Chasing You

35

LACEY

I hand my cups over in Carter's direction. She grabs the cups from my hand and lines them up in front of her. We are at our apartment tailgating for the Duke game today. Various people are in our apartment either waiting for drinks, playing drinking games, or dancing to the music. Carter is on music and drink duty, Julie is making snacks for everyone, and Tori is somewhere around her chirping with people. Rae is cheering today so she is unable to attend our festivities. This tailgating party at our place was a very last minute decision on our part.

Since last night's shitshow, we needed something to get our minds off of that bullshit. I hope that was the last of Michael Burke and Jordan Kappalac's bullshit but let's be honest here, that will never happen. They will never just leave them alone. Michael hates Braden and I because we apparently fucked them over. Which makes no sense. Michael was the one that caused all of the drama in the first place. Braden was just following me. Chasing me because he cared about me. Cares about me and Michael just wanted something to conquer.

We are making orange crushes and hoping it eases our stress. Lucky for the boys any video of them being there or the fight. Carter hands me an orange crush and I hand it to one of the people who asked us for one. We go down the line of empty cups until everyone is satisfied with a drink in their hand.

"Wow, I feel like a bartender," Carter comments, grabbing her own drink. I chuckle at her. "Maybe I should try to become a bartender."

"You don't even need to work for the rest of your life, you have it in the bag already," Tori comments, sipping from her drink. Carter smacks her shoulder, rolling her eyes.

"Don't say that. What if we break up?" she asks Tori. I roll my eyes at her.

"There's no way the two of you will break up," I comment back.

"Never say never, shit happens," Carter says, raising her eyebrows at the two of us. I shake my head at her as Julie walks over with buffalo chicken dip.

"You're so dramatic," Tori says back to her. Carter ignores her and grabs a chip scooping up some dip.

"Why is she dramatic?" Julie asks, scooping some dip. Carter sighs loudly.

"She is saying her and Asher aren't staying together," Tori says. Carter gasps and shoots Tori a glare.

"I did not say that. I said never say never. I don't know what's going to happen next year with everything."

I grab some buffalo chicken dip while Julie glances at Carter unconvinced. Julie leans against the counter picking at the fruit, "You two are getting married, he's too in love with you."

I nod my head in agreement. I think Asher and Carter are endgame. I don't see them with anyone else. I think Carter is just pessimistic about it because she doesn't want to be with anyone else. Although I feel like Rae and Carter are a little on edge about them leaving next year for the NBA.

"I think we should all forget about them leaving next year and just try to have fun. We are all stressed enough," Julie sighs. I pile some dip into my mouth because it just reminds me about how this game is going to play out.

"Lacey, you okay? I think you stopped breathing?" Carter asks, laying a hand on my shoulder. I swallow whatever is in my mouth and nod my head.

"I'm stress eating. I just don't like what Michael walked away saying," I say shaking my head. It's like he knew that they wouldn't win that fight but now? I think they will do something during the game.

"C'mon he's a little bitch, he won't do shit," Tori says waving her hand at me. I sigh, shaking my head at her as I grab my drink. I take a big gulp as Julie and Carter study me.