I flicked the cigarette away. “She don’t remember me, is what happened.”

“You’re bullin’ me.”

“Fact.—I walked up to her, cool as cool, and she said, ‘Do I know you?’”

Van shoved his hands into his pockets, said, “Are you sure she wasn’t just jerkin’ you around?”

“No, man, you had to be there. She looked me right in the eyes, no bluffing there.” I said.

“What are you gonna do now?” Van asked, dropping his cigarette on the concrete and grinding it out. “You gonna try to get her back?”

I stood up and grasped Van’s shoulder, “Bro, sometimes you just have to cut your loses and move on. We better get to class.”

I had to smile, Van seemed to be taking this even harder than I.

Being this was my free hour I entered the library. Like a magnet, my eyes zeroed in on Gail. She was seated alone, her books piled on the table. Her left hand toying with her hair while she read a book. I walked slowly toward her, willing her to look up. She didn’t.