I clench my jaw at how readily she just revealed so many personal bits of information, pieces I had to dig halfway to China to get. It’s the first time I’ve heard Jasmine mention her mom since she got to Stratford, and I thought maybe they’d had some sort of falling out, but it sounds like they’re as tight as ever.

As annoyed as I am, though, I’m relieved to hear things between Jasmine and her mom are OK and there isn’t gonna be as much physical distance as I thought. The weekend we spent with Sylvia Halabi was one of my favorites of the whole summer, and I see why she and Jasmine are so tight. She’s cool and effortlessly glamorous, a solid view into what Jasmine will probably look like in thirty years, and an amazing cook. It’s hard to picture her with Jasmine’s more ruggedly handsome and super Irish dad, but beautiful people always seem to find each other, even if a billion things eventually tear them apart.

“Cool,” says Kiki. “NYU’s a great school. Lara’s applying there too—you guys should talk.”

“I’m thinking about applying there,” I correct her, picking at my turkey burger, and it’s true, I am. It’s pretty close to home, I can minor in creative writing, and there are plenty of bookstores around so I can hopefully keep working at one, which would offset the tuition difference a little. I’ve thought about eventually working in publishing and being in the city would be perfect for that. But being at the same school as Jasmine, even if it’s enormous? Doesn’t sound quite as perfect. “I’m also applying to a few SUNYs, and that’s probably where I’ll go.”

“Where’s Chase going?” Gia asks.

I shrug. “Also local, most likely.”

Gia’s eyes light up—she’s such a believer in true love, she’s an even sappier romantic than I am—but Shannon looks at me and laughs. “Wait. You’re not staying local because of him, right? You wouldn’t follow a guy to college.”

I open my mouth to point out that I’ve always planned on staying local, but Gia cuts me off. “Just because she’s not following him doesn’t mean they can’t stay together.” She turns to me as I’m about to take a bite of my burger. “Do you think you guys will keep dating?”

“It’s been a week, G,” I say, taking a bite so she won’t immediately shoot back with a follow-up question. “What about you?” I ask after I swallow, though I know the answer. It’s the surest bet to shifting the conversation. “Do you really think you and Tommy will stay together?”