Page 36 of Burn Bright

The coffee machine rumbles to life. “So you’re pre-med?” Her eyes narrow disbelievingly, and they sink down to my combat boots as I pry each one off. “I don’t know any doctors who wear Doc Martens, no offense.”

I’m a little surprised she thinks my TJ Maxx boots are actual Doc Martens. “I know of a doctor who’s covered in tattoos and piercings,” I say. “Believe me, the boots won’t make a difference.” Though I won’t be wearing them to my med school interview. I didn’t put in much effort for this bartending job today because I didn’t think the manager would care.

Physicianswillcare if I show up in a crop top and jeans. That’s evenifI get an interview. There are about a hundred thousand moves I need to make before I can reach that hurdle.

Eden eyes me for another solid beat. “Med school isreallydifficult. Besides accounting, pre-med is the hardest path at MVU. You have to be a brainiac.”

I nod slowly and place my shoes on a checkered mat beneath a coat hook. “I know it’s hard.”

She smiles stiffly. “Just making sure. It’s easier changing majors as a sophomore than it is as a senior.” She checks on the pot of coffee. “Where’d you say you transferred from? NYU?”

I never actually told her my previous school—and now saying it will make me look like an overachieving dick. There were so many times growing up that I’d get the side-eye for setting a curve on tests, for winning academic awards, for being “the teacher’s pet” in sixth grade. Just because I cared about my grades. Took them seriously. Ienjoyedschool.

Big shock, right? So there’s always this sudden urge to shrink back when people ask me about myself. To downplay. Just so I can avoid the narrowed looks.

But Eden is my roommate, and I shouldn’t hide basic shit from her. So what if she thinks I’m an overachieving dick? So fucking what.

“Penn,” I say tightly.

She pours coffee into a vintage diner mug. “Penn State is a good school, but MVU is way harder.”

I wince. “Actually, it was the University of Pennsylvania.”

She grimaces at the slip-up. We’re both basically in full grimaces at this awkward miscommunication, and I am completely the one to blame.

“Oh…” she breathes out.

“Yeah,” I say into a long nod.

“That’s an Ivy League,” she says like she’s having a light bulb moment. “It must have been so rigorous. Is that why you’re transferring?”

I don’t mention my straight As at Penn. I do tell her the truth. “They don’t have an Honors House like MVU does.”

Eden’s brows jump. “You’re applying for the Honors House?”

“Yeaaaah,” I say slowly. “Is that okay? If I get in, I might only be here for a few months.” I’ve had my sights on the Honors House from the very first moment I transferred here. It’s a prestigious academic society on campus that provides free on-campus housing to undergrads.

Basically the equivalent of a co-ed sorority/fraternity.

Only downside, it’s extremely exclusive. It might be easier discovering a new planet in the Milky Way than be accepted, but joining the Honors House is number one on my master plan to becoming a doctor. I need a place to live that won’t put a meteor-sized crater into my bank account, and it’ll be a highlight on my med school applications.

Eden nods. “That’s totally cool.” She looks me over. “So you’re likereallysmart then?”

No, I’m delusional.The sarcasm in my head doesn’t help the scowl on my face, I’m sure.

I refrain from rolling my eyes, and I’m definitely not telling her I skipped the fifth grade. “I’m all right,” I say, downplaying it unfortunately.

She motions to the living room. We can see the lumpy lime-green sofa directly from the kitchen. “How has the pull-out been? I know the mattress is kind of…springy. If you’d rather just sleep on the cushions, I won’t judge.”

“It’s been comfortable,” I say with a nod.

She snorts into a laugh. “You don’t have to lie.”

“No, seriously,” I shrug. “It’s been comfortable.”

“Okay.” Eden squints like I’m weird for thinking a pull-out is even marginally comfy.

I try not to wince at myself. I sort of wish we didn’t run into each other today. She’s been a ghost roommate this first week after a ton of missed connections. Our interactions have beenveryinfrequent.