Second Chances ~ l.h.

Chapter 25

School has been dragging; it’s been a few months since I started school and its ok, but I’d rather be back in Australia. Christine and I turned 19; we went out to celebrate since our birthdays are a few days apart. I don’t talk to Luke, Gill, Katey, and the guys as much as I would like because of the time difference and being busy with school, but we did manage to video chat on my birthday and talked for about 3 or 4 hours.

I think it’s become pretty obvious to other students that I’m depressed, I mean who hasn’t noticed because everyone watches me either because of my prosthetic and or because I’m Luke’s girlfriend.  I’ve made a few new friends since being here, so it’s not just Christine. I’m not 100% close with them like I am with Christine, Katey and Gill and they’ll never compare to the three of them, but their ok I guess.

**

“Hey Katharine how you doing?” Maggie asked me, she was one of my new friends.

“Ok, happy it’s finally spring break.” I answered her. Christine and I sat at a lunch table outside, while, Maggie, and my other new friend Val sat down with us.

“Well are you doing anything tonight?” Val asked us.

“No we were just going to hang out in our dorm, maybe have a movie marathon.” I told her.

“Well there’s a party tonight at Joey’s, its open invite, you want to go?” Maggie inquired.

“Uh . . . sure.” I shrugged.

“Awesome, meet us outside in the quad at 7:30 ok?” Val said as they got up.

“Ok” I said as they walked away. I turned to Christine; she had a concerned and nervous look on her face.

“What?” I asked her.

“I don’t think you should go.”

“‘You’? Christine we were both invited.”

“Katharine I think we both know that I’m not, nor would I ever go to a college party.” She laughed.

“Yeah you’re too innocent for that.” I laughed with her.

“Why don’t you think I should go?” I asked.

“I don’t know I just don’t trust them and I think it’s a bad idea.”

“They’re my friends Christine, not friends like you, Katey and Gill, but they’re ok.”

“Yeah, but . . . ugh I don’t know, I mean if you want to go you can, but I’m not.”

“Ok” I shrugged it off and we continued eating our lunch.

***

Later that night I met up with Maggie and Val at the quad, we had to drive since the party is about 20 minutes away and way too far to walk with a prosthetic leg. When we got there the house was over flowing with people, partying and drinking.

“Don’t they know they’ll get in trouble if they get caught drinking?” I asked as we walked up onto the front porch, recognizing students from my class. Students were all around us, engulfed in their own conversations with others, not even minding us.

“God Katharine you act like you’ve never had a drink before.” Val laughed as we entered the house finding our way back to the kitchen.

“I have but-” I was cut off.

“But nothing, relax. Get your mind off Luke and them, have some fun!” Val said handing me a solo cup filled with beer from the sea of other cups on the counter filled with different drinks.