Scotty asked her to come to her room. Her roommate wouldn't be there and they were just going to have a chill night. "I'll be there. Want me to bring anything?"
"Just your warm spirit."
"It's long gone. Anything else?" The friends laughed together. At seven, she walked the two minutes to Scotty's dorm.
Knocking on the door, she heard: "You left it unlocked."
Mandy walked in and saw Gabby sitting on Scotty's roommate's bed. "What… uh, what are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting for Scott. What are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting for her, too. She told me to come over so that we could hang out."
"Well," Gabby sighed, "She just left a few minutes ago."
Mandy didn't answer. "Well, when she comes back, tell her I'm in my room." With a wave, she turned.
"Frosh, wait." Mandy hated that she actually stopped. What could she have to say? She kept her face still and her breathing steady. Silence. Gabby touched her shoulders, spinning her.
"What?"
Gabby cleared her throat. "I thought you two were talking about me and I panicked. And… I'm sorry."
"You should be." The sophomore grinned. "You told me not to say anything, so I didn't."
"I know that now."
They were quiet for a long time. Mandy sat on Scotty's bed and Gabby sat about a foot away. "Hold on, you told Aisha something that you haven't told me?"
Grinning sheepishly, she shook her head. "It's not important."
"No, you ignored me, didn't talk to me for weeks, and that shit hurt, so you have to come better than that." Mandy crossed her arms and turned to Gabby.
"I'm sorry for hurting you."
"That doesn't make me feel better."
"I love you."
"I love you, too, but if you—"
Gabby shook her head. "Like… I really love you. I like you." Mandy stopped breathing and stared at the woman in front of her. "And… and… I told Scotty and begged her not to tell, so I thought she did and not that she's pregnant." She inched closer to the freshman, her braids swinging. "You don't have to say anything. We're friends and I love that about us and I don't want to change it, but I also needed to tell you the truth. I'm in love with you."
"Gabby…"
"I know you don't like women and you're not attracted to them—me—but I can't believe I treated you like that. That won't happen again. I promise." Mandy watched her lips move and felt an urge to kiss them. She put a hand to her forehead. "Say something please."
"What do you want me to say?"
Gabby lifted and dropped her shoulders. "That you forgive me?"
Mandy licked her lips. "I… I forgive, but…"
"That's enough for me." She smiled and Mandy mimicked it.
"And about the other thing—"
"Don't worry about it."
They hugged and Mandy felt herself about to cry. Scotty came in the room. "Manicures first or pedicures?"
