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New short story, pt. 2

If you missed part 1, you can find it here.

untitled summer project #1 (cont.):

Sometimes it was hard to believe they'd been friends for 8 years. Beth couldn't extract Cole from her life if she tried anymore. That's what made their current fight? disagreement? problem? issue? "Yeah, issue," Beth thought, so disconcerting. Avoiding her at work was one thing, but brushing her off was another. Despite working together, they really didn't really see each other much during the day. Part of the occupational hazard of being tour guides. His parents hated the idea of their son not using his college degree to follow in the family business. They just couldn't see that Cole wasn't interested in being an accountant. "But why major in it then?" she'd asked.

"Because it gives them hope that someday maybe I'll come to my senses and join them in their boring humdrum lives. Well that and I can put off telling them the truth for another 4 years."

"Ah, so you're too chicken to really follow your dreams?" purposely egging him on.

"For that Kirkner, you'll pay." He snagged her Boston Cream pie from her spot at the table.

"Hey, get your own!" But it was too late, he had the first forkful to his mouth before she could wrestle the plate form him.

"Mmm, it's so luscious and rich. It just melts in my mouth."

"It's cafeteria food you jackass. Quit being such an actor," that last word coming out in her fake British accent.

"Says the literature snob."

"Excuse me, that's history and literature snob to you." They'd kept up the act for another five minutes entertaining the rest of their dinner companions. Sadly the rest of the gang had drifted apart after college. She and Cole had survived it, mostly because they managed to stay out of the significant other swapping the rest of the group had fallen into. Unlike what the teen drams on TV would have you believe when your circle of "friends" composes ex's and people dating your ex's, it gets old real quick. Cole had worked his way through the rest of the willing female student body, being careful to avoid two crowds" the friends/ex's of friends and the theatre chicks. "They are just way too much drama. The on-stage dynamic gets all weird. The other guys are jealous, the girls get all weird and defensive."

"Oh to be the golden boy, the desired one," Beth mocked.

"Not all of us have a Jaime," he retorted.

Beth had been dating Jaime since they were 16, and unlike most couples, they made long distance work. It had been good practice for when Cole spent a semester abroad. She never had the guts to admit to anyone that the semester away from Cole had been tougher than the 4-year long distance with Jaime.

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