Finding Your Person

Chapter 9

I pulled into my driveway, and to my surprise, I couldn't believe all the cars that were there. I couldn't pinpoint exactly whose cars they were, but with every back bumper having a different college logo on it, I could only assume they were Brady's friends. I was always jealous of how Brady not only had Liam, but also so many other close friends. I walked into the house feeling disgusting with dried up sweat all over me and my dirty uniform still on. I heard voices all laughing in the kitchen, so I headed there. There I found Liam and Brady alongside three of their friends from high school, James, Brett, and Ryan.
"Hey, what's up? I heard you killed it at your game?" Ryan hollered from across the kitchen.
"I did okay," I replied.
"You did amazing," Brady said, throwing an arm around me, and then he began to mess up my hair with his other hand, as if my hair didn't already look like it had been through a wind tunnel.
I pushed him off, and he just laughed. Brett then made his way over to me.
"How have you been?" he hugged me then leaned on the kitchen countertop, waiting for my response.
"I've been doing well. How's college?" I replied.
"Pretty good. You look good," he replied with a joking smirk. I couldn't tell if there was some truth behind that comment. However, knowing I probably looked like I got hit by a car, and that was before Brady had messed up my hair even more, somehow I doubt that it was anything more than a joke.
"That's enough," Brady raised his eyebrows, glaring at him.
"Relax, Brady," Brett said, putting his hands up. I don't know why Brady cared; I knew they were all messing around. None of them meant it, and I knew that. Besides, I also knew I wasn't anything special. There were so many more beautiful girls out there than me. If anything, I'm pretty sure I was below average.
Quickly, Liam switched the topic, "Hey, we are going to leave here in a half-hour or so. You're coming with Brady and me, right?"
"Yeah, if you don't mind. Scotty will drive me home later, because we are going to a party after."
"Ooh, a party. Well, will there be boys there?" Ryan asked. I could see a silly smirk begin to appear on his face.
"Well, yes, since I'm not four years old, there will be boys. One of them is actually my boyfriend," I responded sarcastically, followed by me laughing.
"You have one of those? Dump him, you don't need him," Brett joined in.
"Well thanks," I giggled. I didn't know how to reply, other than my normal sarcasm.
"Well, if you also have to get ready for a party, I know you probably need to go shower, so hurry up. Unless you aren't going to be standing within a twenty-foot range of anyone," Brady said with a smug look.
"I just ran for over ninety minutes, and I reckon I still smell better than you," I smiled sarcastically at Brady; and Liam, along with Brett, began to laugh. He then picked up a hand towel that was on the dining table and threw it at me. I caught it and tossed it onto the kitchen counter.
"Yeah, yeah. Just go get ready," Brady shook his head at me.
"I'm going, I'm going." I made my way out of the kitchen and up to my bedroom.
I looked at the time and knew it was going to take me more than a half-hour to get ready. It's not like I wore a lot of makeup or even did anything special with my hair. I just took such long showers. I really tried to hurry, because I felt bad if all the guys had to wait for me.
I walked into my bedroom and couldn't believe all of the clothes everywhere. I don't know why I was so shocked, what did I think my room was magically going to put itself back together and be clean from this morning.
I quickly went into my bathroom and turned on the shower. I figured I would let the water warm up and tidy up my room a bit. Since I was the only girl, my parents were nice enough to give me the room that had the bathroom connected to it. Of course it had another door leading to the hallway where anyone could use it, but Aiden usually used my parents, and Brady was at college. Therefore, the bathroom had pretty much been all mine. I made sure I locked the other door though, now that I knew everyone was home.
Since Gabby and Scotty were coming to sleepover, I knew I needed to clean my room up a bit. I grabbed all of the clothes that were dirty and threw them in the laundry hamper. I opened up my window to let some fresh air in, not that my room smells at all. It didn't, but with me running around, I thought the coolness would help me move faster. Halfway through picking up the clothes that were scattered around my room, I had decided that everything was dirty regardless if I even wore it or not. I threw every single article of clothing in the hamper. I was still in my dirty uniform, so I tried to make my bed as best as I could without touching or jumping all over it. My room was already looking ten times better.
I quickly ran into the bathroom and jumped in the shower. Suddenly I yelped, and jumped back from the water. With all that was going on today I didn't realize that from my game and all of the slide tackling I did, I had an open cut on my leg. Anyone who has played softball, baseball, or slides in soccer knows the pain of road rash on the side of their upper thigh.
I took my time resubmerging the cut in water, and then I heard a knock on the door.
"You okay?" I could barely make out what I thought was Brady's voice.
"Yes, just a burn on my leg," I called back.
"Just making sure you weren't getting stabbed to death or, I don't know, scared of the water," he shouted back laughing.
"No, I like water, unlike you, I shower pretty often," I was pretty amused with myself.
"Ha. Ha. Next time I'll let the psycho in your shower kill you," he yelled back.
I heard the door shut, and just rolled my eyes with a smile on my face.
Once I was out of the shower, I quickly dried myself off and wrapped a towel around me. I then ran into my bedroom and started to get dressed. I found a light blue pair of jeans that I figured were nice enough to wear to the party after the game. They were high waisted with a few rips in them. Then I grabbed a black, tight, long-sleeve shirt. It was a low cut shirt, but I wasn't worried since I didn't really have boobs to begin with. I tucked the shirt it into my jeans. I knew it was going to be freezing at tonight's game, so I didn't care how many layers I threw on.
I looked at the clock and was pretty proud that I still had fifteen minutes until they wanted to leave. I walked back into the bathroom, and plugged in my blow dryer. I flipped my head over and started blow drying my hair all crazily.
My hair was pretty quick to dry. I flipped my head up when I felt like my hair was pretty much dry and then walked into my bedroom to put on some makeup.
When I walked into my bedroom, Liam was sitting at my desk spinning in the chair and Brady was lying on my bed throwing a ball up at my ceiling.
"Ohh, my gosh! You two could have knocked," I said, shocked that they were in my room.
"We did," Brady answered.
"Several times, in fact," Liam chimed in.
"What if I was naked?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at them.
"Gross," Brady replied in a disgusted tone.
"Well I could have been," I said walking over to my mirror on my desk.
"That shirt looks a little too low." Brady sat up on my bed with a serious face.
"I think she's fine," Liam said, looking at Brady. Then he turned his chair to me and continued, "You look nice, Mas."
"Thank you. Now scoot. I have to put my makeup on," I said, making a swatting motion with my hands.
"Wow, I'm hurt," Liam put his hands over his chest. "Next time I'll stay on Brady's side and grab a trash bag, and cut three holes in it. Then I'll throw it over your head."
"I'll hold her down," Brady said looking at me.
"Try me." I glared up at Brady and Liam. They looked at each other then jumped up. I spun the chair around quickly and kicked my feet up at them. I tried kicking but Brady grabbed my leg and my one arm, while Liam grabbed the other. They picked me up off the chair, and carried me across my room to my bed. They swung me back and forth, then finally they hurled me on top of my bed. I just laughed and laying in bed, I felt both of them simultaneously hop on each side of me. In that moment I felt so happy. I felt like I had two best friends that I knew would always love me.
I sat up and hopped off the bed, looking back at them I spoke up, "This is why I'm always late."
They both started nodding at each other trying to keep a straight face. They turned their heads to look at each other, and as their eyes met they quickly broke out in a laugh.
"Whatever," I said, throwing my hands in the air and walked over to my desk to put my makeup on.
I overheard them saying something about 'meeting back up with the guys later.' I'm pretty sure they had mentioned Brett was having a party.
I continued to throw on some mascara. My face was pretty clear, for once in my life, so I just covered the blemishes I did have with some concealer. I then put some blush on my face, and bronzer so I wouldn't look so ghostly.
"Alright, I have to go to the bathroom. Are you going to be ready soon?" Brady asked, heading in the bathroom.
"Yes, just one more minute," I responded.
He gave me a thumbs up and headed into the bathroom.
As I began to put some lip gloss on, I saw Liam looking at me.
"Do you want some?" I spun my head around.
"Is it cherry flavored?" he asked.
I looked at the label. "It's bacon."
"Really?" he looked shocked.
"No, you loon," I let out a laugh.
"I don't even know if it has a flavor."
"They all have a flavor."
"Ohh, I didn't know you were such an expert on lip gloss."
He shrugged his soldiers. "I'm a man of many talents."
"I don't doubt that." He smiled at me.
Brady opened the door and barged into the room. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, sir! Just have to put on my shoes." I stood up and walked over into my closet. I grabbed a black pair of boots. They went just above my ankles. As I was putting them on, I fell back on the ground. Brady and Liam just looked at me shaking their heads, and I heard a few giggles slip out.
"You okay?" Liam said reaching down giving me a hand.
"I'd be better if I could get my shit together."
"Maybe one day."
"Here's to one day." I grabbed his hand and he pulled me up.