This World That Divides Us

This time, I brought Molly with me to Ground Central. She promised me that she wouldn't talk my ear off as I try to study for the English Composition pop quiz on Friday.

"I can't believe you made flashcards," she says, shaking her head at me as I scribble down on them. 

"I need to ace this quiz, remember?"

"Yes. I remember. You've only told me 20 times."

"Well, as Benjamin Franklin once said, 'by failing to prepare, you're preparing to fail'."

"Oh, no. Not Benjamin Franklin," she whines, rubbing her temples. I start laughing even though she's serious.

When I look straight ahead, I notice Henry in view. "Hey, Mol, why does Henry work here? Doesn't his dad own some major tech company or something?"

"He does. But Henry likes his job. He's always been adamant about making his own money and not having to rely on his dad's."

"That's amazing."

"Yeah. It's pretty impressive."

Henry walks over to us with two cups of coffee in his hand. "Hey," he says, setting them down, along with a plate of two chocolate chip cookies. "On the house."

He surprises us when he takes a seat on the cushioned chair across from us. "You don't have to go back to work?" Molly asks him.

"My shift just ended. Finally off the clock." He tilts his head at me and then asks, "What's with the flashcards?"

"Stassie is gearing up for Withers' pop quiz on Friday."

"You do know that she steals her pop quizzes from a random website, right?"

I sit up straight and drop my jaw. "And you've actually looked at them beforehand?"

"Of course. Me and everyone else at SP."

"That's cheating."

"Hey, if it's online, it's public domain. That's how I look at it."

"Well, keep the answers to yourself. I don't want to know a thing."

"Damn, girl," Molly calls out. "Dartmouth should let you in just for your faithfulness alone."

"Tell me about it."

"Oh, hey, that reminds me," Henry says, snapping his fingers. "I spoke to my cousin the other day. The one that goes to Dartmouth. He said that his frat is having a house-party on Saturday. I told him about your interest and he invited us. Even said he would give us a tour of the grounds."

"Are you serious? Count me in."

"Great," Henry smiles, but it's Molly's annoyed expression that captures my attention.

"Mol, what do you say? Day trip to Dartmouth?" I ask her.

"I, uh, I can't. I have to babysit," she says.

"What? No! You can't find a replacement?"

"No. I already committed. But you guys go. It sounds fun." Even though she's encouraging us, she doesn't sound convincing. But I'm not going to pass on this opportunity. So, when Henry asks me if I'm down, I say:

"Hell yeah, I am."

***

It took lots and lots of convincing my dad to let me go with Henry to Dartmouth, but he finally conceded. My argument was that it's only a day trip, but he didn't like the idea of me driving down with someone that I've only known for a few weeks.