When I walk back out to the car, Liam is waiting by the driver side door. “I’ll drive,” he says holding his hand open for the keys.
“I was driving just fine.”
“Haley, I said I’d drive, now give me the damn keys.”
“What the hell is your problem?”
“Right now, you are,” he says looking irate.
I slap the keys into his hand, walk around and get into the passenger side. I should have driven myself.
Liam changes the radio to a rap station and though I like rap, he has me extremely pissed off. I pull out my iPod throw my ear buds in and lay my seat back. I grab my pillow from the back seat deciding that if he wants to be an ass I’ll try and take a nap; hopefully, I don’t wake up until we are pulling into campus.
A few hours later, I wake up and watch as Liam comes to a stop at another store. I hop out of the car and head inside needing to relieve myself like no other. I decide to grab a bottle of water and some pretzels before heading back outside.
I beat Liam out this time and wait at the car. “Care if I drive the rest of the way?” I ask him once he comes out.
“I hate people driving my car,” he finally says.
“Then why didn’t you just say that?”
“Because you were pissed off and yelling,” he says as he walks towards me.
“If you would have told me that, I wouldn’t have driven Liam.”
“Its fine, but I’ll drive the rest of the way,” he says as I make my way around the car to get in for the final leg of the trip. “I’m sorry I’ve been an ass this whole trip.”
“It’s fine, but please don’t be like this on the way home in a few months.”
“I won’t, I promise.”
“Good.”
“Are you moving in to the sorority house for next year?”
“Yeah, my roommate wants to and we rushed together so we are going to room together in the house too.”
“That’s cool. You like the sorority?” Liam asks.
“Actually I do. I wasn’t planning on joining a sorority, but I’m really glad I did.”
“Yeah, I was surprised to hear you were in one. I never took you for the type.”
“Guess you don’t know me as well as you thought you did.”
“You’re right on that. So what are your plans once we get back?” he asks changing subjects.
“Not really sure. I’m ready for summer though.”
“It will be here before you know it.”
“Yeah, it will,” I agree.
“Are you glad you made the decision to go to Michigan instead of West Virginia?”
“Definitely. I miss Kenzie and Brody, but I made the right choice for me.”
“Good. You need to do what’s right for you,” he says with a smile.
“You ready to get back into football?”
“Always,” he says eagerly.
“You still love it?”
“Hell yeah. What’s not to love?”
“True. You’re about to be a senior.”
“I know, that part I can’t believe.”
“Why not?”
“Not ready for it to be over I guess.”
“Well it’s not yet. You still have another year to go. Do you think you’re going to try to go pro?”
“That’s the plan. My agent wanted me to drop out and go pro this year, but I’m not doing it,” he says surprising me.
“Why not?”
“Because I need a back-up plan, if it doesn’t work out.”
“Like it wouldn’t work out Liam,” I say with a knowing look.
“You never know and I love college football. So I want to get my degree and play my senior year here before seeing what happens.”
“That’s smart.”
“I think so, unfortunately not everyone agrees with me,” he says solemnly.
“Your parents don’t?” I ask surprised.
“No they do, they think education’s the most important thing.”
“Then who?” I ask confused, because I know Brody wouldn’t care what he does.
“Meg.”
“She wants you to leave school for pro football?” I ask, not believing what I’m hearing.
“Sure does.”
“Why?”
“I guess, so she knows there’s a stable future. Who knows?”
“But that wouldn’t mean a stable future, because you just said you never know what could happen.”
“I know, but it’s my choice and I already made my decision.”
“She’ll get over it, I’m sure.”
“She’s fine now, but every once in a while she brings it up.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, it’s not your fault.”