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“What?” asks Rachel, her voice completely confused. “No, I’m not.”

Think Hunter. Think. Although, thinking has never been my strong suit.

“Well, we need you there,” Lucas adds, his voice quivering and he looks over to me trying to find something else to say to steer her away from four eyes.

“For the tailgate,” says Seth. “We need you there for the tailgate. All of us roommates go at the start of the year. To support Hunter here,” Seth smacks my shoulder and I grit my teeth to keep from crying out. A groan escapes and I scowl at Seth who immediately moves his hand. One of these days I am going to have a serious talk with him about not smacking injured shoulders.

“Yeah, it’s for good luck,” says Lucas. “You wouldn’t want Hunter to lose the first game of the year.”

Rachel scoffs. “That sounds completely-“

“Oooh, a tailgate, that sounds like fun,” says blondie, entering the living room like an angel sent down from the heavens. “I want to go.”

“Yeah,” says the brunette. “We’re studying tonight. Let’s enjoy the weekend.”

Rachel looks between her friends. “You’d actually go?”

Blondie nods. “Yeah, I don’t see why not.”

“We can go together,” adds the brunette. “Make sure these boys treat you right.” She winks at me.

Rachel sighs and shakes her head. “Fine.” I hold back my smirk when I see Josh’s shoulders slump. Take that asshole. “But we need to actually make progress tonight.” Rachel scowls up at us. “Don’t you boys have rooms to clean?”

I raise my hands up. “We’re leaving.”

I nod to Lucas and Seth, who nod their approval. One point bros. 0 points weasel guy. I walk back to my room, closing the door behind me. I take one look and groan. Fuck. I really hate cleaning. Where do I even begin with this fucking mess? Just fuck it and jack off, I think while throwing myself down on the bed, kicking off my shoes while unbuckling my jeans. My thoughts drift to Rachel and her dark scowls and her cute little freckles.

11

RACHEL

I look around at the crowds of students, alumni, and parents chugging back beers and grilling hot dogs under tents. For a tailgate, there are hardly any cars. Just a line of tents with crowds of people weaving in and out. I stand under one, set up by Seth’s track and field freshmen, holding a cup of beer I’ve barely touched. Looking around, I wonder when I can sneak away. Going to the art museum with Josh would’ve been way better than this. We could’ve looked at art and discussed it over coffee. It would’ve been like a dream come true. Now, I’m just standing around awkwardly and wondering what to do with myself.

I grimace when I see Millie, remembering just the other night how she dumped beer down my dress and called me a wet rat. My eyes narrow on her as she strokes the arm of some guy. An arm not belonging to Lucas or Seth. Hunter is at practice so obviously she can’t be with him. Now, now, don’t slut shame the girl, Rachel. Women are allowed to have sex with whomever they want whenever they want. Like men.

However, she was a complete and utter bitch to me the other night and I assume it was only to look good for the bros. The least she can do is be a little loyal. Millie’s gaze lands on me and she flicks her hair behind her shoulders before flipping me the bird and sucking on the finger provocatively.

I scrunch up my face despite my need to act unbothered and turn back to Charlie and Lauren who are chatting up one of Seth’s track friends. “Why am I here again?” I mutter in Charlie’s ear.

She smiles politely at the guy as he goes on and on about his intense training schedule and leans over to me. “Because it’s fun,” she mutters behind grit teeth and nods again at the guy. “Well, isn’t that fascinating will you just excuse us for a moment,” she says, wrapping an arm around me and turning us around.

I spot Josh leaning back in a chair in the middle of the tent, looking absolutely bored. “Alright, I’m calling it,” I announce, setting my beer down on the plastic white table. “I’m getting out of here.”

“Oh come on,” says Lauren. “It’s not that bad. Drink your beer and cheer up.”

“Yeah,” says Lauren before gulping down another swig. “We only just got here.”

“Yeah, but Josh is miserable,” I motion towards him, “I’m miserable and there is a completely viable art museum we could be enjoying ourselves in.”

Lauren and Charlie share a look. “You mean discussing what eyes your baby will have and what your first born should be named?”

My face heats up so much I worry it’s going to melt off my body. “N-no! What are you talking about?” I take a swig of beer and grimace at the bitter taste.

“Oooooh Rachel and Josh sitting in a tree,” sings Charlie.

“K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” Lauren continues singing.

“Who’s kissing?”

I turn around and jump when I see Seth standing right behind me.

“No one’s kissing anyone,” I say quickly and cast dark looks at Charlie and Lauren not to say anything.

They giggle behind their hands and I’m tempted to swat the both of them.

“Rachel was just about to make her getaway,” says Charlie.

I scowl. That’s just about the next worst thing to say.

“No,” says Luke, taking my cup and scowling at the contents. “You’ve barely done any damage. Party foul!”

I scoff. “Party foul?”

“What does party foul mean?” Asks Lauren, taking another swig from her cup.

“It means you’ve broken a party rule,” says Seth as he looks into my cup. “In this case, not finishing a beer within the hour.”

I roll my eyes. “It tastes gross.”

Lucas smirks and casts a glance to Seth. “You know what that means?”

Seth nods and grabs my arm, pulling me through the crowd and towards several long plastic