The sound of pens ceasing to scratch against paper was like music to my ears. The exam was over, and although I wouldn't admit it out loud, I felt a momentary relief. It wasn't that it had been particularly difficult; tests always made me feel... trapped. As if every question was a trap designed to show how much you didn't know instead of the other way around.
I looked up as I handed my sheet to Dr. Harris. Lindsay was a few seats away, quickly reviewing her answers before submitting them. Her expression was calm, almost relaxed, and that made me think she probably did well. Olivia, on the other hand, was still biting her pen, her brow furrowed in exaggerated concentration. She was impossible to miss, even in a room full of students.
When we finally left the classroom, Lindsay approached me with a genuine smile.
"How did it go?" she asked, clearly excited. I shrugged, trying to downplay it.
"Fine, I guess. Nothing unexpected." She nodded, and her smile widened.
"Me too. I think I did well. Thanks for helping me study last night." I didn't respond immediately. I'm not good with compliments, but something in her tone made me feel... something. Something I didn't want to analyze too much.
"It was a team effort," I said eventually, glancing toward Olivia, who was running toward us with a strange smile on her face.
"Guys! I did it!" she exclaimed, waving her answer sheet like a trophy. Lindsay looked at her, surprised.
"Really? Did it go well?"
Olivia nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes! Well, at least I think so. Some questions seemed easy, others... no idea. But when I saw the last one, I thought: 'If this is a cake, then Kc is the flour and Kp is the sugar.' And BAM, I answered."
Lindsay burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Did you seriously use that analogy during the exam?"
"Of course! If it works, it works," Olivia replied, shrugging proudly. "Besides, if I fail, I'll blame Sack. He's the one who explained all that 'ingredients' stuff to me."
I raised an eyebrow at her.
"You can't blame me for your creative interpretation."
"Oh, yes I can," she shot back, pointing at me. "You're the brains behind this operation."
Lindsay intervened before Olivia could continue.
"Well, whatever it is, it looks like we all survived. Now we deserve to celebrate."
"Pizza," Olivia declared, as if it were a mantra. "Pizza with extra cheese and maybe some dessert. My brain needs carbs after all that stress."
Lindsay laughed, and I couldn't help but crack a small smile.
-------------------
We decided to go to a small café near campus. As we walked, I noticed Lindsay pause for a moment to adjust her scarf. It was a bit chilly, but she seemed to enjoy it. Olivia, meanwhile, was ahead of us, humming some song she'd probably heard on her phone.
"You know?" Lindsay said suddenly, looking at me. "I'm glad we're in this together. Sometimes I think that without you and Olivia, everything would be much harder."
I wasn't expecting that statement, and for a second, I didn't know what to say. Finally, I murmured:
"You make things easier too."
It wasn't an elaborate compliment, but Lindsay seemed to understand. She smiled, and for a moment, it felt like the world narrowed down to just the two of us.
Olivia, as if sensing we were having a serious moment, turned back toward us.
"Hey! What are you two doing back there? Planning another romantic study session?"
Lindsay laughed, and I shook my head.
"We're just walking, Olivia."
"Uh-huh, sure. Walking and gazing lovingly at each other," she teased, winking at us.
I didn't say anything, but I noticed how Lindsay avoided my gaze for a second. Maybe Olivia was right about something, though I'd never admit it in front of her.
When we arrived at the café, the atmosphere was warm and cozy, filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked pastries. While Lindsay and Olivia debated what to order — Olivia insisted she needed "at least three desserts to compensate for the emotional trauma of the exam" — my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen and felt my body tense automatically.
It was my father.
"Girls, I'm going to take this call outside," I said, holding up my phone so they'd understand. Both nodded, though I noticed Lindsay gave me a curious look before turning back to the menu.
I stepped out of the café and walked a few paces until I was under the shade of a nearby tree. I took a deep breath before swiping to answer.
"Hello, Father," I said, my tone neutral but respectful.
"Sack," he responded, his voice as cold and calculating as ever. "I assume you've finished the exam. I want to know how it went."
It wasn't a question. It was a demand disguised as interest.
"Fine," I replied, trying to keep my tone as controlled as possible. "I don't think there will be any issues."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, as if he were evaluating my words.
"I hope you're right," he said finally, his tone making it clear that anything less than perfection would be unacceptable. "You know how important this is. You can't afford distractions. Stanford isn't just a university; it's an investment. And I expect you to remember our agreement."
"Understood," I replied simply.
"Good. I expect your results soon. And remember: this isn't just about you. Although I respect your choice for your mother's sake, don't forget that the Steele legacy rests on your shoulders."
He hung up without saying goodbye, as usual. I stood there, phone still in hand, feeling the familiar weight of his expectations settle back onto my shoulders.
I slipped the phone into my pocket and took a moment to breathe deeply. The cool evening air helped ease the knot in my chest, though I knew his words would echo in my mind for days.
When I returned to the café, Lindsay and Olivia were already seated at a table by the window. Olivia had a mountain of food in front of her, while Lindsay held a cup of coffee.
"Everything okay?" Lindsay asked as I sat down, her tone soft but laced with concern.
I nodded briefly, avoiding her gaze.
"Yeah. It was just my father."
Olivia stopped chewing for a second and looked at me curiously.
"Your father? What did he want?"
"Just making sure I didn't disappoint him," I replied, trying to sound indifferent, though I knew I wasn't fooling anyone.
Lindsay frowned slightly, as if she wanted to say something but didn't. Instead, she took a sip of her coffee and changed the subject.
"Well, then, what are we doing after this? More studying or do we get a break?"
Olivia raised her hand as if she were in class.
"I vote for a break. My brain needs to recover before I'm forced to memorize more stuff about... whatever."
Lindsay laughed, and I joined in with a small smile.
Olivia returned to her food with enthusiasm, as if every bite were a personal celebration. Lindsay, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought as she held her coffee cup. Finally, she set the cup down on the table and looked out the window, where the sky was beginning to turn orange.
"There are still several exams these next few days," she said, breaking the silence. "How are we going to survive all of this?"
Olivia looked up from her plate, her expression dramatic.
"With more pizza, obviously. And maybe a few hours of sleep. Well, maybe not too much sleep... but definitely more pizza."
Lindsay shook her head, smiling.
"I'm serious, guys. We need to stay organized if we want to keep up. We can't relax too much after this exam."
"Relax? Who said anything about relaxing?" Olivia replied, gesturing to herself. "I'm just taking a strategic break to recharge. Tomorrow I'll be the queen of studying again."
"Sure, sure," I said dryly, which made Lindsay laugh.
"Seriously, guys," Lindsay continued, now more serious. "We can do this. We just need to keep working together, like we have been."
We stayed like that for a moment, laughing and sharing small jokes, as if the world outside that café didn't exist. I knew the next few days would be tough, filled with stress and long nights of studying. But I also knew that, with Lindsay and Olivia by my side, we could handle it.
When we left the café, the cool evening air enveloped us. Olivia walked ahead, humming another song while talking about her plans for "the next big break." Lindsay walked beside me, and though she didn't say anything, her presence was comforting.