Chapter 4
Embarrassing Situations
We wake up early, eat some cereal, and then catch the bus to go shopping at the mall. My stomach hurts and is twisting in literal knots. "I still can't believe Jake found my number. He's a total stalker."
"We don't call hot guys stalkers, Dani." She laughs. "We call them Sex Kings!"
I pinch her arm. She laughed so hard last night when I told her my little nickname for him, and she is still laughing today! "Shut it, girl!"
We make it to Forever 21, and thankfully they have an excellent back-to-school sale going on this weekend!
We make our way to the plus-size section, and Sasha throws things in my hands.
I mildly protest at some of the selections she has for me.
The truth is, I like loose-fitting clothes and never will I ever wear a short dress or shorts! Never!
She smiles at my protest. "Trust me. Some of these will not work, but some will.
We have got to find your style. I want you to feel comfortable.
You've got a curvy body! Find her! Baggy shirts are okay for classes if paired with short shorts or leggings.
But we don't wear them to parties or on dates.
The only dates they are acceptable for are the late-night ones of an established couple. "
I nod my head. She knows what she's talking about, and I do NOT. "You promise to be honest with me and tell me when something looks good or not?"
"Of course. But I couldn't lie if I wanted to. I have a total RBF, and my face is an open book. No matter how hard I try, I cannot train my face to lie. I'm like that meme, and my face is the one that needs deliverance."
I laugh. "I'm so glad I know all your secrets now!"
She rolls her eyes and laughs. "But I'll never tell you where I've buried the bodies."
I roll my eyes with a laugh and we head to the dressing room. "You're not going to try on anything?"
"I went shopping before I got here. I have a new wardrobe for the next month or so."
I try on some new high-waisted leggings and a couple of cute tunics to go with them.
We both love those, so they go to the yes pile on the right.
I try a couple of shorts, and we both hate them.
Sasha hands me a pair of blue jean cut-offs and reminds me to keep an open mind.
Just because some shorts don't work doesn't mean they all won't.
I gasp when I see how good they look on my wide hips and thick thighs. She's beaming and whistles loudly at me, which makes me laugh. "See! I told you. We need to get a darker color, too. We'll pair them with a few different shirts to give you a variety of looks until we get this wardrobe perfect!"
I put on five short dresses next. All but one, surprisingly, work.
I wind up also getting two pairs of jeans, three more tunics, two tanks, and three graphic tees.
All six bags total $200. I assure her I have plenty of shoes, and we go to some places that have some jewelry on sale.
The store is filled to the brim with customers so I quickly buy two necklaces and some earrings.
We go to Torrid next. I buy a couple of dresses, three pairs of jeans, and a few shirts.
Their sale is not as good as the one at Forever 21.
For the first time in a long time, I feel perfect about the upcoming school year.
We eat at the Food Court, and she gives me a few options on what she thinks I should wear to the party.
We take the bus back to the dorm, and as it passes by one of the football practice fields, we scramble to look out the window.
I push my face up against the window, and I see the Sex King in all his glory.
He's shirtless, and his shorts sit low on his hips.
He extends his long throwing arm, and the ball sails to an awaiting Jaxon.
A big guy with long sun kissed hair tries to tackle him, but Jaxon is able to maneuver out of his grasp, running the ball the entire length of the field towards us.
We are still at the stop sign, and my face is plastered up against the window when I see Jaxon smile and wave as he starts pointing over at Jake. I am beyond mortified.
"Girl! Get D-O-W-N!!"
I barely hear her. My ears are ringing, and Jake is smiling over at me.
I must look like an idiot. I can't move.
Sasha has moved over to my seat and is kneeling on the floor.
She quickly jumps up and pushes my head down.
I'm so thankful for our newfound friendship. Sasha has proven that I can trust her.
As the bus moves toward our stop, we both start laughing. "I couldn't move. I froze. I was so busted. I mean, there is NO coming back from that!"
She giggles. "You were like a deer caught in the headlights. I’ve never seen any such thing. BUT I think you can come back from it...maybe."
We can't stop laughing. Her robustly, and me more nervously. We get back to the room, and I start putting away my purchases from the mall. My phone pings and Sasha runs into my room. That girl is faster than lightning.
My heart is pounding. I mean, it's probably not him, though. There is no way he will ever text me again. I'll be a social pariah until he graduates. Thankfully, he is a year older than I am. I look down at my phone, and disappointment feels me instantly. "It's only Toby!"
She groans and throws her hands up in the air. I look at the text again. Toby is just sharing a funny TikTok with me. It's kind of our thing.
I go back to arranging my closet. I have a great kickstart to my new summer/fall wardrobe and I feel more confident already.
This will be a great semester as long as I can avoid all things football.
My face drops as I realize I can't ever eat at my favorite diner again.
If I go out to eat, it'll have to be far off-campus, which sucks because I don't have a car.
I'll be stuck in this room eating Ramen freaking noodles.
My phone pings again. I smile to myself.
Toby must be on a TikTok kick. Sasha runs back in, hoping it's the Sex King.
I reach for it on my bed, and I scream bloody murder!
I throw my phone back onto the bed. It thumps loudly.
I cannot! Something has got to be wrong with him!
"I'm not opening that text, Sasha! I'm not! "
She squeals. "You don't have to. I'll do the dirty work!"
She runs and grabs my phone and starts jumping up and down. The anticipation is killing me! Help! Somebody help! Sasha, read the stupid thing already. Her eyes are glistening mischievously. "And I quote..."
I'll pick you up at 8 myself. Be ready. Stay with me?
My eyes are as big as the flying saucers that my aunt Joyce believes are real.
I shake my head. Nope! Is he mental? "He must have gotten a concussion at practice. I’m never seeing him again.
Not tonight. Not ever. Not even once. Not to mention his level of conceitedness; just because I acted like a groupie does not mean that I am.
And better yet, did he not see my face plastered against that bus window?
I mean, I looked like a deranged stalker. What's wrong with him?"
Sasha falls on my bed, laughing. "The look on your face was priceless. If this were a soap opera, it would be a Telenovela! Are we still sneaking out early to go to the party by ourselves? We could wait and go with him if you want."
My throat tightens up. "Not only no, but hell no!"
She laughs until her eyes water. "That's what I thought you would say! You sure?"
I flip her off, and she smirks at me. "I'll admit that was pretty arrogant. The Jake Ryan thinks he's got you wrapped, girl!"
"Can you blame him?" I reenact my face being up against the bus window again. After we stop laughing, I continue. "Just because I was basically drooling on that bus window does not mean I'm easy. I would not even know what to say to him."
"From the sound of it, he's not interested in doing much talking!" She starts gyrating her hips.
I blush ten shades of red. "It ain't happening!"
My phone buzzes again.
***
Persistent much? I don't know where I get the courage to send him my response, but I guess everyone has more grit behind a phone screen. "He obviously wants an answer, so I'll give him one." I reply to him quickly.
Sorry, Jack, I was on the phone with my boyfriend, Bubba. No need for an escort to tonight's party. Thanks though.
Sasha is giggling! "I wish I could see his face when he reads that text! You called him Jack!! Omg!"
I smile big. I may be a scaredy-cat, but there are moments when I'm a pure genius. "He should leave me alone now. I made it clear that I’m taken and not interested."
Sasha whistles and shakes her head. "Listen, all teasing aside, I know we haven't been friends for long, and I don't claim to know everything about you, but I can tell you're innocent.
And if you are, I love that about you, no reason to be ashamed.
That text message will probably have the opposite effect on him.
Guys like that, the ones that are used to having girls throw themselves at them, would see that text message as a direct challenge. "
"You're not wrong about my innocence. For which I am unashamed. However, I do wish I had known that particular outcome before I hit send. I'm going to have to hire somebody to be my Bubba."
She grins. "I get it. He'll be persistent at first and try and wear you down and let him if that's what you want.
And if it's not, then stand your ground, and he'll take the hint.
I've heard he's a good guy, but if he steps out of line, let me know.
I'll take care of it. I won’t let anything happen to you. "
I smile and give her a huge hug. "Thank you. I'm glad I won the roommate lottery. Let's get ready and leave before eight! I can dodge him for at least tonight!"
"Yes!! Let's go find you a Bubba!"
"Yassss! The man of my dreams. And you can date his third cousin, Billy Bob!"
At the insistence of Sasha, I put on my new denim cutoffs and a red silk tank.
It’s low cut in the back with lace trimming on the deep v-cut.
My boobs look good in this one! I pair it with some casual strappy sandals.
She curls my hair, and I do my makeup. She approves, except she wants me to define my eyebrows more.
She shows me how, and then we're both ready to go.
Jake hasn't texted me back, so maybe he got the message, and Sasha is wrong about him. There are always exceptions to the rule. If he were still going to pursue me, wouldn't he have already texted me?
We are confidently far enough away from the dorm room that we slow down as we continue in the direction of Fraternity Row. "Are you going to rush a sorority?"
I hold my breath as she answers. She probably won't hang out with me after she gets picked. "Nah. I thought about it and decided against it. Why, are you?"
"No! I wouldn't know how to talk to them, near-perfect girls."
"You know, withstanding the whole bus debacle, you're not as socially awkward as you think."
I smile and think of Elvis. My granny loves Elvis! "I think you're being overly nice, BUT I'll take it! Thank ya. Thank ya, very much."
"Okay, never impersonate Elvis again." She starts moving in the middle of the sidewalk. She moves her hips from side to side, just like his famous dance move.
"Yes, Queen!" I start mimicking the motions with her. We’re laughing and Elvis-ing which makes this a great night already.
Next thing I know, we hear a horn beep, and a guy is calling out our names.
I feel his stare before I meet his gaze.
The Jake Ryan is smirking at me. His eyes twinkle with amusement.
Dear Lord, he saw everything. Can this day get anymore awkward for me?
Dallas is hanging out the window of the back seat.
"You naughty girls! You weren't in your dorm room. "
I bite my lip to keep from smiling. He's trashed. "Are you drunk already?"
"No, ma'am! But everybody in the club gettin' tipsy!"
I laugh and look back over at Jake, noticing his ride for the first time. He’s driving a massive, brand-new Chevy Silverado. He must come from money. Figures.
"I told you we could make it on our own. Thank you, though." I loop my arm through Sasha’s and start walking. I hear Jaxon’s cackle, but I didn't see him in the car a minute ago. He must be in the shotgun seat.
I finally hear the sweet deep baritone of Jake's voice. "Listen, we're all going to the same place. Why don't we just ride together?"
I look at Sasha, and she shrugs. I guess it wouldn't hurt. They are liable to follow us the whole way if we don't. "Fine."
Jake whispers something to Jaxon. He gets out of the front seat and into the back seat without another word.
Dallas jumps out and motions for Sasha to get between him and Jaxon.
I try to beat her there, but she wins the "race" easily.
I grit my teeth and slide into the front seat. This is going to be a very long night.