Chapter 3 #2
I nodded. “Thanks.” He let go of me, and I rubbed my other hand over my jean-clad thigh, desperate to erase the uneasiness spiraling inside me. “Let’s get to class.”
“Sure. Have you heard about what happened to Ernie after last practice?”
I thanked my friend in my head for the change of subject.
We entered the building, and I listened to his retelling of the antics of a guy on the swim team while wondering if one day I would be cured of the Mason Pierce effect.
It wasn’t normal that just the mention of his name could bring back a flood of hurtful memories we had shared, including our last encounter in the school hallway where he admitted he would be on the same campus as me for the next four years…
and that he loved me. A scene that often replayed in my mind when I was alone.
With a big inhale, I relaxed my shoulders and pushed all thoughts of my ex-friend away, focusing on the present as Donovan opened the door to the classroom and motioned me to go in first.
Minutes later, as our professor appeared in front of the class and lectured us about the first newspaper ever created, I took notes, forgetting about Mason with each stroke of my purple gel pen in my notebook.
I exited the library, en route to my last class of the day.
Outside, dark clouds hovered in the sky, and a cold drizzle covered my skin.
I fetched a hoodie from my bag and increased the pace, not wanting to be drenched by the time I reached Brennan C.
Hall. Jules, a girl I’d met on orientation day and who studied public relations like me, was waiting by the double door, clutching two to-go cups.
I removed my wet sweater and tied it around my waist before accepting the coffee she handed me.
I brought the cup to my lips, blowing on the steam rising from the small opening in the lid.
“Thanks for this.” I took a tiny sip, relishing how the hot beverage killed the chills that now lived in my body.
“Geez, this weather. I hate being wet when I’m not in a pool.
I didn’t get the memo today would go from sunny and warm to cold and rainy.
I thought they said it would be a nice week weather-wise. ”
“Since when do you believe in the weather forecast? It’s like whatever they announce, Mother Nature will do the opposite.
She’s like a three-year-old having a temper tantrum.
I prefer to trust my bad leg. It never lies.
” Jules had been a gymnast, but a car crash had cost her a limb and left her with a prosthetic lower leg.
Two weeks ago, she had put together a support group on campus to help those whose lives had been altered by impaired drivers.
“Yeah, well, I should maybe stop listening to the forecast.”
We entered the classroom and sat in the fifth row, our usual spots.
“We missed you at the game Saturday. It was the best football I have ever seen. The new quarterback makes Benjamin, the usual starting QB, look like an amateur. I can attest the new guy possessed the swagger his predecessor lacked. I attended two games with my brother last fall, and both times, I thought I was in love with Benjamin—figuratively speaking—so you can imagine. But, hey, I’m telling you, his replacement is the real deal. ”
“Sorry. I had some schoolwork to tackle since I have a meet next weekend and I’m working three nights this week.
Raincheck, okay?” Not that I had any intention to sit in these bleachers unless Jayden was the one playing on that turf, and even then, I wasn’t sure I could find it in me to watch him play against Mason on his own field if it ever were a possibility.
“Sure, girl. No worries.”
“Did you talk to Shawn last night?”
My friend shook her head. “Nah. I wasn’t feeling it.
He keeps saying he wants to be with me and that we are exclusive, but it’s like he’s afraid of commitment.
I’ve given up trying to understand him. He might be cute and sweet and perfect for me on paper, but if being with me makes him so uncomfortable, he should redefine his relationship standards. ”
“Gosh, I knew a boy just like that…commitment-phobe.” I propped my elbows up on the table and rested my chin on my closed fists, staring at nothing, as images of Mason and me played before my eyes.
The difference was that Mason was ready to change his ways and commit to me, and I was the one who’d freaked out.
“You have that look. An ex?”
A long sigh passed my lips. “No. I wish. We never got to that point. We really shared something special, but he was not the kind of guy who committed. He wanted to…huh…commit, I mean, but only to me. I wasn’t sure he could...
Stuff happened, and in the end, it pulled us apart.
” I shook my head. “Enough talking about guys. Do you have any plans next weekend?”
“My brother is visiting. If this thing with Jayden blows up, I should totally play matchmaker for you two. I’m sure you’d get along great.”
“I have no idea where Jay and I stand. He says he needs some space to think, but I can tell it’s not really what he wants either. If we break up, I’m not interested in dating again… Not for a while at least.” I paused, then blurted out, “Why are boys so complicated?”
“Tell me about it.”
Our professor walked in, and the chatter died. I listened to her talk about communication skills in a business setting, taking notes and nodding as she spoke.
After a moment, I got lost in my daydream again. More flashbacks of my time with Mason Pierce infiltrated my mind. Why did Donovan have to mention him earlier? I was doing just fine not thinking about him. And now, it’d been hours, and he was all my mind kept circling back to.
Time seemed to slow down.
The class lasted forever.
The more I tried to evade my thoughts, the more persistent they became.
The guys on my left whispered something about a football game.
One of the girls in front of me said her name was Paige when she raised her hand to ask a question.
A guy in the front row made a joke, and the professor called him on it. “Mr. Pierce, no need to play jokester in my class. You better—”
I blocked his voice.
My heart leaped to my throat, and I got lightheaded for a second.
Football. Paige. Mr. Pierce.
Life had a sick sense of humor.
My past was catching up with me, and there was no place to hide.
No matter how much I’d tried to leave my old life behind when I left Elk River, it seemed like everyone and everything had decided my plan sucked and that I should never forget.
Why did I have a feeling I was about to be proven right?
With a small shake of my head, I tried to convince myself I was wrong, but deep down, I was aware I couldn’t run away from my past forever.