Page 23 of The Tartan Thesis

Juliana

whatever i’m always right

Lucas

Look, you’re already over there, and you’ve been more excited about this than anything else. I know it seems like a lot right now, but I have no doubt you can get your grades up and maybe even find a way to tolerate your classmate that we now collectively hate.

Juliana

i hate him with my life

Lucas

Deep breaths. You’ve got this.

Beau

Alright, I’ll hold off on making any big decisions for now.

Lucas

Do something to get your mind off it, then come back to the problem with a fresh perspective.

Juliana

and call if you need to!

Beau

Thanks, pigeons. You’re amazing.

Juliana

love you

Juliana

and again: fuck that guy

I almost smile remembering that when I first met Torin, I actually did want to do that. I’ve come a long way from trying to get in his pants to wanting him to drop off the face of the planet.

I let myself into the house and head upstairs to change clothes. Lucas was right. I need to do something to get my mind off school and Torin. I already did cardio today, but this restless negative energy buzzing through me isn’t going anywhere on its own. I’ll hit the weights. Nothing quiets my mind like pushing my body until it can only focus on the next rep.

Maybe this can still be a great experience. I just need to do two things.

First, stick to the plan—become the better historian I came here to be.

Second, face Torin.

And I really don’t want to.

9

Torin

Rocket

Translation: Penis