Party Chats

3rd person

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“Hey, I’m gonna catch up with them. Will you be okay? There’s Janie. Why don’t you say hi?”

“James? I didn’t think you liked him.”

“What are you kidding? She liked him ever since he made her laugh in math that one time when they were, what, eleven?”

“It’s not like that.”

“I don’t know why you said yes when he asked you out. He’s not your type. And he’s still so clearly in love with Janie.”

“Guys, lay off. They’re just friends. If he liked her, he wouldn’t have asked me out.”

“How can he be over her? He was never with her.”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“How’s Jackson doing, Katie?

“Dude. I dumped him like two weeks ago.”

“Wait. Are we all single, except for Maggie, for the first time in like seven years?”

“Well, Maggie, it looks like you just gotta dump James.”

“Oh my God, Farrah just lay off. He’s my boyfriend. We’re together. It’s done. I don’t know why you hate him so much.”

“Uh, because you could do so much better.”

“Do you want to get plastered by the pool?”

“The pool? It’s freezing outside.”

“Umm, that’s the point? No one’s there. We can just chat.”

“How do you always know?”

“You have a tell. You pick under your nails. Something’s wrong. Tell me what’s up.”

“It’s freezing. James is great. He never fails to make me laugh.

“But?”

“But… he never laughs with me. He smiles, though.”

“It bothers you.”

“I know he cares. That’s enough. He’s nice. And he’s sweet. He’s not like the others.”