Nineteen

Chapter Ninety-Two

Both the boys stand up straight, challenging each other.
I will not be in the middle of another testosterone battle. "He's my date," I stand and take Mac around the arm, "and we're going downstairs now."
I pull him as I climb through the window. Both boys are still staring at one other as Mac climbs out behind me.
"What a prick," he says as we stride through the bedroom.
I allow Mac to leave the room ahead of me, and I turn to look at the person we left on the balcony. He's sitting in the window, staring at me as I leave his presence.
It's almost as if I can read his thoughts all with a nothingness look.
"I hope you aren't seeing that guy," Mac says to me as we go down the stairs.
"He's nothing but trouble. I've seen papers and pictures of him and others getting in fights all over campus."
"I'm not," I assure him. We walk into the kitchen and he offers me another drink, I agree on just one more. I don't want to get drunk, I'm here to make progress of becoming a normal person again.
We sit down on the stools against the kitchen island. "So," he begins, "we're friends, but I know nothing about you."
I tell him about my family at home, and my past with Clark and Bailey. I also throw in my friend Liah, even if I haven't heard from her. I tell him about wanting to become a writer, but also added in a few courses to eventually gain my teaching license.
He tells me about his family. His mom and dad live in California, and he's an only child. They live right outside of Hollywood, and I can't hide my reaction to it. He assures me it isn't glamorous like I expect. He wants to become a cop and hopefully an investigator.
"You have the body for a cop," I say. He gives me a grin and I mentally slap myself. "I didn't mean you have a hot body, I just mean you're built."
Mental slap.
"I mean, you are hot," I actually slap my palm on my forehead.
"I get it," he laughs. "I'm the hot cop."
I feel my face heating up and I laugh along with him.
I take another sip of my drink when I hear loud shouts from the living room. We both stand and look to each other before walking into the room.
There's a crowd of people playing some kind of game. It looks like they're all holding a card.
All at once they throw the card onto the table. One guy shakes his head and takes off his shirt.
A simple game with one goal in mind—get everyone naked.
I shake my head. "This is something that someone just made up to get naked. It doesn't even have a point."
"The lowest card has to take off a piece of clothing, kiss the person with the highest card, or drink a cup of beer," Mac says.
I roll my eyes. "Stupid game," I mumble.
Right as I finish my rant, I hear a familiar voice break over the crowd.
"Collin, get your ass over here and join the next round!" Ryan yells.
I spin around to see Collin on a couch, surrounded by some guys and a few girls. One of the girls is sitting on the chair arm, twisting her fingers through his hair.
I twitch a little.
"I'm good," he says. Ryan doesn't take no for an answer, "come on, maybe you'll get lucky."
Collin doesn't change his expression. Instead, he scans the area and his eyes find mine. He looks to me and then to my partner for the night.
"One round," he says, his eyes never breaking from mine. I shift where I stand.
"Can we go?" I ask Mac.
Before he can speak, Clark yells. "Mac, get in on this round!"
He looks uncomfortable, but a bunch of the guys involved start making noise and chanting him on. "I have to," he looks at me.
I nod ams watch him as he jumps the couch and takes his place beside of Clark.
"Emory, come play a round," Ryan hisses. I look at him and he's wearing a smug grin.
He seen who I was with when he asked Collin to play. He seen who I was with when he asked me to join.
I shake my head and decline. "Come on, there are twenty people playing, what are the odds?"
I look at him and he adds, "you can sit with your date." He nods to Mac and he also as looks uncomfortable as I am.
I can feel Collin's eyes on me. That's exactly why I sit down next to Mac to play.