“Oh my god, of course. That’s Olivia! She’s basically like the queen of us freshmen.”
So they are freshmen, I think as the louder one drunkenly cackles at her own… joke? Was it a joke? The quiet friend speaks up.
“Her name’s Olivia Beckett,” she squeaks. “She’s best friends with Lily Newhouse who also is really popular, but um Olivia’s a lot nicer andsosmart. I heard that Will Chapman is going to ask her out…you’re his brother right?” Her face is crimson now and I scrunch my eyebrows at them.
“Who told you that?” My tone comes out harsh causing the girl to turn bright red.
“Um… that you’re his brother?” she stutters. I roll my eyes realizing this girl clearly came to her own conclusion.
“No— that he’s asking Olivia out?” I say, my tone is a bit more annoyed than before.
“OH!” She begins nervously giggling and I realize I should probably just leave these girls alone.
“Have a good night ladies.” As I step away, I hear them murmuring.
“He was totally interested.”
“He’s so hot.”
I huff a laugh as I go back to the deck.
I stand off under an overhang no one is around needing some quiet. The air is thick with the smell of stale beer and the music is blaring. I roll my shoulders back, trying to hype myself up to be the captain of the Lions. Astor’s golden boy, or whatever fucking title these people want to put on my shoulders. I feel like the past two years have been a whirlwind of me trying to be this guy that I just am not. The “most valuable player” in more ways than one, from getting laid every night to making every three pointer this team’s seen this season.
Sometimes I don’t recognize myself, like I’m an imposter in my own body. Seeing Will here has taken a lot more of a toll on me than I realized. I look around for him, not seeing him orLily in the crowd. I know he’s trying to keep his distance from me. He mentioned it a few times when we were packing for the semester.
“I’m not going to live under your shadow, Ben. I don’t have to.”
Little does he know, I don't want that anyway. Will is areallygood ball player. He always has been. I just worryheisn’t the one who loves the game and instead just wants to be the best to finally win Dan’s approval. I know from experience he’ll never get it.
The wind picks up and I feel an energy around me. When I look up I see her again— Olivia. I feel myself involuntarily swallowing. Her brown hair is whipping around her face and finally, in the privacy of the corner I’ve hidden myself in, I can really take her in. I stare at her, my eyes unwavering as I scan her face. She’s breathtaking.
I don’t think I’ve felt this on edge about a girl at Astor before, like an eeriness I can’t place. I don’t think I’ve seen a girl like this in general. Her posture is just so sure of herself, like she knows she's going to win even though she hasn’t even entered the game. I need to talk to her. I move to my feet and see her gaze shift to mine. There’s no way she can see me but it feels like she’s staring into my soul.
“Yo cap!” Andy hollers. “Your little bro is freaking out in Jackson’s room. Can you handle this?”
I swear under my breath. I knew this would happen. Will is hot headed; it was only a matter of time before he got in a fight here.
As I approach I can hear him begging and immediately feel my gut bottom out. This is not how he should be starting his freshman year.
“How can you say this meant nothing Lily?” He’s pleading from behind the door.
“Will, I can’t keep repeating the same thing! We were just hooking up and you obviously took it more seriously than I did. I’m sorry but you need to get the fuck out of my way and let me leave this room. Now.” Lily's voice is more stern than I’ve heard it before and I’m worried Will’s going to do something stupid.
“That’s bullshit!” As if on cue, I hear the sound of drywall smashing. I open the door and peer at Lily, seemingly bored by all of this and my very crushed younger brother whose hand is currently in the hole he just put in the wall. She’s sitting primly on the bed and uncrosses her legs, moving to stand.
“Listen— I need to leave. My head is killing me from the noise and I just don’t feel like this is getting us anywhere. I’m sorry, Will, but youneedto move on.” She nods at me as she slips behind me and out the door. Will crashes down on the bed behind me and throws his arm over his eyes. I sit next to him and pointedly hand him my beer.
“Is this from my captain or my brother?” Will says, defeated, peeking out from under his arms.
“Don’t be a prick and drink it,” I respond and silence hangs between us. “It’s from your brother,” I sigh, breaking the tension and rolling my eyes.
He finally cracks a smile. “Well, that was embarrassing,” he says, sitting up just enough to chug the beer.
“Happens to the best of us,” I say, rubbing my hands on my legs and looking at the hole in the drywall. “Well, maybe work on the anger part.” We both chuckle then sigh.
“Mom wants me to look out for you,” I say mostly to myself and immediately regret it.
“Mom can fuck off,” he mutters, taking another gulp of the beer and then letting his head fall back to the mattress.
