Page 8 of Big Nick Energy

I placed the cold compress against my head as I stood.What is concussion protocol?

I headed back to my room.

I needed to collect myself.

Paris was asleep so I quietly made my way into the bathroom and assessed my injury. I realized the lump I thought I’d seen earlier was actually a reddened welt. I stared at my reflection.

A couple of hours should fix it,I mused.

With my hands gripping the sink, I leaned closer to the mirror.

Fuck the bruise. I just saw Nick.

Paris didn’t wake up for an hour, but I used the time that she was asleep to strategize. By the time my best friend had awakened, I had a new plan for getting Nick’s attention.

“What?” Paris balked as we ate overpriced room service quesadillas and chicken tenders. “Asha, I don’t know about that…”

“I’m going to give him a chance to approach me and if that doesn’t work, I’m going to contact him,” I summarized.

“And say what?”

“I’ll give him an update on my concussion.”

She almost choked on her fry. “What concussion?”

“The one that the lady downstairs said that I could possibly have.” I winked at her. “Keep up.”

With a laugh, she shook her head. “I don’t know how you’re so bold.”

I pointed at her. “You need to be bold. You were friends with Tuck, and you never said a word about your feelings for him.”

She shifted in her seat uncomfortably, looking down at her plate. “I’m over him.”

I twisted my lips skeptically but didn’t say anything.

I didn’t have to.

We both knew she was lying.

She wanted to be over him, she tried to get over him, but she wasn’t. And because I loved her, I was going to let her live in her delusion.

“Yeah, I hear you.” With my eyebrows raised to the middle of my forehead, I took a sip of my lemonade. “So, if not Tuck, who do you have your eye on? We said we are reclaiming our time this weekend and living it up so there has to be someone you’re interested in.”

“I’m going to make a decision when I get there. I have to check out who all is going to be there.”

I nodded. “Valid point.”

After eating, we started getting ready. It didn’t always take us hours to prepare for a night out. But there was so much hype around this particular homecoming weekend that we knewwe needed to come correct. The Hamilton University Hounds football team were playing so well that they were going to air the game on Sports Athletes News Station, one of the biggest sports networks in the world. The buzz surrounding the weekend was bringing some of the more famous alums as well as celebrities.

“I would’ve been ready thirty minutes ago if my lashes would’ve cooperated,” I complained as I twirled around in the mirror one last time.

“I feel you. My twist out wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do,” Paris sighed.

“But it turned out so cute.” I looked over at how her thick hair was separated in two cute afro puffs. “It looks great with your outfit.”

“Thanks.” She gently touched her edges and then looked at my braids. “I should’ve gotten my hair braided.”

“Your hair is cute like it is. And you hate sitting to get braids.”

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