Take My Breath Away – Second Chance Babies

“What’s up, Sterling? Was your break that shitty?” He asked as his blue eyes twinkled with mirth. He was one of my closest friends and I shot him a dark look.

“It wasn’t ideal. You know how the family is.” I told him as he nodded. His wasn’t much better and in fact, most of my friends were trust fund kids. They just weren’t competitors with my father.

“I do. Is Dad still trying to own the world?” Luke asked as I snorted.

“He has everything in the fucking world. I don’t know why he needs to work so hard.” I muttered as Luke sipped his beer. “He’s not at all into the law school idea. I don’t know how the fuck I’m supposed to manage that.” Luke was lucky to get his trust fund when he was twenty-one and smart enough to make it last.

“Get a job?” He suggested as I laughed humorously.

“What…will that save up enough for law school?” I asked hypothetically.

“Male escort?” Luke offered as we both snorted.

“I don’t think so. I love sex but imagine the clients.” I laughed as Luke chuckled with me. We kept drinking and moved onto lighter subjects and I avoided the crowd. I didn’t expect Rosie to be here and if she was, she probably wouldn’t talk to me to begin with. I didn’t want to hook up with any other girls either.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: Rosalind

I dragged through the first week back at school. I hated walking away from Sterling that day, but it had to end somehow. We couldn’t keep on sleeping with each other. We were graduating and moving on soon. I didn’t know where I was headed, and I needed a clean slate.

I noticed Sterling around campus, looking a little scruffy. He probably had a few worries of his own, knowing his family. I tried to focus on classes and grades. I needed them to be good in case I chose to move on in school. I didn’t need to think about how good he made me feel.

Violet kept me social and out amongst the general population. She started dating a basketball player and introduced me to his best friend. Kyle was cute enough, but he didn’t make me feel weak in the knees. We just had fun, and I kissed him, not letting him get any further. I wasn’t ready yet.

I didn’t have to be home for a few weeks and enjoyed that. I still got shit from my family and considered not sending them tickets to my graduation. They weren’t eager for me to live here and work and I didn’t dare mention the idea of moving to Texas with Violet. She had an apartment set up already there with two bedrooms and a job working in a physical therapy clinic. I could take some time to find the right job and be okay.

It was just so far away.

I went to classes, studied, and took tests. I saw Kyle on double dates with Violet and Drake and we laughed and had fun. I tried not to worry about Sterling when I saw him or think about how much I missed him. I realized that Kyle wanted to go further with me then we had over the last two months, but I couldn’t. I heard Violet and Drake in her room getting along just fine. They’d stay all night together while I asked a frustrated Kyle to leave. It was great.

I started feeling sick around the two-month mark but there was a virus going around. I took some time to rest, still going to classes with the little energy that I had. Violet took care of me by bringing me vitamins and soup, but I had trouble keeping anything down. It lasted a week, creeping into the next. I barely made it to classes after that, still managing because I needed the grades. Violet came into my room one night as I struggled to study, feeling particularly nauseous.

“Kyle says hi. He wants you to get better, so we can all go out soon.” She told me as she sat on the edge of the bed.

“Hopefully soon. This suck,” I told her as I dropped my head back to the pillow.

“I saw Sterling too. He stopped me to ask why you look like shit these days. What happened with you two?” Violet asked as I groaned. I was keeping what happened with him from her, but I was too weak tonight to keep the lie going.

“We had a fight or whatever over break. He was being an ass, and I came back here deciding to focus on classes. Nothing big.” I replied as I accepted the Vitamin Water that she offered.

“Didn’t you say that you were getting it on in the park? What was the fight about?” I shrugged, and her eyes lit up with an idea. “Rosie, that was about two months ago. Right?”