“Darrell's got the best college out of anyone in our class!”
“Don't forget us little people when you make it big!”
Darrell shot a smug look toward my corner.
“Hey, Mildred, what about you?”
I set my phone down.
“Mine's arriving today.”
The courier had just called to say my acceptance letter was on its way and I'd need to sign for it in person.
Darrell snorted, then broke into a laugh he couldn't stop.
Someone in the crowd piped up.
“Don't community college letters come like two weeks later than the real ones?”
The whole class erupted.
People slapping the table, doubled over, tears in their eyes.
I leaned back in my chair and watched them in silence.
Darrell glanced at me and shot to his feet.
“Hey, knock it off! You're making Mildred mad!”
“I'm telling all of you right now, nobody gets to look down on Mildred for going to community college. She's my buddy!”
Everyone bit back their grins and played along.
“Fine, fine, we'll give Darrell some respect.”
“But seriously, Darrell, Mildred gave up the Ivy League for you. Aren't you gonna show some appreciation?”
Darrell rubbed his brow with an exaggerated look of guilt.
He waited until Dorothy left for the restroom, then raised his glass toward me.
“Bro, real talk while Dorothy's not here. I do feel a little bad about what happened.”
“Tell you what. Give me a few years. If things don't work out between me and Dorothy, I'll come find you. Fair enough?”
The room nearly blew its roof off with catcalls.
I let out a cold laugh.
“I wish you two a lifetime of happiness. Truly. Permanently.”
Darrell clicked his tongue.
“Sure you do. You'll still end up waiting around for me like a good girl.”
“But hey, make sure you transfer from that community college to a four-year, then do grad school. Otherwise the gap between our degrees is too big. My parents would never approve.”
I fired back immediately.
“You haven't even gotten into a university yet. What gives you the right to look down on me?”
But my words drowned in the noise.
“Darrell's catching feelings!”
“Darrell's so considerate!”
I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up to leave.
Darrell frowned and shook his head.
“Come on, bro. You're mad again?”
“Fine, I'll let you borrow my acceptance letter for a photo. You can post it and show off. That good enough?”
The words barely left his mouth before the door swung open.
A courier stood in the doorway holding a document envelope. Behind him trailed several people carrying cameras and microphones.
The courier peered inside.
“Graystone University acceptance letter. Which one of you is the recipient?”
