“It might help if you use peer leadership models,” I suggest, swirling the punch around in my cup. “Like if you rotate team captains so everyone has a role.”
“That would’ve saved me from some middle school gym trauma,” Raquel agrees, looking morose even though she was the one who suggested everyone join team sports. Still, we laugh, and she cracks a drunk grin.
I’m enjoying myself as we dig deeper into the benefits and downfalls of team sports. It’s fun breaking down the very things I’ve spent my life on, but from the other side. It helps that most of the people in the program are athletes, too, like Raquel.
Who I had some sort of chocolate drink with at some point.
I lose myself to the conversation, and for a little while, I even forget about Colten.
Until my phone rings.
I glance down and see his name, my stomach instantly dropping.
Crap. We were supposed to have a physical therapy session tonight! Colten usually reminds me, but since he started acting like his power was invisibility, I’ve been forced to actually use my calendar. Of course, I forgot to check today.
“Be right back,” I say quickly, stepping out of the kitchen and ducking into a quieter hallway to answer.
“Hey!” I say, trying to sound super casual. “Sorry man, I totally forgot about the session.”
There’s a pause on the other end, quiet and dangerous. A trickle of sweat runs down my spine.
“You forgot,” he says. It’s all he says. The guilt weighs heavy in my stomach.
“I’m really sorry,” I say, feeling even worse. How could I forget? He sets aside time for us to do this. It’s one of the few things he hasn’t actively been avoiding with me.
Biting my lip, I decide to take a chance. “But you should come to this party! It’s actually pretty fun.”
Another long, angry pause.
Then, he asks, “Where are you?”
“The Hagley house,” I tell him, not that I expect him to show up. He hates parties, even when we’re on good terms. The last one I managed to drag him to was only a week ago, so he's probably reached his social quota for the next month or so.
Without replying, he hangs up.
I lower my phone and stare at the screen, caught somewhere between pissed off and completely bewildered. I forget one PT session, and now he's acting like I personally pissed in his cereal.
Does this have anything to do with why he’s been avoiding me all week?
I drag a hand through my hair, frustrated.
God, I hate fighting with him, especially when I don’t even know what the fight is about.
The longer I stand there, the worse I feel about forgetting the session, so I shove the guilt down and head back to the kitchen.
Maybe he’ll feel more comfortable in the apartment without me there and watch one of his documentaries. My fingers tighten around my phone as I pocket it, half tempted to head back home and catch him before he can hide in his room again, but I shake my head.
I’m here to enjoy the party, so I will.
And then Colten actually shows up.
I’m halfway through explaining motor learning stages to Nico when I see Colten standing in the kitchen doorway.
For a second, my brain just…stops, immediately forgetting everything to do with anything. I trail off on my thoughts about cognitive stage learning as I stare at Colten like an idiot.
He's wearing his usual dark, baggy pants, the chain hanging from one side more for looks than anything else. All his earrings are in, little flashes of silver catching the kitchen light whenever he moves.
He’s still wearing his leather jacket, which is hanging over his favorite dark purple band shirt. It’s faded from how often he wears it but is still somehow tight against him.
