Resplendent by M. J. Abraham Page A

?” Brittany rolled her eyes and pulled her arm free.
    “B, I have to keep a 3.0 GPA in order to keep my scholarship,” I said solemnly.
    “Oh my God, you have a 3.5!”
    “Keyword is keep , thank you very much.” When she didn’t answer me, I thought maybe a distraction would help.
    “Let’s go to Starbucks at SMG,” I suggested. The distraction lasted all of ten seconds.
    “Okay and then after , we can go out.”
    I let out a laugh and side hugged her. “I’ll think about it.”
     

     
    Hours later, in the warmth of my room and fresh out of the shower, I glanced at my screen and noticed a text message from Dre: I want to see you
    I ran my finger over the screen and looked through my photo gallery. I selected a self-portrait taken earlier that day and sent it over to him with a message.
     
    Me: Just for you
     
    I smiled. Every time he sent me a sweet text, I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear.
     
    Dre: You’re beautiful. But I want to see you in person.
     
    Me: Ditto! I’ll try to come down for the holidays.
     
    I switched on my laptop and glanced at the dual photo frame on my desk. On one side, it held a picture of my parents from when they had just started dating and next to it was a picture of Dre and me. When he had taken me to the airport, I insisted I needed one more picture. I wasn’t sure if things between us would change if I moved back to Miami after so many years in Boston, but I figured if it did, at least I had that picture. Dre didn’t respond, so I turned off my phone and laid it on my night table. I didn’t want any distractions tonight, and knowing my friends, they would constantly be texting me while they partied the night away.
    Focusing my attention back to the computer screen, I looked for my school documents folder. I had lied to Brittany. I was two weeks ahead on my assignment but wanted to take a glance at my thesis one more time, just in case I missed something. This way I’d also look busy when all three of my roommates left for the night. I’d turned them down each weekend, claiming I had a ton of work, and as soon as they left, I was free to do whatever I wanted — read, relax, look at photography websites.
    “Savannah?” Brittany rapped on my door as soon as I opened my word document. Her timing was on point.
    “Come in,” I called out, positioning my body so that I stood right in front of the screen, clearly appearing busy .
    “There’s a guy here for you,” Brittany whispered with a smile on her face. “And he’s smoking hot.”
    Oh no. Not Sebastian . I placed my hands on my hips. What had Brittany done?
    “Don’t tell me you had Jake bring Sebastian here.”
    Brittany shook her head, a devious smile on her face.
    I raised an eyebrow. “Then who is it?” Now I was very much intrigued by the visitor.
    Brittany’s smile just got wider, and she pushed the door open even further. She extended her hand, telling me to get up and see for myself. Our apartment wasn’t big at all, so as soon as I walked out of my room I saw him and let out a small gasp.
    “Dre?” I asked, knowing it was him, but wondering if I was wrong. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
    He stood by the door with a bag over his shoulder and smiled weakly at me. We’d talked every week for the last three years, but he’d never come up to visit me.
    He closed the door with his foot and dropped the bag on the floor, opening up his arms. I ran to him without question and hugged him tightly. “The holidays seem too far away for me,” he whispered into my hair. A feeling of dread washed over me. Something must be wrong.
    “I’ve missed you,” I said quietly, and took in a deep breath. I could feel his arms tighten around me, so tight that I had to keep still to make sure my breathing was controlled. He didn’t have a witty remark? His silence was unnerving.
    “What’s wrong, Dre?” I whispered, not wanting Brittany to hear.
    “Can we go to your room?” he asked hoarsely,