LACEY

The cold wind of North Carolina makes me wrap my jacket tighter around my body. It is a cold and cloudy day here at UNC and by the looks of it, most people aren't going to class today. It is a Friday and it's an overall shitty weather day, so I understand. I honestly haven't been out since the whole Kristin and Christine situation. Carter and Tori tried to convince me to go out but I decided to stay in with Sixer, Julie, and Julie's cat. Rae is at the first game of the basketball season for cheer and so are the boys, obviously.

I duck into the lecture hall for my next class and thank the boy holding the door. He sends me a nod before walking away. I am dreading going to any type of class at the moment. I kind of just want to crawl back into bed. I am thankful that this is my last class though. I turn into the hall and sit down in the middle of the classroom where I usually sit. This class is interesting but a pain in my ass. Who knew psychology was actually kind of hard.

I pull out my laptop to get ready to take notes for the day. I open up my messages and see that Carter texted in the groupchat saying; "Good Morning World!" With a dying emoji next to it. I release a small laugh giving it a thumbs up and closing out of the messages tab. Braden and I haven't really spoken since everything happened at the bar on Saturday. The date was amazing. It was everything I could have asked for and more. Braden knew exactly what he was doing. While he didn't flat out tell me what he wanted, his actions spoke louder than his words. Then Kristen and Christine just had to come and fucking ruin it all. I am well aware of how much trouble I am in with my sorority and the missed calls from my mother, that I have been ignoring.

My professor, an older gentleman who is honestly super nice, walks into the classroom holding his briefcase and coffee in his hands. He shoots everyone a genuine smile before paying attention to the computer sitting in front of him.

"Is everyone going to watch the first basketball of the season tomorrow?" he asks powering on the computer. Everyone mumbles either a yes or no to his question. We are all watching the game at our apartment, I hope. The last time we went somewhere to watch an away game everyone did not make it out at night. Plus, Carter actually wants to watch the game since this is the last first game of Asher's college career. How much do we want to bet that she is going to cry?

"Okay class, let's get things started."

I pull up Google Docs and look over my notes. I had time to review the PowerPoint he was doing today and take those notes yesterday. So, now I just sit and do nothing or take notes for some other class. Usually the ladder. The time goes by pretty slowly as my professor drones on and on about who knows what. He finally reaches the final slide of the PowerPoint. He goes over the homework that is due on Monday and what to expect for the next quiz we have on Canvas.

I put everything away in my backpack and head out of the lecture hall. I am glad I took my car because I think it has become colder since the last time I was out here. I grab my car keys out of the front pocket of my backpack and head towards my car. I slide into it and slam my door shut. I take a deep breath in before laying my head on the steering wheel. My blonde hair falls around my face as I intake another breath. The vibration of my phone brings my head up from the steering wheel and glancing down.

PRESIDENT FROM HELL

;is the caller ID. I curse under my breath and grab my phone from the cup holder. I put the phone up to my ear, "Hello?"

"Hello Lacey. I wish I was calling on better terms," Caitlyn sighs over the phone. No she doesn't you fake fucking bitch.

"Okay."

"We need to have a meeting with myself and Michelle. Tomorrow at 4:30pm, work?" Caitlyn says in a bored tone. I bet she is eating this shit up. I know exactly what is going to go down at this meeting and you know what fuck this is.

"Sounds delightful, see you then," I cheerfully respond. I hear her shuffle around on the other end of the phone.

"Great, I will put it in your Outlook calendar. See you then!"

She hangs up the phone before I could even make a snarky reply to her. I toss my phone onto the passenger side seat and lay my head on the steering wheel again. I release a loud scream. I wanted to be the person who quits the sorority first, not on their terms. I want it to be on my own. I am not in the mood to deal with their shit and especially when they have treated me like shit. I take another inhale and exhale before lifting my head up from it. I start my car and put on my music so I can head home.

I make it home pretty quickly and pull into a parking spot in front of my apartment complex. I get out and lock my car heading up towards our apartment. I check to see whose cars are here and only see Carter's. I head up to the elevator and press the up button. I make my way into the elevator and check my phone. My mom apparently called me on the way home but I put my phone on do not disturb. Sometimes I think that I should just block her.

I get out of the elevator and turn towards our apartment. A McDonalds bag is sitting outside on our doormat. I chuckle picking up the bag and opening up the door. Love Island is blaring on the TV, the curtains are closed and only the kitchen light is on. Carter's laying across the couch with her sweatshirt hood pulled over her eyes. Sixer is laying on her feet and Sabrina is on Sixers dog bed.

Carter's head lifts up from the couch when I put my keys on the key hook.

"Holy shit, you scared me," Carter mumbles, laying back down. Her sweatshirt hood is back over her eyes. I release a laugh, setting my backpack down and walking to her. I set down the bag on the coffee table.

"Sorry, your McDonalds to make things better," I offer her sitting down on the armchair. Carter sits up at that notion and grabs the bag from the table.

"I didn't even hear the knock," she responds. Sixer moves at the smell of food while Carter brings out her quarter pounder. She barks and Carter hushes her.

"Yeah, rough night?" I ask her with raised eyebrows. She snorts grabbing the burger from the box and taking a major bite.

"A little. I think I'm losing my touch," Carter mumbles mouth full of burger. I chuckle again shaking my head at her. She grabs a fry before leaning back against the couch, "Are coming out with us tonight?"

I sigh. Am I? Should I? I don't know how to feel. I want to go out but do I want to deal with all of this shit, again? I mean there's no guarantee they will be there but there's no guarantee there won't be. Carter frowns.

I feel the anxiety just rushing through my body makes me jittery.

"I don't know. I'm still a bit worried," I explain to her. She nods her head in understand taking another bite from her burger.

"I get that but you can't be afraid to go out forever. I think we have a better shot of running into them tomorrow or they could have even traveled with the boys," Carter explains. My stomach drops at the thought. If they did then Christine is with Braden and I haven't even spoken to him since the date. I don't want him to think that I am second guessing things because I'm not.

Shit.

Carter takes note of my face and rapidly shakes her head, "No no, don't think like that. They aren't even allowed to be in their room. Coach and I are close which is why I am allowed."

I nod my head allowing her words to wash over me. She's probably right. I am overreacting but I do have to text Braden.

"Should I text him?" I ask her. She furrows her eyebrows.

"You haven't been texting him?"

"No. I just- everything that happened the slut calling thing, fuck," I groan loudly leaning against the couch. "Am I getting in my head?"

"Yes! But I for sure understand it, like these girls be fucking bonkers. I don't know what the hell is with the guys and girls being obsessed but they scare me," Carter responds with honesty. I nod my head in agreement looking back at Carter. Her full attention is on me and it makes me feel better that it's not just me. That all these girls freak Carter out, this girl who does not fear a fight, it helps hearing it from her.

"Alright, I'll send him a text," I sigh standing up from the couch. Carter cheers loudly. I walk to the counter and grab my phone from the counter. I head back over to the couch and sit down next to Carter. "What should I say?"

"Hm, maybe something like funny?" Carter asks. I give her a 'no' look and she raises her arms up in defense. "I don't know I don't have to do this anymore."

I groan loudly shoving my phone into her hands. Carter glances down at my phone in one hand and her burger in the other.

"What the hell am I suppose to do?" she ask.

"Say something. Anything, please," I beg her. She says placing her burger in her mouth and grabbing my phone with both hands. She taps away on my phone. After a couple of minutes and me starting to get sucked into Love Island she is done.

"Here," she says handing me the phone. I grab it from her watching Ekin-Su and Davide fight on the screen in front of me. This is actually very interesting. I hear the sending of a text message sound and Carter immediately sitting up.

"Did you send that?"

I glance down at my phone and see the blue text sent.

"Yeah, why?" I ask in a rushed tone. I allow my blue eyes to run over the text and gasp;

Are you from Tennessee? Cause you're the only ten I see.

"Carter!"

"What I didn't think you would send without looking at it!"

"I did it by accident! I was trying to be funny!"

"Carter!" I groan loudly. My phone digs in my hand and I instinctively launch it across the room. Carter and I both look at each other with wide eyes as Sixer releases a loud bark.

"No way."

I stand up from the couch and grab my phone that I launched underneath the coffee table. I see Braden's name across my screen and can't help the smile that covers my face.

"Did he respond?" Carter asks from above me. I crawl back out from underneath the coffee table and show her the phone screen. She lets out a shriek making Sixer jump onto the couch in alert. "I knew I still had fucking game! Let's go!"