"My dad is an asshole." Chase confesses as he takes a bit out of his burger.

"He just wants what's best for you. Even if he doesn't want to admit it."

"He runs off all of my friends."

"Do y'all ever make it threw a family dinner?"

"When Clarissa and Melanie are there. So we've probably only made it through four dinners."

"Well you should try to make it through more. That's what your mother wants."

"Speaking of my mother why were you talking to her? I'm not trying to sound rude it's just my mother doesn't get along with friends of mine who are girls."

There he goes calling me a friend again.

Do I want to be considered a friend?

I don't know.

I mean I don't think so.

All of my so called friends who were once there for me aren't anymore.

"Taylor you there?" He ask snapping me out of my thoughts. "Yeah, I'm here. What did you ask?"

"Why does my mom seem to like you?"

"Well she said something about me being a natural blonde. She's not a fan of the fake blondes in your life."

"I'm not a fan of them either, to be honest."

My phone starts ringing. I look down to see it's from Seth. "Do you mind if I answer it right here? The dress is really tight, I don't think I can get up."

"Sure."

"Hey Seth!" I say in a cheerful tone.

"Did you see it Taylor? Did you?"

"I'm not home yet. Don't spoil how your game went. I will watch it when I get back to the dorms. Then I'll call you."

"You better. Where are you exactly?"

"Eating dinner with a friend."

There I go calling Chase a friend.

"What is this friends name? Because you don't make friends Taylor."

"Wow. You're so sweet. I love the faith you have in me." I say sarcastically into the phone.

"Sorry. I met someone. After my game. She gave me her number.-" he says changing the subject.

"Is she a jersey chaser?"

"I mean she did hookup with two of the guys of the team but we're going to go on a date."

"Seth."

"Taylor, we are. We're going on a date."

"She's a jersey chaser!"

"I talked to Austin about it. He doesn't think she is."

"Yeah, you're going to talk to the sibling who's never been in a serious relationship. Good call."

"Don't be bitchy." My brother snaps at me through the phone.

"Excuse you!" I snap back before hanging up.

I wipe the angry expression off my face and look up at Chase with a smile. 

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Nothing to talk about except the fact that sibling are assholes."

"I second that."

"What did he do?"

"Oh you know the normal, let's not take the logical advice and instead call your sister bitchy."

"I'm sure he didn't mean too."

"Oh he won't when I don't call him tonight."

"Don't be like that."

"Hey! You haven't even known me a week that is not your call to make."

"Well the same goes with my family and you."

Now I pissed him off but he pissed me off. My brother pissed me off.

"You know next weekend we play Duke. First though we have to travel up to Syracuse to beat them." He says too cocky.

"Lose to them." I corrected him.

"Whatever but Duke is UNC's rival. You have to come to the game and then to the party afterwards."

"I'll think about it."

Parties give me anxiety. The last time I was at a party I lost my best friend. I haven't been to a party since. I know I tell everyone I'm going to go to one but the truth is anytime I'm invited I can't bring myself to.

"No! No thinking about it. Everyone goes. Don't be the loser who doesn't show up."

"I'll come to the game. Where's the party?"

"The basketball house. You can show up early with the girls."

"They show up early?"

"Well not early. Everyone shows up after the game. They just are always the first ones to walk in the door."

"I'll talk to the girls and think about it."

"Alright. So when we go beat Syracuse, I should talk to an Austin."

"Huh?"

"When I was having my moment in the truck. You said your brothers name was Austin."

"Fine! My older brothers name is Austin but Syracuse has like four Austin on the team. My brother he wouldn't talk to you. Like I said he's an Hayden Caperall hater. If he hates Hayden he probably hates you and all your friends."

"Fine. I'll try to talk to all the Austin's and the ones who don't talk to me will narrow it down."

"I'll tell my brother that you're going to do that and he'll tell everyone of them to not talk to you."

"That's rude."

"I know. Can I ask you something?"

"Is it important? Because yes I'll keep your identity a secret."

"No! Do you know if or when y'all play Kentucky is it a home game or an away game?"

"Our Kentucky game is at Kentucky. We play them in December. By the way in January, Syracuse gets to come here and I'll be able to see who your brother is and you get to witness us beating them."

I have to go to Kentucky. I have to go to Kentucky. OMG. I can't do that. They hate me. I can't. I won't. But I have to, for Seth.

"You okay?" I look up to see a very worried Chase looking at me.

"I'm fine." That's my go to word when I'm not fine.

"So if I Google Austin Rae will your brother pop up?"

"No. It won't work if you Google Seth Rae either. People have tried before."

"Then what will work?"

"I don't know."

"I think you telling me will."

"Maybe."

"You know I'm a ladies man."

"Sure."

"And I've never met a girl who will actually eat around me."

"I'm confused." I admit.

"You just ate a whole burger. When I'm normally with girls they take a bite and eat like three fries and say they're done because they want to stay skinny."

"Well, growing up with brothers who are athletes you learn how to eat like a man and work off all of your body fat. So don't think I'm one of those girls who will eat and then throw it up to stay skinny because I love food too much and hate throw up."

"I'm glad you are yourself around me."

I'm not myself around anyone, anymore. The true me died a long time ago. I wish she'd make an appearance but she can't.

"Well since I ate like a man. I think we should get our tickets now because this dress is getting tighter."

"Sure. I'm paying." He tells me.

"No you're not. I'm paying for myself."

After arguing back and forth about who was going to pay Chase did. Which I objected to. We're currently on the way back to campus. It's gotten late outside. I thought the party might be over but Chase said it's still going he said their parties normally last until 2am. No wonder Coach Carson wanted them to stop partying.

____

5/22/21