Page 23

Brooke

When we arrive at the football house, the place is so packed that people have spilt out on the front lawn. It takes twenty minutes once we make it through the door to navigate our way to the kitchen and out to the backyard, where the indoor pool house is located.

I know Adam and Bear said they want to hang out with me, but as we get stopped by people wanting to talk to them, all the past twenty minutes have taught me that I'm more of a third wheel than I thought.

They've spoken to so many different people about recent games and previous parties they’d been to. Someone even asked Bear for advice on studying for a biology test, all while I stood to the side, quietly watching. They tried to involve me in their conversations, but it felt awkward.

I need to put myself out there and make some friends who aren’t the guys or Cami. Even Cami hangs out with the girls from her skating team.

“You know, I’m just going to head in there; you guys carry on.” I smile as they both nod and wave at me.

I walk down the steps of the deck and across the yard, which has some sort of beer Olympics going on with multiple teams running back and forth playing different games. I watch for a little, considering joining a game before I chicken out and head into the pool house.

I scan the pool area, clutching my bag and drink in my hands nervously, and I'm suddenly faced with the horrible mistake I’ve just made.

I can’t see anyone I could remotely start a conversation with, and I’m not cool or casual enough to pull this off.

I’m an overthinker and worrier; I’m not sure I can walk up to people and make friends without the fear of looking like a weirdo.

Okay, act cool. Cami always says to manifest. I can manifest not failing and making friends. I’ve got to know someone; scanning the yard behind me and the pool, and I’m coming up with nothing.

“Hey, Brooke.” I groan. I've managed to manifest the last person I want to see. Typical

“Go away, Josh,” I say without looking at him and facing the pool. Why do I keep forgetting that he attends the same college as me? I've hardly seen him on campus, so it catches me off guard.

“Aww, come on, I’m just being polite.” He walks around into my line of sight; he’s wearing plain shorts, a button-up shirt, and loafers. Everyone’s dressed in pool outfits with some sort of winter addition to ward off the cold, and he looks like he’s heading to the country club.

“Cool, you’ve done that. Now you can leave me alone.” I sigh, pulling my phone out of my back pocket to make myself look busy and ignore him. I could work on The Drop on one of the sun loungers around the pool.

“Don’t know anyone here, huh?” He looks down at me with pity. It just gets worse and worse. He always had a knack for pointing out my insecurities and making me feel small.

“I know people,” I huff. “I’m just texting them.” Lying so easily. I want it to be true. Why can’t I have more friends to show Josh I’m okay? I don’t need him anymore. I’m cursing Grant for leaving me in this position; he owes me big time.

“Sure, look, my guys are over there. Why don’t you come join us?” He nods his head over to a group of guys from the baseball team and a couple of girls hanging on to their every word. I wonder what baseball groupies are. They seem like a tamer version of puck bunnies.

“Yeah, because I came here to hang out with my ex-boyfriend,” I scoff, scrunching up my nose and recheck my phone, hoping he takes the hint and walks away.

“I don’t have to be your ex-boyfriend. You know that’s your choice.” I look up to correct him, but before he lets me speak, he hits me with, “I’m trying to help you, Brooke, don't be embarrassed.”

Asshole. He thinks he knows me so well, still, and I need to be saved. Well, screw him; I’m saving myself.

I look over at the sun loungers and see two girls from my marketing class have arrived and are just sitting down.

“I’m not embarrassed, Josh,” I say a bit too loudly and get a couple of stares. “I was looking for my friends, and I found them, so that you can leave me alone now.”

Brushing past him, praying they don’t think I’m weird.

“Uh, hi,” I smile and wave awkwardly, once I’ve walked over and stand next to them, hoping I’m far enough from Josh that he won’t hear me. “Mind if I join you guys?”

“Sure! Brooke, right?” the girl with blonde hair says, smiling up at me. “I’m Savannah.”

I smile and move to sit on a lounger beside them, dumping my bag and towel, noticing they also brought the same, so I don’t feel like such a loser. I assume the pool is heated because it’s warm inside, and the crowd helps. The girls are all in similar outfits to mine: shorts and bikinis.

“We are in marketing together, right?” the strawberry blonde says. “I’m Megan.”

“Yes, I am! Sorry, I just transferred, so I don't know many people yet,” I say, and I can even hear how shy I sound, not like my normal level of ease with Cami and the guys.

“No problem, it’s perfect; now we can pick your brain about The Drop.” She reaches for a seltzer out of her bag. “That idea is genius.”

“Thanks, I’ve got to be honest, it kind of came out of nowhere,” I reply sheepishly, kicking my cowboy boots off, feeling the heat of the pool house.

“Well, I love it,” Savannah smiles, leaning back on her elbows. “You need to give us some socials tips; we suck.”

“Our socials don’t suck, Savannah. Our idea does.” Megan rolls her eyes. “We didn’t realise our idea had already been done.”

I recall them collaborating on a joint project about food waste and working with restaurants to reduce leftovers. “Well, is there a way to use it but make it more personal to you guys?” I question.

“I don’t know.” Savannah frowns, lifting one side of her mouth. “The restaurants already use the other app, and people still pay for the food, only at a discount.”

“Have you thought about maybe the whole pay it forward thing?” I ask, almost thinking aloud, “I do that with coffee now and again.”

Megan purses her lips, thinking, while Savannah taps her chin, and I may have overstepped my place in the conversation. “Sorry! Don’t listen to me. I just thought about it, and it popped out. Ignore me,” I say hastily, not wanting to ruin a potential friendship.

“No, no,” Megan reassures me quickly. “I think that could work, but I was also thinking maybe homelessness and food banks.”

“Ooh, yes.” Savannah sits up and bounces excitedly. “Food drives with local restaurants”

“You could market it with the clubs on campus too,” I add, sipping my drink and leaning back on the lounger, feeling more comfortable.

“Brooke, you’re our new best friend.” Savannah claps her hands together, and Megan nods with her, and I can’t help but laugh.

“I didn’t know it was that easy.” I laugh, and they join in. Huh, I can make friends just fine on my own.

We continue to discuss our projects, and we agree to meet up for a study and brainstorming session. When my cooler runs out, Megan and Savannah have a secret stash next to their bags that they let me join in on, and I’m having a great time, and I’ve not even had to SOS Adam or Bear yet.

The three of us have spread out across the two loungers and are talking about The Drop when I accidentally slip up and mention the hockey team.

“Credit where credit is due; the guys help a lot with my marketing by posting on their socials, and those have rocketed since the launch.” I shrug my shoulders, not wanting to brag but proud of the team. They’ve all been so helpful.

“So, you just hang with the hockey team?” Megan asks, wide-eyed. “Like, you just get to stare at them practice.”

“I mean, I am working, but I get to watch them, too.” I laugh because, admittedly, I do stare at Grant a lot at the practices I attend.

“They are so hot,” Savannah sighs. “That Gunnar guy is just wow.”

“Ah, he’s taken, I’m afraid.” I scrunch my nose, thinking about how pissed off Sasha would be hearing that. I don’t even know the girl, and she scares me.

“Boo,” Savannah says, sticking her thumb down, “all the good ones are.”

“Grant Anders is up for grabs, though,” Megan offers, waggling her eyebrows at Savannah and me; we both laugh, but mine is more forced, thinking about my complicated feelings for Grant.

“Yeah, but he’s got girls falling over him left, right, and centre”, Savannah sighs, rolling her eyes. “I wouldn’t even get a chance.”

“Is he really a player?” I don't know why I ask. I already know I will not like the answer.

“Any party I’ve been to, he’s been hooking up with someone, so I’ve always assumed he is, but most of the hockey team are.” Savannah shrugs her shoulders like it is unimportant, and to her, it is, but to me, uneasiness settles in my stomach.

“Lots of girls think they can lock him down; I mean, you get the, oh, what do they call them in hockey?” Savannah asks, clicking her fingers, trying to think of the name.

“Puck bunnies?” I offer.

“Puck bunnies!” she shouts, then looks around to make sure no one heard, and Megan and I giggle.

“They are the worst,” she whispers.

“Yep, I encountered a couple of those when we were out after the game last week,” I snort into my drink, shaking my head before looking up at them, staring at me with parted lips and wide eyes like they can't believe what they just heard.

“You were out with Grant Anders?” Their mouths are still hanging open in shock. It’s kind of comical.

“Uh, yeah.” I nervously giggle, crossing my legs on the lounger and playing with the frayed edge of my shorts. “I live next door to him.”

They both squeal and grab each other’s hands, and can I blame them? I would do the same with Cami.

“I thought you just did The Drop with the team and that was it, but you actually know them?” Megan asks, leaning forward, and Savannah follows.

“Yep.” I nod, feeling a little awkward suddenly. I’ve been here before with Josh. People heard his last name and were all over him and me like a rash when they found out we were dating. Girls used to want to “hang out” with me, suddenly.

“I’m going to just check in with Adam and Bear quickly.”

“Bear? As in Bear McDonald,” says Savannah, at the same time Megan asks, “And Adam Price?”

“Yeah,” I say, standing up, debating whether to leave my stuff or leave the party together, feeling like I’m going to be right back where I started, just with no other friends. “This isn’t going to be weird, is it?”

“Oh my God, Brooke, no, I’m so sorry,” Savannah says apologetically, reaching her hand out to grab my arm in reassurance. “It’s just you kind of hear all these stories, and you just, ya know, hang with them.”

“Sorry if we are making it weird,” Megan adds, looking embarrassed. “That was really rude of us.”

“Don't worry, it's fine. I’ll grab some more drinks and be back.” I smile, and they return it, nodding before turning to each other to keep talking as I turn to walk towards the entrance of the pool house.

I’m like an excited kid. I’ve made friends all by myself.

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed, but I want to share it with Adam and Bear.

Only realising as I go to walk out of the pool house that I took my boots off, leaving me barefoot, but I’ve got my beer jacket on, so I walk out into the cold air, heading up the steps to the deck that wraps around the back of the house.

I grab some drinks from the kitchen, but I don't spot Adam and Bear, so I head out onto the deck, bumping into someone as I try to avoid a group coming up the steps from the yard.

“I know you told me to go away, but come on, Brooke, let’s talk,” I groan. “Of course, it would be Josh I've bumped into.” I've had the worst luck twice in one day.

“Josh, I said no, just leave me alone.” I can tell he’s got some liquid courage from drinking, and I’m in too good a mood to deal with him right now.

“You won’t even let me say two words to you,” he says, frustratedly, running his hands through his hair.

“I told you! I don’t need you to say anything. I know what happened,” I say, crossing my arms. “There is nothing you can say that would make me want to listen to you.”

“Brooke…”

“She said no, Hayle.”