Page 28 of The Transfer
“Aw, that sounds so sweet. Just be careful. It sounds like you and Drew are reliving high school. Like it’s some nostalgia trip down memory lane. Are you guys talking about things now or the future?”
Her words are a bit of a reality check. Reflecting on our interactions so far, we have touched on a few of those subjects, but I need to do better at focusing on Drew now.
“Thank you for being honest with me,” I tell her, just as my phone beeps with an incoming call.
“Speak of the devil, Drew is calling. I gotta go. Love you, Mack.”
“Love you, Rea!”
My nerves flitter as I accept his call. “Hi, Drew.”
“Rea Rea, I was just thinking about you and had to hear your voice.”
“That’s an awfully smooth line, Mr. Cole.”
Laughing, he answers, “Not a line, beautiful. It’s the truth. Can I take you somewhere today?”
I grin to myself, knowing this is a chance for me to focus on what Mack talked about, the Drew now.
“Of course.”
“I’ll pick you up after practice, around six?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“See you tonight, beautiful.”
“Bye, Drew.”
Even though I still don’t have a clear direction on where things are going, I’m going to let myself take a chance. I just hope I don’t end up regretting it this time.
TWENTY-TWO
REAGAN
Nothing is more exciting than Halloween on the campus of Carolina Tech. Fall is already my favorite season, but something about Halloween adds an extra pep in my step. We are about a week away from October 31st, and invitations to the party of the year should be handed out today.
The Draft is a bar located on the highway, right in the middle of CTU and Durham College. It’s got a line down the middle of the bar with one-half of it decorated in Titans orange and blue and the other with Wolves black and silver. It’s overwhelming during the day, but at night, with the lights down, the colors become less obnoxious.
Every year, two fraternities, one from CTU and the other from Durham, rent out the whole place. They transform it into a Halloween paradise. The bar features themed drinks, a huge dance floor, and even has a couple of small rooms that are used to host a Pong tournament and a haunted house. It’s insane, and everyone wants to score an invitation. I went for the first time last year with Jordan, and we had a blast.
Sitting at my favorite coffee shop on campus, I’m enjoying much-needed time to myself. I’ve been here for a few hours, reading and working on homework.
Just as I’m packing up, I hear my phone vibrate on the table. It’s been silent until just a few minutes ago, but I’m receiving several notifications all at once. I look at the screen to see three texts waiting for me. Opening my message app, I start reading.
Riggs
Hey, Sunshine. I know how much you love Halloween, and I thought you’d be my plus-one to The Draft party.
I smile at that, but it is short-lived. The next message sends confusion through me.
Drew
Beautiful girl, I wanted to ask you to go to The Draft party with me on Halloween? I remember how much you love dressing up.
This, right here, is why I don’t sleep much.
Thankfully, a third message waits for me, and I grin, knowing I won’t have to choose this time.
