Starting Over (ITILMBBF Sequel)

Jersey Shore Barbie

I ended up on the bleachers at the football game next to Aaron wearing no one's jersey. Adam and I aren't involved in each other's lives anymore. Chace still thinks I'm a cheater. I feel like I just lost the two most important men in my life in one swoop.

At least I still have Aaron, I thought as I looped my arm through his. My game plan, as I entered freshmen year, was to have fun with my best friend and hopefully find a group we belonged in. With only half a semester down, I still had plenty of time to achieve my goals. I wouldn't acknowledge that my priorities had changed since a certain someone had reentered my life and spontaneously moved in. Not if I wanted to stay sane.

Still, I couldn't keep myself away from the football game. I wanted to see my guys play regardless of if we were on talking terms. The sport was important to both of them and I knew the team was having a rough time with Adam's busted knee. He's their star player and he's limping around on the field. I was irate that the Coach Orsen hadn't benched my brother for his own wellbeing. Yet another reason to come to today's game.

I was nervous for Adam's health on a multitude of levels. Putting a coked-out, injured lineman out doesn't seem like a wise play to me. Because I agreed to that stupid arrangement with Adam, I hadn't said anything to him or anyone else. Still I would've liked to get Chace's perspective on the situation. He knew both of us and the game well enough to make the right call. If only I could get him to talk to me.

"There's Chace with Jersey Shore Barbie," Aaron points out.

"Huh?"

My eyes dart around the field until they land on the sidelines. Chace is in his bright blue jersey, number twenty three, and beside him stands Jackie. It's a reflection of the first time I saw the two together. He's leaning in to her hand on his bicep. The pair are outright flirtatious. The jealousy that's twisting in my gut and burning my brain is not reigned in by the reminder that they aren't dating. Just because she's not his girlfriend doesn't mean they aren't intimate.

They're talking so casually, like friends and it pains me that we can't even be that. I'm fairly certain they haven't fooled around. Chace doesn't owe me much, but I think he would've told me. Either way, Aaron and I are sitting too far away from the field to attempt to read their lips. The only reason I know it's Jackie down there is her telltale blonde hair and short stature.

Then he's handing her something. A rally towel perhaps? I can't make it out, but she gives him a big hug in response. The two are pressed up against each other in a tender embrace. A deep sigh passes through my nose. I long for that with Chace. I miss it.

"You bring the Twizzlers?"

I respond to Aaron by reaching in my oversized tote bag and dragging out the candy along with our drinks. We hadn't pregamed in the stadium parking lot like most of the students here, but we sure as hell were drinking during the game from two rather conspicuous flasks. We'd got them on sale back home and after noticing that the design read "BFFs" in cute little hearts we couldn't resist.

Aaron took a sip from his baby pink flask, not bothering to gag on the straight whiskey he'd put in his. I blanched, sticking my tongue out at him and scrunching up my face.

"How do you do that?"

"'Seasy. Here take a sip."

He offers me his drink, but I quickly push it away with my hand, shaking my head. That is so not a good idea. Besides the fact that pure whiskey is nasty, it's also potent. One of us has to stay sober enough to get us back home (or God forbid to the hospital if Adam's really having a bad day). The thought makes me too nervous to drink the vodka soda out of my flask either.