Find Her, Keep Her (CFTM Sequel)

Chapter 6 (Part 2)

*Note: Click on the Youtube link above to listen to the Audiobook version of this chapter voiced by Kristen Maglonzo featuring music by The Dangerous Summer, Something Corporate, and Rooney!

Elias

Something about North Campus puts me at peace the second Caleigh and I set foot on the pavement. 

I step off the concrete bridge stretching between the business school and Northern Lights cafe and take in the view.

Things are easy here, no chaos, no crowds, just groups of students lounging under a grove of trees blocking out the LA sun. I haven't even finished checking everything out when Caleigh tugs on the bottom of my shirt and pulls me in the direction of a little convenience store a couple steps ahead.

"You need a hat," she says.

I try not to smile, but the idea of buying my first official piece of college swag has me buzzing.

A year ago, I didn't think I was going to college at all. After Lacey died, I kinda lost sight of life after high school. 

Back then, my future basically included getting high or wasted at random people's kick-backs until my family intervened or kicked me out. But then Jersey changed things. She acted like college was something even a guy like me could do.

Granted, I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but I'm happy I'm here--even if I don't really deserve to be. Maybe losing her for this long was a good thing, 'cause if I can be a better me when I see her again, maybe she'll think I'm worth coming back to.

"Sick! Do you think I can get one of those with the UCLA blew in on it?"

Caleigh cocks an eyebrow and stares at me confused.

"Blew in?"

"Yeah, our mascot. That bear thing."

She slips into the same kind of disappointed smile Jersey used to give me all the time.

"Oh, the Bruin? Of course. Just tell me what color you want, and I'll grab it for you."

"Blue and gold, baby. Wait, can't I come with you? I don't wanna be out here by myself, what if somebody recognizes me?"

I sound like a total pussy, but the idea of standing in a semi-crowded place solo has my heart racing after this morning. Escaping the parking lot crowd was crazy enough. Caleigh had to flag down two security guys to sneak me around the Sunset Village residential area just to make it out under the radar.

Once we were in the clear, the two of us sprinted down a long back road next to two huge sports fields and eventually cut through the business school to get here. Luckily, the stiffs in suits on that side of campus are too old and too busy to pay attention to me.

Maybe the chilled out cafe kids around here will be the same way. Everybody seems too caught up in their piles of books and coffee conversations to notice me.

Yet.

"It's better if you don't. I know the girl who works the cash register here, she's been obsessed with Tanner for the last three years, and it's probably best if she doesn't know that he has a single brother, you know?"

I open my mouth to correct her, but reality keeps me quiet. She's right. I am single. I've been single since February, I guess I just don't feel like I am.

"Sure, I'll just hang out here 'til you come back. Try not to take too long, okay?"

I settle into a metal chair, prop my elbows up on the table, and pull my hoodie further over my face. Caleigh rubs the top of my head like I'm some kind of lap dog.