Page 33 of Your Side of the Offense

This is not how I wanted my college life to start. I don’t want this drama. This is already too much. I sigh tiredly.

My phone beeps and I look at the incoming text.

Anything, Su.

So, I know you are busy this week, but want u to be my plus one this Friday at the party?

Whoa. Party.

I was thinking about going but now that he is having confrontations with the guys, is it something I want to do?

I decide on honesty.

I don’t know, Logan. I heard about what happened this afternoon at practice. I don’t like drama.

Three bubbles appear as he types a few times then stops, then types again. Either it’s going to be long as hell or he doesn’t know what to say.

“Is that one of them or Logan?”

I jump, forgetting Hazel was here. She has a soda in her hand and nosiness in her eyes as she tries to peep at the screen.

That doesn’t have to affect our friendship, Su.

Friendship, huh? I could say much about the guy but dense probably isn’t one of them. He seems to understand I don’t want anything more serious.

"Logan seems to be really into you,” Hazel says, clearly excited, probably more than me. And clearly with an agenda. She’s picked her side even though I haven’t. Not really.

This thing with Logan doesn’t excite me as much as I hoped it would. I like him and I could see myself probably getting close to him but…

“Ugh, I don’t know, Hazel,” I say honestly, sitting on the chair and she takes the bed.

“Are you still hoping to get back together with them?” She looks at me intently, like she’s trying to dissect my thoughts.

“What? No, of course not,” I answer way too quickly, my voice a bit higher pitched than I would have liked. I hope she doesn’t take that to mean something it doesn’t.

“Then what’s the real problem with you giving this harmless ‘date’ a go? Logan seems nice and…”

“And you will be happy if we dated friends and the best athletes in school?”

“Soooo much,” she answers with forward enthusiasm, and I laugh.

“Don’t call your tailor just yet, missy.”

She turns serious. “Look, Su. I’m not pushing you on the guy, but there really isn’t a reason to not even give him a chance to show you a good time. You need a distraction from them. And Logan is available, and he seems great. Just…give it a try. Just as friends.”

“Fine. I will.”

“Yay!” she squeals.

I shake my head as I fire up the chat.

It’s a friend date on Friday!

Tight!

I smile. Maybe this is exactly what I need.

The rest of the night goes well. Hazel and I order in before we get back to our schedules.

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