The Senior (College Years 4)

He glances around, still sitting there naked, his cock at half mast, like he could be raring to go again in a few minutes. The guy always had terrific stamina. “I don’t know.”

“Last time I saw them you were sniffing them.” My voice drips with disgust. It’s my turn to grimace as I scan the car one last time. “Forget it. I don’t need them. I’m out.”

“Ava.” He grabs my hand just as I go to open the back door and I turn to glare at him and his stupid pleading face. “Don’t leave. Talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to say. You think what just happened was a mistake.” Heavy emphasis on the last word out of my mouth.

“You’re the one who said that first,” he reminds me.

“Well, clearly you agree,” I retort, hating that he threw my own words back in my face. I guess it’s what I deserve.

“Hear me out.” His fingers tighten. “You can’t go outside like that. You don’t have any clothes on. Let me drive you home. We can talk on the way.”

“No. There’s nothing left to say. Besides, I have this.” I jerk out of his hold and tug on the hem of his hoodie. “It’s the least you could give me after such a shitty night.”

I open the door, the blast of cool air coming in making me shiver. I climb out of the car and slam the door before he can say or do anything else. Though I don’t know what he could do, considering he’s buck naked.

A cackle leaves me and I can’t help it. I’m laughing as I launch into a jog, the air whooshing straight up the oversized hoodie, extra cold on all my damp parts. I run toward the house where the party is still happening, reaching inside the hoodie’s front pocket to pull my phone out. Pausing, I type out a quick text and shove my phone back into the pocket before I hurry toward the house, the laughter long dying on my lips.

When I feel the wetness dripping down my face, I realize I’m crying. The tears are flowing nonstop, extra cold thanks to the wind. A sob escapes my mouth and I press my hand to it, throwing my head back and squeezing my eyes shut.

Squeezing out a few more tears too.

I hear someone say my name. A female someone. I don’t move, a gasp leaving me when I feel a set of arms wrap around me. Then another. And another. It’s as if I’m being gently tackled on all sides.

It’s my friends, and they’ve formed a circle around me. I can’t tell who’s who at first but when I finally open my eyes, I see each of their faces. The concern etched in them.

“What did that asshole do?” Ellie asks, her voice the fiercest I’ve ever heard it.

I shake my head, unable to find any words.

A collective disappointed sigh leaves the group and I hiccup a sob, so grateful for these women.

I need them now more than ever.

Seventeen

Eli

The moment the ball is hiked to me, I’m looking everywhere. Left. Right. Left again. None of my receivers are open. And defense is running toward me, feral expressions on their faces as they draw closer.

I panic in my hurry to get rid of the ball.

“Fuck,” I bite out, throwing the ball too wide. It lands in Caleb’s hands as if that was meant to happen.

The problem is he’s currently playing on the defensive side while we practice. Someone knocks into him, taking him to the ground, but I can hear his laughter. Hate how he pops back onto his feet as if it’s no big deal.

“That was shit, Bennett,” he calls, the smile on his face way too big. “I just intercepted your ass.”

“Again,” someone else pipes up.

I give the whole lot of them the finger, disgusted with them.

Disgusted with myself most of all.

Despite it being the end of October, we’re experiencing a weird, yet not so weird heatwave this week. California weather is so freaking unpredictable, and the high today was predicted to be ninety degrees. With the way I’m currently sweating, I don’t doubt that temp at all.

It’s a couple days before Halloween for the love of God. This is all kinds of fucked up.