some rivers run smoother than others

 

Jade was wondering what Tristan was really thinking. He was so somber. More somber than usual. And of course, she felt she had something to do with it.

"This is about Nic, isn't it?" She finally woke to the fact that Mona and Nic were now dating. It had all started with that Modern Language department movie at the university and since then they were always thinking of cheap dates to do together. Mona talked about Nic all the time. It was really kind of disgusting. Especially, when she would ask Jade what she and Tristan were doing and she'd respond, "Studying."

Of course, it felt much more than that. She liked being near him. She liked watching him all serious about a book or even writing a paper. But she doubted he even noticed. It was as if she felt she was in some kind of BootCamp about who could study the hardest. Naturally, Tristan was winning.

"Nic?" Tristan looked up from his book. He was sitting across from her at the dining table. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, it's nothing," Jade shook her head. She hadn't meant to think out loud. Maybe she just wanted him to say something.

"So you..you're OK that Nic and Mona-" Jade started.

He turned away and slammed his book shut as if she knew not to talk about this.

"It's just..I don't know what happened," Jade winced as if she had opened an old wound of his.

"It's my sister's fault." He put it bluntly.

"Your sister?" Jade looked at him oddly. "I didn't even know you had one."

"And it's best that way," he quickly said.

"Her fault? She broke you two up?" Jade squinted.

"Not exactly," he sighed. "I don't like blaming Mona." He wouldn't look at Jade. 

"OK, I get that," Jade nodded and went back to her book as if she might really be studying after all. Although, she wasn't. She pressed her lips tight. 

"My sister probably claims I'm the devil," Tristan swelled a frown. "She thinks I got everything when I was at home."

"Did you?"

"I don't know." But as he said it, she knew he knew the answer to that question.

"Mona was..was just trying to start trouble between us..so..so she could get away." He looked as if he'd said too much now as he gave Jade a look. But she didn't say anything.

"Well, not all families are the Brady bunch," Jade finally sighed. "My parents always argued. We all argued. We just couldn't live without arguing. But..still.." She was quiet then.