LACEY

My phone has been ringing ever since my mom made me bawl my eyes out over the phone. She's probably calling to apologize but I don't feel like hearing it. I had to turn my phone off at my first class and haven't turned it on since.

I have a headache and I know I look like shit.

Not to mention the fact that Braden and I almost kissed. I was emotional and I knew we shouldn't have been that close but I wanted to kiss him and I wanted him to kiss me. He has always been the only one who has understood what happens with my mom. It was so nice that he came in for me and even that everyone who was there made sure I was okay. I didn't think I had everyone and now that I do I feel unstoppable.

Well, kind of.

I am working on it and I have a therapy session today. Miss Kim is a queen who my dad hired on the low. I know I should call him and see how he is handling my monster of a mother. But, I've been avoiding my family.

Braden bolted out of the room after the Trey yelled about his mom calling. He left shortly after that and everyone knew something was up with him. And it wasn't just me but I am sure I did not help the situation. I swallow thickly looking back up at the board. My professor had moved into the next slide. I scribble down the notes I missed with my pink pen.

I lean back in my seat absentmindedly listening to my professor drone on about some theory.

Braden.

I know about his brother, well that before we left he was struggling with drugs. I hadn't heard anything else and to be honest, I don't think any one knows. I don't even know if Braden remembers telling me. He was pretty drunk when he told his younger brother was taking some pretty heavy drugs.

My chest feels tight all over again as I swallow back tears. I have another class after this one but I might chalk it up and email my professor that I'm sick. All I want to do is lay in bed and sleep for the rest of my life. Well, until I figure out what to do about my sorority.

The day my mom and I got into the fight I had went to the house to drop off shit that was due. When I get there our president and vice president were both talking to Jackie and Sabrina. I knew they were shit talking me.

My president, Caitlyn, called me over with her VP, Michelle, and said I was acting out of hand and if this continued I would be put on probation.

Well, what the hell could I have possibly done? That's what I was thinking because I generously invited bitch one and two to my apartment where they could mingle and get dicked down by an athlete, one that preferably wasn't fucking Braden or any of my roommates boyfriends. Not my problem no one fucking liked them.

I shift in my seat getting heated at just the thought of this conversation that went down. My president said I put Jackie and Sabrina in a "hostile" environment and I had no business bringing them to my apartment. And she threw in there a diss about Carter and Asher but should I be surprised when Kristen is her best friend?

Nope.

I was pissed when I left the house and then to get a call from my mom that the president snitched on my ass. Fucking ridiculous. I literally didn't even do anything wrong but God for bid our pres and VP aren't invited to a party.

The slideshow my professor was presenting ends and she finishes up class. I take my time shoving my books into my backpack because let's be honest I need a minute to relax. I am so frustrated at the events that are unfolding in my life it's not even funny. I'm frustrated because I feel like I can't do anything right and my sorority is one big bag of shit. And I don't know where Braden and I stand.

I swing my backpack onto my shoulder and walk down the lecture hall steps. I walk past my professor offering her a small smile before heading to the door.

"Lacey White?"

I turn around and see Noah. I throw on a smile for him and hope he doesn't notice how disheveled I look. He's in black sweatpants and a UNC football sweatshirt. His blonde hair is messy and his light eyes are bright with tan skin that's fresh of any tattoos. He's a cute kid but looks like he belongs in a frat not on a football team.

"Noah, hi," I say as he walks up to where I'm standing. I haven't seen him since last year and I was kind of hoping to avoid the kid. He's nice, don't get me wrong but I can't be focusing on boys right now. Especially another athlete. "I didn't know you were in this class?"

"Yeah I need it for my minor," he says nodding his head along. I smile and nod my head back. "How have you been? I feel like I barely see you around."

"Oh, I've just been busy with sorority business and stuff."

It's not like I can tell him what's really going on. He may be an athlete but he for sure talks to girls on the Panhellenic counsel.

"That's right, Delta Gamma. You guys have formal coming up right?"

Fuck.

"Yeah Fall Formal, it should be fun!" I lie right through my teeth. Noah sends me a toothy smile clearly not sensing my lie. Also, how does he know? What if he narcs on me to DG? Fuck.

"Honestly, I'm glad I saw you. I've been meaning to text you but do you want to go on a date after Saturdays game?" he has this look in eyes that is hoping for me to say yes. I am probably standing here looking like a fucking idiot right now. Noah is so sweet but he's not what I want. Plus, knowing when DG's formal is when there's at least twenty something sororities here is suspicious.

But what does one date hurt? I would be doing this for me not for anyone else.

"I'd like that," I say smiling again. His smile brightens nodding his head at me.

"Cool, I'll meet you outside of the locker room after my game. I gotta go to my next class but I'll text you Lace!" he says it all in a rushed tone. But, I wince. He just said Lace and I hated it falling from his lips. I hated it. God, why did I just say yes to that date. I groan turning on my heels and heading out the door. I make sure I go into the opposite direction of Noah.

The walk back to my apartment is long, windy, and rainy. Why is it always raining? Ten minutes later, I am stepping into my apartment. Soaking wet.

Julie and Rae are laying down on the couch with Sixer laying below them with Sabrina. They lift their heads up looking over at me.

"Wow, it's really raining huh," Rae laughs. I flip her off heading into my bedroom to take off and hang up my wet rain jacket. I kick off my shoes and hang my raincoat on the door. I head back out grabbing a blanket and heading to one of the arm chairs. I sit down and see they are watching Pretty Little Liars. I shift because I can't stop thinking about this Noah and Braden shit.

"Guys, I got asked out on a date."

Rae bolts up making Julie jump as she grabs the remote off of the coffee table pausing the show.

"Who?" they both ask at the same time. I turn to them and put my head in my hands and groan.

"I messed up."

"Braden?" Rae asks making me lift my head up. I shoot her a glare. "Alright taking that as a no. Who?"

"Wait, is it that football player? That we met last year?" Julie asks. I make a face and Julie's face shows realization. "Oh no."

"Wait who! Who on the team?"

"Noah Sandov."

"Aw! Wait that kid is so cute, why is this bad?" Rae asks clearly confused. She's right, he is nice and cute. So, what the hell is the problem.

"Because of Braden," Julie says in a 'duh' tone. I sigh laying my head on the back of the chair. Rae makes a noise but I ignore it closing my eyes. I still don't even know what is happening with Braden and I should have never said yes to the date with Noah. I know exactly what I said last year to the girls about Noah. I was moving on to him.

Yeah, fat chance of that.

"I should not have said yes," I say honestly. Julie and Rae both offer sympathy looks but I don't need them right now. I need to text Noah and say I can't. This is unfair to Noah. I should not be using him to get over Braden.

"Why though? You don't owe Braden anything. What is one date going to do?" Rae comments. Cause unneeded drama? Stress me the fuck out? Even more. I sigh loudly rubbing my hands over my face.

"Rae's right but why are you nervous?" Julie asks me. I stare at our ceiling. There's a scuff mark from where the boys were throwing around the football. Tori and Julie yelled at them for it.

"Because, when Braden came into my room the other day when I was upset, we almost kissed."

I am met with silence as I squeeze my eyes shut. I jump when the two of them jump onto me both asking questions all at once. I look at the two of them and they both are wide eyed.

"What do you mean almost?" Julie asks wide brown eyes staring at me.

"Never mind that! Oh my gosh, this is huge! Why didn't we know this!" Rae yells clapping her hands excitedly. I laugh shaking my head at them. It was a mistake that shouldn't have happened.

"Wait is that why you are hesitant about going on this date? When is this date?" Julie asks putting her hands on top of Rae's. Rae stops clapping with a frown as I take a deep breath. Maybe that's why I don't want to go on this date with Noah? He's nice, tall, plays football, so what's the problem.

"It's Thursday."

"Well, maybe that's a good thing, no drama on Thursday because I think Christine is coming out with us," Rae states softly. I snap my head to look at her. Christine. I almost forgot about her. Almost being the key word.

"But, that does not mean we have to play tit for tat. That gets people nowhere," Julie pipes up. I clear my throat. It's not tit for tat, it's one date and if that means avoiding one singular night of drama, then so be it. Maybe me and Noah will work itself out and we can figure it out.

"No it's not like that. Maybe I can just give it a shot. It's not like me and Braden can really work itself out," I say shrugging my shoulders. The almost kiss gave me hope but right now, I need to sort myself out. I need to get myself back out there and figure my shit out on my own. Just because me and Braden almost kissed does not mean that him and I can move past all of our problems.

"I wish you would stop saying that because you never know," Rae sighs shaking her head at me. Her brown ponytail swinging back and forth.

"You think Braden and I can push past our issues?" I ask the two of them. Julie stays quiet while Rae sighs again shifting from beside me.

"I don't know, Lace," Julie says picking at the end of my blanket. I nod my head at her staring at our coffee table. This is what is best for me at the time being. I need to do this and finally take a step towards the right direction.

"I need to do this."

"Then we support you Lacey," Julie says squeezing my shoulder. Rae offers me a soft smile. I can do this. As long as I have the support of my friends, I can do this.