Partners ≡ Nick Robinson

five

Nick's POV

I'm not in the mood to go home. No matter how exhausted and hungry I am from practice, I refuse to go home this early.

It's because I know that my mom's stupid boyfriend is at our house again. Who would have thought that after 13 years of a miserable and dreadful marriage with my father, you would have thought that she'd had given up on love already. But I guess not. Her new boyfriend stops by every other day and stays there until night time. It's like he practically lives there for Christ's sake.

My mother had been delusional towards the fact that her so called marriage was a one-sided deal. Now she's at it again. With a man named Shawn Porter.

It's only five o'clock right now and there's nothing more that I'd hate than to stay there with them.

After practice, I intentionally headed out the right exit of the building instead of the left exit. That's where everybody leaves. In the locker room, all the guys were asking Drew about Jordan. It was weird overhearing it especially since Drew acted like I wasn't in the room.

"Yeah I'm taking her out tonight. No big deal." He told everyone.

What's a no big deal? The date is a no big deal? Or was Jordan a no big deal?

I just wanted to leave the building. It was just too uncomfortable to stay and listen. That's why I was the first to get outta there. I didn't even bother taking a shower. I don't even want to know how I smell right now.

I didn't really expect Drew to come up to me and ask me for help or whatever. We're not that close anyways. Even if we are both in the same circle of friends. I always had this weird tension with him. Although neither one of us did anything to anything to the other. We talked when we had to, we hung out when we had to, and pretty much only noticed each others existence when we had to.

It may sound rude but none of us take it personally. Well I know I don't.

Drew is known for being one of the most liked among the girls at school. He also dates a lot of them and doesn't really commit to relationships. However I can't say that I'm any different. I have my reasons. And my reasons are different than his.

After about thirty minutes of endless wandering on the streets with my car, I decide that it would be a good idea to find a place to hang out until I decide it's the right time to go home.

I'm not sure if it's a habit or a reflex but my fingers seem to find its way to Jordan's name under my phone's contact list. No doubt, I would go to her house right now since I usually do whenever I don't want to go home.

I wonder how her date is going.

I regret not talking to her when I had the chance. It would've been smart if I went to her at the bleachers when I got out. I knew Drew was in the showers so I could've talked to her for a bit.

Knowing her, she's probably shaking in nerves. Just like last year, when this guy she found cute from english class asked her what was the homework. She was as tense as a statue and her cheeks looked like she got a sunburn. That was a funny day.

Should I text her? Or should I just wait until tomorrow? I can't tell if I'm worried or just curious.

It's usually the other way around. Except Jordan is already use to me going on dates.

I want to be happy for her, of course. It's just kind of hard to adjust my head around it.

Since she's caught up at the moment, I try to think of another person's house I could go to.

I quickly dial his number and he picks up in two rings. "Hello?"

"Parker. Can I come over?"