I Hate Football Players 3 | 18+

Chapter 47: Logan

I can't believe it. I'm jealous.

Me, a six-five, two-hundred and thirty pound, PAC-twelve starting quarterback is jealous of a short, thin, curly-haired library geek that I could bench press with my eyes closed.

Because he's with Ellie tonight and I'm not.

I abandoned the homework I'd blankly stared at since the door closed behind them and walked into the kitchen. My feet stopped when I saw her vase of roses on the counter and frowned as the thought that I shredded them in the garbage disposal crossed my mind.

She said it wasn't a date, but this reeks of one.

My hand raked over my hair in frustration. Ellie was still naïve about guys, although this one definitely read non-threatening except for the tiny fact he had her tonight instead of me.

Ten minutes later, my foot tapped impatiently as I checked the time on my phone for the more-than-I'll-admit-th time. I debated calling someone, anyone, but knew Mom or the Prakashes for sure asked about Ellie and all I wanted was a diversion.

Instead, I did possibly the worst thing I could've done. With an embarrassing Google maps footpath, I followed them to Meany and nabbed the aisle seat in the auditorium's last row. The concert was sold out but due to a no-show, I got the ticket for free with my student ID.

Despite the odd, annoyed looks from the concert penguins at my delayed entrance, I quietly stuffed myself into the last row's aisle seat and half-spilled my long legs into the aisle. After an insanely irritating visual scan around the room, I spotted James and Ellie in the middle row of the lower section. He sat on the edge of his seat and her shoulders were slumped down, but at least they looked like they had no interest in each other.

After ten minutes of elevator piano music, I passed out asleep. A nearby scoff and, "Seriously?" woke me up some time later, when I realized ten minutes remained in the concert. I stood up, excused myself, then bolted quietly out the doors.

I rushed home ten minutes before Elile and James, then like a total creep, watched through the door's security lens when that little geek leaned over and kissed my Ellie.

My only reaction was how I saw red. Anger blazed through me like a wildfire and pushed my feet out the apartment building. I stomped aimlessly around campus like an angry bull, probably breathed like one too, until the anger reduced to smouldered embers that were quickly replaced with bitterness.

Aimless step after step, I ended up next to a divided road with two lanes on each side, separated by a grass median, with a brick statue base that had a big, black block-W statue on it.

Great, Greek Row. Why did I walk here?

Even for a Tuesday night, the sounds of house party music thumped out of a few of the sorority and fraternity houses. No part of me wanted to attend a party with strangers but I was tired of being alone in my thoughts, so I walked down the street and observed example after example of why I abstained from drinking during the season. Among other activities, small herds of people clustered on the lawns. I stuffed my hands into my pockets and looked down when a few people whispered, pointed at me, or worse, called out with loud yells.

I need to find a quiet spot here.

With what little downtime I had at UCD, I hung out mostly in my apartment. While the quiet solitude was lonely, I appreciated how I had time and decompressed, even if most of my thoughts went back to Ellie. Right now though, she was the last thought I wanted in my head.

A warm contact on my left arm tugged me to a stop. I turned and looked down at a slightly hazy pair of blue eyes that blinked up at me from under chunky black mascara. Her blonde hair was pulled up in a ponytail and her breasts practically spilled out of a tight, baby pink tank top with the letters 'ZTE' stretched across what little was still covered.