Just a teensy-tiny mini-chapter for you all! Think of it as more of an interlude. I can't say it enough - THANK YOU for all of your lovely lovely reviews. Even the ones expressing outrage at the angst ;) (omg! emoji porn! I must like you guys!) I hope you enjoy, and thank you for continuing to read!
Mindy peered around the corner. Yep, there he was. Waiting outside their Genetics classroom, arms folded, scanning the crowd for her.
She scooted back to her hiding space. Come on, Mindy! You can do this! It's not even a real breakup. You're just talking. Specifically about how this would never work, remember? She took a deep breath, then stepped out into the corridor.
When did this hallway get so long? She thought, the distance to Danny seemingly neverending. He noticed her about halfway, eyes glued to her form. Mindy lowered her own, tucking her hair behind her ear, unable to keep such intense eye contact.
After what felt like forever, she finally reached him.
"Hey." She glanced up through her lashes, shy.
"Hey." Danny replied, frozen like his own Italian statue. Mindy watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed nervously. "Can we talk?"
Here we go. "Yeah, of course," Mindy replied. Danny gestured to the empty classroom next to them. They ambled into it awkwardly.
"So." Mindy folded her arms. She'd had a whole speech prepared, practicing it like it was her big monologue at the end of the movie. But she couldn't get the words to come out.
"So." Danny sighed, then inhaled deeply. "I…I think the other night was a mistake." He held his breath, waiting for her answer.
Mindy raised her head, smiling weakly. "Yeah. Yeah, I do too."
Danny's breath whooshed out, disbelieving. "What? You do?"
Mindy nodded. "Don't you? We were both drunk, we were angry at each other, it was just a mess." She shrugged. "And if we dated, that's what it would be like all the time, right?"
"Right," Danny agreed. But the tension in his chest made him think otherwise.
"I think we should just be friends," Mindy offered. You're almost done, girl. You're almost there.
"Oh of course," Danny replied hurriedly. "We can still hang out and, yknow, grab dinner or something."
"Definitely. Just no romance," Mindy nodded, smile faltering.
"No romance," Danny repeated, nodding as well.
They stood there in silence.
"Well, I guess that's all there is to it," Danny said, sounding just as awkward as he felt. This pseudo-breakup was new territory for him.
"Yep." Mindy pulled out her phone, checking the time. "We better get to class." She readjusted the strap on her backpack, Danny following her out of the empty classroom and into their usual one next door. He watched sadly as she turned up the steps, climbing back up to her usual spot next to Jeremy, who patted her on the back. He said something that made her laugh as she settled in, pulling out that damn Lilly Pullitzer notebook.
Danny smiled weakly, moving to his own seat on the front row and getting ready for the long class that lay ahead.