Luca
(Three Months Later)
I cannot believethe time is here. I’m finishing up my last-minute packing, then heading out to dinner with my friends because come seven tomorrow morning, I’m hitting the road. My first semester at WSU starts Monday and I need to get moved in and settled before then.
I’m lowkey proud of how organized and on top of things I am. Sarah says it’s because I’m a Virgo. Whatever the fuck that means. Either way, there’s only a box or two left to be packed and it’s all done, aside from my toothbrush and charger, which will be packed in the morning.
It’s insane to think that I planned for this day for so many years and now it’s here. It doesn’t seem real.
I hear a soft knock at my door. “Come in,” I say, in between folding clothes.
“Hey, honey.” Sarah pushes open my door, taking a seat on the end of my bed. “How’s it coming along?”
“Pretty good, actually. I’m almost done, only have a few more things to do.”
“Look at you! What are your plans for the rest of the night?”
“Just going to dinner with Aston and Anderson. It’ll probably be an early night, since we have to be up so early in the morning.”
We’re all heading down tomorrow, Anderson and Aston driving together with their parents, and me, solo. Dad and Sarah were originally going to come, but Sarah’s parents decided to visit at the last minute, so they’re staying home and planning on driving down next weekend.
“Well, that will be nice to have all you boys together. What about Courtney? Is she coming too or is it a boys’ night?”
I stiffen at the question and want to roll my eyes. Not at her or the innocent question, but the entire situation. Things with Courtney and I have been… weird for weeks now. We can’t seem to get along, yet neither of us want to call a spade a spade and end it.
And I have no idea why.
She’s been such a large part of my life for years now and the thought of all that ending leaves me feeling kind of gutted, despite my constant annoyance with her.
We see each other maybe once or twice a week lately. We are barely having sex, and when we do, it’s like a chore, at best.
I feel like my heart wants to be in it with her, but it just isn’t.
“Nah. She isn’t coming to dinner. We may meet up afterwards for a bit,” I finally respond, because it’s true. She has plans with her family tonight too, but we discussed the possibility of hanging out later. She’s going to the same school as me, so it’s not like if we don’t meet tonight, we won’t ever see each other again.
“Alright, honey. Well, I hope you boys have fun. If you’re going to be out late, please text us and let us know. You know I worry about you.”
* * *
I swear,I’m always the first one to arrive when I hang out with the guys.
Tonight is no different.
Aston texted that he’s close by. As I’m setting my phone down from replying to him, letting him know where I’m sitting, my phone dings again. Thinking it’s him, I flip it over.
Nope. Courtney.
Lovely.
Court: Are you still wanting to meet up later tonight, baby?
Me: I guess. I have to get up early though, so I’m not really wanting to be out late.
Court: I can come by your house around 10?
Court: I miss you. I feel like we haven’t seen each other that much lately.
Me: We saw each other the other day?
Me: But sure, 10 works. Gotta go, the boys are here.
“BROOO! Can you fucking believe we are out of this place tomorrow?” Aston exclaims, a big goofy smile plastered on his face as he takes his seat across from me.
While I’m excited for the college experience, Aston is the most excited to get the fuck out of Bellingham, in any way that he can. He’s always been a wanderer, a traveler, at heart.
I chuckle, because I’m so used to his theatrics. “Did you get everything sorted out with housing yet?” I ask. Anderson, Aston, and I were going to get an off-campus house, but the place fell through at the last minute, so campus housing is their only option for now.
Getting housing on campus this close to the start of the semester seems like a pain in the ass. Branson’s house has that spare room I was able to snag, but I’m still undecided if that is a better option than dorm living.
“Yes, fucking finally! My mom was able to talk to someone at the head of housing, and we were able to get a dorm together. I’m still pissed about the house, though.”
“Dude, let it go. She’s giving the place to her pregnant daughter. There wasn’t anything we could have done.”
“Easy for you to say. You don’t have to live on campus.” He rolls his eyes before chuckling to himself. “Although, living with Knox seems like more of a punishment than dorm life.”
He has no idea what happened the night of Weston’s birthday party.
No one does.
I didn’t dare tell a soul about what I walked in on or how I felt afterwards. I still don’t even know how I feel or what it all means.
Branson and I have barely spoken since that night; not that we spoke super frequently beforehand, but it feels more awkward and prominent now after what happened.
It’s probably all in my head. I tend to be an overthinker of the worst kind.
It wasn’t his idea to have me move into their house when my housing fell through, but when Dad suggested it in our family group chat, Branson seemed to be fine with the idea. Maybe this hasn’t been dominating his mind—like it has mine—for the last three months.
“Dude, I am not even going to get into it with you on this bizarre issue you have with Knox,” I finally say. “Where’s Anderson? I thought he was coming tonight?”
“Yeah… he had to help Crew with something, I guess. He’ll be here soon”
Aston and I continue to shoot the shit together for the next couple of hours. We know the server here, so we’re able to order beer without an ID.
At some point, Anderson texts Aston and lets him know he won’t be able to make it, so it’s just us two the whole night.
We lose track of time, and when I finally check my phone again, it’s after eleven and I have several texts from Courtney.