OLIVIA

I re-rack the bench press for the next person to use it, sit on the floor, and lay there. This workout just kicked my ass. But it was a much-needed ass-kicking. I needed to let some anger out—a lot of anger.

A few cheerleaders join me on the floor as we stretch to end our workout. What's even worse is that we have practice later today. My arms are going to be so sore. We have to attend a weights section twice a week while our coaches torture us for fun. I chose my session to be earlier in the morning to rest for practice later. We practice five days a week on the mat, cheer at the football game on Saturday, and have Sunday to rest.

We finished stretching, and I gathered my bag to head back to my apartment. As I stepped outside the door, the next weights group was waiting to step inside. That group happens to be boys on the baseball team, including him.

He doesn't notice me; he's too busy talking to his friend, Jayden, who is scrumptious. I'd eat him up if he didn't have a girlfriend. Colby wears a tight-fitting workout shirt, and his muscles are about to burst with how tight the shirt is. He may want to get a bigger size.

"Hello, ladies," one of the players, Michael Crawford, says as he holds the door for us.

"Thank you," I tell him, walking out. I noticed him checking me out, and I gladly let him. The entire baseball team is hot. Are they the only ones this school recruits? The extremely attractive ones.

Colby's head snaps to me at the sound of my voice. He says nothing, but I feel his eyes roaming my body. It wouldn't be so bad if I weren't dripping sweat and my baby hairs weren't flying everywhere. I wore only a sports bra and spandex. Everything was on display, not that it was my point to make this early. They usually aren't here yet, but maybe we are running late.

I walk past him without a word, only our gazes connecting.

Once we round the corner to my car, Bella lets out a low breath, "Jesus, Liv. That felt so fucking awkward. You two are insane."

"Him insane? Probably," I mutter, sliding in the driver's seat of my car.

Our other best friend and roommate, Sadie, leans in from the backseat, propping her elbows on the center console. "Livvy, don't hate me for saying this, but maybe you two need to fuck your feelings out. Get some tension out."

I turn at her and glare, "Sadie, no offense, but that is the last fucking thing I want to do. I stay at least six feet away from him every time I see him. I'm afraid if I get close enough, my hands will wrap around his throat."

"See. That can be sexual with your hands."

"-And kill him," I add.

I drive us back to the apartment just down the street. You honestly could walk, but that's not how I want to start a workout at six in the morning.

"Does anyone find it attractive when boys get up early just to work out?" Sadie asks.

"No," I grumble.

"Yes," Bella says at the same time.

"Thank you for admitting that, Bella. Two beats one, Liv." Bella's boyfriend does not get up early at all. He's a night owl and sleeps til noon when he doesn't have football.

Never in my life would I ever admit anything to agree with that monster. Even if they knew I was bluffing. I know Colby has been coming to workouts after us the entire semester. It's my first time seeing him since we became partners in the stupid play two days ago.

"I prefer my men not to be a dick to me, so maybe when the male species finds out to be nicer, I'll reconsider," I say, pulling into my parking spot.

Our school has a village for athletes. It is right off campus, near the athletics department. I've been living here since my sophomore year. They are little houses with four apartments, each having four bedrooms and two baths.

Besides the frat houses down the block, this is the athlete's party village. I was given a bid to join a sorority here, but all I hear is that it's fun the first year, and by the second, you're tired and ready to quit. So, I spent my spare time relaxing and making friends with others on campus. Of course, ninety percent of my friends are on the cheer team, but I have a few friends who aren't.

"Okay. Well, Michael Crawford held the door for you and gave you fuck me eyes. That's a win in my book. He's so hot," Bella says, sliding out of the passenger seat. Another secret not to tell her boyfriend.

We head back inside the apartment, our fourth roommate still fast asleep. She didn't have weights until right before lunch. Jada was not a morning person. At all.

"I would only consider it if Michael Crawford came knocking on our front door," I open the front door and freeze, "Dibs on shower, Bells."

"Damnit!" She wails, pushing me aside and stomping towards the couch. "You distracted me with your boy talk."

She looks up at me from the couch with a frown, and I laugh. "I'll be quick."

"I'll find a way for Crawford to show up here, don't you worry," Sadie says, walking past and heading to her room. She shares a shower with Jada, which is insanely lucky. They never have to fight about who showers first unless it's after practice.

"Don't hold your breath," I say, heading into the shower, stripping my sweat-filled clothes off, and let my blonde hair free of the ponytail. I stare at myself in the mirror. They're right. I need to get fucked, I tell myself before slipping into the shower.

I had a fling with a football boy last year, who unfortunately graduated. He was the sweetest man to exist. His name was Wyatt. Ever since then, Wyatt has ruined all men for me. We never dated because we never had enough time to devote to each other, but we spent every moment we could together. He was one of Bella's boyfriend's best friends, so we spent a lot of time together. Probably too much time.

The most recent man I slept with within the first week of returning to school, which I regret entirely, was a cheerleader named Flynn. It was the worst sex I've ever had. We were so wasted I hardly remember it happening. It was sloppy and quick. I don't even know why we agreed. We decided afterward not to let it ruin our friendship and affect our cheer. So far, it's worked.

When I step out of the shower, I feel refreshed. I also feel like I need a nap and something to eat. My stomach was growling. I tie my robe around me and leave my towel knotted in my hair while I make breakfast. I'd probably settle for toast with peanut butter and a banana. It seems filling for now.

I didn't have class till eleven, and it was an internship at the athletics department, shadowing one of our athletic trainers. It was very convenient if I were ever to be hurt because I would know the first thing to do. I get to help a lot of athletes with rehab and help examine issues.

After my breakfast, I lie down for a little bit in my room. I like to think my room was very calm. My bed frame was made of pallet boards, thanks to my father. All the walls were white, but I had sun lamps to turn the whiteness down. My dresser and nightstand were wooden, and I had plants strewn everywhere across the room. I was a plant freak. I love greenery. I had a large painting hung over my bed and a small bookshelf with a reading chair, though I always choose to read on my rug.

There are no appointments when I arrive at the training room, so I read up on homework to pass the time. Technically, I'm still working if I'm learning about the human body. My mentor, Devin, always teases me about staying busy, so I try to.

As I read the same sentence repeatedly, I can't stop thinking about that stupid play. How am I going to learn a twenty-page script? Especially when I have the partner I have. We should be using each other to learn our roles. We only have a few weeks before our performance.

I hear the door open, and Devin turns to me, "Can you see who it is?"

"Yeah," I say, closing the book and heading down the hallway to the training room, where I can hear a group of men's voices.

I almost turn around when I see the group. The baseball boys. They sheepishly smile at me when they see me, moving out of the way to know the cause of the visit.

It's Colby with blood gushing all down his knee. "Jesus," I say, walking up to him. He sits on the edge of a bed, staring down at his knee. "What happened?"

"Buddy tripped over a curve," Jayden says, laughing and patting him on the back.

I almost snort. All this for a curb. Colby laughs, embarrassed, his cheeks flushing, "Wasn't paying attention."

They were still in their workout clothes. He must have done it on the way out of the gym. "Take his shoe off. It's getting blood all over them," I tell the boys. I don't even want to touch him. They just had to come right now, didn't they? He couldn't have done this later when I wasn't here?

"I didn't know you worked here, Olivia," Michael Crawford says, leaning against the wall. Bella was right. He is smoking hot. If I had to choose between him and Jayden, fuck, I don't know who I'd choose.

"Yep. I'm doing an internship here for class." I grab a wet washcloth to clean up the blood spewing down his leg. I look up at him, "This may sting." I dab ointment on the scrape to help heal it faster, and when we make eye contact, I realize why they're laughing so much. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy. They're all stoned. I shake my head, "Did you fall before or after you smoked?" I try to joke.

"After," Jayden says, and Colby pushes him."Ow. Damnit, Jonesy."

"Shut it, Jay. She's a snitch." Of course, he would say that. There's the Colby I know. I almost thought he had a soul.

I scoff, "Oh my God. Grow up." I grab the tape and gauze to help the bleeding. I have the right mind to leave him here as the blood trickles out of his body.

"No, she's not. I smoked with her last weekend at Bernie's." Bernie was Bella's boyfriend. The football guys pretty much let anybody come over, but Jayden and he are friends, so we've talked a few times.

Colby gives me an unreadable expression and tenses when I touch the scrape. Good, I hope it hurts. Once I finish cleaning him up, I grab a few extra supplies to give to him for the scrape. He takes it and gets up to leave without another word. Michael thumps him against the head, whispering something to him. He turns around with an annoyed look, "Thanks, Olsen."

I don't say anything back and watch him walk away with curiosity flooding my mind.