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“I need some help.”
Tai spins on her heel to see Shauna Shipman, holding her statistics book and looking at the ground shamefully. She never thought she’d see the day. Of course, she knew Shauna had been struggling in stats (as in, she got a B+ on one test). Tai grins.
“You need my help? With what?” She asks.
Shauna glares at her. “Stats. I’m not good at this shit.”
“Wait, say that again?” Tai puts a hand to her ear, mockingly.
“Fuck, you,” Shauna replies. “I’ll just find someone else,” she huffs.
Tai rolls her eyes, “Quit that, I’ll help you, dumbass.”
— — —
Shauna works diligently, Tai finds. It’s not that she thought Shauna was a slacker, but she never expected the amount of attention Shauna was willing to give to stats class. Currently, they’re sitting in the library and Shauna is pouring over the textbook. So far, she’s been able to figure out everything by herself, and it seems like Tai is just there for emotional support.
“Are you sure you actually need help?” Tai asks. She’s been doing homework for her other classes, sparing quick glances at Shauna every now and again.
“I mean yeah,” Shauna rolls her eyes, “I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t.”
— — —
One day, when they’re having one of their tutoring (study) sessions, Shauna actually puts down her pencil and stops. Tai raises an eyebrow at that, having never seen something like this happen.
“Yes?” She asks, Shauna’s stare is starting to hurt.
“I think I’m going to Brown,” Shauna says in a hushed voice.
Tai honestly can’t say she’s surprised. Shauna is definitely the type of person to get into Brown, but something about the way she said it doesn’t sit right. “Congrats.” Then it clicks, Jackie . Tai fights the urge to roll her eyes. If Shauna wants to talk about it, she can bring it up herself.
“It’s just, Jackie is set on going to Rutgers.” There it is.
“It’s not your fault Jackie couldn’t get into Brown if she wanted to,” Tai says.
“So, I should go?” Shauna asks her.
“Listen, Shauna, you can do whatever you want. You’re a big girl now.”
— — —
Shauna does end up going to Brown, but not before she and Jackie can sink their claws into one another one last time. Tai ends up getting a phone call every night for a week after they confront each other in a very public fight.
Now, Tai and Shauna call each other regularly. It’s nice, Tai thinks, to have someone from back home who she can call whenever she needs. Most recently, their late night chats have been about Van.
Sweet Van, who Tai has dragging behind her car as she moves through life. She should really cut her loose. Still, it’s Shauna who will get the final say on what she does, not because she needs her to make the decision, but because sometimes, it’s nice to feel supported.
“Tai, you’re killing her,” Shauna says when Tai asks.
“I know, but-”
“No buts. You said it yourself, you should break up with her so quit being a whiny idiot and just rip off the band aid.” Shauna is definitely the mean one of the two of them. Although, most people would think it’s Tai.
Tai breaks up with Van the next day.
— — —
Years later, when Shauna has a book deal and Tai has finally passed the Bar exam, they don’t talk as much anymore. It’s not for lack of trying, but they’ve grown apart in a way neither of them can deny.
Jackie is back in Shauna’s life and through reading her new books, Tai can’t determine if that’s good or bad. Although she figures Jackie may be the reason they haven’t met up in a few months.
For Tai, life is good. She’s married now, to a woman. Part of her will always feel a little guilty that the woman isn’t Van, but she’s happy. As happy as she can be.