“Uh… Hi?” I chuckle as Georgia and Sienna roll their eyes, Denver sighs already aware of just how fucked I am, considering she sat in a lecture with the two of us this morning.
“Bitch, get to the tea! I only Naired one of my pits because I saw the SOS text.” Sienna groans, holding up her arms to show us the proof.
Georgia lets out a low whistle, running a finger over the bare armpit. “Damn, girl, how long was your timer?”
“Girl… get back on topic.” Denver chuckles, swatting Georgia away from Sienna.
I sigh as I watch my friends begin to bicker and say the one thing that I know will break them out of it.
“I like Blake Wilder,” I confess, sighing in relief at the weight lifted from my chest. I never thought admitting something as simple as having a crush could feel this relaxing, but I feel like the world is somehow brighter.
“Bitch I know that’s not why I put a pause on my everything shower—” Sienna frowns, looking up at me in genuine confusion.
“Was that supposed to be the SOS?” Denver chuckles, running a hand through her waves, looking back and forth between the girls and me.
“Girl, I was watching a new episode ofLove In Cancun! You called a meeting to deliver old news!” Georgia exclaims with a groan, laying back fully into the couch.
Well, that wasnothow I expected them to react. I frown at my friends and move from in front of the television, put off with the whole situation. Am I reallythatobvious to others?
Georgia presses resume on the current episode ofLove In Cancunand nestles into Denver’s side as Sienna trudges back to her room, presumably to finish her “everything shower”, which consists of washing, deep conditioning, and putting a treatment into her pink curls while shaving and exfoliating her body in the shower with the water set to a hell-like temperature.
The last time I’d followed one of Sienna’s “everything shower” guides, I nearly fainted from the humidity in the bathroom and my arms almost fell off.
We’re about five minutes into the episode, and Georgia is fully invested in the nonsense that prick Cooper Turner is saying to America’s sweetheart Rosetta Murano when I make the mistake of opening my mouth once again.
“I told him we couldn’t date,” is all that I can say before the show is promptly paused again and I am faced with two of the most confused looks I’ve ever seen them give me.
“And why the hell did you do that?! He’s hot and funny and has the mental capacity to put up with Jace for more than five minutes!” My blonde friend shrieks as she stands, taking the spot that I’d previously held in front of the TV.
“Did he do something?” Denver’s voice is laced with lethality as she looks down at me where my head lays in her lap, looking up at the ceiling.
“I’m scared.” The confession burns as it comes out into the open.
Georgia lets out a choked sound trudging toward us, plopping down on the floor between us and our coffee table. “What are you scared about?” she asks warmly, running a hand through my hair.
“That she’ll get hurt,” Denver answers for me, her tone raw as she looks everywhere but at me and it’s then that I have a feeling that I’m not the only person she’s talking about.
“Is this because of Marce—he who shall not be named?” Georgia questions and when I don’t answer, she lets out a groan in frustration. “Cleo Jones, you listen to me, and you listen well. Blake isnotMarcelo, and you are not your past. I know that you’re struggling with trusting him and I one hundred percent agree that you should watch your back but don’t let your skepticism stop you from becoming a part of something great with someone.”
That makes me sit up; I glance at Denver quickly and sure enough, she’s listening as well. We only get Therapist Georgia six times a year and when that happens, it’s in everyone’s best interest to listen.
“Men come and go but you are forever. Why not give yourself a chance at happiness? Risks are meant to be taken in order to get what we desire. There’s always risks when the heart is involved but that doesn’t mean that you should just play it safe and never put your heart out there.” She smiles as if she knows that she’s giving us the best advice in the world... and she is. “You deserve to be loved and give it back to someone who deserves it. You both do.” She finishes giving a weighty look to Denver. I furrow my eyebrows at the action as Denver nods. Whatever those two have going on must be serious based on their shared unwavering looks.
“Now go jump on that ultra hockey star dick, I heard it's amazing.”
“Is video production going to be your job or mine? I mean, I’m not terrible at editing, but youdidhave a YouTube channel.” Henry Ricks, my partner for my Mass Media 3004 project, chuckles as I roll my eyes at him.
Henry and I have been working together on our project since the semester began but we’ve only been able to meet with one another twice since he’s been busy with traveling.
He’s a center fielder on the baseball team and one of the coolest guys I’ve met since starting here.
He twists at one of his dreadlocks with a knowing smirk as I let out my own small laugh. Since it’s still early in the day and a little warm out, the two of us are sitting at one of the outdoor tables by the dining hall. Henry’s dark skin glows as he looks up at me holding up a picture of my YouTube channel, Icing it. My stomach dips as I remember the channel I’d practically grew up on and how I tossed it aside as soon as my life got hard.
I groan as Henry presses play on a video of me from middle school and bursts out in laughter as my younger self pounces into the frame, tugging Jace along with me.
“Man, babe, you were so adorable! All my buddies and I would watch your videos all the time.” Henry smiles brightly, still watching the video and I’m about to start laughing again when a dark cloud blocks the sun. I frown at the sudden chill at my back when Henry notices it as well.
“Oh, hey man!” Henry beams at whoever is blocking out the light and my stomach twists as the smells of cedarwood and vanilla storm my senses.
