1
KELSEY
“You’ll be at my party tonight, right?” Jessie nudges my shoulder. “It’s at my place, and ooo You should invite the guy you’ve been talking to!
I nibble my lip. That does sound pretty fun, and what better way to start summer break than getting shit faced? “Yeah, I will.”
“You’ll be at the party, or you’ll invite him?”
“I’ll be at the party. I don’t know if I should invite him.” I drop my gaze to the floor.
“Are you embarrassed by him or something?” She gasps, “Is he a nerd?” She whispers nerd as if it’s an insult, and I laugh. He’s far from a nerd. Intimidating? Yes.
“No! It just feels too soon.” She rolls her eyes at that. Jessie doesn’t take things slow. In fact, she only has one-night stands, then it’s off to her next fuck.
I finish packing my essentials I’ll need over break—clothes, hygiene products, and my makeup bag, even though I rarely wear it. I think half the shit in there is expired, but I’m too cheap and lazy to buy more. I know, I know, I’m probably going to end up with pink eye or some shit.
Most freshmen choose to stay in a dorm their first year, but my best friend, Jessie, refused a dorm room and told me I was staying with her in her apartment. She didn’t give me a choice. I won’t complain, though. It’s pretty chill staying with her. Her two-bedroom apartment is on the luxury side of living, but I didn’t expect anything less. When I met her at freshman orientation, she was dressed to the nines, with her Louboutin heels and St. John skirt suit. Meanwhile, I was in American Eagle skinny jeans and a band tee.
I always wanted a sibling. It’s what I begged for every year for Christmas. I guess Jessie is like my adopted sister. People think we’ve been best friends for years. Truth is, we only just met at freshman orientation at the beginning of the year. You’d think we would have spent time learning about each other’s lives, but honestly, neither of us asked those questions. The only family I’ve heard her speak of is her older brother. However, she’s never said his name. All I know is that he’s a controlling asshole that has his head shoved so far up his ass that he can’t see straight, but those are Jessie’s words, not mine.
My phone vibrates on the bed. Picking it up, I smile. My parents drove over two hours to pick me up today. I offered to pay for an Uber, but they argued against that.
Mom:
We’re out here ready for you, hun.
Okay, be down in a sec.
I do a final once over the room, ensuring I haven’t missed anything. I’m going to miss this apartment over the summer. Jessie has a niche for interior design, from the greenery that drapes along the wall acting as curtains for the balcony sliding glass door, to the dark grey accent wall.
Grabbing my duffel and suitcase, I make my way to the door. Stepping out into the hall, I let the door close behind me, listening for it to automatically lock. Once I hear the “click”, I turn and head down the apartment steps.
“Hey, Kelsey! You going to Jessie’s party tonight?” Stopping halfway down the steps, I turn to see Caleb leaving his apartment with a duffel bag over his shoulder.
“Yeah, you?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. See ya there!” He lifts his chin and follows in step behind me. Crowds make me anxious, so my mind is reeling, wondering just how many people will be at Jessie’s tonight. The bonfire wasn’t overwhelming atall. However, I get the distinct feeling this is going to be much different.
My dad tackles me, pulling me in for a big bear hug the second I round the corner to the parking lot. He squeezes a grunt from my grinning lips.
“It’s good to have you back home, hun! We missed you!” My mom all but cries as she steps up beside us.
“I missed y’all too.” I wheeze, tapping my dad’s arm when I start feeling the blood loss to my head.
“Oh crap, I’m sorry, Sweetie. I’ve just missed you so much!” Tears start to well in his eyes, but he blinks them away and pats my shoulders. He takes my luggage from my grip and tosses it in the trunk of the Tahoe that’s as old as me, so I walk around the car and scoot into the backseat.
“Buckle up, Buttercup! Let’s get you home!” My dad sing-songs from the driver’s seat, making me grin. I kind of missed their cheesy little sayings and nicknames while away at college. They’ve always been loving—in their own way. They just didn’t understand how todealwith me. They should have listened and tried harder to get me help, not make me feel ashamed or like I was seeking attention.
They weren’t terrible parents; they just could have been better. They put me in sports as a way to release pent-up anger and to get me out of my head. Volleyball was the best fit. An angry sport for an angry teen. The cheesy are starting to grate on my nerves. So, I put my earbuds in and play my audiobook. It’s a two-hour drive from the university to our home in Troutman, so plenty of time to pass with reading.
My parents probably expect me to be home most of summer break, so I’m going to disappoint them when I spend my time differently. That might make me sound like a terrible daughter, but I’m an adult on college break, and I want to enjoy my freedom before I’m locked back down in school. The only friend I had as a kid betrayed me. Bullied me for the things I did to myself. So, now that I have Jessie and learned that she lives relatively close to me, I want to spend my time with her outside of campus. I want to spend my summer withhim,too, but I don’t have the balls to ask him out.
My phone vibrates, and my heart skips a few beats when I read the name.
R:
Got plans tonight?
