Buzzed Hearts

68: t minus four days

BUNDLED IN HER NEW PARKA, Camila goes to Fairway for a soy latte. After doing so, she's free for the rest of the day so she makes the trip back to her dorm.

    In her weeks here, she hasn't really made any new friends. It doesn't really matter to her, but she's always feared she'd reach her social prime in high school.

    There's friendly people everywhere, but Camila never seems to make time for their invitations. She hasn't even attended a party these three months. When she's not busy practicing, either by herself or as a quartet, she's working out or napping.

    Back home, she never really cared for her shape, but as a full-time pianist, she needs to watch her health.

    Recently, she video calls with Jeremy and Elle almost everyday.

    "Get ready. I'm coming in less than a week," Jeremy says. "Oh, Elle, want to share a hotel room? We can split the costs."

    "No thanks, Yang. I'm getting one with Roma. Isn't your bandmate coming along?"

    Jeremy groans. "Matt's been bugging me about this songwriting, and I just. I'm. Not. A. Writer."

    "You have varying degrees of illiteracy but you can send some pretty bomb texts sometimes," Elle says.

    "Do we have any plans?" Camila asks. "We are not going to see the ball-drop on New Year's. I don't want to die."

    "Let's just chill. Shop and hang. And watch your performances. They're free right? I don't have to pay," Elle says.

    "Cheapskate. You don't even want to support your best friend." Jeremy rolls his eyes.

    "Yeah, you're right. I didn't even buy your album."

    "What the fuck, you said you did!"

    Camila bursts out laughing, glad her roommate's away. She misses the fuller gang sometimes, with Roma and Laurent but they're both understandably busy.

    "Chill out. I did. I even have it right here." Elle shows her phone to the screen. "Haven't listened to it though."

    "Fuck you." Jeremy throws up his middle finger.

    "And you'd think you'd be more mature now that you've graduated," Camila says.

    "I mean, he didn't really grow as an intellectual." Elle grins.

    "Man, you guys are mean. And Elle, I know you said that because I didn't go to college but guess who's making bank already."

    "One dollar an hour? I make more by doing surveys," Elle says.

    "Those are scams. One day it'll serve you right."

    "The biggest scam is your birth."

    Camila videos this, keeping it for gray days. Most times, she'd join in but when she's sitting behind a laptop, the intent's kind of lost. "I can't wait to give you guys a tour," she says.

    "You've only been there for a few months," Jeremy says.

    "Compared to your zero days?" Camila raises an eyebrow. "Anyways, I'm going to go take a nap."

    "Don't you have friends?" Elle asks.

    "No."

    "That's pretty sad," Jeremy says.

    "I'm taking back your tour privileges," Camila says.

    "This is the longest time you've gone without a relationship. You know, you were a serial dater." Jeremy laughs. "Poor Cam."

    Camila sticks out her tongue. Laurent hasn't called in a week. but they don't need to know that. Maybe it's better now that she can fully concentrate on herself.

    "See you in four days, bitches!" Jeremy says his goodbyes.

    "Whatever," Elle groans.