Pieces [Wattpad's Editor's Choice]

19: gOoSbUmPs

Thursday Afternoon

I sat at a table in the Pool Hall, a hidden gem on campus not many people knew about. It was located on the bottom floor of the Revolve Rec (named because it was the main building in the center of campus that all the buildings-and students-revolved around, like the sun. It was a recreation center with plenty of study halls and rooms for people to eat and hang out in between classes. No doubt the sweetest spot on campus. I'd miss this place the most after graduating).

The Pool Hall was my favorite place to go in the Revolve Rec. It reminded me of a bar (minus the drinks) because there were plenty of pool tables, TVs, a video game station, and a snack bar in the corner. Music always blasted loud enough through the speakers, I thought my brain would explode in my skull, but it was a lovely place. Perfect way to give your brain a break from all the cramming. The irony.

Also, this was my go-to spot for checking out guys. It reeked testosterone inside. I could count the amount of girls there on one hand; including myself.

The guys ranged from someone-bleach-my-eyes to I'll-taste-you-even-if-you-haven't-showered, so it was good diversity. Sometimes they noticed me, other times they didn't. They only noticed when I played ping-pong since I was such a competitive player; I usually hit the ball into a couple people's heads and, more often than not, knocked out a couple unlucky bystanders. And guys still had the audacity to NOT ASK FOR MY NUMBER. Competitive chicks were sexy. (What was that about Fran's Disease, Isaac?)

Today, that's not why I was there.

Arrow had apparently spent the weekend reading about different recreational activities, and pool was number one on his list. He wanted to show me what he learned so I could critique him (as if I was the pro).

Yeah. That was his second request. For me to critique his pool playing skills. I'd learned the first time around not to assume every invite from a guy meant a date. And whaddaya know? I was right this time. See, I was getting better at this see-the-glass-half-empty thing.

So there I sat at a round table alone, my chin in my hand, as I watched him play with three other guys. I only went to the pool hall for the guys and ping pong, never pool. I totally sucked. The one time I played I ended up with a bloody finger that almost needed stitches.

"Aw shit!" one of them said. "Wrong one!"

"You hit it a little too hard," Arrow said, crouching and aiming his stick where the other guy previously stood. "But not bad."

The one who missed ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. He had shaggy brown hair that looked like it probably hid some stray leaves in it. I always saw him playing pool here, but usually he was the one to instruct new players. Right now, the skin between his eyebrows scrunched so tightly I thought his forehead was gonna fall off.

Even with my soulmate RIGHT THERE in the pool hall, where I always had some idea I'd find my soulmate, I was alone. Completely, utterly, alone. The circular table I sat at had Cheeto crumbs, some pizza sauce, and a little spilled liquid (yellow? Should I have been concerned?) on the surface, but I still had a spacious enough area for my notebook with my list. The seat across from me only held my backpack; I was saving it for Arrow in case he ever wanted to join me.

With a sparkly red gel pen, I wrote the number thirteen in my notebook. Next to it, I wrote, "...then REALLY (all caps; I went over the letters four times to embolden them) sleep together." I reread it as many times as I colored over it. Just seeing the words on paper scared me; no longer were they thoughts, but living, breathing, VISIBLE words. There they were, resting comfortably on paper free for anyone to read.