a kid, posing as the daughter of a family that were the proud owners of a brand new, hella expensive waffle iron.
When I headed to the cafeteria to grab a fresh coffee to drink with the pasta salad I'd made and packed the night before, I felt my chest squeeze tightly: Summer and Nora were sitting together, laughing away. My mouth ran dry, but I had no idea what was making my nervousness kick in. What, Summer couldn't be friends with Nora? I would've literally trusted Summer with my life, so I totally trusted her with my weird dream girl secret. Although--
"You're such a loser."
"A loser who's gonna help you get a date."
Oh no. Summer was definitely trustworthy under normal circumstances, but maybe she'd spill if she thought Nora would find it endearing - except who would find this endearing? I was bordering on being a stalker, more or less, only with the added flair of being a psychic stalker. Oh, God.
I hit the button on the coffee machine for a latte and wished it'd spit the liquid out faster. My nails clacked quickly against my striped travel mug as it filled. The cup was a little hot when I picked it up, but I wasn't thinking clearly enough to grab a cardboard sleeve. Instead, I just hurriedly slid it down onto the table Summer and Nora were already occupying, giving a wince and a quiet hiss.
"Jess! Too hot?" Nora asked, eyebrows raised, a perky smile on her face.
"Yeah, she is," Summer teased, grinning up at me wickedly.
The voice inside my head became one long, anguished groan that amounted to why are you the way that you are, Summer, but when I finally managed to verbalise words again after a brief but agonising pause, that wasn't what came out.
"Hey, I'm not the model here," I joked, nudging Summer not too gently with my elbow as I slid in to sit beside her.
Nora sighed, but smiled. "Ah, so you guys know? Did Mom tell you, or..?"
Summer was still Cheshire cat grinning. "She might've mentioned it. Are the smoothies as good as you make 'em look in the adverts?"
Nora pulled a face. "Not after, like, fifty takes, no," she laughed.
Her laugh was still the sweetest thing. In real life, she might not have had the hazy, haloed glow that my dreams gave her, but she was still overwhelmingly enticing when she laughed.
Her eyes glanced down to my mug, the steam trailing invitingly upwards. "You know, it's almost like I can taste that smoothie all over again. I might go get my own coffee, just to kinda wash that away, yeah?" Nora smirked and stood up. "Back in a sec," she said, before heading over to the same machine I'd used.
A single, peaceful moment passed before Summer turned her head to look at me, same annoying grin plastered on her face.
"I'm in deep, dude," I said.
"She's pretty great," Summer smiled. "You think you like her? Like, the real her?"
That was the question, wasn't it?
"No idea. She's just as hot as my dreams made her out to be, though," I teased, as if that were the more important thing.
"You're tragic, Jess," Summer said, a little smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"When's my date happening then?"
"She was busy telling me all about Hartford and her parents. Sorry that I didn't interrupt to try to get you a date, you dork," Summer said.
"You have got to be the worst friend--"
"I'm working on it!" Summer cackled, cutting over me.
I cupped my hands around my travel mug, drawing it closer to me and peering down into the frothy liquid inside. I frowned, realizing something for the first time. "We don't even know if she's into girls, you know." Maybe it was weird that it hadn't been on my mind before, but the whole surreal dream sitch had meant it wasn't really top of the list of things to consider. It probably didn't help that Summer had dated girls before too, and even outside of our little dynamic duo friendship, most of our friends weren't totally straight.
Summer heaved a heavy sigh, looking over to see Nora starting to head back with her coffee. "Why is everything in life so unbearably hard? Like. Why is it so difficult, even just to wake up in the morning and function and-- hey, Nora," she began, suddenly changing her tone, as our new friend settled herself back down at the table. "Jess and I were wondering - are you single? Lots of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes around here..." she said, trailing off theatrically.
I was sure that Summer would be the death of me.