Four Girls and a Guy - Suzanne Jenkins Page 0,20
superficial kind of friendship. When she had to move onto the couch so that Edwin could move into Alison’s room and Samantha took over Laura’s bed, they’d had their come to Jesus discussion.
“I couldn’t keep up with you,” Laura had admitted. “I felt inferior. You were prelaw; you got into UC Law without making a whole lot of effort.”
“Aw, that’s not fair. I worked my ass off.”
“Yeah, but so did everyone else. You’re charmed, Joanie. I can’t compete with that.”
“Laura, you’re nuts. You’re gorgeous and you’re smart. Everyone wants to be you. The money thing is unfortunate. I’m so sorry about that. If I had to pay my own way, I’m not sure I’d be going to law school. But you heard my folks. The caveat is that I have to take the bar in Philly.”
“But you wanted to go back there from the get-go anyway. Just look at it that way,” Laura advised. “They don’t have to know it wasn’t their idea.”
That bit of advice got Joan out of bed for one last goodbye. She’d be living closest to Laura after law school. Philly was a two-hour ride. But she wondered if they would even stay in touch. No one was Laura’s confidante except for maybe Samantha.
“Are you getting ready to take off?” Joan asked, coming out from the bedroom.
“I am, but I wasn’t going to say goodbye. It’s too depressing. Frankly, I didn’t think it would be such a big deal, but now I can barely tolerate the angst. I feel like crying.”
“Aw, Laura, that’s understandable,” she said, going to her to hug. “We had a fun four years. I’ll miss that. You were the strength in the group, the voice of reason. You saved us from so much trouble, I don’t even know where to start to thank you.”
“Honestly, that shocks me because I don’t see it at all. But whatever. Now I need to have an eight-hundred-mile-long argument with my mother.”
“Oh, honey, just wait until you get to the city. It’s not worth it. I’m getting a headache for you.”
“Ha! Well, thank you. Tell the others I said goodbye again. I’d better get moving, or my mother will show up on this doorstep.”
Just then her phone beeped. “Speak of the devil. Just so you know, I really do love you and the others.”
“We love you, too.”
They hugged again and Joan held the door for her while she wheeled her suitcases out into the hallway and didn’t look back.
An empty, abject sadness encompassed Joan, who tended toward the melancholy at the best of times.
“Is she gone?” Samantha asked, sticking her head out of their shared bedroom.
“Yes. It’s so sad.”
“I know. I couldn’t face it. It’s not sad for her though. Trust me, Laura Long won’t cry for us.”
“Ya think? She’s really an enigma,” Joan said. “Sweet and lovely on the outside…”
“And tough as nails within. Did she say where she was last night?”
“Not a word, but I bet she was with Joe,” Joan replied. “I didn’t tell her I ran into him the other day. He and Lelah broke up, and his parents arranged a marriage for him with someone from the old country. I just have a feeling he got in touch with her. I admit, I told him she was leaving.”
Joan and the others had met Joe when the girls were out one night. “He sure is hot,” Alison had said when Laura told them the whole story. “Why aren’t you sleeping with him?”
“He’s very conservative,” Laura had explained unconvincingly at the time. “He wants a traditional Muslim marriage, and he sure isn’t going to get that from me. Plus his parents would never allow it. They watched him like a hawk in high school. He was only supposed to date girls from his mosque.”
“Interesting about Joe,” Samantha said now, yawning. “She probably loved him and didn’t even realize it. I feel awful about her leaving. But truthfully, she’s got some exciting shit to look forward to. She’ll tell us when she’s ready.”
“Laura? She’s definitely secretive,” Joan admitted. “She’s starting a new life. So what do we do now?”
“Same shit, different day. I start medical school next week. I’m about as ready for that as I am a lobotomy.”
“Sam, go back to sleep, then. It’s the last chance you’ll get. I hear only snoring from our compadre’s room.”
“I think I will. Go back to sleep, that is. I have to work this afternoon if I can keep my eyes open.”
She disappeared down the hallway, and