Let's Get Ethan ✔

Chapter 25

Campus life changed as the mild fall weather took hold. Lots of time was spent indoors as classes had picked up their pace. His family was going to come hang out with him the next day to see how well he had adjusted to campus life. Ethan was still living with Lincoln, so he already knew that his adaption to campus life had indeed failed. And if things appeared rocky now, they certainly weren't going to be patched up in a day.

During the time between the breakup and now, things between Ethan and Lincoln had not been going well. The text saying that he couldn't make it to the party was never replied to and the glances of pure hate given to him made him question Lincoln's sanity. Did Ethan really think this man would not try to murder him in his sleep? Many questions remained, but Ethan thought that if he could somehow avoid Lincoln at all times, he'd be okay. He knew that he was being irresponsible and stupid for not saying anything, but he was so good at being a chameleon that things usually just worked out for him in the end.

Hopefully Lincoln wouldn't be there when his family came to visit. This was looking promising when Lincoln had not been in the dorm much recently at all. When Ethan did notice Lincoln, it was late at night. He would come stumbling in at some ungodly hour, his hand on the wall for balance. He would giggle and act all giddy, like dropping in on his sleeping roommate was the funniest thing on the planet. Ethan was tempted to say something after the second time it happened, but he didn't figure things with Lincoln were permanent. Ethan thought he could stick it out, then move. Maybe this time to a single.

Ethan wondered if the spot he chose for his friends to pick him up was a good one. Though he knew standing behind a tall bush wasn't helping, regardless of his own stature. Stepping out from his spot, he scanned the street, cars in every direction, some honking. The vehicles' lights blinded him. Olivia had just told Ethan about this party. Ethan was becoming sick of parties; he always left early, though not always of his own volition, he was terrified of seeing Lincoln and his gang, and no matter what he did he was still going to be the outcast even if he knew people.

This was because although he was getting closer to his friends, he still felt left out sometimes. It wasn't their fault that they had spent the past year and half bonding, obviously. Nevertheless, it was hard to break into an already established friend group, even if they were super chill people. He couldn't fault them for him feeling this way.

Regardless of feeling a tad like an outcast, he was so excited to finally see his friends, so he caved and told them he'd go anyway. He noticed a familiar red minivan driving by. Ethan knew who the minivan belonged to when he heard Lincoln yell out the window.

"Hey, Ethan, need a ride, or do you need time to think about it?"

Lincoln was mocking him about skipping out on his party. Then Lincoln laughed. Ethan didn't say anything, even if he wanted to there was no use in arguing with the guy. Shouting into thin air would probably make him look crazy, if anything. He just let them drive off. It was almost too perfect the way he rode away leaving Ethan in the exhaust. Like they had all this power over him. Wouldn't Lincoln like to know that he was happy that he wasn't going to a single party with that group of people ever again. At least, Ethan hoped that was the case. Olivia couldn't have meant a party that Lincoln would be at, although it did happen that first weekend of college.

Although that was a special case. His friends had decided to crash that party, they were probably invited to this one. Or so, he hoped.

After waiting a bit longer, he saw Aaron's little blue car enter the building parking lot. He started walking to it, picking up the pace as he got closer and saw the eager faces of his friends. He hopped in and joined the crusade. He was greeted in the back by James while Olivia took shotgun and Aaron drove.