Mayra sighed and let out a breath as she pushed her feet against the railing, gently rocking herself in the chairs that were scattered along the porch of the Main Building. Has four years really gone by so quickly? She remembered the day she set foot on campus, ready to start a new part of her life and welcome everything that was thrown her way. (Well, not everything, Psychology was a bitch).

The years flew by in a blur that she couldn’t believe that she would be walking across the lawn, graduating the next Saturday. It all felt surreal. She was excited but anxious at the same time. She wanted to stay in that time period forever, where everything was done and she didn’t have to move on into the unknown.

“Hey! Hey, girl guess what? Guess what? Guess what?” a cheery voice broke through her thoughts as a girl ran over to her, excitement coming off of her like a radiator.

“The school decided that you were smart enough to let you graduate with the rest of us so we can move into an apartment together?” Mayra suggested as she watched the girl run up the small set of stairs and drop into the rocking chair next to her, almost falling out of it.

“No.” She paused. “They should, but no.”

“Ok, so what’s gotten my little Mackie so excited?” Mayra asked.

Mack made a face. “I hate it when you call me that?”

Mayra grinned and said cheekily. “It’s the perks of being your ‘big sister’.”

“Yeah yeah,” Mack said with a wave of her hand. “Ok, you know how I’ve been telling you about my friend Justin?”

“Yeah, I remember you don’t say much about him,” Mayra replied, squinting slightly. “Every time I ask about him you change the subject and you won’t even let me see pictures of him or anything.”

“He’s not very photogenic. Anyway, you get to meet him tonight.” Mayra lifted her eyebrows but didn’t say anything. “What?” Mack asked.

“What’s the catch?” Mayra questioned.

“There is no catch. You need a break from studying. I need a break from studying. We’ll have a girl’s night out.”

“Ok, now I know that there’s something wrong with you,” Mayra said, flicking her friend on the arm. “You don’t like going out. You’re like a hermit; you’re locked in your room all the time. The only time you come out is when I have to drag you out, which doesn’t use much effort with how light you are.”

“I’m not the light, you’re just freakishly strong,” Mack pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Whatever,” Mayra laughed. “But I’m not in the mood to go out.”

Mack let out a very loud very fake gasp. “You, Miss Mayra, are not in the mood to go out? And why not? Who are you?”

Mayra laughed and kicked at her. “I’m still me, you freak. I just don’t want to go out  on my last couple of days here, that’s all.”

“But…I suggested it. And I hate going out. It’s a club, dancing, decent food, getting drunk off our butts. Come on, you love doing that,” Mack urged.

“I don’t like getting drunk,” Mayra pointed out.

“No, but we always end up that way somehow and you always take care of me when it happens. Let me take care of you by taking you out for fun. We won’t even drink then. What, do you not want to meet Justin? He’s really nice and funny and great to be around. You have to meet him, I all ready told him you would. And he’s bringing a friend.”

“Oh, I get it,” Mayra suddenly said, sitting up. “You’re setting me up.”

“No, his friend’s just been in a funk and he wanted to take him out. He came all the way from California, come on,” Mack begged. “I can’t just ditch him.”

“You won’t be ditching him, you can still go. I’m not going,” Mayra replied.

“Please? Please? Please?  My friend’s really excited to meet you. I talk about you all the time. He feels like he knows you all ready. He wants to put a face to the person. Please?” Mack begged, sticking out her bottom lip.

“Don’t you dare,” Mayra growled. She stuck her lip out further. “Stop with the pout! I mean it! Stop…ok fine! I’ll go, God!”

“Yes! Thanks. You won’t regret it,” Mack said as she jumped out of the chair and ran back in the direction she came.

“Eres una zorra,” Mayra called after her in a joking tone.

Mack stopped and looked at her. “I don’t know what you said, but back at cha,” she called back. Mayra laughed and shook her head, thinking things over. ‘Maybe this won’t be too bad. I haven’t been out in a while and I do need a break from studying. What could go wrong?’