180 Degrees- Completed

Chapter Eighteen

"Oh. See now I get it." I looked at the girl speaking as I left the changing room. 

"Get what?" I pulled my bag onto my shoulder, pushing my hair out my face before putting my sunglasses back on my head. 

"James." Caz hit her arm, rolling her eyes before hooking her arm through me. They all laughed. I knew it was a joke. I didn't get it either. 

I put my bag into the back of my car before turning back to Caz and Liv who had demanded I drive with them, leaving my car here. 

It wasn't a long drive but I had a chance to message him. 

Sorry about the slow reply, I finished but we're going out for drinks and food.

I got the spot :) 

Oh good! Congratulations!
Have fun baby. Call me if you need me to pick you up okay?

I will do x

I locked my phone as we pulled up, climbing out of the car at the same time as the other girls. 

I hadn't seen him in a few days. It was Wednesday now. Monday evening I went to the gym, Tuesday I had movie night and then obviously tonight. It was weird but I missed seeing him. I don't think I'd tell him that. Lord knows his ego didn't need inflating anymore than it currently was. 

We got into the place without an issue. No need to check our fake IDs , just straight in. Caz me and Liv were at the front and the guy just nodded at her like they knew her. I'm guessing we'd be spending a lot of time here, just with how comfortable they all seemed. 

"So tells us about yourself Avery." I sipped from my drink, sitting up straight and smiling. 

"There's not much to tell." I chuckled. "I went to Lightfoot Academy in Chicago which is where I'm from, obviously. My parents were excessively protective because my older sister came to college, got excessively drunk one night and ended up pregnant to twins. They didn't want me to end up like that so I was on this like major lockdown. No friends, except my best friend, Izzy,  and we could only hang out at my house in the dining room, no boys, no going out, no boys, no parties, no boys, no drinking." 

"Let me guess? No boys?" I laughed. 

"You know what? You're right." I nodded sarcastically at them. "Graduated with honours, top of my class. I played volleyball there and our team was always top of the league." 

"Don't forget to mention you got most of the points in that final game." Caz raised her eyebrow. 

"Yeah but that's normal." I shrugged, sipping again. "Though she'd never have you believe it." 

"Who's she?" I pulled my phone out finding the picture I'd shown Eve a few days ago, zooming in on her face and passing my phone around.

"Her name is Penelope. Goes by Penny. She was the captain." 

"Ugh. She looks like a stuck up bitch." Me and Caz laughed. 

"She was. She's at Stanford now. Her sister is the captain now, and before her it was her other sister. She's going to be taking over. It's not even a question so we should have a good, easy year next year." I smirked. "Though Izzy is on the team there too so beating her is going to suck." 

"That's going to be hard. Have you guys spoken about it?" 

"Yeah. Plenty of times. It's just a game at the end of the day. We know each others weaknesses which is going to be really funny to watch. But whichever way it goes, there's no hard feelings. It'll just be nice to see her again." 

"Oh who is HE?" I turned my head to where one of the girls had zoomed out. It was a prom photo so of course Oscar was in it. 

"That is Oscar. Penny's boyfriend. He was captain of the soccer team, now also playing over in Stanford with her." 

"Oh he is beautiful." The photo went back around the table and I just nodded, agreeing with every single thing they were saying. Eventually my phone made it's way back to me. 

"Is he the guy you had a crush on?" Caz asked and I nodded. "I can see why. I'd struggle having to keep my hands off him too." I snickered. 

"Well, now he's 2,791 miles away so we don't have to worry about that." I snickered. 

"His face looks familiar. I'm sure I've seen him around this week." I let out a single 'ha'. "Maybe it's his doppelganger." 

"Oh if he has one of those I'd like to get my hands on him." Liv snickered. 

The night went on with lots of this back and forth giggling about boys, learning who had history with who, and the drinks kept flowing. We were only half way around the table with everyone's stories and I was well passed tipsy. I think Caz was as well because we kept looking at each other and just laughing at everything and nothing. 

"Okay. I am not driving home tonight. Who's sober?" Caz chuckled as we stood outside the bar. Liv raised her hand, stepping forward and taking Caz's keys. Another few girls raised their hands. It worked out that I was just the only person who wouldn't fit in a car.

"I can get a ride home so don't worry." I smiled, pulling my phone out. "Where are we?" I looked around, almost falling over but the girls held me up as we all laughed. I listened to the ringing, looking at the time on my watch. "It's not even that late girls. We are disgraceful." They all laughed, holding each other up. 

"Vee?" 

"JAMES" 

"Oh god." He laughed down the phone. "You done?" 

"Yes. Can you pick me up please? Pretty please?" 

"Of course. I did tell you to let me know didn't I?" The chorus of aww's caught him off guard. "Can they all hear me?" 

"Yeah I can't hear very well so you're on loud speaker."  He chuckled down the phone and I heard his door close. 

"Send me your location beautiful." 

"We're just at Mulligan's James." Caz spoke, stepping towards me carefully. He groaned. It wasn't like the ones he gave me. This was different. It was a fed up one. 

"We've all told you girls not to go there alone. Why do you keep going?" 

"You're so dramatic James. It's not that bad." 

"The bartender literally felt one of you up last year Caz." 

"Yeah and he doesn't work there anymore and it's not like I didn't enjoy it." She chuckled.

"You're all being stupid. I'm hanging up so I can come pick you up Vee. Don't move okay?" 

"Okay! Bye!!"