Page 66 of Scrimmage

“Yeah, turns out he and Alexi are actually brothers. They were adopted.” Penny digs through the freezer and places alcohol onto the counter.

I don’t bother saying shit before I stalk off to my room and slam the door. What are the chances that I could get out of this? I check my phone on the charger, and I have a text fromsomeoneI renamed Micropenis.

Excited to see me?

Ugh. I go get in the shower, letting it get nice and steamy before I step in. I can hear the sound of people coming through the front door. When Vale arrives his whiny voice digs into my brain. I stay in the shower until the water gets cold, and with a big sigh, I finally step out. I take my time getting dressed. When I check the clock only ten fucking minutes have passed. That’s what I get for having a shitty water heater.

Cole knocks on my door. I can tell by the way the rap is so gentle. It’s repulsive.

“One sec!” I call out, falling face down onto my bed. My phone buzzes. Fucking Micropenis again.

Get out here before I come get you.

That actually makes me laugh. If he comes in here I will stab him fifty times in a row. Everyone knows the rule. Do not come into my room. Penny is the only one who is allowed in here.

I send him a picture of my middle finger with my tongue sticking out. Let him get that.

I unplug my phone and unwillingly leave the room. The voices down the hallway are loud and laughing. Cole is waiting, leaned against the wall in the hallway. “Hey, you good? I know it’s a lot.”

“Stop asking how I’m doing,” I snap.

He’s standing there in a red tee and blue jeans with a bottle of tequila in his hand. He silently motions to the studio, and we sneak in. Cole must be in some sort of mood if he’s trying to pre-game the pre-game.

“What’s the occasion?” I whisper, wincing when I take a sip.

He shrugs. “Nothing. It’s a weird group. I’m a little anxious.”

“You?” I gasp. “Is it because you’ve got a big man crush on Alexi.”

“Shut up.” He laughs, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I just feel out of my league.”

“Join the club.”

“That’s different.” He takes another swig. “You make yourself different, and people are still magnetized to you. I have to work to make people like me.”

I sit down on the futon and think about what he says. “You’re nice. People like nice.”

“You don’t like nice,” he points out.

I glance down at the bottle in my hands. “I don’t like anything, Cole.”

“Sometimes I wonder if I’m just your friend because I do shit for you.”

My face would be burning bright red if we weren’t sitting here secretly drinking by lamp light.

“That’s a great plus, but no. That’s not why we’re friends. You’ve always accepted Penny and I exactly as we are. We like having you around. I’m sorry I made you feel like that.”

“It’s fine.” He takes a swig from the bottle.

“Cole?”

“Yeah?” His brown eyes meet mine, and I can’t read them.

“Why are we drinking in the studio?”

“Don’t be mad.”

I take a deep breath. “Why would I be mad?”

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