Nineteen

Chapter Sixty-Two

"Mhm," I groan out.

I hear him stand to the floor again. "I'll let you sleep. I have another party to attend," he says out with confidence. I give him a thumbs up.

He walks over and smacks my thumb before I hear the door open and shut.

I'm still so tired. But I'm even more hungry. I rise up and debate on what to throw on to wear.

I decide on a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. I'm in Florida and it's always hot, but it's getting late and this is the most comfortable thing I have.

I redo my hair in the messiest bun possible and keep the sunglasses on. I don't think I can face the lights just yet. I grab my keys from my desk and walk out the door. 

I look, and feel, like a zombie. Girls pass me in the hall with Miami t-shirts and full faces of makeup. Then I remember.

There's a football game, why did Clark tell me practice? 

It doesn't matter. I'm sure he made a mistake. Honestly, I don't have the energy to care about it right now. 

When I step outside, the sun is low but just as bright. My eyes almost screw shut and I can feel my headache already. I'm not hungover, I don't think, but I'm just tired.

When I sit down in my car, I hear my phone buzzing. Who is it now? 

I lift my phone and see that it's an unknown number. Usually, I would ignore it and go on about my day, but I'm afraid they will keep calling me and interrupting my sulking.

"Hello?" I say into the speaker as I shift my car in reverse.

"Hello. Is this Emory Shay?"

I begin to drive. "Yeah, who is this?"

"This is Sarah from the bookstore on main. We received your application and would like for you to come for an interview next week."

Holy shit. I forgot all about my need for a job. 

"Yeah, that sounds great. What day is good?" 

"Either Tuesday or Thursday. We're not very picky, but we would like to speak with you."

"Okay, thank you. I'll come by then," I say.

"Thank you, see you then."

We hang up the phone and I can't help but feel a little excited. I hope I can get a job. Maybe if I save some money me and Clark can get an apartment and avoid this campus all together.

What am I saying? Clark loves the attention he gets here. He would never leave.

When I pull into the small drive through, I find myself thinking about Collin. I wonder what he's doing? What is he wearing? Who is he with? Is he thinking about me?

I remind myself that all of that is none of my concern, but I can't help but wonder.

I pay the lady in the window as she hands me my bag. I can tell she's staring at my glasses, considering it's dark by now and I look ridiculous. I take them off and set them in the seat as I drive away.

The roads are completely crowded around the college, I assume due to the possibility that the football game has ended and everyone is heading home.

I make my way through the traffic, somehow, and get back to my familiar parking lot. The campus is crowded with college students.

I'm a little hesitant to walk alone in the dark, but I have to face it sometime or another. I grab my things and step out of the car.

I walk through the parking lot onto the grass when I see Clark and one of his team mates standing by a tree with a few girls.

I don't want to interrupt, so I keep moving, but he sees me. 

"Hey, Em!" he yells as he pushes his way through the people he's with.

I turn around to meet him. I don't want the people he's with to see me, given my appearance. 

"Hi," I say and give my best fake smile.

"I'll be right up after I say goodbye to my friends. Unless you want to go out?" 

I actually laugh at what he says. "No, thanks. I think I'm good for a while. You can go, though. Don't worry about me."

Right as I say that, his team mate walks over to introduce himself.

I tense up when I realize I look like complete trash and this man is extremely handsome. 

"Hi, I'm Mac." He reaches a hand out to shake.

"Emory," I say as I shake his hand.

"It's nice to meet you. Clark talks a lot about you, so of course I had to see what the fuss was about."