Best Friends Forever... Part 3

In my house grades were king, so Friday nights were reserved for studying. Everything else was secondary. I don't remember whose idea it was, but one day Nikki came over to study and it just became a regular thing for us.

Dad seemed genuinely glad for me that I finally had a friend to bring over. Mom was... cordial and polite, but I could tell she didn't quite approve. Why was a smart girl like me hanging out with someone so... different?

If Nikki noticed, I don't think she cared. Negativity just seemed to roll off of her. That's just how she was. She'd just smile and compliment my mom on something random before I'd excuse us to go study.

She played it down at times, but she was pretty smart in her own way.

I don't think I've ever met someone so into space exploration. Orbital velocities and random planet facts, her dream was to be the first woman on Mars. I didn't always understand all of it, but her passion and enthusiasm when speaking about it always held my rapt attention.