Page 6 of 3rd and 4 (Season of Change #3)

I’ve been on campus for four weeks and this whole college thing ain’t so bad.

Sure, I haven’t started classes yet, but I’ve never had an issue with schoolwork.

I study, I take copious notes and record lectures, and I’m good at time management.

I’m aware there will be a period of adjustment, but I’m not too worried.

I’m capable, but I also have two best friends to help me.

Eva and Elijah have made my time on campus enjoyable.

My friendship with Addy is absolutely wonderful and painfully torturous at the same time.

He’s beautiful to look at, especially right after practice when his dark mop of hair hangs wet over his eyes, his skin glistening in the midday sun, his muscles flexing from exertion…

Torture. But I’m a glutton for punishment and apparently a masochist since I’m not willing to give him up.

My friendship with Eva is a different kind of torture.

She’s great and I am so thankful to have met her and that she decided we’re best friends.

She doesn’t believe in downtime. Of any kind.

That girl is constantly moving, her body or her mouth.

I’m not entirely sure she sleeps. But she’s a riot, warm, kind, and open and unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. And she wants to be my friend…

One of my favorite things, though, is when Eva and Addy bicker over who gets to spend time with me, touring campus, and showing me the ropes.

They played rock, paper, scissors and Addy cheated so he could accompany me to the bookstore to get all my supplies for the semester.

Eva winked at me as Addy dragged me along, so I don’t think she was too mad about losing.

And then there’s practice. Jenna is an amazing coach, and I have learned quite a bit from her already.

She’s patient but pushes us. The dynamic is different from high school and not just because of the boys.

It’s friendlier, welcoming, encouraging.

Except for Shaye and her evil sidekicks.

Eva made me watch Mean Girls, so I knew what to expect and how to counteract their evilness.

So far, it’s been irritating, but nothing I can’t handle.

Snide remarks, bumping into me when they pass, and I know one of them threw away my water bottle, but I can’t prove it.

Shaye is especially nasty when she catches Addy talking to me, us laughing, or horsing around.

A few of our squadmates have started an impromptu “skill club” at the end of practices.

It’s like fight club, but a) sadly, Edward Norton is not here, b) we talk about it, and c) it’s everyone against me.

I normally don’t enjoy being singled out, but it’s all in fun and we have a good time, often laughing so hard that none of us can do a back handspring let alone anything difficult.

I’m meeting Addy, Eva, Ty, and Lyndell for lunch today.

After, we’ll workout with the squad while Ty and Lyndell head home.

I haven’t met them yet, they were visiting family, I think.

I’m nervous though. Ty is important to Addy, so I want him to like me.

Addy and I are only friends but…I can’t help being a stupid little girl with a crush.

And if his best friend doesn’t like me, I probably don’t stand a good chance of remaining Addy’s friend.

From everything I’ve heard though, I don’t think I have anything to worry about, but my stomach is in knots anyway.

I shower, dress quickly, and pull my hair up on the top of my head.

We’ll be working out later, so I’m not taking time to fix my hair.

I grab my bag, open the doors to the locker room, and walk down the hall as I pull my cell phone out to text my brother.

I start typing out a message, but when I’m about to round the corner, I hear Addy’s voice and glance up.

“Shaye, not now.” Text message forgotten, I slow my steps and pocket my phone.

“Come on, come back to my place. I’ll give you a full body massage. You’ve got to be sore from practice.”

“Lay off it, Shaye.”

“I’ll make you feel good. You know I can.

” I step around, the two of them in full view about 20 feet away.

I stand frozen as she gets up on her toes and presses her lips to his.

Her hand snakes between them and Addy makes a noise of what I hope is protest. His wide eyes meet mine over her head and he pushes her back forcefully.

It was only a few seconds but long enough for me to feel sick to my stomach.

I spin around to run to the nearest bathroom, but smack into Eva.

I look up at her, hoping my expression is pleading enough for her to help me.

My mouth won’t open, my tongue too big for my mouth.

If I try to speak, I’m gonna puke or cry.

She glares at the two of them, grabs my shaking hand, and pulls me through the halls and out of the complex.

“Daya!” Addy yells, his voice pained, but I don’t wait. I’m being stupid. So stupid. He’s not mine. We’re friends. He can kiss whoever he wants. I just want him to want it to be me. Which is ridiculous.

“Motherfucking trollopy bottom-feeding leprous whore.” Eva spits under her breath, her face red, but she doesn’t slow down.

In fact, she’s moving quite fast, and I’m struggling to keep up, but I’m grateful she was there to help me.

She drags me down unfamiliar paths, yet somehow, we manage to make it to my dorm.

She taps her foot impatiently while I scan my card. She rips open the main doors when they unlock and I follow behind her. She’s like a charging bull, mean-mugging anyone unfortunate enough to get in her way. She’s awesome. And I’m an idiot.

Inside my dorm room, Eva slams the door behind us and scowls at me.

“It’s not his fault.” Her eyes blaze so I keep talking.

“I’m being dumb, a na?ve little girl. I’ve never been around boys.

I mean, I went to school with them, but I didn’t interact much with them.

I spent a lot of time training and studying.

I have no experience navigating what I’m feeling…

which is mostly confused and hurt. He’d never go for me, and that’s fine.

Well, not fine, but not his fault. Like how some people like avocados and some don’t. He just isn’t attracted to me.”

She holds up her hand to stop my word vomit. Better than actual vomit. I wrap my arms around my middle as I slump on my bed.

“Oh, honey, you are na?ve.” She chuckles which irritates me, but then she sits next to me and hugs me on my bed.

It’s comforting. “It’ll be ok. Everything will work out like it’s supposed to.

” I don’t know how she can be so positive right now, then again, it isn’t her heart that’s been fed through a wood-chipper.

I twist in her hold when I hear someone yelling outside.

It’s loud. “What’s that?” Eva laughs while I rise and look out my window.

My jaw drops when I find Addy screaming up at the windows.

His phone is at his ear. He pulls it away angrily, types something, then lifts it again.

Eva laughs harder, standing next to me at the window.

She pats my shoulder. “Told you it’d be ok.” She nods down at Addy. “You might want to get him before campus security hauls him off.”

“Oh!” I rush through my door, down the hall, and take the stairs to the main floor. I don’t want him to get in trouble.

Eva shouts after me, “I’ll see myself out, have fun!”