(Part I)
“Sooo… how was your mentor session?” Connie asked her friend Victoria “Tori” Simons, secretly hoping Tori also had a weird session and they could commiserate together.
“It was amazing!” Tori’s enthusiasm burst out through her voice, lancing through the bubble of hope that Connie had started the conversation with, and thereby quickly bursting said bubble. “Andi is so chill and smart. She said I can ask her anything, gave me her phone number, and then we went rock climbing. She is the cool older sister I’ve always wanted.”
“Hopefully Ryan doesn’t hear you say that,” Connie responded, because the sourness in her stomach had to get out somehow.
Tori scoffed. “You and I both know, my actual older sister is well aware she is pretty much anything other than cool.” It was true, Ryan was a bit of a nerd. She would probably work for NASA or something in the future, but high school was not going to show her much love. “Anyway, how was your session with Grace?”
“Also great!” Connie lied.
“Oh good,” Tori said, oblivious and willing to take words at face value. “I was a little worried; I’ve heard some things about her, and Andi said she’s very method.”
“People are jealous,” Connie defended her mentor.
Tori shrugged. “Probably.
“Hey, do you think we have time for a slice before class starts? I’m starving!”