Spring has sprung

 "Justin scratched his eyeball," Carmen told Sammie and Vada that the doctor said he needed maga doses of  Vitamin D, too.

Vada couldn't help to be disgusted. Why on earth would Sammie have to invite her out at the Campus Cafe? It really messed up Vada's lunch, and even her day. However, when they were walking across campus on such a mild spring afternoon, there was Carmen headed their way.

Clearly, Vada knew who was the pathetic one. Carmen looked like she was ready for bed or a pajama party. She did complain she didn't get any sleep last night.

Vada opted for a salad while Carmen and Sammie both got the special, the St. Patty's special, a Reuben sandwich and fries. 

"I hope he's going to be OK?" Sammie asked if she could do anything. After all, they got a play-by-play of how they shot dye in his eye to see just how bad the scratches were. Vada couldn't take this anymore.

But Sammie comforted her and actually ate the whole sandwich. Carmen only ate half of hers. Of course, she was talking too much and giving them too much information about Justin.

It was leaving a bad taste in Vada's mouth. She felt like the uninvited one. Of course, she didn't pay for her lunch. Sammie got it. Vada usually did this since she didn't carry cash and she wasn't sure why her debit card wasn't working.

Of course, Carmen got each of them a huge chocolate chip cookie at the counter as they were leaving. Something Vada found more harm than good. Especially, on her diet. She only had one meal a day now and never ate after 4 pm. Well, that was the plan, but Kevin always made dinner and she always had to have a little of it.

"Sometimes, I think you make things too hard on yourself," Sammie looked at Vada who was not eating her salad. She didn't like the ranch so it was dry.

"What are you talking about?" Vada glared back.

"Oh, I don't know, when is the last time you've worn a pair of comfortable shoes?"

Vada looked down at Carmen in her flip-flops. Sammie was wearing Chuck Taylors (used of course).

"I like wearing high heels," she told both of them. "When's the last time you've worn high heels?" She looked at Carmen but her mouth was full of the sandwich and she had a fry dipped in mayo.

Vada could just imagine Carmen eating chips and fish with Justin (his speciality obviously). Yes, she could see who Sammie's true friend was. Still, Sammie was Vada's best friend. Actually, her only friend. She guessed Kevin was her friend, but then again he was her boyfriend.

Why couldn't she think of him as her lover? Oh, Justin had been her lover, but he was just Carmen's boyfriend. She knew he wouldn't be so under the weather if he was with her. That is..if there was only the sex to think about. 

Vada squinted. Why did she still think about him? She doubted he ever thought of her.

"So are you doing anything for Saint Patty's?' Carmen said to Sammie who shook her head, no.

"Maybe, you could come over and I could cook for you guys," Carmen said she had the time.

"Oh, we missed the Fish Fry," Sammie remembered. "But Gabe wouldn't go to that, anyway."

"I didn't know you were Catholic?" Carmen looked at Sammie as if they had something in common.

"Not a very good one," she admitted. "But now that I'm grown up. I miss it. It was such a great community thing, you know, during Lent." She mentioned living in Upstate New York when she was little and how great the Fish Fries were back then. 

Carmen nodded as if she remembered the good times. "Yeah, we used to have all these ladies at the church make these amazing cakes and pies on Friday night at the Knights of Columbus. I didn't think we were supposed to eat them, but they said only on Friday because you know, Fridays were for Fish Fries."

Vada definitely felt like she was out of the loop now. No way was she going to a fish fry.

"I thought Spring started on Thursday, but it's not until the twentieth," Sammie looked to Vada. "Do you have any plans?"

"Plans?" Vada looked at her blankly.

"I bet Kevin has a picnic in mind," Sammie smiled.

"Yeah, maybe she'll have to get herself some sneakers," Carmen softly smiled between bites of her messy sandwich.

Vada squinted, thinking Justin had stooped to an all-time low. What in the world did he see in her?