"Darling, you can't possibly eat that all by yourself." Madeline stared at her, frowning.

    A huge plate of poutine sat in front of Catalina, taking a large portion of the small pub table. "I bet you ten dollars I can scarf this down in under ten minutes."

    "Oh, I believe you, I've seen it happen before." Madeline nodded. "It's just that you should share."

    "Hey, I'm not stopping you. Please, go on ahead." Catalina pushed the plate towards her and gave her the fork.

    Catalina ate mechanically, but her mind wandered to Philip. Memories of what happened between them lingered as vividly as they'd been the day they were made. The fights. The smiles. Everything.

    "So when are you gonna tell me what you and Philip talked about that day? The day you had lunch together."

    "I still can't believe Daniel told you guys. I made it clear to keep it secret." She slumped in her chair. "Honestly, no wonder Andrea is avoiding me like that plague. Can't she get over it? We just talked."

    Madeline stabbed a fry. "Yeah, what about? Why does Philip think it's alright to start talking to us again?" She waved the fork accusingly. "You know, the other day he came up to me and started talking as if he'd never called me a lying bitch."

    "He did what?" Catalina's eyes widened and she leaned forward. "When?"

    "Oh." She grimaced. "I forgot I kept that from you. That was such a long time ago. I think before you two broke up."

    "Why didn't you tell me he said that?"

    "I didn't want to stress you out. Plus, you were already about to strangle him around that time and I wasn't ready to see my best friend in jail for murder."

    Catalina crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back on the seat. The intense light of the morning sun blinded her. She squinted and then huffed. "Nice call, I think I really would've killed him."

    "You know." Madeline stabbed three more fries. "Drea was honestly ready to outright kill him. No joke, she was very serious about it. I wasn't exactly surprised, just shocked she'd actually go that far."

    "Actually?"

    Madeline hummed as she chewed. She covered her mouth as she spoke. "It was crazy."

    Catalina fidgeted with the case of her phone, pushing it off and back on. Why did her breath still get caught in her throat when she saw Philip? Why did her heart swell when he smiled at her? Why did her cheeks still burn when he winked at her? Why the fuck did she like him? After all he did to her, and she was now learning about him.

    "Fuck him," Catalina hissed and dropped her phone on the table. She rubbed her face and threw her head back. Ever since he showed up again, she'd gotten confused. If you'd asked her in the summer, she would've told you she was over him, that he meant nothing to her anymore. She'd tell you that the memories they shared were blurry; the sleepless nights, the endless fights, the times she'd leaned on his shoulder. She'd tell you that she had long forgotten the times he'd whisper in her ear. And yet....and yet here she was again, thinking all about that. Thinking about how he broke her heart but used to be the reason she smiled at some point.

    "Are you ever going to tell us what you guys talked about?" Madeline asked, her eyes fixed on the table. Sometimes, she felt afraid of confrontation, especially with Catalina. She was a ticking bomb after she'd met Philip.

    Catalina ran her tongue against her cheek. "He apologized."

    "Apologized?" Madeline scoffed. "What a colossal idiot."

    "He was serious, you know?"

    "Serious? Serious? Philip?" The fork clattered on the plate. "Oh god, don't tell me you fell for that, Cat. Are you kidding me?"

    "I'm not. He was honest. He said that his trip cleared his mind and..." She played with her phone again. "He apologized for treating me the way he did."

    "My ass." Madeline grit her teeth. "If he really fucking cared then he would've contacted you while he was away. The only thing he's sorry for is the fact that you rose up and have new boyfriend who actually gives a damn. You know, screw him. He thinks it's all happy and dandy now that he apologized but no, no." She stood from the table, slamming her hands on it, earning a few onlookers. "That son of a—"

    "Maddie, stop." Catalina covered her face, shying from the crowd. "He did contact me, months ago but I was over him then."

    "Why the hell didn't you tell us?"

    "He's sorry, okay?"

    "God, Cat, you can't—you just—what's wrong with you? What the hell did he say to make you so complacent?"

    "That's the thing. He didn't say anything that made me want to lunge at him. He was so...level headed and reasonable. Like, I don't...I just don't know. I can't—I don't think..." Catalina huffed, slumping on the table. "I'm..."

    Madeline sat, reached for Catalina's arm, and stroke circles on it with her thumb.

    Catalina ran a hand through her hair. "I'm not ready yet. I'm not ready to let go."

    "Oh, Cat. It's...It's gonna be okay."

    She groaned. "I'm never going to get over him, am I?"

    "You will. You'll get over him. I know right now it doesn't seem likely, baby, but it's going to be okay."

    Catalina rose from the table and stretched. "I should really get going. Class starts in five minutes. You can finish the poutine, I don't really mind. Oh, by the way, Jae invited us over to his place this weekend."

    "For Halloween? Are we dressing up?"

    "Yeah, that's what we agreed on." Catalina slipped into her jacket and picked up her backpack from the floor. "I'm dressing up for sure."

     Madeline stood and leaned in. "You sure you're alright? You don't wanna skip class and talk about it?"

    Catalina smiled. "I'm fine, don't worry, baby."

    "If you say so, but as soon as class is over, call me, okay?"

    Catalina gave a salute and left the campus pub, running off towards the other side of campus for her class.

———•———

    The library was packed. There was no free desk in sight, not even in the deep dark corners where there was barely a window to light it. Not even a computer desk or a group study room. Everything was filled to the brim, but Jae still wanted to study. He searched the book isles for a silent spot, away from the chattering students. He found one on the second floor, between the automated moving shelves and in dead silence.

    A beep went off as he settled between the two shelves, indicating his presence. He sat cross-legged, zipped open his backpack, and fished out the laptop. He tried not to look at his phone for fear of distraction. He wasn't usually distracted, but Catalina had thought it funny to make a selfie of her and her triple chins as his wallpaper, and every time he turned on his phone he would get lost in his thoughts.

    "Mind giving me a light?"

    His head whipped up. He didn't hear the beep when they walked in.

    Next to him stood Iris. It had been a couple of days since they met and he hadn't seen her since. She still looked stunning. This time, he noted, her hair was up in space buns, showing off her black roots.

    "Iris." Jae smiled. "You forgot your lighter again?"

    She laughed, shaking her head and tucking her hands in the back pockets of her black jean skirt. Upon seeing her in fishnets he wondered how Catalina would look if she ever tried that sort of style; knowing her, she'd probably be able to pull it off.

    "Nah, just teasing you." She nudged his foot with her own. "Don't tell me you're gonna study."

    His gaze dropped back down to his laptop and he wasn't sure how to respond. "I...yes, I have assignment due tomorrow night."

    "Bo-oring," she sang and dropped her backpack on the floor. "Since you're so studious and hardworking, you need a breather, yeah?" She sat down next to him and pulled out a pack of gum, offering him one.

    He shook his head and waited for her to continue her train of thought.

    "There's a Halloween party on Saturday at the neighbouring university and since you're gonna be writing a boring essay—"

    "Lab," he corrected.

    Iris rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she sighed. "You can join me at the party Saturday. You and your friends, if you have any."

    "I'm actually having a small get together, so I don't think we can really go."

    "Oh." Iris leaned back on the shelf. "Well, here's my phone number." She snatched his phone from his fingers. "I'll text you the address. You might get bored of a small get together."

    "Wai—" Too late, she turned on the cellphone and saw Catalina.

    "Oh, a girlfriend?" Iris lifted her eyebrow. "She cute."

    "Well, it's a little complicated. She isn't exactly my girlfriend."

    "Not yet she isn't."

    A blush crept on Jae's face, however, his expression immediately soured when he recalled Philip. "She likes someone else."

    Iris blinked, deadpan. "Did I stutter?"

    He crossed his arms over his chest and settled against the bookshelf, seeing that Iris had no intention of returning his phone before she added herself as a contact and sent the text.

    "There." She handed the phone back. "You should invite her to the party."

    "Yeah, no. I don't even know if she likes parties."

    "It's a good excuse to get drunk and have fun. Why would she deny that? Plus, you'll get closer to her." A coy grin stretched across her lips. "I'll make sure of it, pretty boy."

———•———

    For the third time in the past hour, Jae found himself staring at the single text bubble of the address on his phone. Even after he sent the invitation the the group chat that night as he lay in bed, his mind lingered on the prospect; it was up to them if they'd rather go to a party. He stared at the glow in the dark stars on his ceiling and rested his phone on his chest. Part of him wanted Catalina to come over to his place instead of a huge party; it'd give him more time to spend with her. Time he could take to sort his feelings. Properly.

    But the party seemed like the best option. He'd get time to get over her. Time he could spend looking for someone to fill his mind in the meanwhile. Time he could use to drink the feelings away. As a result, he offered to go to the party and they could have their get together on Sunday.

    His phone buzzed a couple of times before he picked it up.

Danny
Yeahhhhhh time to get lit!!

Andrea Salazar
not my kinda thing. rather stay home thanks xx

Danny
awwwww dreaaaa come on

Andrea Salazar
no thanks buddy. imma have a tub of ice cream
I'll see y'all anyways on sun

Maddie
A party????

Where omg???

Is it like halloween dress up? Plsss let it be

Jae
Neighbouring university.
Iris invited us.

Danny
tf is an Iris?

Maddie
part of your eye duh

    Jae rolled his eyes and leaned his head back on the pillow. It would be nice if they met Iris; she was nice and she didn't seem like any threat...other than the fact that he was intimidated by her beauty and nonchalant attitude. Plus, she seemed like that kind of girl who knew how to have fun.

Jae
A girl I met earlier.
And yes to dressing up.

    Almost instantly a reply—the first reply—from Catalina came. His phone buzzed in his hand as a ding went off.

Kitty Cat
oohhhh that pretty girl with the pink hair???
do ya like her or smthn? Cause she fire

    He rolled his eyes. As if she didn't know he liked her. Wait, wait. She didn't know that. Yet. No, no. She would never know. Ever. He'd get over the stupid swelling of his chest soon enough. He needed to get his mind off her asap.

Jae
If you wanna go.
You don't have to.
I'm not forcing you.

Kitty Cat
mi amor, I'm just teasing
Love youuuu <3

Maddie
So yes! We'll go!! I'm dressing as a fairy!!

Kitty Cat
I'll be a cat lol

    Jae rolled, swiped the phone off the bed, and shoved his face into his pillow. He couldn't help the tightness in his throat nor the pounding of his heart. Oh god, was he out of his goddamn mind!

The phone buzzed once. Twice. Jae groaned. Thrice.  He considered throwing it away. He let it go off over and over as he tried to fall asleep and calm his beating heart. Why was it that anything Catalina said that was considered 'normal' seem...flirty to him? Why the hell was he so affected by her meaningless words?