Starting Over

Chatper 30: Bonding With the Roomies

Our date yesterday was great. I've never been on a date that great. After we got out of the lake we ate the rest of the pizza. That pizza was amazing. I'm gonna have to visit Antonio's sometime and enjoy a large pizza all on my own.

Once I got dropped back off at my place. I was ready to tell the girls everything about my date and how great it went. I couldn't though. Not because I didn't want to but because Loren was a crying mess on the couch.

Apparently some girl Hayden hooked up with thinks she pregnant. Hayden swears it's been too long since they've hooked up, it could be anyones baby. It's not confirmed that's she pregnant, but Loren is still heartbroken.

She's somehow in love with him.

I mean why would anyone be in love with Caperall.

She swears she's done with him. For good this time. I don't know if I believe it. Something always draws her back to him.

"Taylor?" Nicole asks knocking on my door before opening it.

"Yeah?"

"I'm worried about Loren. I think we should set her up on a date." She tells me climbing into bed next to me.

"With who?" I question.

"A non-athlete."

"I agree with the non-athlete part but don't you think it's a little soon."

"No. She wants to make him jealous. That's the only way I can think of." She just tells me.

"Well let's just let her sleep on it."

"Can I borrow your black romper? I have to meet with family tonight and have to look presentable."

"Sure. You'll look pretty in it. It's towards the back of my closet."

I grab my anatomy books as she goes through my closet.

"Do you think it'll fit me?" She questions turning around holding it up. I look up thinking she's joking but she looks serious.

"Nicole you're a twig. Of course it will fit you. I'm mean if you think it won't fit you I'd probably eat more it might be loose on you if anything. Why would you say something like that?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm just Craving Perfection." She says honestly.

"Well you shouldn't have to because you're already perfect."

"I wish my family and I agreed with you."

"Tell me about you're family. They can't be worse than mine." I joke. She doesn't laugh though. She just hangs the dress on the back of my door and  crawls into my bed under the cover.

"Well, I don't know my role in my family. I have two older sister who are twins. They look almost look alike. Kira got low lights in her hair. Kylie kept her hair natural. So me and Kylie look alike. They're smart. Way smarter than me. Kira goes to Harvard and Kylie goes to Yale. Kylie has been in this relationship with this guy for the longest time now. I just don't fit in. I mean I'm the one in a public college. I get drunk with my friends and end up on Tar Heel Barstool. While my sisters are making good grades and getting honored by their school. I'm just not a Williams. I don't deserve my last name." She confesses.

"I understand. Me and you are in the same boat when it comes to being misplaced in your family." I tell her.

"We shouldn't though." She lays her head on my shoulder before continuing. "We shouldn't be misplaced. That's not right. I shouldn't be told to stop drinking and eating because I'm gaining weight. I shouldn't be compared to my sisters physically and mentally. You shouldn't be disowned for doing what's right for your mental health."

I understand Nicole now. I understand why she's always asking how much calories are in things before eating them. I understand why she tries to make good grades and when she does she's over the moon.

"Gabe's always been there for me." She tells me. "But lately he's been distant."

"Try talking to him. Talking always helps." She thanks me and we both watch my door open.

"I was wondering where my roommates were." Loren says walking in my room and climbing in my bed next to me. I'm now in the middle.

"How are you doing?" I ask her.

"I don't want to talk about it. I want to talk about whatever y'all were talking about." She says.

"We were talking about family. What's yours like?" I ask.

"The Peters. Let's see where do I begin. I'm only child. Well I have an fifteen year old step sister. My mom got remarried a year ago. The man she married had a daughter. So my mom isn't a Peters anymore. My dad he is a realtor in Wilmington. I grew up in Wrightsboro. When the divorce happened my dad decided he would just leave his Real Estate Agency and create a new one in Wilmington. He was dedicated to his work. My mom couldn't love someone dedicated to work and not her. They're best friends now. I keep thinking that one day they'll find their way back to each other. I feel like they're soulmates in another lifetime."

"Wow. Yep. Me and Nicole are definitely the only ones with a screwed up family." I speak out loud and they both laugh.

"Speaking of screwed up family. I need to get ready to see mine." Nicole tells us making her way out of my room. Now it's just me and Loren.

"Good luck." I tell her. Before directing my attention back to Loren. "You okay?"

"I will be. I just always have to go after the wrong guys."

"Can I ask you something?" I ask Loren as she goes to get out of my bed.

"You grew up in Wilmington right?"

"Wrightsboro. Wait. Don't even ask that. Wilmington is four hours away from Outer Banks. If I wanted to go to the beach I had to go to Wrightsville Beach. The one time we went to Outer Banks I got hit on by a forty year old. I didn't see any John B's, JJ's or Rafe's okay?" 

"Fine got it." We both laugh
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Published: 3/22/22

Book Two isn't for a while but I thought I'd let you know Nicole is the main character.

Y'all I'm a Taylor Swift fan. The movie she wrote a song for looks so good. I can't wait to watch it. I was going to read the book a long time ago but never made my way around to it. Can someone let me know if the book is worth it?

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