Chapter Text
Wednesday
What her prof had said in her last class occupied Devi Vishwakumar’s thoughts. He had stressed to choose a major wisely, because if it is something you’re passionate about, you’ll do better and grades are what get you into grad school, or law school. Was the latter even what she wanted?
She opened the heavy door and entered the Frist Campus Center. It was much too warm inside and she put her backpack on a ledge to slip out of her thick jacket. When was spring finally coming? She missed the mild weather of California. The piece of clothing rustled as she tied it around her waist.
She missed her childhood friends, too.
“Devi, sorry, I already ate.”
Her head snapped up to look at Lisa, her classmate from English lit. The blond woman brushed Devi’s arm as she rushed in the opposite direction.
“Are we still getting together for the presentation, though?” Devi called after her.
“Of course.” A moment later, Lisa walked around a corner in the hallway.
The woman was the only friend who Devi had made at Princeton. But that was mostly her own fault—the first couple of months she had spent each Friday to Sunday with Ben at Columbia. Now they only met every second weekend, and the other ones she hid between the pages of her textbooks.
A minute later, she looked up at the menu of the lunch options. The savory aroma of deep-fried foods wafted through the room. The lively conversations of the other students added to the busy chatter in her mind. Her gaze blurred when she couldn’t decide what to eat. She used to love food, but recently her appetite had waned. Don’t worry, she wasn’t pregnant. Ben and her had always used a condom, plus... she had checked.
A sigh escaped her lips. She continued her stroll through the corridor. Walking helped her think. Her boots created a squeak, but most people didn’t notice, occupied with their own thoughts or conversations. Right, she had to consider a major.
There was no specific pre-law program at Princeton, so anything was an option. Ben was going into math, but that wouldn’t be her pick. And something else didn’t sit right with her. Law wasn’t her first choice for a career. Yet working in the same field would keep her close to Ben, as he didn’t tire of pointing out.
Her chin lifted as a face in the crowd grabbed her attention. “Paxton?!” Devi couldn’t believe her eyes. It was her ex, now friend, Paxton Hall-Yoshida from high school, walking through the hallway of her university. Still looking like the hottest guy at school. Even in the baggy jacket and sweatpants.
He stopped in his tracks and turned to her, his eyes wide. “Hey, Devi.” A backpack hung on a strap from his shoulder.
She stepped closer. A frown crinkled her forehead. “You’re here and didn’t tell me?” She slapped his arm. “What the hell?”
“I’m, uhm, only here for a short time. I didn’t want it to be...” His fingers fidgeted with the drawstring of his jacket. A bit thin for winter in New Jersey.
She couldn’t avoid a hurt tone in her voice. “But I thought we were friends... good friends.” Granted, they seldom messaged over the last couple of months, but she had just assumed they both got busy. So, maybe she was partially to blame for this. But not telling her he would come to Princeton cut her deep. They hadn’t even met up around Christmas. Ben had seen him, but not her. Paxton didn’t want to wait for her, Ben had said. Was there an emergency in his family that had occupied him?
“Well, we didn’t chat in a while...” he started, but then changed his defense. “And you’re busy with Ben. I didn’t want to be in the way.”
Devi shrugged. “Ben isn’t here. We only meet on weekends. Some weekends.”
“Well, still...” Paxton bit his lip. A quick glance at his watch made his eyes widen. “Shit, I have to go!”
But Devi wasn’t ready to let him vanish into the crowd. She crossed the few feet between them and grabbed his arm. “Did Ben say something to you?”
He stared at her hand before he pulled himself out of her grip. “It doesn’t matter.” He pointed outside. “I have a meeting.”
“And I want to meet you afterwards,” said Devi, curious now why he had come to her campus.
For a moment, a smile cradled his lips before they thinned. “Don’t you have classes?”
Either he was concerned or used it as an excuse. Why didn’t he like to see her? But he was right about the class. “Okay, that’s true. But I’m free at 6. We could meet here at the Frist Food Gallery.”
“Well...” He dragged out the word.
His resistance annoyed her, which brought a burning sensation to her chest. She would put up a fight to talk to him. Just because she was at university now and studying all the time, her social fire hadn’t died. And there was always a fire with Paxton. A friend fire, she assured herself. And friendship required work. “Don’t tell me you came all the way to Princeton for a day trip.”
“No, I’m staying a few days.” He held the strap of his bag tight. Why didn’t he want to talk to her?
“Okay, it’s settled then,” she said. “We'll meet later. And... friends give each other a hug.”
“Sorry, can I get a raincheck? I really got to go.” He inched away from her. “I’ll see you at 6, Vishwakumar.”
She watched him run through the crowd and disappear in the distance. He didn’t even once turn around to look at her. Yet he had used her last name as a nickname, as he sometimes did when they were close. So, not everything was lost... for their friendship.
Drops of sweat crawled down her neck. It must be the heat of her anger. She couldn’t believe the nerve of that guy to come here and not wanting to see her.
Devi slipped out of the sweater and put her long, black hair into a ponytail. She sat down next to some strangers, who looked at her oddly for only wearing a tank top at this time of the year, before they got up and left. But she didn’t care. Her pulse was racing. She needed to calm her thoughts. But Paxton’s sudden appearance kept her mind busy in class. She even declined Ben’s afternoon call. Dealing with them both was too much right now.