Thank you so much to those who have read, written reviews, and for my very first follower! I am so thrilled that you're all reading my story and I hope you keep coming back! For being so great, you lucky folks get TWO updates this week! Mainly because this is a very short chapter, with a little background info to fill in some blanks. Enjoy!
"You look amazing Jess!" Jamie shouts at me over the music as we approach the pool table he's reserved.
I smile at the compliment and introduce Dean to everyone around the table. We were the last to arrive and as soon as we spotted our group, Kelsey made a beeline for Paul. I can't say I blame her.
For a frat guy, Paul is one of the good ones. He's pre-med and looks like a surfer-turned-quarterback with his sun-bleached, wavy hair and a tan, muscular build. He's from a wealthy family but he doesn't throw it in anyone else's face, and he truly does love Kelsey. They've been together since right before this past summer break. Paul and a couple of his frat buddies were spectators at one of my fights. He spotted Kelsey on the side of the ring and they've been dating ever since. Kelsey has quite the temper, so any time they have a disagreement she announces to the world that he's scum and she's swearing off men. A week later, Paul is always there waiting when she comes to her senses, usually with flowers or some other cheesy make-up gift that will put a smile on her face. He really is a great guy.
Dean nudges me with his elbow, breaking me out of my thoughts. "What are you drinking?"
"Oh, um, I'm not sure. I'll come with you. What do you want Kels?" I ask her since she's the only other person without a drink.
"Get me a Long Island," she shouts back from across the pool table.
I turn to Dean and we make our way to the bar. "Awesome. That means Kelsey is getting hammered tonight, so she'll be driving home with Paul and I'll be stuck with her car."
"I can drive Kelsey's car back. I don't plan on drinking that much," he says.
"Are you sure? That means you'll either have to catch the late bus back to the Sigma house, or you could always crash at our place," I offer.
"I don't mind if you don't. I've got nothing planned for tomorrow."
He manages to get the bartender's attention when she makes her way to our side of the bar and orders himself a bottled beer while I get two Long Island Iced Teas for me and Kelsey.
"Going hard now that you've got a ride, huh?" he teases, bumping his shoulder against mine as we lean side by side on the bar.
"Why waste the opportunity right?" I smile at him warmly. Dean fits into our little group nicely. I guess if there's one small sliver of a silver lining about going to that party last weekend, he would be it. I really value my few friends, being so far away from home. Jamie seems to have adapted flawlessly to college life, but it took me a while on account of my overwhelming trust issues, but that's another story. When I first came to UCLA I had my teammates to rely on for lunch runs, homework help, and just hanging out. Once I was kicked off the team, it was just me and Kelsey.
Thank God for Kelsey. We met during our freshman year. She was in my intro to psych class and we were paired up to do a presentation on Freud. We spent most of those two weeks preparing for the assignment by making crude sex jokes and psychoanalyzing our classmates from the back row of the lecture hall. We've been attached at the hip ever since. Kelsey is my partner in crime. When I was almost forced to leave school, she helped me get enough recommendations to stay, and she never misses one of my fights. She's been a breath of fresh air in my dank cave of self-imposed solitude. I don't really enjoy being this way, but I need to look out for myself. Always be on my guard.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Dean murmurs in my ear, startling me and bringing me back to the present.
"Just thinking about how our little group of misfits seems to have embraced you already," I say, placing a twenty dollar bill on the bar and picking up the two glasses the bartender sat in front of us.
"Must be my rapier wit and stunning good looks," he jokes, taking the twenty and replacing it with one of his own before handing it back to me.
"Or maybe it's your willingness to buy drinks and play designated driver," I say with a raised eyebrow at his gesture.
"Ah, so you're just using me for free drinks. The truth finally comes out." He feigns sadness but I have to laugh.
"Considering I had my money on the bar and you chose to remove it, I'd say that conclusion is unfounded." I take a sip of my drink and hop up onto the high chair across from the pool table to watch Jamie and Brit get crushed by Paul and Kelsey at pool. "We've got winner!" I yell over to them.