It's true that you never forget your high school friends. Especially the ones that helped to make you who you are. Even the bad parts. But they were there as you were discovering yourself and they don't give up on you as easily. You can have fun with them while remembering who you used to be. But maybe now being who you used to be is not who you should be. But then again... a little fun never hurt anyone, right?

****

"This will be my first college football game," I say excitedly as I brush on some mascara in the bathroom mirror. I hear Lanie giggle from behind me and I turn to look at her. She adjusts her navy blue shirt without the school's name written across the front in yellow.

My shirt is the opposite, with blue lettering and yellow color. "What are you laughing about?"

She shrugs her shoulders. "You're just cracking me up. This is really your first game?"

"Yes. It's not yours?"

"This is my second year here. I went to a few last year with some friends," she explains, a grin on her face as she reminisces. "They are so fun when everyone gets hyped up and cheering with all your classmates around you."

"You're a sophomore?" I ask in the midst of her memories. "How old are you?"

She nods her head. "Yep. I just turned twenty."

My mouth drops open, which surprisingly helps me put my mascara on. "I did not think you were twenty."

"How old did you think I was?" She laughs, stepping up beside me to pull her hair up into a messy bun.

"Eighteen like me, I guess. Dang, you're old," I say jokingly, earning an eye roll from Lanie. "So, are there any good tailgaters over here? I have been to some of those in high school. They were always my favorite part."

Lanie purses her lips. "I think there are some in the parking lot before you get to the stadium."

I gasp wit excitement. "Can we go to one? We can just walk through!"

Lanie looks extremely apprehensive. "I don't know. Those people get pretty crazy. The cops are over there all the time because of it."

"But we won't get in trouble if we don't do anything stupid," I explain. I suddenly feel a different dynamic between us knowing she's two years old than me. "Please?"

Lanie sighs. "Since it's your first game, I guess. But no trouble, okay? This is supposed to be a good game."

"You won't regret this!" I say in a sing-song voice. She rolls her eyes playfully at me.

**

The parking lot is a maze. There are vehicles lining each side of it, their trunks or tailgates open with coolers, food, and people sitting in them or on them. It's loud and rowdy. People from parents to college students to their younger siblings are running around visiting and having a good time.

I instantly want to be a part of it.

I tug Lanie along through the crowd of people. There are still even more people lined up to get into the stadium.

"There are so many people here," Lanie says once she's close enough for me to hear.

"I know!" I shout. We come up on a truck with trays and trays of Jell-O shots... my weakness. I turn to Lanie and smile. "Ever had a Jell-O shot?"

I don't give her a chance to answer before I tug her towards the truck and the guy standing next to it. He has dark red hair that's styled up, some very faint freckles on his nose. I catch his eye and smiles, pushing off the truck to walk towards me.

"I don't think we've met. Do you go to school here?" His voice is deep, even when he's talking a little higher to be heard over the noise. I notice the smirk on his face hasn't left.

"I'm Jordan, this is Lanie." I pull Lanie up beside me without taking my eyes away from his. "We both go here."

He looks at Lanie and nods, then back at me with those piercing brown eyes. "Nice to meet you."

"Jordan Woods?"

I turn my head towards the girl who just called my name and my face falls. Is it really her, the girl I used to have sleepovers with, the girl I would sneak out of the house with to find anything to do that would make our parents mad.

Wren Kepano.

Her hair is long and colored brown instead of her natural blonde. She has a hoop in the side of her nose that compliments her personality. I can see a tattoo peeking out from under her t-shirt sleeve and another on the inside of her arm.

"Look who the cat dragged all the way home," she says with a smirk. She stands awfully close to the boy with red hair, looping her arm through his. He looks down at her and smiles. I notice the unlit cigarette between her fingers.

"Hey, Wren," I reply. The last time I spoke to Wren was before I moved, and I never thought I would have to see her again. We hadn't left on good terms. "How have you been?"

"Just living life. Got away from the parents by coming here. I guess I'm gonna be an accountant. I like numbers, so something with those." I can tell she's joking... kind of.

I chuckle. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

"Better than you I bet," she laughs. "Why are you here? Visitng some old pals you forgot to say goodbye to?"

I ignore her comment and motion to Lanie. "This is my roommate, Lanie. And, no. I'm going to school here. We moved back." Not that I owe her an explanation, but it feels good to say that I'm home. Lanie gives a small wave before she crosses her arms over her chest and waits patiently.

"Right," Wren says. "What are you going to be? A teacher or something?"

I almost snort. "Are you kidding?" I don't have anything against teachers at all – but Wren does. I can tell she thinks it would be stupid. The competitive side of me is flaring up. That means I definitely can't tell her I want to be a writer. That isn't on her list of cool jobs to have. "Haven't quite decided yet."

I can feel Lanie's eyes on the back of my head.

"You never were one to have your crap together," Wren says lightly, jokingly. I want to roll my eyes and ask her if she's looked in the mirror lately, but I don't. "Anyway, want some Jell-O shots?"

She slips away from the boy and walks towards the truck, grabbing a tray and holding it out to me. "I make them for every game. They're famous," she says with a wink. I catch a sarcastic eye roll from the red head.

I shrug my shoulders. "Sure. Lanie?" I grab two, one for me and one for her.

"I don't really drink," Lanie tells me, wrapping her arms around herself.

"It's just one. There's probably hardly anything in here anyway." I shove the cup into her hand and down my own before I place the empty cup back on the tray, grinning at Wren.

"We've got more where they came from!" She shouts excitedly. "By the way, Jordan. This is my boyfriend, Elijah."

I nod in his direction. "Hey." He looks me up and down, his dark eyes scrapping over me. I suddenly don't want to talk to him, but I stop myself from feeling that way.

"Jordan." Lanie softly taps my shoulder. "Are you ready to go in to watch the game?"

I shake my head and grab her shoulders. "Lanie, trust me. Just a little while longer!"

I turn back to Wren and grab another shot, and then another. Before I know it, I'm actually enjoying myself.

I can feel myself letting loose, my body feeling more and more free from my brain's control. I stagger over to Wren who is laughing so much she looks like she might pee herself.

"Wreeeeen!" I exclaim, patting her shoulder. "Tell me how you've really been."

She giggles right along with me. "No ma'am." She ends up hugging me somehow, and we fall onto the ground. The gravels dig into my bare arm and I try to get up, but Wren is laying on top of me. She's laughing so hard her face is red at this point.

"Get off of me, woman!" I shout through my guffaws. Suddenly there is someone pulling me up, their hands gripping under my arms. I let it happen, watching Wren roll off of me, still laughing. The person doesn't let go of me for a long time as they drag me away without much resistance from me. I watch the truck and Wren on the ground as they disappear behind the crowd of people that seemed to grow even bigger.

Wait, where am I going?

I jerk my arms out from the person's grip and throw myself in the opposite direction. I stumble and almost fall but I catch my balance quickly. At least to me, it was quick.

I turn to see Lanie, a scared and exhausted look on her face. It couldn't have been her that pulled me this far. She's the same size as me. No, it was the tall dude next to her who hasn't looked at me yet. Finally, he turns his head after surveying the people around us.

Clayton Mazur?

"Come on, Jordan. We have to go!" Lanie exclaims, as she rushes towards me. She wraps her fingers around my wrist, and I let out a yelp. My wrist is still sore from the tattoo I got only four days ago.

"Lanie!" I say, feeling anger rip through me. "I was having so much fun. Why is he here?"

Clay quirks an eyebrow at me. "Lanie, I see them coming down the hill. They'll be here any second."

Lanie looks at me with wide eyes. "Jordan, please come with us."

I cross my arms over my chest and stomp a foot on the ground. Why do I feel like I could fall over?

"No-" But before I know, I'm being picked up and thrown over Clay's shoulder. And the crowd behind us starts to split like the Red Sea.

I have the urge to puke but letting it all out now while my head is right at Clay's back doesn't seem like the best idea. He's carrying me all the way over to the dorm so I don't have to walk. Why would I ruin that?

He suddenly pulls me forward so that I'm now standing in front of him, my body pressed against his. He looks me right in the eye with the most calming look on his face. How does he not know who I am? He takes a few steps back from me.

And then I barf all over his shoes.

_________________

Whoops...

The song is 1,2 Many by Luke Combs! You can guess why haha.

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