The College JJ Series

starting over

Summary: Now alone after eight months of dating Aaron, you learn to what it's like to feel free again.

~

The transition back to single life after being with Aaron for so long was a more difficult transition to make than you realized it would be. Thankfully, your three childhood best friends had no qualms about barging in to your apartment at all times of the day. You'd given JJ a copy of your key the day after you moved in, and he'd made copies for John B and Pope. Your apartment was closer to campus than theirs (you only lived two blocks closer, but still) so it was more surprising to come home to an empty apartment than it was to come home to at least one of them on your couch using one of your streaming accounts to watch something on tv.

Today was no different as you opened the door after a long day of classes. Pope has his feet propped up on your coffee table, and a bowl of popcorn is in his lap. "Hey! I'm watching New Girl," he says as you eye the tv.

"Of course you are," you reply with a laugh. It was one of the shows you all loved and constantly rewatched; your comfort show. "Why are you here though? Don't you have class?"

"Spanish was cancelled, so I came here," he answers. "And I knew you had popcorn."

You roll your eyes and plop down beside him, grabbing a small handful from his bowl to shove in your mouth. "So glad you feel comfortable enough to let yourself in and help yourself to my food."

He shrugs. "I never drink your alcohol though."

"Only JJ does that," you say. "Who knew I could get him to drink wine?"

"He'd do anything you asked him to," he comments, turning his eyes back to the screen.

"All three of you would do anything for me," you say confidently, and he shrugs again.

"Yeah, but he's a special case," he says, eyes trained on the tv.

"What does that mean?" you ask. He shrugs again, and the door swings open, revealing John B, looking excited.

"Dollar margs at the Mexican restaurant that doesn't card. Get this, they call it Margarita Miércoles. Are you guys in?" he asks, letting his backpack slide off his shoulder.

"You had me at dollar margs," you say, looking up at him.

"Really? It was the name for me," John B says. "Dollar or not, shit's catchy."

"It literally means Margarita Wednesday," you deadpan. "You're in Spanish three, my guy."

"Sorry for enjoying some alliteration," he says scathingly. "Y/n, text JJ and see where he is."

"JJ's right here," JJ says as he comes through the open door. "I heard mention of margaritas?"

"Because it's Miércoles," Pope explains.

"I don't need the excuse of a holiday to drink," JJ says, dropping his backpack in the floor with John B's. "Let's roll."

The boys mobilize as you grab what you need for dinner at the restaurant. "Miércoles means Wednesday, J," you remind him.

He pauses for a moment. "I knew that," he says unconvincingly.

"Sure you did."

~

It takes you a little while to relax at the restaurant. You were so used to dodging texts or calls from Aaron that you were constantly checking your phone for notifications that weren't there. The freedom of simply going out for dinner and drinks with your friends was new, and felt strange.