After Summer by Hailey Abbott

Ahoy in Maine (I know you remember). After the dancing, I was really hot, so I got a soda and went outside for a few minutes, because it felt good to be out in the cold. There were the usual couples making out, and smokers just hoping none of the teachers saw them, and I was having this gorgeous, serene moment when suddenly Dex was right there. He walked outside like he had been following me or something and stood right in front of me.
    Then he said: “Why do you hate me?” Just like that.
    And I said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Because hi, what was I supposed to say?
    “You do.” He was all arrogant about it, too.
    “Well, I feel like you hated me first,” I replied, all maturelike.
    “Maybe I did,” he shot back.
    And then the next thing I knew, we were kissing…like REALLY kissing. And, Kels, it felt…nice. More than nice. But then I got freaked out and told him I had to go, and ran away, and have been trying to think of ways to avoid him ever since.
    I should let you go because I know you’re expecting Ella any second, but I just wanted to share…
    Have fun with Ella; it will be good to get some sister time.
    Love,
    Jamie
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    Jamie,
    Yes, Ella is literally due to arrive any second, but I have four very mature words to pass along first:
    I TOLD YOU SO!!
    James, I saw this epic romance brewing from a mile away. You guys are totally going to get it on, get married, and then have lots of smart, competitive babies.
    (Don’t kill me.)
    See you at Thanksgiving,
    K
    Kelsi wasn’t sure she’d missed her sister while away at college. But when Ella came up for the long Veteran’s Day weekend in November, Kelsi realized that she had. A lot.
    After sending her e-mail to Jamie, she got to the Northampton bus depot early with a bouquet of flowers, and waited for Ella to arrive. Predictably, Ella missed the 4:00 p.m., leaving Kelsi with nothing to do but hang in the Greyhound station, buy vending-machine food with the change in the bottom of her purse, and read the magazines discarded by passing travelers.
    But when Ella arrived on the 6:45 p.m., it was like no time had passed at all. Ella had barely stepped off the bus before Kelsi toppled her with a big hug. And while Ella seemed momentarily embarrassed by this very public display of affection (and the fact that her tank top was way too flimsy to survive such an aggressive bear hug) she didn’tfight it because it clearly felt just as good for her to see her sister.
    Ella’s late arrival had put quite a crimp in Kelsi’s preplanned tour guide agenda, which she snarkily told her sister on their way back to campus. Kelsi knew the Museum of Art was already closed, but if they hustled, she could make up for it. So, Kelsi dragged her sister across the campus, touring the libraries, tracing Kelsi’s daily paths to class, the boathouses on Paradise Pond, and the famous botanical gardens. The collegiate feel of Smith obviously impressed Ella. It was easy to get swept away in the academic-ness of it all. The glass Campus Center, lit up against the darkening sky, was almost breathtaking. Especially without any boys to distract you.
    Unfortunately, Ella was far less impressed by the Smith dorms.
    “This is, like, worse than prison,” she said, taking in the small room.
    Kelsi shrugged her shoulders. “It’s cozy!” she said, though it didn’t help matters that Taryn had left her half of the room in complete shambles. Kelsi had done her best to throw Taryn’s clothes under her bed to make space for Ella’s AeroBed. It was a challenge, and the mattress rocked on the lumpy pile underneath it.
    “I mean, do you have any privacy?”
    “Not really. I’m just lucky that Taryn and I get along so well. Plus, she goes out a lot. You know. With different guys. So I’m here by myself a lot of nights. It’s perfect for studying.”
    “Um, what about Tim?” Ella asked. “Isn’t he over all the