“She is a character,” Matthew said, laughing. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as…. perky…as she is.”
“Yes, Krista is definitely perky,” I agreed. “She’s a walking energy drink!”
“So, where was your dorm?” Matthew asked.
“We actually lived in four different halls, one for each year. Here is the first place we stayed, Chamberlin Hall. This was the girl’s freshman residence. Across the street is Preston House, which was for the sophomore girls.” I drove a couple of blocks further to point out where we had lived our junior year, which was Wright Hall; and up another block to Crawford, where we lived our senior year. “The boys’ dormitories are across campus,” I said as I gestured in their direction.
“So, no co-ed accommodations?” Matty asked with a smirk on his face. “That is good to hear. I wouldn’t have liked it if you were living next door to some frat boy.”
“No frat boys here,” I said with a laugh. “Lakeview has no Greek system, which was a bonus for me. I had enough of stuck up rich boys in high school.” At that jab, I turned and stuck my tongue out at Matty.
“Hey, I resemble that remark!” Matty laughed before shaking his head and adding, “Adolescent boys are awful. I apologize on behalf of all teenage males everywhere.”
“Well, teenage girls can be pretty bad, too. So can college girls,” I added, thinking of Molly. “Hence why being an adult is so great: you can live where you want and be friends with who you want, plus you get a bigger allowance.”
“Ah, earning your own money is nice,” Matty agreed. “But sometimes I do miss getting an actual allowance from my parents.”
“True,” I agreed. “And having someone to do my laundry. And not having to drive everywhere. Or cook. Or take care of home improvements. Or pay taxes. What was so great about adulthood, again?”
Both of us just laughed and then continued the drive around campus, me pointing out the library, cafeteria, book store, and the building where my office was located, which was of course the English department. I also showed him a nearby apartment complex where I had lived with Krista while I completed my Master’s. I was suddenly reminded of just how small my life had been and was; it had completely revolved around Lakeview and the larger city over, Lincoln, for ten years now.
“So, did you have a boyfriend in college? Or, do you have one now,” Matthew asked, glancing over at me.
“Oh, um. No boyfriend now,” I admitted. “A few here and there, over the years. No one worth mentioning, ha-ha!” I hoped me laughing it off would cause him to drop the subject as I really did not want to relieve my horrible dating history. “What about you? Anyone serious over the years?” I had momentarily forgotten about Molly, but cringed at the thought of her, even though he had already said it wasn’t serious between them. I didn’t really want to know about his love live, but I also knew that I had to ask. After all, two former best friends catching up usually meant that everything was on the table. And after Krista had told Matty how depressed I was after he left, I really wanted to play down any potential romantic feelings he may have thought I once had. I thought asking about relationships helped cover my tracks.
“I didn’t have a steady girlfriend in high school, but I had a couple in college. And a couple after college. None lasted more than a year. In the end, it always seemed that they were more interested in my family’s money than in me. There are a lot of young, single people who work at our firm. It feels like a college campus sometimes with everyone dating everyone else and then getting into arguments about it. It can be worse than junior high sometimes, you know?”
I nodded my head “yes,” but the truth was that I didn’t know. The English department felt like working in a library, so Molly’s prediction of my future work environment was somewhat correct. Most of my co-workers were older, and the atmosphere was generally quiet. Plus, since the campus and town were both rather small, the entire area was peaceful. I had left the busyness and drama of a larger school and city behind long ago. But with Matty sitting next to me, I suddenly longed for the people and traffic of Springville as the hustle and bustle of living in a more populated area reminded me of the time I’d spent with him.
“L.A. is emotionally exhausting for me,” Matthew admitted. “I sometimes can’t believe I’ve stayed there as long as I have. I guess I didn’t know where else to go. I seem to have fallen into a bit of rut. Honestly, Leah, I have felt lost since we moved to California; I’ve just never fit in the way I did back in Springville. Even though I didn’t move there until sixth grade, it has always felt like my hometown.”
Once again, my heart sank hearing him talk about the years after he moved away. And again, I felt disgusted with myself for ever being cross with him. He had left me with a broken heart, but he himself had been broken, too.
I continued our drive around Lakeview, leaving campus and going round to the main commercial area with the typical chain stores and restaurants. I then headed into downtown, which was a boulevard lined with street lamps and cute boutique shops and eateries. At the end of the street was a park with a large white gazebo. It had a very Gilmore Girls feeling to it, which was one of the things I loved most about the town.
“This place reminds
