Wellness and Life Science passed uneventfully the next day. Family dinner was still at Chick-fil-A, as confirmed by text that afternoon. She waited in her room for Celine until 5:53 so they could walk together, but finally she realized that Celine might be avoiding Elise and not want to see her at an FFG function. Either that, or she would meet Kortney there. No dice. Neither Celine nor Elise showed their faces. Kortney couldn't help but smirk at the irony of their success at avoiding each other, if that was what they were doing. Boys made normally rational people act so senseless. Nishimo didn't show up either. She felt sorry for the poor guy; not many people around seemed to have patience for those reared in non-American culture.

"Your mom and I have been talking," Nathaniel said around a mouthful of chicken sandwich, "and we thought that for our family outing—"

"Don't talk with food in your mouth, husband," Shara admonished.

"Yes ma'am. How many of you guys like Lifehouse?"

Kortney perked up. A couple of people nodded, so she did too.

"Ah, come on, is that it?"

Shrugging ensued.

"Ok, what if we went to a Lifehouse concert for really cheap in Dallas, as a family road trip?"

Livelier shrugs, with a few lifted eyebrows this time.

"All right. It's time to pull out the big guns." He leaned forward. "Who likes Coldplay?"

An explosion of "Dude, yes!"

"I thought that would get your attention. Ok, so, they will be playing in Dallas on the same night as Lifehouse. I'm going to the Lifehouse concert cause I'm weird like that, but, whoever wants to ride with me can, and I will take you guys to the Coldplay concert and pick you up after both concerts are over, and then we will all go out to eat someplace crazy and drive back here all stoked up on caffeine. Who thinks that sounds like fun?"

Enthusiastic nods.

"Is anyone still going to Lifehouse with me?"

Kortney lifted an unsure hand.

"I will," said David.

"Me too," said Kylie.

"You have taste. I like it. Not that there's anything wrong with Coldplay," he said, holding out his hand to pacify the wounded Chris Martin fans. "They're a great band. I just can't get you guys discount tickets to their show."

A chorus of understanding replies to the effect of "We don't care."

He put his palms together. "All right. Now, the two concerts in question are in a month and a half. Why such early notice, you ask? The discount cost will only last until the end of this week, and then my connection goes bam." (He plunged his thumb downward.) "I need to know for sure who's going, and I need you to pay me sometime between now and the day we leave. I'll go ahead and buy your tickets, but if you can't pay me by then, you ain't goin'. Are you three sure you wanna go?"

"What date is it?" inquired Kortney.

"October 14. It's a Thursday night."

Phones sprouted from pockets.

"Everyone put it in your phones. That's a really good idea. And add a reminder: Pay Nathaniel."

"How much is it?"

"Lifehouse is 8. Coldplay is 65 for the cheap seats. I think you see why I have chosen Lifehouse."

"I can get you your 8 next week."

"Sweet. How about you two, are you going?"

"I think so," David said. "Go ahead and order me a ticket, and if I can't go, I'll pay you anyway and you can give it to a poor kid outside."

Kylie added another "Me too."

"And you guys tell anyone else who wants to go. I can take 5 not counting myself, and Shara's got a van, so you can take what? 16?"

"10," she corrected. "We should have everybody covered."

Leigh spoke up from a cluster at one end of the group. "We were thinking about taking our own car anyway and maybe staying the night."

"Don't you have class the next day?"

"Psssh." She flipped her hand at him.

"As your father, I cannot sanction such irresponsible behavior."

Leigh's group looked up at him with cow's eyes.

"Just don't tell your professors I had anything to do with this excursion, and I'll let you off the hook. I don't want to get in trouble with CAB for being a bad example. Well, sweet, man. I'll see you kiddie-os later." He stood, swung his backpack onto his shoulder, and pointed at them. "Refuge. You better be at Refuge. It's tonight at 9 o'clock, so you really don't have an excuse not to be there. At least not until they move it to Second Baptist. Ciao."

"I oughta get going too," said Kylie.

"Yeah." The group broke up, carrying most of their trash with them. Kortney ambled outside, wondering what to do with the rest of her evening until Refuge. She decided on visiting Kristeen. Kristeen's roommate Rashaunna answered the door and told her that Kristeen was at an RA meeting, but Kortney was welcome to hang out. Rashaunna got her a bottled iced tea, and they watched Brady Bunch reruns for two and a half hours until Kortney happened to check her phone.

"It's time for Refuge! Snap. I need to see if my roommate's in our room."

"Aight, take care. It was nice to meet you!" Rashaunna called after her.

"You too! Thanks for the tea!"

Kortney burst into her room. Celine was putting the finishing touches on her hair with her Chi.

"Are you going to Refuge?"

"Yep."

"Wanna walk?"

"Sure. Some girls from third floor are gonna meet us here in a minute." Celine reached for her hairclips.

"Are you interested in going to a Lifehouse concert in Dallas in October?"

"Oh, I heard about that. I think I'm going to the Coldplay concert instead. I'm sorry."

"That's cool. I just wanted to make sure you knew."

Noelle, Tiffany, and Rayne stopped by. "Refuge?"

"Well, I was gonna go with Celine …"

"Oh, you can go with them. I don't mind."

Kortney knew a dismissal when she heard one. "All right. I'll see you later."

She filled them in on the concert details as they walked. Tiffany said she wouldn't be able to make it, and Hayley Anne would likely opt for Coldplay, but Noelle and Rayne were wild about Lifehouse. Kortney texted Mari to see if she wanted to go, and sent a message to Nathaniel to let him know to buy two more tickets.


"I think Will likes you," said Mari one Wednesday morning at their pre-Comp breakfast.

"Will in our class?"

"Yeah. Isn't his mom your advisor?"

"Yeah, she is. Why do you think he likes me?"

"He always sits by you and makes comments whenever the teacher isn't listening, and picks you to work on exercises with him."

"Well, if he asks for my phone number, I will dub you a prophetess."

That day's topic was absolute phrases. Will had been floundering along all semester, but now he was swiftly shown to be an absolute dunce. Kortney wasn't exactly honors caliber, but she had always had a mean talent for grammar. She had always assumed that that was the reason for Will's attentions. As usual, he petitioned for her help. She did her best, and he seemed to catch on a little by the time class ended.

"Remember, class, our first Exit Exam will be the Wednesday after we return from Fall Break. That will be next Wednesday. I encourage you to complete the practice Exit Exam I've given you, look it over during your time off, and please stop in at my office if you have any questions. Otherwise, I'll see you next week."

"Is it just me, or does his voice remind you of a green olive?" Will asked mischievously as the professor's hard-heeled stride faded down the hall.

"I never would have thought about it like that," Kortney laughed.

"Hey, are you going to the flag football game next Tuesday?"

"What is that, the 12th?"

"Yeah. Rho Sig's playing the Perrin Peelers."

"The what?"

He grinned. "Hey, I dunno who named them. Do you wanna go see the beatdown?"

Kortney was dumbfounded. "Uhh … with you?"

"Yeah. The Rho Sigs are all really good. I thought it would be a pretty funny game."

"Yeah, I guess so. I could observe and take notes for my own playing."

"You play flag football?!"

Kortney looked down with a smile. "Yeah. I know I don't look like the type."

"What team are you on?"

"The Wild Wild West."

"I'm gonna have to come watch you play. So will you go?"

"Sure, I guess."

"Cool. Here, give me your number so I can text you when it's time to go. I can drive us down there if you want."

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather walk? It's not far."

"No, I'll drive. It'll be hot. I know girls hate sweating."

Kortney vowed to unlock her door and jump out of the car if he did anything creepy, no matter how fast he was going. Of course, she would have her cell phone, too. And she could march into his mom's office anytime and tell on him if necessary. They exchanged phone numbers and bid a casual goodbye. Kortney turned. She saw Mari leaning against a nearby wall and smiling.

"You be quiet."

Mari laughed.

"I can't wait for the concert. Just 9 more days."

"I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun."

"I refuse to feel sorry for you. You're going to Chicago."

"Hey, hanging out with International Club pays off."

"Can you believe how short this month has been? The semester's like a third over."

"I know, it's crazy."

"I'll see you at dinner if you don't mind me sweaty. I've started working out with Chelsea from my flag football team."

"When did you start doing that?"

"Just last week. She taught me how to use the Thighmaster, and I'm showing her some stretches I used to do in dance class to stay limber. I still do 'em every night before bed."

"Wow, that's commitment. I'll see you tonight!"


Fall Break was a much greater relief than Kortney would have thought possible after little more than a month of school. Four days of hard sleep later, she was back to her normal schedule. It was a chipper Monday morning as she met Mari for breakfast and went about her day. She got a text from Kristeen: "Hall movie nite 2nite n my room! Letters 2 juliet & tons of junk food. Oreo balls!"

Kortney squealed with anticipation. The squeal was followed by a groan as she wondered if she could pull off her Bible Survey paper, which was due Wednesday, if she took time for a movie and possibly more hanging out afterward.

Eh — why not.

"Bam!"

Hands jolted her shoulders. She screamed. Turning around, she saw Will bent over laughing.

"What's up," she said listlessly.

"That was awesome," he croaked. "Hey, are you still coming tomorrow?"

"To the game?"

"Yeah."

"Um, sure. I'm gonna have to bug out right afterward, though. I have a paper to write."

"Aw, don't worry about it. A late paper now and then is good for everybody."

"That's not what your mom says. Are you sure you're her son?"

"How do you know my mom?"

"She teaches my seminar class, and she's my advisor."

Kortney immediately regretted having said that. Will broke into a frightfully wide grin. "No way! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Didn't occur to me, I guess. I'll see you tomorrow." She pivoted and power-walked away.

"I'll pick you up at 4!" he yelled at the back of her head, far too loudly for the short distance between them. Note to self: do absolutely nothing else with Will, Kortney thought. And tell his mom he's a pest.

On her way to the cardio room, she heard a spirited discourse occurring right around the corner in the Mabee lobby.

"Dude, she totally shafted me."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry."

"It was like, as soon as she saw that Joey liked her, she went, forget Logan! And he knew the whole time that she was just playing me!"

"I tried to tell you, she's always been like that. I could talk to her, but you know she'd just laugh at me now that she has what she wants. That's why I tell my freshmen not to date yet. You're not ready for the commitment or the rejection."

"Well, look, tell her — never mind."

"Listen. You have your biggest game tomorrow. Just play off all your anger at Elise, and you might beat those guys."

"I don't care anymore, dude."

"Look, you can't let Shara's girls take you down. You gotta show 'em Seth has tough sons."

Kortney caught herself eavesdropping and realized she'd heard enough. Well, if Logan and Elise were no longer an issue, Celine might be happy — unless Logan took the advice of whoever he was with and swore off dating for a couple of semesters. Too much drama.

That night was better. Kristeen's room was modestly packed. There were mounds of Oreo balls courtesy of the dorm mom's kitchen, and iced tea and Capri-Suns and cheeseburger-flavored Combos. Kortney, Hayley Anne, Tiffany, and Noelle piled onto the one giant beanbag chair in the room and got comfortable.

"Kortney, I can't see. Move your head."

"You're getting hair in my mouth."

"I can't move! Hayley Anne's sitting on me."

"Are you saying something about my weight?"

"Let's just say you need to chill with the Oreo balls."

"Yeah, you had about two dozen."

Smack! "They're good!"

"Mm, your hair is tasty."

"Ugh. That would make me so sick."

"Here, I'll try to scoot over a little."

Someone erupted in giggles. "You just poked me in the belly button!"

The whole room burst into laughter. "Here. Here, I'll —"

"Oww! That's my face!"

"Y'all ready?" announced Rashaunna.

"Move your head!" someone hissed. Tiffany reached back and popped the speaker in the nose. There was a small tussle and more tickling.

"Shhh-shh-hh," laughed Kristeen, who was curled up with a bunch of girls on the futon.

The music swelled, accentuating the parade of Romeo and Juliet paintings on the screen. The opening credits were Kortney's favorite part of the movie. She loved seeing all of the different visions that countless artists had had when contemplating the classic romance. The painting on which her eyes rested the most longingly was of a red-cloaked Romeo kissing Juliet on his way down from her balcony. There was something especially manly, in her mind, about his tilted head and agile stance. Such a hero would make any girl swoon — even if he had an awful name like Romeo.