Nineteen

Chapter Fifty-Six

"So let me get this straight, they let prisoners play football?" Links asks me near the end of the movie.

"Yes. How have you never seen this?" I ask in return as I grab a spare blanket to cover up with. 

He covers himself up as well. "I just don't think that happens in real life."

I laugh and he joins me. "You don't believe everything you see?"

"Not exactly," he replies as he slides down the prop until his shoulder is resting on my stomach and he's nearly laying completely flat.

We sit in silence until the movie completely ends.

"Well, that was actually a good movie," Link says as he helps me up from the ground. We both begin to gather our things in order to leave.

"I agree. Nelly always puts on a show," I say and laugh before beginning to walk across the field.

There are at least 400 people here, and I believe every single one of them decided to go to the bathroom at the same time. "I need to stop by the bathroom," I say as we pass.

"I'll wait on you around the corner," he says. I hand him my things and walk inside.

There's obviously nothing open, and I should have known before I even tried it, so I instantly turn around and head back out.

I'm stopped when someone runs into me on my way out, dropping all of her things.

"I'm sorry! Wait, Emory?" The girl says to me as she picks up her purse from the ground.

"Jade? I didn't see you walking in." She's dressed in really short shorts and a black hoodie. I know the hoodie.

"It's my fault," she says, "I wasn't paying attention. I wish I knew you were here. We could have sat together." Shes smiling as she grabs my hands to hold. I like Jade, even if she did try to date Bailey.  I just wish I could see her more.

"Yeah, that would have been nice," I reply.

"Who are you here with? Is it your cute football friend?" She grins at me as we start to walk through a group of girls to finally get out of the crowded bathroom.

"No, I'm here with a different friend," I point over to Link, who's standing against the wall, not noticing I've made my way out.

"He's cute," she says, "I'm here with someone too, but this time it's not your boyfriend."

We both laugh at the lame joke. "Oh! There he is," she says as she waves her hand in the air.

I feel my blood turn cold when I see the familiar brown eyes come around the corner. 

She smiles and grabs his hand. "Collin, do you know Emory?" 

I'm not surprised when he doesn't answer. I press my lips into a line and nod to him.

Right as I do, I feel a hand press against my back.

"Are you ready?" Link says into my ear. I take my opportunity.

"Jade, this is Link. He's my date for the night." I scoot closer to him when I say this.

He doesn't seem to notice, instead he reaches his hand out to Jade and she takes it. "Nice to meet you."

"This is Collin," she says. If only she knew that they already met.

"It was nice to meet you, but we should be on our way," he says as he takes my hand in his. I can feel Collin's eyes on me during this.

"Okay. I'll see you at home!" Jade yells out, but we both know she won't be home.

Is she staying with him? Is that why she doesn't come home?

That isn't my business. Why should I care, anyway?

Link and I make our way through the crowd, hand in hand, until we're back at his vehicle. We get in and get comfortable before I feel my phone vibrate with a text message.