Getting Bryce out of the door on a Friday night was a chore.

We had the same plans every Friday, with his baseball buddies. But every Friday, as 7:30 rolled around, he and his best friend Clayton were sprawled out on the couch, Play Station controllers in hand.

"You did not start a new GTA mission," I deadpanned.

"No," Bryce said, at the same time Clayton said, "Yeah."

"I'm not joking, I will leave you to ride with Brad and Amy."

Bryce let out a groan, his head falling back. "Do we have to go?"

"No," I said, leaning against the doorframe. "But I'm already dressed, makeup on, and hair curled. So you're taking me somewhere."

I glanced down at my Apple Watch, the time now reading 7:34. "I'm going to put the finishing touches on my eyeliner."

"I'm getting up!" Bryce called after me, to which I just rolled my eyes.

Amy's makeup was still sprawled out across my counter. "Bryce being a baby?"

"As always."

I hopped up onto the counter, sliding my glasses off as I squinted toward my fuzzy reflection.

"Just let me do your eyeliner," Amy said. "You're going to poke your eye out!"

I swatted her away. "I got it!"

I did just a light line of eyeliner and a coat of brown mascara, which made my brown eyes pop. Stepping down off of the counter, I did a final twirl in the mirror, checking my outfit. It was just a pair of high-waisted jean shorts and a black crop top, and I planned on taking one of Bryce's flannels to throw over top. My blonde hair was curled down to my waist.

"Which shoes?" I asked Amy, as I twirled around.

"First off, the booty is popping," Amy said. "And secondly, we're going bowling. What do your shoes matter?"

"The fit, Amy. It matters."

She just rolled her eyes. "I'd say your high top black and white converse."

"Thanks, babe."

Amy's light brown complexion shimmered under the lights as she applied a gold highlighter, her cheekbones sharp. She was wearing a maroon sport dress, a jean jacket hanging on the towel rack. Her brown, coily hair bounced around her face as she flitted around the bathroom, packing up her things.

"Bets that they're still playing the game?" I asked.

"If he's still playing the game, then we leave him," Amy said.

"Deal."

I walked back out into the living room. Clayton was sprawled across the couch, now in a pair of basketball shorts and a Gators t-shirt. "Thanks for ruining my game."

Before I had the chance to retort, Jayden appeared from behind me. "Leave Sophie alone."

"Never," Clayton retorted.

I plopped down on the couch next to Clayton, throwing my feet up on the coffee table. "It's been too many years for you to still be an asshole."

Clayton flashed me a smile. "They say it's one of my personality traits."

"I wasn't aware you had one."

"Bryce!" Jayden called out. "They're fighting again!"

I heard our bedroom door open, before Dawson came bounding out, the black lab diving onto the couch.

I wrapped my arms around him, pulling the 60-pound dog into my lap. "Hey!"

"You can't fight in front of Dawson!" Bryce called from the back hallway. "He's just a baby."

"That's a grown ass dog," Clayton said, but he couldn't bite back his smile as Dawson craned his neck to give him a kiss right across the cheek.

"Did you have a good nap?" I cooed, as I scratched behind his ears. "Come on, let's go outside."

I pulled Dawson into the backyard, where he bounded toward the fence, stretching his legs.

As I stood, waiting for Dawson to do his business, a pair of arms wrapped around my waist.

"Hello, my love," I said, turning to give Bryce a kiss.

He'd cleaned up well. A pair of dark wash jeans and a Gators baseball t-shirt, which was a staple for all of the boys in the house. His brown hair was swept up, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Jeans?" I questioned. "It's hot out."

"We're going bowling," he pointed out. "I put my black and white flannel on the recliner, I figured you were going to steal it."

"That I am."

Bryce whistled for Dawson, who immediately came bounding back, his paws up on Bryce's chest before Bryce had the chance to give any commands.

"Whoa!" Bryce laughed, crashing into me and the two of us falling to the ground.

"Ow," I groaned, rolling over so my head was laying on Bryce's chest.

Dawson had already headed inside, likely to terrorize another member of the household.

"You look very pretty tonight," Bryce said. "In case I haven't told you yet."

He stood up, brushing off before offering me a hand to pull up.

"You're sweet, seeing as though I was just pummeled to the floor."

"Dramatic."

I laughed as Bryce pulled me close, giving me a kiss.

"I didn't expect you to make it on time," I said, my lips brushing against his.

"Never underestimate Bryce Harrison."

"Are you two done?" Clayton called out. "We've got to go."

My hand looped through Bryce's as we headed out to Clayton's Jeep, the two of climbing into the back as Jayden took passenger seat.

Brad and Amy were behind us in Brad's two-door Honda.

It wasn't too long of being forced to listen to Clayton's music until we pulled up to The Swamp. The parking lot was already packed, music blasting.

I climbed out of the car, Bryce waiting for me as I met up with the rest of the group. He wrapped his hand around mine, bringing it up for a kiss.

The door swung open before we could reach it, one of the baseball boys whose name I couldn't quite remember welcoming us.

Bryce knocked fists with him before pulling me inside behind him.

The table was overflowing with jocks. I took a seat at the end, Amy immediately plopping down next to me as Brad made his rounds.

A basket of pita chips and buffalo chicken dip made its way down, and I started munching as the rest of the girls started to file in.

"You made it!" I called out to Kylie, as she slid into an empty seat.

"Of course," she said, with a wave of her hand.

I glanced down the way to see her boyfriend, Landon, chatting with some of the guys.

"Are you good?" Amy questioned. "Because the group chat earlier would definitely disagree."

"Landon is such an asshole."

I rolled my eyes. If she and Landon weren't having problems, then I'm not sure the Earth would continue to spin.

"But it's whatever, tonight I'm going to hang with my girls. And Landon can eat my shit."

"Because that solves all relationship problems," I said, earning a laugh from Amy.

The waiter made his way down, and I placed an order for my veggie bowl. "Did the boy in the Gators baseball t-shirt, which I know is all of them, but that one right there-" I pointed over to Bryce "-order?"

"No, not yet."

"He's going to have the double smash burger."

Bryce was in the middle of it all, laughing and talking like the world revolved around him. And in this town, it did. He was the starting pitcher for the baseball team, which was like being some sort of God around here.

But I was used to being the pitcher's girlfriend. Spending my nights at the baseball fields, my Friday nights with the team. I'd been filling the role for seven years, since Freshman year of high school. And I was happy to do it.

It was all I knew how to do.

~*~

"Here," Kylie said, passing me a disinfectant spray.

I sprayed the inside of my bowling shoes before slipping my feet inside of them.

"The amount of attractiveness radiating off of you right now is unbelievable," Kylie informed me, whilst laughing.

I laughed along with her, heading over to pick out my bowling ball.

I got the same one every time, a six-pounder and emerald green in color.

"Where'd Bryce go?" Kylie asked me, as I placed my bowling ball on the rack.

I shrugged.

"Well lucky for you, you don't ever have to worry about him flirting with someone else," she said, looking over her should at Landon, who had his arm around another girl's shoulders.

"He's such an asshole," I repeated, shaking my head.

Their relationship was so confusing to me.

"Easy for you to say, you have a perfect relationship."

"My relationship is not perfect," I informed her, laughing at the thought.

"He's in love with you and you're in love with him. It doesn't get much better than that."

"We're just two kids trying to figure out the world together. And sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don't." A smile formed its way across my face. "But I wouldn't want to figure out this world with anybody else besides Bryce Harrison."

She sighed, shaking her head at me.

I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist, and I let out a squeal as I was spun around the room, closing my eyes.

Once my feet were firmly back on the floor, I opened my eyes into Bryce's crystal blue ones.

And then he kissed me.

"What was that for?" I asked, breathlessly.

"That was spontaneous," he informed me, with a crooked smile. "Every relationship needs a dose of spontaneity, it's healthy."

"Did you read that in Popstar Magazine?" I teased, naming on the teen magazines you usually see on the shelves at the grocery store.

"Ha, ha, aren't you just the comedian tonight?" he asked, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"I'd like to think so."

He bent down to kiss me again. "That wasn't spontaneous."

"It wasn't?"

"That was just because you look amazing tonight and I couldn't resist."

I shook my head, unable to wipe the smile off my face. "You're so full of it."

"Sophie Allen, I will romanticize you until the day I die."

I hummed in agreement, wrapping his arm around my waist. "I'll hold you to that."

"Hey lovebirds!" Clayton called, cueing up our bowling game. "You plan on joining us tonight or what?"

Bryce kissed me one last time before taking my hand in his, pulling me towards the bowling lanes.

"I'm going to kick your ass," I warned him.

"In your dreams."

"That's not what I dream about," I whispered, seductively.

He stared at me in shock, and I walked away from him to join my bowling team.

That should be enough to keep him distracted.

I joined Clayton, choosing my bowling name for the night.

So-Phie-Nominal.

"Really?" Clayton challenged.

"Yours is just Clayton," I pointed out.

"I don't like nicknames."

Just for a moment, our banter dropped. A moment of vulnerability as Clayton cleared his throat, glancing away from me.

"I know," I said, with a small smile. "But you have to admit, mine is a pretty good pun."

"No. I won't be admitting that."

Jayden came over, sipping on a drink that he'd gotten from the bowling bar. "Help me out, Clayton."

The Big Jaydenski.

"That one is worse," I said, as Jayden doubled over laughing.

"It's perfect," Jayden argued, flashing a smile toward Clayton. "Thanks."

The screen filled with more names, all pun-tastic.

Bryce's was the same every time, a spin on his favorite movie. Can't Stop the Bryce.

"You can't stop an avalanche as it races down the hill," Bryce sang. "You can try to stop the seasons, girl. But you know you never will."

"We don't need a musical number every time you put your name in," Brad said. "We know that you're a Hairspray freak."

Midnight bowling was never really about the game. We bowled without bumpers, without a care to the score. Just to all be together, to make the most of the life that we're living.

Tonight, Jayden took home the win.

"You did great, babe," I said to Bryce, as he jutted out his bottom lip to pout.

"Too many gutter balls."

"I wouldn't say bowling is your sport. You should probably stick to baseball."

~*~

Bryce wasn't in the bed when I woke up.

It wasn't unusual for Bryce to be up before me. But the fact he'd disappeared from the bed three mornings in a row meant that he hadn't been sleeping at all.

I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders before padding out into the living room. Bryce was curled up on the couch, a coffee mug in hand, as he watched TV.

"It's early, babe," he said, his eyes flickering over to me. "Go back to bed."

I bent down in front of him, staring into his eyes as I lightly traced the bruises underneath.

"It's not a big deal," he said.

"It is," I argued. "It's been a few days now."

Dawson lifted his head up from the opposite side of the couch, as though he ought to be concerned too.

"Maybe we should call your doctor?" I suggested. "Or you could maybe even talk to your therapist."

He took my hands in his. "I'm fine."

"You aren't sleeping."

"That would be a side effect of being an insomniac."

Dawson picked up his head again, this time letting out a whine.

I reached over, scratching behind his ears before turning back to face Bryce.

"If it continues, then will you at least consider talking to your therapist?" I questioned.

"I see him tomorrow," Bryce responded. "If I don't sleep tonight, I'll talk to him."

"Thank you," I said, leaning over to kiss him.

He pulled me down into his lap, handing me a Play Station controller.

"Now let me kick your ass in FIFA."

I groaned, falling back against the couch. "Fine."

That's right guys, we're back with a new & improved version of TGC. Now we've got the crew in college. And the stakes are higher. And things are different.

I missed writing Sophie & Bryce. They're so wholesome and their journey together is so strong. I love writing couples who don't fight or have drama just to have it - but who love and respect each other & grow together. And that's exactly what I intend to do here.

^ that's me as a single person writing about two people in love. like, really in love.

Teaser: we see a peek into Sophie's Pre-Med life, busy schedule & busy work. and Dawson is backkk! for those who don't know, you will. we love Dawson.