“Who took her stuff down?” she asked. She didn’t need to clarify.
“I don’t know. Probably someone from the ceramics department. I heard them talking about displaying a few of them in the president’s gallery.” Which was the permanent art gallery here. Very few students had their work selected to be put in the president’s office. It was a huge honor.
“I still can’t believe . . .” she trailed off. She didn’t need to finish the sentence; we were all thinking it.
It was still impossible to think that Mandy was gone, and not just on some visit home. But life shambled onward.
We didn’t talk the rest of the way to the dining hall. Thankfully, once we were inside and the sugary scent of ice cream and maple syrup and warmth surrounded us, the mood lightened considerably. The actual lighting helped a great deal as well, seeing as it was still dark as dusk outside.
We didn’t even bother to find a table—Ethan and Oliver would no doubt already have a space reserved for us. Mondays were sort of our family meal. I grabbed a plate and made my way to the waffle bar. Today was definitely a strawberry-chocolate-maple-whipped-cream sort of day. Also coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Probably mixed with ice cream.
It was thesis day; I’d need all the energy I could get to make it through.
When I made my way back to the usual table in the corner, my tray carefully loaded with carbs and sugar and caffeine, I realized the family brunch had expanded. Jane was also sitting at the table. As was Chris. There was a space right between him and Ethan, and I could tell from Ethan’s grin that it had been carefully orchestrated just for me.
A small part of me wanted to spite them and sit on the opposite side.
Screw it. I wasn’t going to play that game. I sat between the boys and started pouring sugar packets into my coffee.
“Damn girl,” Chris said. “You could run a small country with all that sugar.”
I looked to his much more sensible scrambled eggs and fruit salad.
“Don’t you worry,” I replied. “I’m a professional.”
A few moments of silence passed while we consumed our breakfast.
“You ready for today?” Jane asked. I’d nearly forgotten that she was also putting up her work this weekend.
“I think so,” I replied. “How about you?”
She nodded. “I’m feeling a lot better about it than I was a month ago, yeah. Got hit with inspiration at the last minute.” She smiled. “I think it’s going to blow the department out of the water. Though I’m sure they won’t think less of your work.”
“Is that a challenge?” I asked.
“Maybe,” she replied. “If you think you’re up for it.”
“Now ladies,” Ethan said, leaning forward and spreading his arms between us. “Remember, this isn’t a competition.”
“Correct,” I said. I gestured to Jane with a fork dripping with waffle. “She probably already won. I’ve seen her work before, and if she’s touting some last-minute muse I’m damn well screwed.”
“I wouldn’t say that. But yeah, my work’s pretty much amazing. Just a few finishing touches and my masterpiece will be ready for the world.” Her smile was wide; she must have really been pleased with her work. I don’t think I’d ever seen her this enthusiastic about it before. Normally she was more humble than I.
“The question is, will the world be ready for your masterpiece?” Ethan asked.
“Always the question. But in this case, probably not.”
Oliver shook his head and grabbed a grape from Ethan’s tray. “You artists. I thought it was all about denouncing fame and pursuing your inner vision.”
“Can it, musician,” I replied with a smile. “We all have to bring our A-game to this. One weak display and the entire show looks like shit. A little competition keeps us on point.”
“Exactly,” Jane said. “It’s all in good fun, anyway. Kaira knows I love her even if I beat her. Which I would. You know, if this were a competition. Which it should be. Because I’d win, and I like winning.” She flashed me a smile.
“I’m so glad I’m not in the same showing as you,” Chris interjected. “This is way too much pressure.”
“Yeah, you’ll give the boy performance anxiety,” Ethan said.
“I highly doubt he succumbs to that,” I said, kind of surprised I was coming to Chris’s aid. “I mean, he performed pretty damn well last night.”
Ethan chuckled and I felt myself blush as Elisa made a “mhmmm” noise.
“What?” Chris asked. “What did I miss?”
I finally caught my pun and blushed. “Oh for the love of—”
“The dance department thinks you’re dating,” Oliver interjected. He grinned at me. “Though now I’m starting to think the boning rumors were true.”
“Wait, what? How would you know?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I have friends.”
“I’m lost,” Chris said.