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ME:

Do we even wanna know how you know that?

CHRIS:

Get your heads out of the gutter you fucking creeps. I know, because these walls are THIN.

JACE:

You listen to us?!

BRANDON:

That’s messed up.

CHRIS:

Whatever. Like he doesn’t ever listen to me and Lettie.

JACE:

I don’t.

CHRIS:

Sure ya don’t.

ME:

Who the fuck cares. Can we get back to the point? I called an SOS and you guys are talking about screwing.

CHRIS:

Is lunch included in this cry for help?

WEST:

We have leftover pizza.

Leave it to West to chime in when it’s useful.

I mentally thank him while rounding the corner to the athlete apartments and make my way inside to the second floor as I type:Just get your asses over here.

Ten minutes later, we’re sprawled out in the living room of the apartment West and I have shared since last year, when my previous roommate, a senior and one of our defensive ends, graduated. A half-empty pizza box sits on the coffee table between us, along with the paltry contents of our fridge, whichinclude a block of cheese, a questionable meatball sub, and some chicken salad from the dining hall on campus.

“So, are you going to tell us what this emergency meeting is about, or what?” Chris says as he shoves a slice of pizza in his pie hole.

“Maybe he’s lonely and just wants our company?” Jace winks, and I roll my eyes.

“Aw, is that it? Are you lonely, Huhn?” Brandon coos.

“Okay, assholes.” I roll my eyes. “I’m not lonely,” I say as if even the thought is repugnant.

What I am is freaked the fuck out.

With a sigh, I open my mouth to explain about Avery before promptly snapping it shut. Jace and Chris are madly in love; their heads are constantly in the clouds. How can I expect them to understand what it’s like having to see her again after all this time when they have no idea what that kind of heartbreak feels like?

Scrubbing the back of my neck with my hand, I hedge, suddenly uncertain if I want to unload this on them. “You know what? Never mind. Forget it. Everything’s fine.”