Page 47 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
Mercy sat with Kaiko and Jack, all looking chipper in matching Maimers tracksuits. We’d gotten back from the club around two. I was the one who decided to afterparty in Rusty’s room after getting a bad text about how I should die like my plants.
How much more of this could I take?
Rusty took a seat next to me on the bus, in her matching sweats, holding a Maimers travel mug.
She eyed me. “How the fuck do you look so awake?”
“It’s my makeup. A trick I learned in modeling,” I replied, taking another sip. “I can send you a link to what I use and give you a tutorial. It’s industrial strength and waterproof.”
Rusty toasted me with her mug. “I’d love that. I’mnotplaying drinking games with you anymore. When I woke up, I was still drunk.”
Putting my travel mug between my knees, I rummaged through my backpack. “I feel like shit.”
“Has Mercy ever seen you drunk?” She laughed, lowering her voice.
“No. She hasn’t even seen me tipsy, well, until last night. While she’s seen me hungover a couple times, I’m not sure she knew it.” I was always careful about that. I was about as inexperienced at drinking as I was with sex.
What the parents didn’t know didn’t piss them off.
I pulled out my first aid bag. “Let’s see, I have hydrogels, vitamin shots, hangover helper, and headache powder–which works better than pills for hangovers.” I leaned in. “I have Sobrex if you need it. But don’t tell. I don’t want to become the team supplier.”
It was the same thing Jonas had given me after Dean and I had gone to Margarita Manis. I had them because one of these days, Mercy was going to get shit-faced drunk and not know what to do about it.
“Hangover helper? I haven’t used that in ages. I’ll take that and a vitamin shot. I’ve got hydrogels.” She patted her bag.
I doled them out. “I have more if you need them. The campus clinic has baskets of them. Thank you for letting me hang out with you. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime,” she told me.
Ash caught my eye and asked for a vitamin shot. I tossed him one of the little bottles and then stuffed the bag in my backpack. He’d had a great time at the club and hadn’t come back with the rest of us.
“Whatdidyour guys do to you?” She used the shot to take the pills.
“Them? Nothing. Shit’s going down with Grif’s old agent. He was my first agent, and it’s terrifying.” The very thought of Grif going through the vitriol I did made me want to vomit. I closed my eyes and took a breath.
She patted my knee. “It’ll be okay. Jonas and AJ can handle it until you get back. I know that doesn’t make it easier, but they will. It’s nice that you’ve found such a great pack.”
I opened my eyes. “Me, too. It’s difficult being far away for so long.”
“I miss my pack, too.” Rusty took another sip of coffee. “Maybe Grif will share his location with you? That helps me when I’m away. So does getting pictures.”
“Oh, I like that idea.” I scrolled to text Grif and realized that Jonas had already invited me to join their group on Location Finder. I accepted. Perfect.
The bus took off. We were going to be separated into groups, doing clinics all over the island and then organizing the fan event with the trading cards.
Creed
Everything okay?
I filled him in on what happened. Back in undergrad, Creed had held me when I cried so many times because of the haters.
Jonas picking up the phone last night despite the late hour, had made me so happy. Because I’d been beside myself–and trying to keep it from Mercy and the others.
With Jonas, I could let go. I knew he’d believe me. Help me.
For that, I was grateful.
I had never been somewhere as picturesque as this university. I stood on the outdoor deck of the ice rink where Mercy’s group was running their clinics. The ocean stared back at me, the blue waves lapping against the sandy shore. Mercy and company were doing three clinics today: one for the university team, one for a bunch of high schoolers, and an open choreography workshop. Then we’d head back for the fan event.
