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That sentence alone sends a chill down my spine. Notice he said for us and not with us. Yeah. Me too.
Jason and Dad have been on my ass since I started university to quit and go work for the family business. Dad—and his dad—started a successful construction company decades ago and I’m still paying the price. You could imagine the shock on Dad’s face when I told him I wanted to study Literature. He always tells me I’m too much like my mother—a dreamer. Same green eyes. Same stupid ideas about the world that will get us killed.
“Oliver?”
I shrug, turning to put my bowl in the dishwasher. “I already told you. I’ll do something related to literary studies. Maybe a post-grad program? Honours or Masters or something.” I can tell that answer doesn’t please my brother or my father, but it’s enough to get them off my back for at least another day. My phone buzzes in my pocket. When I look at it, I find another message from Eden.
Eden Miller:
I live on campus so I’m happy to do whenever.
Two messages in the span of thirty minutes? This is going to be a long semester.
* * *
When Ben messages me asking if I wanted to go for a hike, it’s a welcome reprieve from my family’s prying eyes. When I realise it’s just for him to complain about his long-distance relationship, I’m ready to run the other way. I’ve been friends with Ben and Michelle for as long as I can remember. But hearing him ramble is just another reminder of all the ways I’m failing.
“It’s not that I don’t support her for doing this whole semester abroad thing, it’s just so much harder than either of us expected.” Ben is barely out of breath as we make our way up the stairs. This hiking trail has to be the best this city can offer. Beautiful lush ferns and trees surround us as we climb, coating the landscape in vivid hues of green. “I miss her so much.”
“Hey, she’ll be back in six months. Think about all the studying you can get done.” I swallow down a pant as I try to keep up with Ben’s pace. He’s always on my back about coming to play footy with him, and the difference in our fitness level is as steep as the cliff faces that surround us now. He’s deep into pre-season training, and I’m deep into my next book. With the semester starting I know I’ll get back into boxing, so I don’t mind getting a head-start.
When Ben’s high school sweetheart Michelle jumped at the opportunity to study in Prague for a semester, it crushed the both of them. But, swallowing their pride, they decided it would be best for her career. So that’s what she did.
“Yeah, I guess so. Speaking of studying, has that girl responded?”
On the way up I had vented to Ben about Eden’s eagerness. Can’t a guy just enjoy the last week of his break? When I check my phone, another message is sitting there. Just as expected.
Eden Miller:
Sure. Wednesday works for me! I’ll see you at Castello’s at 11am.
After typing a quick reply, I respond to Ben.
“Yep. Of course. Seriously dude, I haven’t seen anyone more dedicated to their studies than Michelle.”
Ben and Michelle can only be described as a power couple. The same subjects, the same results. When they got the same law offer at the same university, it was just the cherry on top.
“God, we’ve got like three more years left. Fun times. You’ve only got this one to go, right?”
Here we go. I give him a tight smile, more focused on not tripping on the slick stairs than our conversation. “Just this one.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
What Ben takes as a casual conversation makes my stomach turn cold. I swear this question has haunted me my whole life. How can I tell people that I haven’t planned for the future? That I don’t know what I want to do with my life? That ever since my mum died, the future seems entirely unattainable and entirely unavoidable, and that there’s nothing I can do to combat the slow march of death?
“I don’t know. Something impressive, maybe?”
Ben laughs, and when we reach the top of the stairs a small clearing comes into view. I grab a quick drink from a water fountain when Ben turns to me, grinning.
“Race you back down?”
The bastard is already four steps down before I chase after him.
* * *
Wednesday comes faster than I would like it to. Eden’s constant messaging has done nothing to calm my nerves. Ben’s nagging also hasn’t helped. He doesn’t see this as a job for me, more of a chance to snag a girl. Easy for him to say when he’s not hearing the constant, irritating buzz of her messages. Let’s just hope it’s not this girl. I don’t think I could deal with this bombardment of texts forever.
Eden Miller:
