Sixty Five

CHAPTER 65

Golden University, New York.

"You're okay, right, Alicia?"

Alicia sat pensively in a corner of the campus cafeteria with Brittany after their classes ended for the day. Alicia had texted Brittany several times to see if they could meet up and it had worried Brittany.

Both of them had ordered their food fifteen minutes ago. Alicia asked for pasta with cheese sauce, while Brittany ordered honey waffles. But it seems, Alicia is reluctant to touch her food at all.

The Brooklyn girl continued to stare at her pasta without interest. Even the caramel ice, which had always been her favorite, meant nothing to her.

"You've been sitting here staring at your food like you're dying, Alicia," Brittany protested.

She had just finished her waffles and seemed a little perturbed that her best friend's meal was still completely intact.

"Speak up, Alicia." Brittany stirred her ice lonade and sipped slowly, instead of waiting for her best friend to react. "Did something happen to you?"

And after waiting from the start, the blue-eyed girl finally let out a long sigh that relieved Brittany a little. "Ace is going to Italy," she informed her. "And he intends to take me with him."

Brittany's hazel eyes suddenly looked at her enthusiastically. "Doesn't that sound like great news? You get to go on a free vacation with your favorite girlfriend, right?" Brittany then chuckled amusedly. "You're so lucky to be able to take a vacation in the middle of a busy class schedule."

"That's not what bothers me," Alicia said. And from the look on her face, we all knew that she was upset right now. "I can't just leave with Ace after making an appointment with Nicholas."

Then Brittany rounded her mouth like a big O. "Speaking of which, how's the case going? You guys are already moving forward, aren't you?"

"Yes. I made Nicholas discover a new fact about the first victim." Alicia shrugged her shoulders lazily. "But that doesn't lead me to hard evidence yet. I still need to stay here and help him." She rested her chin on the table. "You know I can't leave with this bad feeling, right?"

Then Brittany took another sip of her drink. With a short murmur, she said, "I think something has changed about you, Alicia."

"Changed?"

"Uh, hm." Then the blonde girl who that afternoon had deliberately tied her hair up in a ponytail with a peach-colored ribbon pushed her glass away. "You're no longer that warm with Ace."

"What do you mean?"

Brittany shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "I don't know if it's a coincidence or not. But ever since you got into this case and Ace got busy filling in for his father, you guys don't seem to be close anymore." She raised one eyebrow in curiosity. "You've also started checking in on each other less and less, right?"

It was true. Everything Brittany said was the truth. But Alicia was clearly reluctant to admit it.

"Maybe it's just a feeling you have because I rarely tell you about it." Alicia then gave a short laugh. "I was going to turn down Ace's invitation to go to Italy. But I didn't want to hurt his feelings."

"Then it will be difficult."

"What do you mean?"

"No matter how gentle, how sweet your words are when you reject someone. Deep in his heart, he will still be hurt. You studied psychology in your class, right? How could you not know?" Brittany pursed her lips in annoyance. "I think we all get hurt when we expect too much from someone."

"You worry me, Britt."

The chubby-cheeked girl crossed her arms over her chest. "Look, I know your position is difficult right now, Alicia. You're caught between two handsome, seductive men who you want to kiss all the time. But at the end of the day, you have to choose what's most important to you. Prioritize first so you don't get lost."

But Alicia shuddered in horror at Brittany's words. "You sound like a pervert now." Then she pinched Brittany's cheek. "They're not that handsome."

"But they're still tempting. I'm even interested in taking them to bed every now and then." Seeing Alicia staring at her in horror, Brittany stopped talking and laughed amusedly. "Hahaha gosh, I was just joking. You were very serious today and I got scared because of that."

"You really are my horrible best friend, Britt."

But Brittany was not offended in the least by Alicia's words. Instead, she brought up a serious topic now. "I don't think turning Ace down once would be a big deal." She then let out a short sigh. "You just worry too much, Alicia."

"Yes, I know."

"You were together for two years and then Nicholas came back and fate brought you together through this case," Brittany continued. "Maybe this fate will also lead you to something more surprising in the future."

Alicia nodded in agreement with Brittany's words. Inevitably, the beautiful girl was overwhelmed with guilt for having lied to Ace in the first place. But somehow, she did not feel any regret for choosing to join Nicholas in his case this time.

Could it be that Brittany was right about destiny?

"By the way, do you have any assignments this weekend?" Brittany asked, trying to break the ice.

"Well, I have to make a portfolio about my human nature. What's wrong with that?"

"Want to take a walk with me?" Brittany made a cute face that Alicia knew was made up. "We could spend some "girl time" like shopping, going to the salon and watching Broadway together."

"But...,"

"Want to, huh?" This time Brittany blinked her eyes repeatedly and looked at Alicia expectantly. "Aren't you tired of only hanging out with those two handsome guys these days? My advice is that you should also mingle with beautiful and popular girls like me so that you can become famous on campus," she joked.

"That sucks." Alicia rolled her eyes lazily. "Alright. We can leave after I collect my assignment. But..."

Brittany's brow furrowed deeply. "But, what?"

"You bought the broadway tickets?" And Alicia laughed with satisfaction afterward. Brittany, on the other hand, grumbled at her best friend's request.

"Ah, by the way, are there any exciting shows this weekend?"

And quickly, Brittany nodded enthusiastically. "I heard that the theater center is already auditioning for a solo performance on the weekend. It's also going to be big because of all the sponsors." She then shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe there, we can hunt for cheap accessories and local food, Alicia."

"That sounds like fun," Alicia thought.

"Of course," Brittany said proudly. "So, you'll come with me there, right?"

Then the blue-eyed girl nodded her head in front of Brittany. "Okay." []