Amber and I are doing something."

“Well, Cherys and I want to see you before you go. Can you talk to

Amber tomorrow about meeting up with us for the weekend?"

“Sure, sure. Then will you tell me what this is all about?"

“I promise."

“Okay, now go away." I hit END before she could say another word. I was unconscious even before my head dropped back down onto the pillow.

Amber looked past my shoulder and then hung up her phone, tucking the small silver device into her purse. "There they are."

I turned to Look. Sure enough, there were Cherys and Danielle, making a fashionably Late entrance.

Amber was already getting the attention of the restaurant hostess.

“We're all here.”

There were warm hugs all around, and then our foursome wound through the restaurant to our table.

When we sat down, Danielle piped up, “I'm so jealous of you guys. Going back to school."

“Jealous? Why?" I snorted.

“I dunno. Life was just so much simpler when we were in school." My sister glanced over at her girlfriend, who was unusually quiet. "Go to class, finish your homework, and enjoy your free time. That was it. No worries about careers or saving for the future."

“...0r lecherous bosses hitting on you," Cherys complained.

“That too," Danielle conceded.

"Is that why you wanted to meet up with us?" I asked. "To whine about how much life sucks after college?"

“No, no," Danielle groaned.

“What? I can't visit with my Little brother before he leaves for school?"

“First of all, school is actually closer to your new apartment than here. We could have just met up next week or something. Secondly, you were pretty cryptic on the phone. Something's up."

“Will you relax?" Danielle admonished.

“By next week you'll be waist deep in your Senior classes. For now, it's a last weekend to unwind."

Her words made a logical sense, but I knew her too well. She was still hiding something from me. I let out a long sigh and squeezed Amber's hand, who was glancing back and forth between me and Danielle as if trying to figure out the unspoken communication.

“Alright, I'LL quit with the Spanish Inquisition." I took a sip from my Coke.

“For now...”