idea. Oh, by the way, we do have a mini-fridge coming. It should be delivered this week. My aunt bought it for me.”
“Excellent,” Kelsey said as they walked through the automatic doors and into the grocery store.
They walked past the dairy aisle, where Kelsey checked the price of her favorite yogurt.
“Oh, not these guys,” she heard Jessica exclaim. The three of the Irritating Five that were in Kelsey’s small group were walking toward the counter, arms full of boxes and bottles. “Let’s keep looking,” Jessica said, pulling Kelsey’s arm.
“I’m looking forward to Dylan’s report,” Kelsey said, as they stopped in the cereal aisle.
“Isn’t he a sweetie,” Jessica said, looking at the granola bars.
“I can’t believe he’s stuck with one of them as a roommate.”“Yeah, poor guy,” Jessica said, pulling down a box. “What do you think of these?” she asked. Kelsey looked at the box.
“I prefer the ones with oats,” she said, pointing to a box.
“These have chocolate chips,” Jessica said, taking the box back.
“But these are organic.”
Jessica looked at Kelsey like she was from Mars.
“And?”
“They’re healthier,” Kelsey said, handing Jessica the box.
Jessica put her own box back on the shelf and looked at the back of Kelsey’s. She sighed. “Do they have a chocolate version?” she asked.
Kelsey smiled. “I’ll look,” she said, looking around the shelves. She pulled a box off the shelf and handed it to Jessica in triumph. Jessica looked at the box doubtfully.
“Ok. I’ll try them. But if they suck, you’re coming back for the other ones.”
“Deal.” Kelsey grinned. They left the cereal aisle and walked around slowly.
“They have a lot of interesting stuff here,” Jessica said. “I wouldn’t think most people would use saffron.”
“There’s a lot of fresh food in Washington State. And we like to cook it,” Kelsey shrugged.
They walked to the front, where Jessica paid for her granola bars, and they left the store.
“I’m slowly getting used to this no bag thing,” Jessica said, tucking the bars in her purse.
The girls kept wandering down the street, past clothing stores, a tiny one-screen movie theater, and a pharmacy. Instead of heading back to campus down 42nd, they kept going to see the rest of the block. They stopped at a third bakery, but it was almost sold out of treats. As they were just about to get to 43rd, they paused to look in the window of a jewelry store.
“It’s interesting how there are always jewelry stores near universities,” Jessica said, staring at a large emerald-cut diamond ring.
“Yeah, a lot of people meet The One in school,” Kelsey said, glancing at a small engagement ring that caught her eye.
Jessica looked at her. “Wouldn’t that be cool? To leave law school with a degree and a fiance?” she said.
Kelsey laughed. “I just want to get through first semester,” she replied.
Jessica smiled and brushed her curly brown hair back with her hand. “Yeah, there is that. Ready to head back?”
“I am,” Kelsey said. They walked past the jewelry shop and turned at a corner with a brew pub to head back toward school.
“That really was a great cupcake,” Jessica said. “I have a feeling I’ll be eating a lot of them this year.”
When the girls arrived back on campus, the preparations for the cookout were in full swing. They walked up to their room. Dylan had slipped a note underneath the door.
Kels, the idiot says he’ll be up by 6 p.m. on Friday, but you know how that goes. He’s staying until Sunday afternoon and my roommate is already complaining. You and Jess think about what you want to do this weekend and whether you want Ian to bring anything up from Portland. Don’t forget we promised to take Ashley to La Vaca sometime. Considering the schedule, we might want to do it this weekend.
Sarah Jio
Dianne Touchell
Brian Keene, J.F. Gonzalez
John Brandon
Alison Kent
Evan Pickering
Ann Radcliffe
Emily Ryan-Davis
Penny Warner
Joey W. Hill