30. Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Sloane
January 1993
I finish my college applications over Christmas break and after we ring in 1993, it's time to go back to school. I have a hop in my step as I make my way to marine bio, because it's always nice to see Billy and Tyler. The three of us have a good time bantering before and sometimes during class. I turn down the hallway and Tyler and Sara are in close conversation by the front door to class, again. "It must be nice to have a boyfriend that goes to your school instead of four hours away," I think to myself.
"Hey Sloaner, how was your Christmas?" Billy asks as I walk into class and toss my backpack on the lab table, pulling out the chair next to him.
"It was great, how about yours?" I ask as I sit in my chair.
"Really good. I got this beautiful new shirt." He turns so I can see his black Merle Haggard shirt. "And I got tickets to see Garth Brooks." Billy's smile is lighting up his eyes.
"I know you love Garth." I smile at him. "That's awesome. Is he going to be at the Omni?"
"I wish," Billy says. "The closest he's coming is Charlotte."
"Oh, wow," I say as I take my book and spiral notebook out of my bag before placing it on the floor to my left. "When is it?"
"Not until October," he says. "And, hopefully, I'll be in Athens for school, but I'm going to the Saturday show, so it'll work out perfectly."
"I applied to Georgia, but I don't think I want to go where everyone else from here is going, you know?"
"Gee, thanks," Billy jokes, feigning hurt feelings.
"You know I don't mean you. I'm just done with these people." I wave my hand out in front of me.
"What people?" Tyler asks as he slides into his seat and tosses his backpack on the lab table.
I turn and smile. He's still so handsome, and that grin still gets me every time and I wonder if that’s a bad thing since I'm with Ky now. "I was telling Billy that I applied to Georgia, but I'm not sure if I want to go there since half our class will be there."
"I get that," Tyler says as he pulls his book and notebook out of his bag. "I want to play baseball in college, but I'm not sure I'm good enough to go there.”
“Where do you want to go?” I ask.
“I’d love to go to Georgia, but I may go to a junior college first. I could transfer to a four-year school without having to sit out a year, or if I’m good enough, get drafted into the pros.”
“Wow, that would be amazing,” I say, not realizing just how good Tyler is at baseball.
“My SAT scores weren't great, but they should be good enough if I want to start at a four-year school,” Tyler says as he pulls his books out of his backpack.
"Ugh, don't even get me started on that stupid test. I hate standardized tests and do not test well. Here's how bad I am at testing," I tell them. "I suck at math, it's my toughest subject, yet I scored higher on the math portion than verbal. Either I guessed well, or I completely stink at tests."
Tyler laughs. "Yeah, me too. Where do you want to go to school?"
"I have friends at Florida, so that's my first choice right now. I also applied to FSU and Southern."
"Southern is where I might go if I don't get an offer from Georgia, or start at a two-year college," Tyler says.
"Sloaner, you know if you go to Florida and become a Gator, I can't be your friend anymore," Billy jokes.
I playfully punch Billy in the shoulder. "You will always be my friend."
"Not if you wear that tacky orange and blue, I won't," Billy shudders in jest.
Tyler and I laugh at Billy, then Tyler says, "Did y'all have a good break?"
Billy and I nod, and I say, "Ky came to see me after Christmas. It was awesome." I feel myself blush and Billy catches it.
"Ooh, Sloane, you little devil, your face is pink!"
I put my hands on my cheeks, "No it's not." I try to convince them.
Tyler leans forward. "No, you're right, it's not pink, it's red. What did you and the infamous Ky get up to?"
"You guys, stop." I feel heat in my cheeks and know there's no hiding my embarrassment. I take a deep breath then drop my hands into my lap. I can't stop smiling though. "He was only here for, like, a day and a half, but it was so awesome." I tell them and my eyes go skyward as I think about Ky.
"You are smitten," Billy says. He looks at Tyler. "She's smitten."
"Totally smitten," Tyler says as his eyes search my face. He looks at Billy, "I think our little Sloaner is in love."
I feel my eyes go wide. "What? No! I mean, no, it's way too soon for that," I stammer.
"If this thing's getting serious," Billy looks past me to Tyler, "we're going to have to meet this guy and make sure he's good enough for our Sloaner."
Tyler nods. "I agree. We need to make sure his intentions are honorable."
I laugh at them, then think about what Ky said as I chew on my bottom lip and shift in my chair. Tyler notices my unease. "Everything okay?"
I nod and tuck my hair behind my right ear. "Yeah, it's just…He's like, my first real boyfriend. This is all new to me." No way am I going to tell Tyler and Billy what Ky said.
Tyler's eyes soften, and he bumps my shoulder reassuringly. "We're just giving you a hard time."
"I know," I say. "I just wish he lived here. Heck, I wish he lived near here. He's four hours away, goes to school, and works, so I'm not sure when I'll see him again."
"If he's as into you as you are into him, you'll see him again soon," Billy says then looks at Tyler for confirmation. "Don't you think, Ty?"
"Totally," Tyler says. "He'll probably make an excuse just to drive up here."
I smile. "I hope so, because talking on the phone just isn't going to cut it." I think about Spring Break and prom and all the things I've dreamed of doing with an actual boyfriend. It's my senior year, and I finally have a boyfriend. Everything is starting to come together.