BRADEN

This has gone from a chill pregame to a literal party in under ten minutes. We moved the couch up against the wall, rolled up the rug and shoved it into Carter's room with Sixer. Future is booming over the speakers and Tori is on top of the coffee table.

A typical party for Tori.

People are taking shots in the kitchen and I am sitting on the couch trying not to puncture my eyeballs.

"As advisor of my sorority, I have found that it's-"

Oh my God, I don't even know what the hell an advisor is. I don't even use my academic advisor. Not like I even know what that is either. I watch as Trey and Julie hold hands giggling past what's her face and I on the couch. I try to signal to him to get me the hell out of this situation to no avail.

Sanders has walked past me a couple of times and has laughed in my face. I deserved that considering I saw him talking to Lacey. I'm pretty sure no one knows I blocked her and honestly, I did it because she clearly doesn't want to make an effort so why should I? I bring my cup to my lips chugging it. I wince at the harsh taste of cheap vodka and a lot of it. I told Tori to make me a drink and I'm pretty sure she wants me to die.

I gulp the rest of it down as Jackie continues drowning on and on.

"Hey I'm going to get another drink," I say quickly cutting her off. She finally stops talking as she looks down at her own drink, a Truly.

"I could actually use another drink too," she says going to stand up. I stop her holding up a hand and sending her a charming smile. I hope it looks charming.

"I'll get it for you," I say as she looks at her can and then back at me. She shoots me a smile back nodding her head. I grab the White Claw can from her and stand up from the couch. I slide past the people dancing in front of the TV that is playing some random YouTube video. I duck into the kitchen where most of my friends are. Carter is sitting on the counter talking animatedly to Sanders and Lacey about something with Carter standing in between her legs. I slide past them trying not to keep my eyes on Lacey for too long as I walk to Tori for another drink. She's handing out shots across the counter to Julie, Trey, and Q.

"Braden! Just in time for shots!" Tori slurs throwing an arm around my shoulder. My eyes widen at just how drunk she is. I've seen Tori drunk but this girl is wasted.

"You know, I think I'll take two," I say grabbing the shot in her hand and the shot on the counter. She gasps grabbing onto my neck making whatever the hell is in this shot glass slosh over. I laugh loudly as I turn the two of us around to face Julie, Trey, and Q.

"That's my shot!" she says trying to grab it but I take it as fast as I can. The burn is unbelievable as I swallow the shot. I let out a cough grimace at the shot of death. Julie gags before darting to the bathroom Trey following in suite. Q doesn't even flinch at the taste of the horrid shot.

"What the hell did you put in that? Lean?" I ask her taking a deep breath. Her eyes bug out of her head at the mention of lean. I see a random dude duck his head into the kitchen just at the mention.

"Oh fuck off we don't have lean," Carter pipes up shooing him away. Tori turns around handing me sweet n' sour mix with pink lemonade Burnett's, no wonder it was so sour.

"Yeah, leave the shot making, to someone else," I tell her setting down the toxic combo. She shoves my shoulder a hint of a smile playing on her dark lips.

"Fuck off Braden," Tori grumbles hopping up onto the counter. I laugh shaking my head as I lean my back against the other side of the kitchen. The music has gotten louder and now people are just straight up yelling in here. I assume Jackie has forgotten all about me and is joining the makeshift dance floor people have made in the girls living room.

"Why aren't you out on the dance floor?" I ask Tori watching as she watches the many people in her apartment grind on each other. Carter, Sanders, and Asher have joined them for the Cupid Shuffle as well as Trey and Julie. Glad they puked and rallied. Asher looks like he is having the worst time of his life and Carter is going in the wrong direction.

That couple is challenged.

"I'm a smidge too drunk, why aren't you on the dance floor. I see your moves on Tik Tok," Tori states matter of factly. I cross my arms over my chest and quirk an eyebrow at her. I've posted two dancing Tik Toks with a couple boys on the team and it went crazy. Thank God I'm actually a starter on UNC unlike that Ohio State dude.

I flick my eyes across the room and find exactly who I am looking for. She's smiling and laughing with Sanders trying to do the Cupid Shuffle. A smile comes across my face watching her. She ditched her heels but her long legs are still looking amazing in that burgundy set she has on tonight.

"I enjoy watching," I tell her honestly. I look back a Tori and she is in the middle of rolling her eyes at me.

"I heard what you did, Bobo," Tori says crossing her own arms across her chest. I sigh nodding my head at her. Of course she did. I expected one of the two to spit it out. I clear my throat grabbing a beer from the fridge.

"I know and why are you calling me Bobo?" I ask her cracking open the top.

"Cause you're a clown. Blocking her achieves what? You avoiding your problems and it making it easier for her to avoid her own?" Tori asks kicking my shin. I hiss in pain shooting a glare at her but she's right. I did it because I'm avoiding the problem. Avoiding the fact that I'd rather text Lacey than Christine. Avoiding everything that has to do with Lacey White.

Easier said than done.

"You're right but you and Carter said it yourselves, we can't be together. We both fucked up it's easier this way. Neither of us have to see each other be happy without one another,"

"Yeah on social media. What about real life, unfortunately you can't block people in real life and your problems catch up to you. Social media is fake and you out of all people should know that," Tori counters me. She hops off the counter and I watch jaw dropped as she salutes me. She just roasted the fuck out of me. "Now, I'm hitting the dance floor Bobo."

"Stop calling me Bobo!" I yell after her. Tori flips me off making me let out a breathy laugh. Fuck, she is so right. I grab my beer and make my way through the party. I need fresh air maybe laced with some nicotine to ease these nerves. I make my way through the other end of the dance floor avoiding my friends as I head out the sliding doors.

The girls live on the top floor of their apartment complex so they don't really care what people do on the balcony. As long as no lights are on. One guy is smoking a blunt and a few people are smoking cigarettes. It's a mix of weed, cigs, and alcohol but it's weirdly calming.

I sit down in one of their pink folding chairs and sigh. UNC is active tonight, people all dressed up for the bars or parties or wherever they are heading. It is still early in the night and I need to be more buzzed than I am right now. I chug some of the beer I stole from the girls fridge. The glass door opens up and a random guy stumbles out holding a pack of cigs. I could really smoke one of those right now.

In high school, before and after basketball season, I would smoke cigs. They just helped me with all of my family shit and then once I realized how serious I was about basketball, I stopped. But right now, is one of those times I can't remember why I stopped. I am about to ask that guy but a different addiction walks through the open glass doors. Her blonde hair is tied up into a ponytail as she plops down next to me.

I turn away from Lacey hoping she doesn't notice me. I drink from my beer once more looking down at a group of girls heading to frat row. One is absolutely trashed and one is trying to help her but the rest ignore the fact the girl is probably close to getting her stomach pumped.

"Bitches."

I whip around and meet those icy blue eyes I dream about. They widen and darken as they look into my own dark eyes. I clear my throat drinking from my beer again.

"Sorry," I mutter running my free hand over my black jeans. I hear her shift from beside me but she doesn't get me.

Not yet.

"For what?" she blurts out.

What am I sorry for? Being a dick? Blocking you? Lying to you? All of the above? For your shitty sorority and the god awful Jackie?

"A lot," I tell her truthfully. She isn't looking at me but I'm looking at her. Her sharp jawline, her small nose, her collarbones, everything about her. I'm studying because I can't remember the last time I've seen her like this. Up close. When we aren't fighting.

"Right, we don't have to do this."

"What exactly are we doing?" I ask tilting my head at her. Lacey casts me a shy look before looking back down. The two girls haven't made it an inch now sitting in a bush practically.

"Should we help them?" she asks. Lacey is dodging everything we should be talking about and I'm thankful for that's Neither of us ever want to have that conversation and I think that's why we never will work. Well, one of the many reasons.

Yeah Braden, keep reminding yourself of them. God Tori really is right, I am Bobo.

"I think that one girl got it under control for now. If she starts throwing up we can go help her," I tell her. Lacey turns to look at me giving me a nice smell of her vanilla scent. It always would stick on my pillow for days.

"We?" she raises a blonde eyebrow at me. I chuckle adjusting in the uncomfortable chair.

"Only if you're okay with that, Lace," I say turning to face her. Her face drops and I realize the name I used. I sit up straighter trying to thinks of a way to fix this.

"Maybe it's for the best," Lacey says brushing loose pieces from her ponytail out of her eyes. I must give her a weird look because she continues, "Blocking me."

I sigh nodding my head at her. Maybe it is for the best. Not having the urge to contact her or only seeing her when we need to see each other.

"Lacey I-"

Lacey stands up abruptly looking into her party, "Braden, we're civil that was um a start? I have to go host but really for the best."

The guy who stumbled out here with the cigs opens the glass door and Lacey ducks under his arm. Before I even have a chance to say anything else. Through the glass doors I watch her blonde ponytail disappear into the pile of people in their apartment.

I turn to the guy smoking pot and ask for a cigarette. He hands me a pack and a lighter. I grab one from the pack and put it in between my lips. I flick the lighter on lighting the butt of the cigarette. I bring the lighter away and inhale. The smoke fills my lungs and gives me a buzz. I close my eyes leaning my head against the glass door.

"Yeah," I mutter. "For the best."