"Yeah . . . cool," Dimple said faintly, mostly because she didn't know what else to say.
Celia cocked her head, buoyant curls scraping her bedspread. "That sounded less than enthusiastic."
Dimple pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose. "No, they just seemed sort of . . . superficial." She couldn't, wouldn't , tell Celia about the comments the boys-she supposed Evan and Hari-had made. She didn't know her that well, and she didn't want any pity. It was bad enough that Rishi had heard.
"Oh, they're not." Celia said it quickly, in a rush, before Dimple had even finished her sentence. Her phone rang, interrupting their conversation, and she picked it up. "Hey, Isabelle!" she said cheerily. Dimple heard a high-pitched squawk and imagined Isabelle speed talking.
"Dinner sounds great!" Celia said. "What about Italian?" She listened for a minute. "No, that's fine, we don't have to do Italian. . . . What were you guys thinking?" Celia made a face at Isabelle's response. "Elm? No, I'm just not crazy about their food. . . ." After a pause, she said in a hurry, "No, no, that's totally fine! I think I was just having an off day when I went there last time. I'm sure I'll find something good tonight." Celia listened some more and then laughed, the sound pressured and fake. "Okay, see you then. Bye!" She hung up and looked at Dimple, forcing a smile. "Look, I'm having dinner with them. Why don't you come? Get to know them." Seeing Dimple's expression, she added, "Bring Rishi, too. Then at least there'll be two people you know there."
Dimple sighed. On one hand she had no desire to see those people again outside of class. On the other hand Celia would be there, and Rishi, if he wanted to come. Maybe she could put this whole thing to bed and Evan and Hari wouldn't bother her again if they knew she was with Celia. They could all just forget about the stupid comment they'd made and move on, no awkwardness necessary. Plus, she didn't want Celia to think she was judging her new friends without even giving them a chance. That'd make for an awkward six weeks living together.
"Okay," she said finally. "Where are we going?"
"This place called Elm on Piazza Ave, about a ten-minute walk from here." She itched her ear, and in a not completely believable way, added, "Their mac and cheese is supposed to be killer?"
"All right, I'll be there. Do you want to walk together?"
Celia pulled a face and held up her phone. "Wish I could, babe. I have to run home really quick though. Apparently my grandma decided on a three-day surprise visit, and she flips if she doesn't get to see me." Celia stood and slung her bag onto her shoulder. She'd switched out her multicolored, patchwork-adorned backpack for a more demure taupe leather handbag. The interlocking C s glinted in the overhead lights. "But I'll see you there at seven, okay?"
"Sounds good." As the door thundered shut behind Celia, Dimple sat back and looked up at the ceiling. It was one stupid dinner, and then she'd be home free. No big deal. She reached over and grabbed her phone out of her bag. Max had made all the partners exchange phone numbers, so she had Rishi's in her contacts already. For some reason, her palms were slightly sweaty as she texted.
Hey, it's Dimple. Want to come to dinner with Celia's new friends tonight instead of doing the pizza place? 7 pm.
Wait, the Aberzombies?
Dimple snorted, only slightly surprised that Rishi's nickname nailed exactly what she felt about that group. Yeah, unfortunately. I promised to give them a chance, though. It's at Elm, on Piazza.
Sure, I'll be there. Pick you up or meet there?
Dimple paused, heart stuttering a bit. Was this a weighted question? If she said he should pick her up, would that give him the wrong idea? But if she didn't, would that sound like she didn't want to spend any more time with him than absolutely necessary? Dimple quietly thunked her forehead on the screen a few times and then typed, Pick me up at 6:50.
Rishi's response was immediate. See ya then.
• • •
Promptly at 6:49, there was a knock on Dimple's dorm room door. She opened it to find Rishi on the other side, dressed in a neatly pressed burgundy button-down (the color actually looked really good on him-brought out the red in his lips, not that she was looking looking) and khakis. He looked very much like Boy on a First Date. At least he hadn't brought a flower.
Rishi had considered bringing a long-stemmed flower-he knew this wasn't a date, so maybe a carnation rather than a rose?-but had nixed it at the last moment. Seeing Dimple's face now, taking in his business casual attire, he was kind of glad.