Pregame(23)

       
           



       





By the time I found a parking space near the College of Arts and  Sciences I had ten minutes until class would commence. I scrambled out  of Elle's car and jogged towards the building. As I climbed the steps to  the entrance, my foot caught on the last step and I found myself  pummeling face first into cement.





It was completely absurd but the only thing that I cared about in that  moment was saving my coffee. I twisted my body so that I would fall on  my side, and threw my arm up, holding the coffee high above my head in  protection. A stab of pain went through me when my body hit the steps  but it wasn't long lasting. I did a mental fist pump for saving my  coffee when my day continued to get worse. As I brought my hand down I  squeezed the cup too hard, and the lid popped off. As the entire large  iced coffee spilled onto the front of my body I suppressed a sob and  stopped myself from sticking my tongue out to catch the liquid in my  mouth as it rained down on me.





I cursed, not caring who heard me, and waved sarcastically at the few  students who walked past giving me questioning glances. Thanks for the  help, everyone! People suck.





My t-shirt was drenched in coffee and of course, it was white. To make  matters worse, the only clean bra I could find was hot pink so that was  on full display through my wet t-shirt. My yoga pants were mostly dry  but my face was also dripping with coffee. I took my already soaked  shirt and wiped my face, somewhat glad that I hadn't worn make up.





I checked the time on my phone and I had only one minute to make it to  class so I sucked it up and went inside. As I reached my classroom door I  was confused to see that no one was inside and the lights were shut  off. I groaned, checking my email through my phone and of course, class  had been cancelled. The one time I don't check my email when I wake up,  and this happens.





I stomped down the hall and made it back outside, weaving my way through  the quad to the student center. I slipped on my sunglasses hoping it  would disguise my identity considering all of the looks I was getting. I  couldn't blame anyone, though. I looked like I had just come from a wet  t-shirt contest.





The university bookstore was right inside of the student center so I  went in and bought a black t-shirt with the university logo on the  front. It was a waste of thirty bucks but I didn't have enough time to  go home and change before my nine-o'clock class. I could always save the  tags and give it to my mother for Christmas, anyways. I went into the  ladies room and tossed my soaked t-shirt into the trash and pulled on my  new one.





Monday's weren't too terrible for me since I had made my schedule so  that I only had three classes today and they were all consecutive. After  my ten-o'clock class I could head home and do laundry and hopefully  take a long nap.





I headed over to the Starbucks inside of the student center and was  grateful that the line wasn't as long as usual. After a few minutes I  placed my order and added cream and sugar, making my way over to an  empty corner table in the back of the room. I pulled out my political  science textbook and started to reread the chapter that we'd be  discussing today on Karl Marx. After a few minutes the coffee started to  kick in and I could manage to go more than thirty seconds without  yawning.





I heard the scrape of the other chair at my table and looked up to see  Emmy of all people taking a seat across from me. She didn't have her  normal scowl but she also wasn't smiling. She had her hair styled in  what I assumed to be natural curls, a white cardigan over a yellow  sundress.





"You know, I'm really not having the best of days, Emmy. So whatever you  want, save it." I told her, and returned my focus to my textbook.





"I know what happened last year." I tensed but didn't look up from my  textbook when she spoke. He words were surprisingly gentle, "with your  ex boyfriend."





I finally looked up and met her gaze, leveling her with a harsh glare,  "Great, Emmy, now run along and tell everyone." I flicked my hand in the  direction of the door.





Emmy's natural scowl returned but it wasn't quite as malicious as  normal, "I know you think I'm a huge bitch, okay? And I guess I kind of  am. But I just wanted to tell you that I wasn't going to say anything,  and that I was sorry."





"Oh, please. I'm not an idiot, Emmy." I spit out, slamming my textbook shut and returning her stare.





"Listen, Brookelyn," she uttered, "I don't say I'm sorry. Ever. But I'm saying it to you."





"I feel honored," I said, sarcastically bringing my hands to rest over my heart.                       
       
           



       





"I know you have no reason to trust me, but I really won't say a word."  All signs of hatred and malice vanished from her features so I retracted  my claws as well.





"Why would I believe you?" I asked her.





Emmy was silent for a minute and I sighed, exasperated.





"Look, no one knows this. Not even Gabe, and we were together for two  years," she started, her gaze unwavering as she stared at me with  pleading eyes. "I wont tell anyone because I understand. I spent most of  my life watching my father beat on my mother."





She looked away and there was something about her posture, and the way  that she spoke that told me she was being honest. I didn't like her, and  she didn't like me, but she told me something that she didn't want  anyone to know to prove to me that she'd keep my secret. And I couldn't  help but sympathize with her, despite everything I knew of her.





"Okay," I said quietly. I could see the relief in her eyes and I knew  that it was because I didn't pity her. Emmy wasn't the kind of girl who  liked to be pitied. Feared? Yes. Pitied? No, never.





Emmy nodded and stood from the table, and I could see her straighten her  back and hold her head up high, erasing any sadness and grief I had  witnessed just moments earlier. She turned to walk away but looked back  at me, remembering something.





"Oh," she said, her voice sincere, "if you're worried about Wes, don't be. He's a great guy. He'd never hurt you."





I was stunned by her admittance. The girl who had threatened me to stay away from Wes was now nudging me in his direction.





I sighed, and made my way to my next class, my mind flooded with thoughts of Wes.





FIFTEEN


I managed to do all of my laundry and even take a two-hour nap after  finishing my classes for the day. I hadn't heard from Wes at all and I  was starting to worry that he was moving on, not wanting to put up with  my problems. I told him I was afraid of men. What guy wouldn't run?





"Hey, lady!" Savanna popped her head inside of my bedroom door, "Elle's  with Colin. Want to go to the burger place down the street, just you and  me?"





"Yeah, sounds good. I'm starved." I told her, putting aside my note cards.





"Yay!" she clapped her hands like a small child, "Let's leave in ten!"





Before I could respond, Savanna walked back to her room.





I was still wearing my yoga pants and the t-shirt I had bought earlier  but decided to just leave it on. We were going to a burger joint, no  need to look fancy. I did, however, let my hair down from the messy bun I  still had it in and coat on some mascara. I didn't need to look fancy,  but I didn't need to look homely, either.





As we hopped into Savanna's car I smiled at my friend, "changing up your style, Sav?"





She looked at me sideways as she pulled onto the main street, "we're hitting up a burger place, B. Not the academy awards."





"Like that's ever stopped you before," I laughed.





Savanna was wearing a pair of skinny jeans but instead of heels she was  wearing purple low top converse sneakers and a superman t-shirt. She had  her pale blonde hair down, and her usual make up in place, but the  casualness of her outfit was unusual. Although she looked different, the  laidback nature of her clothing suited her.





Savanna pulled into the closest parking space she could find, which  happened to be handicap, and shut off the engine. I grabbed her arm  before she got out of the car.





"Savanna, you can't park here. It's handicap." I told her.





"Brookelyn, no old person is going to be coming here." Savanna rolled  her eyes and got out of the car. I shook my head but followed after her  inside the diner.





I had never been here before but I knew it was supposed to be the best  place near campus to grab a burger. Their huge portion sizes made it  especially popular for guys, and athletes.





The diner was self -seating so we found an unoccupied booth and slid  into it. We gossiped for a few minutes before our waitress came over and  took our drink orders. Savanna got a strawberry milkshake and I got a  vanilla, promising myself I'd hit the gym tomorrow after classes.