Three

Zora

When I walked into the kitchen that morning, the smell of coffee lingered in the air, faint but inviting. The sunlight streamed through the small window above the sink, casting a golden glow across the countertops where Marie sat, sipping from a steaming mug and scrolling through her laptop.

"Good morning," she said without looking up, her voice surprisingly alert for the early hour.

"Morning," I replied, stifling a yawn as I glanced at the clock on the stove. Seven AM. Too early. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Work." She set her mug down and stretched her arms behind her head, cracking her back as she spoke. "I work at the campus library on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Early shift."

Work. My thoughts snagged on the word. I still needed a job. My parents will had left me enough money to cover tuition and most of the essentials, but rent wasn't exactly forgiving, and I had no desire to eat ramen noodles for the rest of my college career. I had planned to start job hunting this morning before my ten o'clock class, but maybe I didn't need to search too far.

"Are you guys still hiring?" I asked casually, trying to sound nonchalant.

Marie looked up from her laptop, quirking a brow. "Kind of. We aren't hiring more students to work at the front desk, but we're looking for a tutor. You interested?"

Tutoring? That didn't sound so bad. I'd done it in high school. Helping freshmen with algebra had been easy enough; college couldn't be that much different, right? Besides, it beats working in retail or bussing tables.

"Sure," I replied with a small nod. "I tutored in high school, so it shouldn't be too hard."

Marie grinned, clearly satisfied. "Perfect. I go in at eight. You can come with me. Judy, the hiring coordinator, should be there. She's super nice, so you'll be fine."

I nodded again, already feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. Between this and the café job I scored yesterday after hockey practice, I'd be able to cover rent and maybe—maybe—have enough left over to buy that new pair of skates I'd been eyeing.

Liv joined us a few minutes later, breezing into the kitchen like a force of nature. Her hair was curled to perfection, and she wore a crisp blazer and jeans that somehow looked effortlessly professional. I blinked at her in surprise.

"Good morning," Liv chirped, grabbing an apple from the counter.

Marie, who was nursing the last of her coffee, gave her a skeptical once-over. "What's the occasion? You look...presentable."

"I have a presentation for my eight o'clock class." Liv gave an exaggerated sigh, as though she was already tired of the day. "I finished painting the Mona Lisa replica last night and have to present the history behind it. Wish me luck."

She turned to me then, her expression softening. "I forgot to ask yesterday. How'd you like the party on Saturday? And how was practice on Sunday?"

"The party was fun," I answered truthfully. "The people were nice, and the vibe was good. The practice was... intense. Reya ran it, and she told me I did a good job."

Liv smiled, but Marie snorted loudly.

"Be careful of Reya," Marie muttered, her voice tinged with something that sounded suspiciously like bitterness.

Liv shot her a sharp look. "Don't mind her. She's never liked Reya. Long story."

I glanced between the two of them, my curiosity piqued. What exactly did I need to be careful of? Reya hadn't been warm at the party, but she hadn't been openly rude either. A little smug, maybe. She reminded me of the kind of people who only offered a compliment if they felt like they couldn't avoid it.

"Anyway, I'm out," Liv said suddenly, grabbing her things. "Max is picking me up. Wish me luck with my presentation!"

Marie and I called out goodbyes, and soon it was just the two of us again.

As we drove to campus later that morning, I couldn't help but ask, "What did you mean earlier? About being careful of Reya?"

Marie hesitated, her hands tightening on the steering wheel as her expression darkened. "She's the kind of person who only cares about herself," she said finally, her voice measured. "Watch your back, Zora. Freshman year, Reya and I were best friends—inseparable. Same dorm, same classes, same team. I thought we'd be friends forever."

I stayed quiet, sensing there was more.

"Then Marcus happened," she said bitterly. "I had the biggest crush on him, and Reya knew that. She told me to go for it, so I did. Marcus and I dated all through freshman year and into sophomore. We broke up eventually—mutual, but still rough for me. Reya was there for me through the heartbreak. Or at least, I thought she was."

"What happened?" I asked softly.

Marie sighed, her knuckles white as she gripped the wheel. "Turns out she was hooking up with Marcus behind my back. They started dating not long after he and I split. Reya didn't even understand why I was hurt. She thought I was mad because Marcus 'chose her' over me. That wasn't it at all—I was devastated because I lost my best friend. She betrayed me, and she didn't care."

My stomach twisted uncomfortably. That wasn't just petty drama—it was betrayal in its rawest form.

"I'm sorry, Marie," I said sincerely. I couldn't imagine Liv doing something like that to me. Losing a friend that close, that suddenly... it would've broken me.

"It's fine. I'm over it now," Marie said with a shrug, her tone lighter. "I'm gay, anyway. Turns out, losing Marcus wasn't the tragedy I thought it was."

The rest of the drive passed quickly as Marie told me more about her life—her major, her new friends, and how she kept herself busy outside of classes. I shared a little about my freshman year at NYU: how I kept to myself, how my roommates were my only friends, and how hockey had been my saving grace.

By the time we walked into Judy's office, I was feeling a little more at ease. Judy turned out to be an older woman with kind eyes and a warm smile.

"Marie," she said, looking up from her desk. "What can I do for you?"

"This is Zora," Marie said, gesturing to me. "She's interested in the tutoring position."

"Hello," I said, stepping forward. "I was a math tutor in high school."

Judy beamed. "Wonderful! I don't have students needing tutors right now, but I just had someone quit at the front desk. Are you interested in that? It's night shift—six to midnight."

Night shift? It wasn't ideal, but it would work with my schedule. "That's perfect. I can start tomorrow."

"Great!"

Marie and I left the office, and I gave her a bewildered look. "That's it? No interview?"

"Nope," Marie said with a grin. "Things are laid back here. Welcome to the library team."

By the time I made it to calculus, the room was nearly full. Stevie waved at me from the third row, and I slipped into the seat next to her.

"Hey," Stevie greeted warmly. Genevieve, sitting on Stevie's other side, merely glanced at me and looked away without a word.

"Class is starting, and Reya's still not here," Genevieve whispered.

"You know Reya," Stevie said with a smirk. "Late to everything that doesn't involve hockey."

Ten minutes later, the door banged open, and Reya strolled in, unbothered by the stares. The professor glared.

"Nice of you to show up. Grab your seat—just a pencil today."

Pencil? My stomach dropped. There's a test?

Reya slid into the seat beside me—one of the last available spots.

"There's a test today?" I whispered.

"Apparently," Reya muttered, digging through her bag. "Got a pencil I can borrow?"

I handed her one, suppressing the irritation bubbling in my chest. Reya took it without a thank-you, letting out a heavy sigh.

When the exam was passed out, I felt the tension in my shoulders evaporate. Derivatives. Easy. I finished quickly and stood, glancing down at Reya's paper as I passed her. It was blank. Completely untouched.

I hid my smirk as I turned in my exam. Reya might be the queen of the hockey rink, but here, in this classroom? I had her beat.

And for now, that was enough.