Get to know Jeff

Jeff and I walk a few blocks off campus to a taco truck parked under a string of lights near the edge of the university. The smell of grilled meat and warm tortillas hits us before we even reach the line. We grab our food and find a small table nearby, settling into an easy conversation as the evening starts to cool down.

Jeff takes a bite and starts talking about his girlfriend. “We’ve been together since high school,” he says with a smile. “It’s kind of crazy when you think about it. We grew up together, went through graduation together, and now we’re both here at the same university. She’s honestly my best friend. We’ve had our rough patches, obviously, but I can’t really imagine college without her.”

I tell him about my own girlfriend and how we’re doing long-distance while I finish school. “It’s not always easy,” I admit. “Especially being here with so much going on. But we’ve been together long enough that I don’t want distance to mess it up.”

Jeff nods, taking another bite. “Yeah, I get that. You just have to make time for each other. If you both care enough, you figure it out.”

We keep talking between bites, eventually moving on to classes, our plans after graduation, and the weird personalities we’ve already encountered around campus. By the time we’re finished eating, I realize Jeff and I have gotten along a lot better than I expected.