Plot twist: actual studying happened

Carmen texted asking if she could come over to “hang out and maybe look at some notes.” Translation: she showed up with three nursing textbooks, a full highlighter arsenal, and the kind of focus I haven’t seen since our anatomy final sophomore year.

Plot twist: actual studying happened

Turns out her certification renewal exam is next week and she’s been quietly stressed about it for months. Classic Carmen - acts like everything’s under control until she’s knee-deep in crisis mode. I made coffee, cleared the living room, and resigned myself to an afternoon of actual productivity instead of gossip.

Study session reality

Three hours later, we’ve both made serious progress. Her on pharmacology updates, me on my quarterly competency requirements that I’ve been putting off. Sometimes the best hangouts are the ones where you accidentally become responsible adults together.

Jake’s going to come home to find us still here with textbooks everywhere. He’s learned not to ask questions when he sees this level of academic chaos.