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Amelia liked to think she was also a secret spy in her spare time. She didn’t need to know any information. “So, anyway. Don’t you have a date with that guy tonight? What’s his name again? The one from the frat.” I rolled my eyes and Amelia answered with a roll of hers.
    “Not all frat guys are bad, Monroe. Franklin is a nice guy.”
    “Franklin sounds so nice,” I replied sarcastically. “Who really calls themselves Franklin? I mean, I know his parents stuck him with the name, but he could go by Frankie, Franko, anything but Franklin. I haven’t even met the guy and I can tell he has a silver spoon stuck up his ass and probably the personality to match. Why do you keep going for those kinds of guys?”
    She shrugged her shoulders but we both knew why. Amelia lived to please her mom and bringing home someone named Franklin would make Mrs. Emerson the happiest woman in the world. Mrs. Emerson also didn’t like me, probably because she considered me ‘lower class’ and felt her daughter was better than I was. Luckily, Amelia didn’t listen to her mom when it came to that.
    “Actually, I think you should meet Franklin. What do you think about a double date? Franklin has this friend that I think—”
    “Don’t even go there,” I interrupted quickly, holding up one finger and wagging it. “Not happening. You know I don’t date. Don’t think you’re gonna sweet talk me into it, either.”
    “But Monroe.” She pouted her glossy bottom lip and I crossed my arms over my chest. It wasn’t the first time that Amelia tried to get me to go out on a double date, and I’m sure it wouldn’t be the last time. She was persistent, I would give her that. “Just because you had one bad date with some asshole, doesn’t mean all of the other guys are the same. We would have so much fun!” She clapped her hands together and I began pushing her toward my bedroom door. The event that she was referring to had been a disaster, and I didn’t think it could even be classified as a date in the first place. All throughout high school, I dated Carter, but we broke things off right before I left for college. So, when I got to school, all of the guys on campus were a little overwhelming.
    Needless to say, I ended up getting extremely drunk at my first party, basically because I was so in awe of the whole college party scene and having a newfound freedom, and I ended up in some guy’s bed.
    Way to lose your virginity, right?
    Yeah, Carter and I never really had much of a physical relationship, it was more out of convenience and we were best friends. He always seemed to be afraid to take things further than the heavy make-out sessions we occasionally participated in, and honestly, I probably was too. I think he didn’t like to see me with other guys, either, and I was okay with that. I never had to worry about a prom date and whenever we went out, we always had the best time.
    “It wouldn’t be fun, Amelia. It would probably be torture. Let me guess? The guy’s name is something silly like Kenneth.” I continued to shove her toward the front door but she stopped in my living room with her lips pursed, fidgeting on her feet.
    “What? No, of course not,” she sputtered.
    “What’s his name then?” I asked and she switched back to her other foot, placing one hand on her hip and mumbling something. “What was that? I didn’t quite hear you.”
    “Carleton. His name is Carleton.” I tried to contain a laugh, but I couldn’t help it, and after a few minutes of not being able to stop, so much that my stomach hurt and I was bent over at the waist, Amelia finally cracked a smile, too. “He’s Franklin’s best friend and they’re always together. He ends up being the third wheel, though, and sometimes it’s a little awkward.” She sighed loudly. “He’s really not that bad. I just thought it would be fun if all four of us went out and maybe if you two hit it off….”
    She trailed off as I started pushing her in