From the Hills to Crenshaw

2.0 | Meet Spencer

Spencer's POV

"I can't believe your coach gave you the day off," my best friend JR says and I can't believe it either.

I don't bother to respond as we head out of school and hit the alley around the corner to get to my house.

As we walk, JR's phone vibrates and I watch as he grins at the message he received.

"True's throwing a party in her momma's basement right now!" He shouts and I shake my head no. "What do you mean no? You're seventeen and you're just months away from making the biggest decision of your life—— college! So you deserve a party more than anyone, Spence!"

"What I deserve is to be able to make my own decisions on whether I want to go to a party or not," I reply sarcastically.

"C'mon! Just an hour with your boy."

He stands in the middle of the street with his hands facing upwards and his head cocked to the side.

I sigh. "Alright! I'm not joking though, J! Just an hour!"

"Yeah, buddy! Finally got my wingman back," he adds and I ignore him.
_____________

House Party

It takes us about fifteen minutes to get to True's place and her basement is already packed.

"Do you see the way Gabbi is eying your boy?" JR whispers and I notice her on the dance floor with her best friend Lena. "You got to run an interference."

"Nah, that's all you playboy," I say right back.

"I'm literally alley-ooping one of the finest girls at school and you're willing to pass her back like it's nothing?" He questions metaphorically and I laugh.

"First of all, I don't know what the hell you're talking about," I say over the loud music. "Second of all, I could've had Lena ten times over, if I wanted her. No alley-oops needed."

JR laughs at my bragging. "Okay, playboy. Well, just talk to the girl while I make my move on Gabbi, please!"

"Nah, I'm going to sit this one out," I say and he fans his hand in my direction before walking away.

"Spencer," I hear my name before seeing my ex, Zena standing a few feet away.

"What are you doing here?" I ask in surprise.

Why would she be at a high school party, when she wanted so badly to be a college girl?

Last year, we broke up because she decided to graduate high school early and leave for college two days after telling me about it.

"How's football?" She asks as if she's picking up the conversation where we left off.

"It's cool," I keep it short.

"Right," she says apprehensively as she reaches to keep the conversation going. "I know you might not agree, but it's really nice to see you."

"Right," I say sharply without much emotion.

"Spencer, I've wanted to call you so many times, but I feared you wouldn't pick up," she admits and she's probably right. I wouldn't have answered. But knowing I've been on her mind is sort of like a consolation prize.

"I've been really busy," I tell her and I'm sure she doesn't believe me.

"Listen, I have to go," she cuts the conversation short. And it doesn't take long for me to figure out why.

"High school basement parties are a lot different then when I was in school," a guy with tattoos and a beard says as he wraps his arm around her shoulders. "Either that, or my cousin just knows how to throw one hell of a party!"