Nineteen

Chapter Fifty-Nine

If you would have told me that I would be spending the first month of my college career in a triangle with two boys, one of them not being Bailey, I would have laughed in your face.

Yet, here I am, in a strangers truck riding to his frat house in order to get some of his things to take to a hotel that we're staying the night in. 

My mother would be so proud.

"We'll only stay for a few minutes," Collin says as we pull into the driveway of his house. I still don't see him living here, but he's full of surprises. 

"Are you friends with anyone here?" I ask him as we walk.

"A few," he says, "I like Clark. He's talked about moving in soon, if he can."

What?  I really need to talk to him. I've been distant from him for the last few days.

I choose to ignore what he said. 

When I walk in the house, there are people everywhere. Most of them are half naked with the school logo painted on them somewhere. The music is loud and I can barely hear Collin tell me that he'll be right back.

I walk through the crowd of people to the kitchen. 

"Hey," I hear him say from behind me. 

I turn to see Link leaning against the sink. Of course he's here.

"What are you doing here?" I blurt out. 

"I came with Clark," he yells over the music. 

"Oh, I should go find him," I say to end the awkward tension and walk away, but he stops me.

"Are you dating Kennedy?" he asks as he grabs my arm.

Oh no. "What? No. Why would you ask that?" I brush the long hair out of my face and twist it. It's a nervous habit. 

"Well, we go out and have a nice time but then I always see you with him. It's confusing, Emory."

I'm surprised by his sudden boldness. It's so unlike him.

When I don't answer, he speaks again. "I'm sorry for being so upfront. I've had a lot to drink and I've been thinking it for a while, but the alcohol makes me braver, I guess." He grins and takes a drink of whatever is in his cup. I can't help but smile back.

"I know it's confusing, and I'm sorry. If it helps, I'm confused too."

"It doesn't." He laughs and takes another drink, then offers it to me. I don't deny.

The drink is warm as it makes it's way through me. I have no idea what it is, but it's sweet. You can barely tell there's alcohol in it.

He points to an empty cup and I take that as an offer, and I nod as he pours me whatever he has.

"So, where is Kennedy?" He asks as we sit on two stools at the kitchen island.

"He went to get something, but he never came back." 

The drink is making my head foggy already. I can tell Link is feeling it too.

"What is this?" I say and look at my cup.

"I have no idea. It was all laid out when I got here and I've lost count on how many I've had."

I swear my eyes are playing tricks on me when I see Bailey walk in the small room. 

"What are you doing here?" he spits at me.

"Nice to see you, too." I say as I take a long gulp from my.. second? Third drink? I don't know.

"I just mean that I didn't think you'd be here," he corrects himself.

I try to stand but I don't feel good. I stumble and brace myself with the stool. My eyes are cloudy and I'm wondering what the hell I've been drinking. 

Link has his head on the table and I can tell he feels the same way.

"Are you two okay?" Bailey asks as he takes my hand.

I try to respond but my mouth can't make out the words. 

Right before I black out, I see Clark in front of me.

When my eyes flutter open I see a strange ceiling. Where am I?

My mind instantly jumps to the worst and I raise up. My head spins and I fall back onto the bed.

"Emory?" I can hear the voice but I can't make out who it is. "Wake up," it says again.