Three months earlier....
"So, are you just going to stand there all day, or are you gonna help us clean up the apartment?"
I look up and see my best friend, Char, standing in front of me, hands on both hips, giving me a pointed look.
"Sorry. I guess I spaced out there for a second." I sigh, as I move to grab the broom and dustpan. "I just can't get over the fact this is our last year of college!"
"Right? Maybe I should start getting my life together," she jokes. I laugh and shake my head at her.
"What's this about getting our lives together? Listen, if I'm going to get through my Ancient History class, I cannot be sober all semester. Warn me now if I'm gonna get judged," Nina jokes as she walks into the living room. Char and I met Nina during our freshmen year of college. We were at our first party, and she saved us from getting groped by a drunk frat guy. She kneed the guy in the groin and went off on a ten-minute rant about consent. We've been joined at the hip ever since.
"Why are you taking history anyways? You're an English major?" Char questioned.
"I like a challenge. Besides, I only have five more core classes to take, so I had room on my schedule for a general elective," she says, shrugging her shoulders and moving her long, braided black hair out of her face.
I laughed at the appalled look on Charlotte's face before starting to sweep the kitchen floor. I can't even remember the last time we cleaned up the place. Char hates it when the apartment is a mess, so I'm surprised she let it go for so long. Char's been my best friend, since we were 4 years old. I remember meeting her on my first day of preschool. It was on the playground; all the other kids were having fun, but I had been crying the entire time. It was the longest I had spent being away from my mom, and I was feeling homesick. Not too long after, a girl with bright blue eyes and long blonde hair pulled back into pigtails, came skipping over to me.
Flashback....
"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked me, tilting her head to the side in confusion.
"I miss my mom," I replied, wiping away my tears. She nods in understanding. We were both silent for a moment, the only noises being the faint sound of my sniffling and other kids screaming, as they ran around the playground.
"I miss my mom, too, but no point in being sad. You'll see her soon! C'mon, let's go play!" She grabs me and pulls me up, dragging me along to the swing set.
We've been best friends ever since. We decided to go to college together, and were roommate's freshman year, but the last two years, all three of us have lived off-campus. A few hours later, we finally fall back on the couch and rest.
"Thank god that we finished!" I lazily lay back against the couch. "All I want is to order take-out and watch New Girl until I pass out." I sigh in relief and rake my hands through my hair, as I start flipping through the menu of our favorite Chinese restaurant. I look up and catch both Nina and Char smirking at each other. "Uh, what?" I ask them.
"We actually were wondering if we could all go to the football game tonight. It's the first game of the season, and Lucas was really hoping I would come watch him play." Char says unsurely, while fidgeting with her hands.
"Doesn't he sit on the bench most of the time?" Nina asks, confused. Earning a smack and a quick 'shut up' from Charlotte, they both turn their attention back to me, waiting for my thoughts on the subject.
"Char....I don't know." Football was my mom's favorite. She was a cheerleader throughout her college years and would take me here to Silver Brook University, home of the Devils, during football season. She loved her years at SBU, which inspired my attendance all these years later. I went to a few games during freshman year, but it just wasn't the same without my mom cheering alongside me. The memory of her is still so fresh in my mind, like a wound that never fully closed. Every time I feel like I am making progress, the faint memory of her floats into my mind, sending me back several steps in the grieving process. So much for the therapy Dad made me go to.
Char looks at me sadly, nodding her head. My mom had taken Char with us to the games a few times when we were little. She's been by my side through it all and knows that despite my best efforts, I haven't fully accepted what happened.
"I get it. No worries. We can just stay in. I mean, Lucas might get pissed off, but that's nothing new." She attempts to smile, reassuring me that it's fine.
"Okay, this is going to come off sounding insensitive and I really don't mean to," Nina starts. "Look, M, I know I never met her, but your mom wouldn't want you to watch life pass you by! She would want you to embrace it. Why not go out and have a fun night with your two best friends? Besides, you rewatch New Girl every other night anyway. You can afford to skip it for one night. Now, get changed!" she commands, while shooing me away. I look at her, slightly shocked by her blunt words, but then again, this is coming from Nina, who is as straight forward and honest as a person can get.
I know she's right. I need to stop letting the past hold me back from living in the moment. My mom had always told me college was some of the best years of her life, well, until she had me, she would say. I used to love going to football games and even though I really don't like Char's douche of a boyfriend that much, I feel like I should push past my own issues and be a good friend. As long as she's happy, then I will try and put up with him. She has done so much for me; it's about time I did something for her.
"Okay, fine. I'll go get ready." I say back, giving up.
It's not like I was going to win that argument, anyways. Come to think of it, I never win an argument when it comes to Nina. She is usually always right, which annoys the heck out of me.
"Also, do not be talking down on New Girl. It is my comfort show. "Youths," I roll my eyes, quoting one of my favorite Schmidt lines. Char starts laughing at the reference, while Nina waves me off. As I get changed, I try and shake off the thoughts of my mom, and how much I wish she were here with me.
*************************************************
Throughout the entire game, I couldn't hear anything over Char's loud screaming. By halftime, I'm seriously regretting not bringing earplugs. I glance over at Nina, who looks like she is about to strangle Char at any moment.
After the tenth scream in my ear, I quickly jump up and ask, "Hey, anyone want to go grab something to eat from concessions? Nina, how about you?"
She gives me a grateful look, as she lets out a sigh and stands up. I ask Char what she wants, but she doesn't even hear me. Her only concern is watching Lucas play down on the field. Correction: watching him on the sidelines. From what Char has told me, Lucas doesn't get any playing time. If you ask Lucas, it's because the coach has it out for him. After watching him warm up earlier, I don't think the coach is the problem, but I would never tell Char that. I try to get her attention once again, but it's pointless. I walk down the bleachers with Nina trailing behind.
"Thank god! If I had to hear Char scream Lucas's name in my ear one more time, I was going to go insane." Nina rants.
"Look, I know Lucas isn't our favorite," I start to say. Nina laughs and rolls her eyes at that.
" Yes, he's not our favorite. We both know Char deserves and can do so much better, but she is adamant about making it work with this guy. Nothing we say is going to change her mind. I don't want to get in a fight over it, so we just have to suck it up and deal. No matter how much of an annoying prick Lucas is, nothing can be worse than the Brad incident of 2021." I shudder as I remember Char's boyfriend our freshmen year.
"Gross. I thought we agreed to never speak of that douchebag again. I mean, how naive did he think she was to believe that girl was his cousin? I don't kiss my cousins like that!" she comments, while cringing at the image that will forever be burned into our minds.
We look at each other and then laugh. Bless Charlotte's heart, but she has not been too lucky in the guy department. Yet again, neither have I. Besides one cheating high school boyfriend, I haven't had too many guys jumping at the chance to date me. I mean, sure, there was my lab partner during fall semester my freshmen year, but he was more like a "if I am still single by the time I'm 40" type of guy. There was also a lacrosse player this past spring, but one date was enough. He had spent the entire time making me watch his high school game highlights. Most of the guys who've been interested in the past were only looking for a one-time hookup, and that just isn't my thing. I just never found a guy who I was willing to risk upsetting my comfortable routine for.
Snapping out of thoughts about my non-existent love life, I finally get to the concession stand and turn around to ask Nina what she wants when I see she's no longer behind me. I look around until I eventually spot her talking to Colton, her ex. Or are they together again? I can't ever keep up with those two. I sigh, as I buy two waters and start walking back to our seats. No way was I about to interrupt Nina and Colton, who now look like they're arguing. It would be a death wish to interrupt those two when they're fighting. Been there, done that...never again. I hand Char her water, and she quickly thanked me before turning her attention back to the game. I look down to the field and watch our school's quarterback hurls a beautiful pass down to our end zone. One of our wide receivers makes the catch, and then the crowd goes wild.
Chars' screams, along with everyone else around us, are deafening. I watch as the players celebrate the touchdown down on the field. The seconds dwindle down until the game is finally over. The fans yell and cheer for our team, as the guy's dog pile on each other. I laugh at this while rolling my eyes when I see him: the quarterback, Asher Thomas. He is standing off on the sidelines, not joining in on the celebration. He takes off his helmet and looks out into the crowd. For a split second, I think he is looking right at me, and I tense up. Why would Asher Thomas be staring at me? We barely know each other, and from what I do know, I hate. We are in the same major, so we have shared a few classes over the years, but last year, we were in the same group project together for our Criminal Justice class. He barely did any of the work, but the other two girls in our group let it slide because he was quote "too cute to get mad at". I roll my eyes and break the staring contest. When I look at him again, he has already made his way over to flirt with the cheerleaders.
He wraps his arms around his latest girlfriend, Cara White, who I hate with a passion. Out of all the possible colleges, she had to choose the same one as me. I guess stealing my first boyfriend and making my life hell throughout high school wasn't enough for her. I never understood why she had it out for me. It's weird; when we were kids, we used to be close. Charlotte, Cara, and I were inseparable. Then, on the first day of freshman year of high school, she started hanging out with another group of girls and acted like she was better than us. I remember crying to my mom about it all those years ago. She assured me that sometimes friends grow apart, and people change. If Cara was a true friend, we would all find our back to one another.
I frown when I see them both kiss. A guy like Asher only wants one thing out of girls: a good time. Even if she is a vindictive bitch, I can't deny that Cara is gorgeous. With platinum blonde hair thrown into a perfect ponytail, piercing green eyes, tan, flawless skin, and a toned body from her years of gymnastics and cheering, Cara has all guys tripping over themselves to get her attention. It's been that way since we were little. Not only does she have the looks, but her dad is also the founder and CEO of a multi-million-dollar biotech and software engineering company, White Industries. If she so chooses, Cara will not have to lift another finger for the rest of her life. I look back over at the two, and see Asher grinning at her, as Cara kisses him again. I wonder how that much ego is going to share a single spotlight.
"What's got you pissed off?" Nina asks, standing next to me, glancing down at the field towards Asher and Cara's direction.
"Where did you come from? What happened with Colton," I ask, trying to get the attention off me.
"Eh, it's the same bullshit. He says he loves me and misses us, but I saw him flirting with one of the cheerleaders at halftime. He denied it, like always. I didn't feel like dealing with him tonight. Besides, don't change the subject! What had you in such a daze?" She smirked. She knew full well what I had been staring at before she interrupted me. There may have been a time when I thought Asher was cute. I remember after our first class together freshman year. I had nearly raced back to the dorms to gush with Char and Nina about him. That little crush lasted less than a week; once Asher opened his mouth, not even his good looks could make up for his awful personality.
"Nothing important. It doesn't matter. Let's go find Char so we can go home already." I suggest. All I want is to lay in bed and watch Netflix for the rest of my life.
"Actually, Char is going home with Lucas. She said not to wait up," she laughed, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. I smiled. We started walking down the bleachers. I told Nina I would meet her in the car, running off to find the restrooms.
Walking out of the bathroom, I bump into another person. "Oh, I'm sorry," I start to speak before I see who it is.
Asher Thomas himself, smirking down at me. It was almost unfair that God made a man as stunning as Asher. His dirty blonde hair, sweaty from being under a helmet for the last few hours, is tousled, like he quickly ran his fingers through his hair to fix it. His light blue eyes, with subtle green flecks, were so easy to get lost in. His tan skin glowed under the stadium lights. Broad shoulders and a lean, muscular build, only added to his Greek God-like presence. Despite all of what made Asher so strikingly handsome, a cocky smile always lingered on his lips. Asher Thomas knew he was good-looking and the star talent on the football field. Girls flocked to him and guys idolized him. Despite his unwavering confidence that I view as sheer cockiness, Asher Thomas was still the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen.
Realizing I have been staring for a second too long, I catch Asher's gaze, who is too busy smirking down at me in a knowing manner. I clear my throat, trying to interrupt the underlying tension between us in that moment.
Okay Makayla. Don't be a bitch. Try and say something nice and move past the fact that you were just shamelessly checking him out a second ago.
"Good game. That last pass was nice." I manage to say. No reason to pick an argument. Asher looks confused for a moment and then starts chuckling. Wait, what? Did I say something funny?
"If it isn't Makayla Davis. At a football game? Didn't think this was your sort of thing. You finally come to take me up on my offer?"
I'm confused for a second, but only just a second. During our project last year, he dated both girls in our group. An action that resulted in an argument right before we had to present. I had only 10 minutes to break up the fight (if you could call it a fight; it mostly consisted of name-calling, hair pulling, and using their press-on nails as certifiable weapons) before class started. During all of that, Asher and his buddies watched in amusement, like this was a typical occurrence. After class, he pulled me aside and offered to provide the same services he gave to the other girls. I didn't even let him finish his sentence before I slapped him straight across the face and walked away.
"Okay, clearly you took too many hits to the head tonight. In case you have forgotten the last time you asked, I'm not interested. I could give you a refresher of my answer if you want?" I question back. Oh, I would love to slap the stupid grin off his face one more time.
He smirks at my reaction. "No need. The memory is still very fresh. I still think you're only kidding yourself. You're so uptight; I'm just offering you a chance to take the edge off and relax for a change." He's kidding, right? Do girls actually buy this?
"Seriously? You use that line on every girl? We both know that you're the one looking for an easy way to "take the edge off." How do girls fall for this crap?" I ask.
"I don't have to use any lines, sweetheart. The girls flock to me all on their own. Take you for example. You act like you aren't interested, and yet you seemed fairly interested in watching me and Cara earlier." Fuck. I thought I was being a little more discreet than that.
"I couldn't care less about you and Cara. Have all the fun you want with her. When you dump her and she makes your life a living hell, don't come crying to me. Take a hint dude. When a girl says she isn't interested, she isn't playing hard to get. She really isn't interested. I know that must be a foreign concept for you," I reply. God, the audacity Asher Thomas has. He looked taken back at first, before answering.
"Fine. Don't come crying to me when you finally decide you were lying to yourself, and you want me. The offer is off the table," he says, getting ready to turn away and leave. Oh no. He does not get the last word.
"Excuse me? Are you really that full of yourself?" I question angrily. He is the most arrogant human being I have ever met, besides Cara. It explains why they're together.
"You might call it arrogant, but I call it confident. Never had any complaints before." he says, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, the difference between me and your past girlfriends is that I have a little thing called self-respect, which is more than I can say about all of your fans over there," I say, pointing to all the cheerleaders and other girls that were standing a mere ten feet away from us, giggling and swooning over Asher. "You and me, it's never gonna happen. Get that through your thick skull." I am getting more frustrated by his carefree demeanor. Here I am getting worked up over a conversation that clearly has no effect on Asher.
"Well, there's something you should know about me, Makayla." He gets dangerously close. So close that I can feel his breath on my cheek, with the faint smell of cinnamon and mint lingering between us. "I never back down from a challenge." He laughs. "See you around, sweetheart." he winks before walking over to greet his adorning fans. Among the group of girls is Cara. She shoots me a glare before smirking and pulling Asher close. Watching as he threw his arm loosely around her, I stand there stunned and pissed that he did in fact get the final word in. I held in my anger until I get to the car. I open and slam the passenger side door and then scream in frustration.
"Jesus, are you good my guy? What took you so long?" Nina asks. I forgot that she had been waiting for me in the car. I run my hands through my hair and let out a deep sigh.
"It's really nothing. I'll explain when we get home," I respond. I am so not in the mood to discuss Asher in the slightest, but I know Nina won't rest until I tell her.
She looks at me one last time, and then nods, turning the key in the ignition, and putting the car into drive.
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Author's Note: Hi to anyone who decided to give my little book a chance. I have been working on and off on this book and the concept for years, but I finally am ready to sit down and write. Hope you like it! Constructive criticism is always welcome, but please try and keep it kind. This is the first ever book I have decided to write, so I always appreciate any feedback!
Disclaimer: I don't know the legality of using established references in works of fiction, but any mention of pop culture or fictional people, places, or things, are not my own. All rights to original creation.
xx
Alex