Nineteen

Chapter Eighty-Nine

He's sitting on the floor, back against the wall, when he looks up at me. His eyes lack all color, and I can barely recognize him. He looks to me, and then shifts his gaze back to wheee it was before. I'm not moving, but he starts to get father away from me. I try to walk back to him, but my feet can't seem to move.
I open my eyes and see the bright sun shining in on me. My phone is in my hand with a number already dialed. I must of fell asleep debating on whether or not to actually complete a call.

"Hello?" The voice on the other line seems tired, out of breath, even.
"Mac?" I ask as I check the screen to make sure I dialed the right number.
"Yeah, it's me," he says as his breathing begins to shift back to normal.
"Are you busy?" I ask. I know he had an early practice, but I don't want to interrupt any plans.
"Yeah, actually. I just finished practice and I'm getting ready to go on a date," he says. I can hear a door shut in the background, signaling that he's in his car.
"Oh, I'll let you go, then," I say, embarrassed that he's demising me.
He laughs. "Alright, I'll take to you later, Emory," he says right before he ends the call.
Poor Emory, alone once again. I scrape myself off of the bed and gather some clean clothes. A shower has to make me feel better, nothing else seems to work in my favor. I glance in the mirror to see my face is now a deep black color. I let out a sigh and walk out of my room.
The hallways are mostly clear, and it registers with me that I didn't even bother to check the time. I have one class today, but I already finished the assignments and claimed sick-leave.
The shower rooms are completely empty, so I take my time. The hot water runs over my body and it's almost refreshing. Once I'm finished, I'm feeling remarkably better.
I wrap my body in a towel and just grab the clean clothes to take with me, since there isn't really anyone out at this time.
I pad down the hallway in my shower sandals and right as I turn the corner to my room hall, I see him.
Mac is standing against the wall outside of my room. I look down at myself and start to regret the towel.
I have my shower bag draped over my arm, since I can't carry it with my cast. When he sees me, he gives a warm smile and starts to walk toward me.
"Do you want me to grab that?" He asks and points to my bag. I nod my head. I try to use my arm to cover myself, regardless of the towel that's already doing the job.
"I thought you had a date?" I ask him as I open my door.
He smiles a proud smile. "I do, we're going out."
I scoff. "Yeah, okay."
He places my bag on my desk and puts his hands int he pockets of his athletic shorts. "We are. You shouldn't stay in tonight," he says.
I think about Link's invitation to the party and how I made it sound like I prefer Mac to him. Which couldn't be more wrong.
"What do you have in mind?" I sit in the bed, careful with my body towel.
"A party, if you're interested. I know crowds can be scary after what happened," he says. I give him a smile. He's constantly thinking about me and what happened, and I couldn't appreciate it more.
"And besides, it's a costume party. We can dress up," he says with a smile.
That makes me smile. Clark mentioned the costume code last time, but I was busy and couldn't go. This time I'm glad I'm free.
"That sounds awesome," I say. I earn a real smile as a reward.
"Really? Okay, well, what do you want to go as?" He asks.
I think. I have no idea. I could barely come up with Halloween costumes when I was younger.
I shrug my shoulders at him. He frowns. It hits me.
What if Collin is there? What if he brings his other girl?
I have to remind myself that he isn't any of my concern. If he is there, he can see how strong I am, and that he never held a place with me anyway.
Even if it is all just a show.
"It would be ironic if we went as a frat couple. One of the really overdramatized costumes to show how ridiculous the whole thing is," Mac speaks up.
Not the best idea, but it's better than anything I have. "What am I suppose to wear?" I ask. I have no idea what a girl at a frat party would wear. I know what I wear, but he said it needs to be dramatic.
"I can give you my football jersey to tie up, and you could wear a pair of jean shorts. Make sure your makeup is really vibrant," he laughs. I giggle at the thought of the outfit.
"I can go in colored board shorts and a pair of checked vans with athletic socks. Not a bad look until I pair it with a Fanny pack, backwards visor, and sunglasses," he stands and does a spin, imagining himself dressed that way.
I laugh and applaud him. "Am I suppose to be attached to you? I don't know how they act," I say.
"I really don't know either," he laughs. I join in.