Maria fiddled with a tendril of her hair as she kicked a clod of dirt before her. She looked to her watch nervously every few moments before a voice floated through the air. “Maria!” The voice called in a winded and hurried tone. Maria turned around slowly and stood from her chair. A waiter brought them a few drinks as the two women sat at the outdoor café. The cold metal chairs and table felt of ice on the cool New England morning.

The two college students looked at each other for a moment before Maria finally spoke. “Thanks for coming Taryn.” Maria managed nervously while she drummed her fingers on the metallic table.

“Sure,” Taryn told her slowly, “What’s wrong with you?” She asked. “You’re acting way weird.” Maria looked away from Taryn slowly, shifting her eyes up to the rising sun and followed the flight of a white dove across the sky until it faded into the scenery.

“Nothing,” Maria lied quickly, “I’m fine. I just wanted to have breakfast with you…I mean…you know…I have to go home for a while, and so I just wanted to…” Taryn had lost track of what her roommate was saying by this time, and was watching a young girl making a pitiful attempt at parking. “…but you know, Dylan’s a great guy for you and—“

“—look Maria, I don’t think this was a good idea.” Taryn said hastily, interrupting her friend as she stood, clutching her purse tightly. “I’ll talk to you later.” She added as she turned, “I don’t want to hear his name.” She said softly to herself as she walked quickly from the café, not daring to look back to her friend.