Thea

It's Friday.

When Kari and Sisi asked if I wanted to go out with them, I said yes. They all jumped around in excitement, even Stella said that she would come out with us. They know as much as I do that this is a huge step from the moping around that I've been doing.

The only places I've been going to lately are class, yoga, coffee shops and parks with the girls. I've limited my public appearances to the places that I know I have the least likely chance of bumping into someone from the lax circle.

I hate that this is who I've been but it's just so difficult getting myself out of this fog. It doesn't help that I constantly tell my friends that I'm okay when they ask and try to help me bounce back into happy Thea.

The idea of bringing my friends down to my level of emotions isn't what I would wish on anyone. Heartbreak sucks.

Apart of me is scared to go out tonight. I've grown use to my quiet Fridays and Saturday nights in, content with watching Netflix or reading a good book. But because I live in a college town, I can also sometimes hear the laughs of people who are on their way out to a party with their friends or arriving back from a club.

During my Monday morning yoga classes, I can hear my class talk about their wild weekend. Complaining about their hangovers but saying that it was totally worth it. Alana has been stopping by more of my classes recently, checking in to see how I'm doing but I also think she genuinely enjoys my classes too.

Hearing her laugh with her friends about her fun weekend makes me happy for her but sad for myself. We've hung out a few more times and her jolly personality has helped me in the moments I needed company.

But this is it. The only way for me to get out of this funk is for me to take the initiative to try. My pity party is over. My friends have given me endless support but the only person who's going to help me the most is myself.

I'm sitting at my desk applying the best makeup that I can. Dark liquid eyeliner streaked up into a wing at the corner of both of my eyes making them appear larger. Lashes that I'm usually to lazy to put on are plopped on.

I don't care that we'll be in the dark, sweating out makeup off. I'm wearing this makeup for myself. Look good, feel good and all that.

Our resident DJ, Sisi is blasting some party music to get us pumped. Kari is demanding everyone to take at least 3 shots before we go - drinks are expensive at the club, and Stella is making sure we all have our IDs. Well our fake IDs, only a few more months until we turn 21.

Just as I finish spraying some setting spray on my face, Kari explodes into my room.

"Okayy, Miss Chan. You look hot as fuck! You should get some rebound dick tonight!" She says with a mischievous grin while wagging her eyebrows

I give her a flustered laugh, "Uhh no, definitely no rebound dick tonight. I'm not ready for that yet. You look hot too, babe."

Kari is wearing a skin tight black dress, hugging all of her curves.

She waves her hand in a "yeah, yeah" motion. "Thanks boo. So whatcha gonna wear, T?"

"Hmm, I'm thinking this white corset top with these pants." I say holding up the clothes that were tossed on my bed

"Ooo yes, I love that top. Makes your boobs look nice." She holds her bottle of Casamigos up in an offer of another shot.

"Why not, I need to loosen the hell up anyway. But don't let me drink too much!"

"I'm your bodyguard tonight so nothing passes to you without my permission." She says while squeezing me in a hug

"You guys ready yet? I'm gonna order the Uber soon!" We hear Sienna shouting from the first floor

"T is just gonna get dressed real quick, then we're out!" Kari yells back

30 minutes later we're back at Karma. Being here gives me slight ptsd since the last time I was here was with Zach but I refuse to give up good music and a good crowd to that asshole.

I don't think I have to worry about bumping into him either since he seems obsessed with hanging out with his lax team at house parties.

I slide my arm into Kari's hoping to absorb all her confidence into me as we walk in and check our jackets into coat check. Not even the alcohol I had earlier is really helping me at all.

Tables and couches are expensive for a measly student yoga instructor paycheck so the three of us will be on our feet for the whole night.

"We're having fun tonight Thea. No one is gonna take this away from you tonight, especially not your dickhead ex." She says into my ear with an encouraging smile.

"You're right. It's my first night out in awhile, I'm gonna have fun!"

Sienna grabs my hand and drags me onto the dance floor and I'm hit with a rush of dejavu. It's only been about a month since I've been out but it's been longer since I've been with my best friends, enjoying the night with just ourselves and not having to worry about a boyfriend thats breathing down my throat.

I'm hit with a freeing feeling for the first time in three weeks and I laugh and dance a long to the beat of the song. Sure, I'm still a little sad but it's also nice to feel this liberated. Sienna, Stella and I are dancing with each other while Kari dances her way into our little circle with some drinks from the bar in her hand. She slips one of the cups into my hand and I give her an appreciative thank you over the bass of the music.

The club is as busy as you would expect it to be on a Friday night and I'm realizing that I'm too busy having fun dancing to care about who's around me and if I potentially see one of Zach's teammates.

An hour and a half later, my legs are sore and I have to break the seal and pee.

"I need to pee! I'll be back!" I shout over the current Bad Bunny song that's playing that Stella and Sienna are currently dancing together too.

"I'll come with! I need to go too!" Kari says grabbing my hand and guiding me through the crowd of people to the restroom in the back corner of the club.

"I've missed this so much! I'm having so much fun!" I drunkenly grin at Kari as we enter the bathroom

"We're just as happy to have you back. Now hurry and pee so we can make it in time before this song ends!" Kari gently shoos me into the direction of an open stall

I take care of business and do my best to quickly wash my hands.

"We're definitely not making it Kar." I say back to her

She grabs my hand again and leads us out to the door but she abruptly stops making me crash into her.

"Why are we stopping?" I look at her confused

"Well, well, well. Look who it is." She says playfully looking in the direction of the couches smugly.

"Huh?" I ask glancing over in the direction of the person she's speaking to

"Maybe we found your rebound tonight." She jokingly says into my ear

There, in his fully glory is Will, looking just as fine as the last time I saw him here. Dressed in nice form fitting slacks and a white button down shirt that accentuates his broad shoulders. He has the sleeves rolled up and I catch a bunch of tattoos peeking out on one of his forearms that I don't recall seeing last time. Then again, I don't think I was able to observe him in full compared to the last time I saw him.

I've been overthinking about literally everything else that I forgot that I saw him here and that there was a chance I would see him again.

"Fancy seeing you guys here." He says, with a terrible accent that makes all of us laugh

"Hey, Will." I say shyer than I mean to, flustered to see him

He walks up to both of us and throws his arms around both of our shoulders guiding us to the couches that him and his friends must've bought for the night.

Man, I've missed this big, goofy, cocky guy.

Even though it's been a few weeks since I've seen him, from the way Will and Kari seem comfortable with each other I get the sense that they've bumped into each other frequently here.

Quinn, Devon and some other guy are lounging around laughing with each other while talking to a few girls.

When Quinn sees us, a huge smile pulls onto his face and he opens up his massive arms to me in a hug.

"Theaa" he sing songs "get your cute butt over here!"

My previous shyness dissipates at Quinn's openness. No matter how long it's been he's always been welcoming to me. We weren't that close but he's always been a genuine, nice guy.

I move away from Will's arm and in the corner of my eye, I swear I see his face shift in a frown but I don't see it long enough because I go up to Quinn and get yanked into a loving smoosh.

I've received more hugs in a month than I've received in my whole life and I'm not complaining.

Over Quinn's shoulder, I see the girls he was just chatting with look at each other and me with an annoyed look. Little do they know that I have no interest in Quinn. Not even a little. If anything, it's the guy behind me that's made my heart flutter when I saw him. Then, again I'm sure they're trying to catch Will's attention too.

Has my attraction for him always been here?

I move over to sit next to him, leaning my elbows on my thighs and my face on my hands, feeling my drowsiness start to kick in from all the dancing and drinks that I've had throughout the night.

I feel a large, warm hand tilt my chin to look up and I'm met with my favorite green colored eyes.

"Hey, Chan. Do you want some water?" He asks with a soft voice

"Yes, please. I'm getting really tired and need to wake up a little."

"Don't worry about falling asleep. Kari and the guys are right here, okay?"

From my peripheral, I see Devon approach us and hear him say, "Don't worry man, I'll get her some water. You stay with her."

Kari turns to me on my other side and whispers into my ear, "Hey, Stella and Sisi aren't answering my messages. I want to make sure they're okay and let them know we're over here. Are you okay to stay here, I trust them with you but if you don't feel comfortable with them, I'll stay with you."

"Yes, I'm good with them. I promise" I respond

"Kay, I'll be right back then!"

How does she still have so much energy? I check my phone to see that its 1:30am, I mean its not that late but it's also not early either.

As she gets up, I feel Will's large body plop right next to me. His hand drifts to my lower back, "You doing okay, T?"

It feels weird to be this casual around him, but I'm too tired to care.

"Yeah, I'm good. Just sleepy." I can feel my eyes tiring out, I'm fighting to keep myself awake.

"Do you want to lean against me? I won't be insulted if you say no." Will says

Without thinking, I lean my body against his side. I'm immediately enveloped in his delicious scent and in my drowsiness, I try to savor this moment.

He automatically adjusts himself to make me more comfortable and I'm so grateful for him in the moment. I sigh in contentment and I can see the curve of his mouth lift in a smile.

Devon returns with a water bottle, opening it up and giving it to me.

"Drink as much as you can, T." Devon says bending his legs to be eye level with me.

He goes back to speak to Quinn and his friends while Will keeps his attention on me.

"You want me to bring you home?" He asks, the eye contact from this close making me feel a little nervous despite my body leaning against his hard one

"Mmm, not yet." I respond, shaking my head

The girls get to the couches and I can see the surprised look on their faces at the sight of me with Will. They quickly hide it when he looks over noticing them.

I wonder if he knows that Zach and I aren't together anymore. It would explain why he's been willing to be so touchy with me. When I first started dating Zach, he made sure to give me space. Always being respectful.

It was a little strange not being able to hug him and touch him as freely as I did then. Will is a touchy dude, he was very affectionate with me.

"Hey ladies, how's it going?" He asks my roommates with a smirk, clearly seeing how pumped they are

"We're having so much fun! Especially since T is with us tonight!" Sisi drunkenly yells with a whoop

Sienna and Kari's energy is clearly feeding off of Stella because she is standing there with a dopey/drunken grin on her face. I can't ruin the rest of their night and make them go home now.

"I'm gonna take this one home now and keep an eye on her." Will says motioning to me

"Wait no! I can stay!" I plead with a drowsy voice that isn't fooling anyone

"Don't worry babe, we can come home with you then." Kari says

"No! I'll go with Will then! No need to cut your night off early!"

"You sure, TT?" Sienna asks being serious, making sure that I'm truly okay with this

"Yep, let's go Jameson. I'm hungry, can we stop by somewhere too pleasee."

"Anything for you, sweetheart."

My stomach flutters.

Over Will's shoulder I see Kari mouth to me "Rebound dick" as clearly as she possibly can but I keep my face straight to not display anything that Will might see.

xxx