See You Tomorrow at the Food Court

Two girls from the same school meet at a mall food court after classes and sit at the same table near the window. One is seen as flashy and confident. The other blends into the crowd and prefers quiet. They order fries and seasonal desserts and talk until the shops begin to close. Topics change with the calendar. Tests, club duties, part time shifts, family errands, and rumors that do not match the person they know. A lost wallet brings a slow walk through the corridors and a return to the help desk. An audition fails and the mood lifts again with a new plan. They trade small favors. One lends notes before a makeup quiz. The other waits outside a clinic after a pet gets sick. A short argument over a thoughtless comment cools during a rainstorm and ends when they split a tray and apologize. Exam weeks steal some days, then they resume the habit without speeches. Graduation talks start and they avoid big promises. The answer stays the same. They check schedules, pick tomorrow’s time, and wave across the glass with the next meeting already set.