25. Ava

25

AVA

S ometimes, we all needed a break, even from our own friends. Not that I had considered Grayson and Cruz to be in that category—at least not yet.

The Barracudas had lost Friday's game, so the mood on campus Monday morning was still pretty somber. Other than my practice, I didn't do much, nor did I hear from any of the guys. All my sorority sisters could talk about this morning was the fact that Grayson had not graced them with his presence at the party after the game.

I mean, who could blame him? If I had just lost a game, there was no way I would have wanted to attend a pity party, especially not at my own house.

"Did you go to the party?" It took me a second to realize the words were directed at me.

Hailey was a sophomore—a transfer from another school. And it was going to make me sound like a fucking bitch when I said that was the only reason she was in our house now. Had she rushed here, she would have never made the cut.

Don't get me wrong, I liked Hailey as much as I could like someone without actually knowing them. Grayson had made me an outcast, and Hailey had done all that on her own. She didn't party, didn't drink, and dressed modestly. There was absolutely nothing wrong with that, but she had nothing in common with her sorority sisters.

"No, I needed to work on my routine. Did you?" I asked back, knowing the answer would be no.

Hailey shook her head vehemently, as if the mere suggestion had offended her.

"What are you wearing for the Halloween bash?" she asked.

This struck me as odd, but I shrugged it off.

"I'm not sure I'll go."

"But we all have to," she replied right away, and I scrunched my brows in confusion.

"Livy made it mandatory, or we must pay a fine."

That fucking bitch.

I got up from the table I had sat at after our meeting ended. Making formals and other Greek events mandatory was one thing, but the party for the hockey team was pushing it. I didn't bother saying bye to Hailey; instead, I made my way to the upstairs porch since that was where Olivia and her posse liked to hang out. They had a prime view of the Greek row. It made them feel like they ruled the school.

"God, did you see his muscles?"

Livy was going on about some guy. Good , was all I thought, since maybe that way she would finally leave me alone with the whole Grayson thing. Why did that thought cause a thrill to go through me?

Girls like Livy never let a guy go. She was the kind of girl that would remind a man's wife she had him first, as if that would make someone jealous or insecure.

"I didn't realize how hot he had gotten."

"Are you going to ask him to the Halloween party?" someone asked.

"I think I will. He's hot, and on the plus side, he's always with the hockey team taking their pictures. It will get me closer to Grayson… Even if it doesn't work out, I wouldn't mind fucking him."

Anger coursed through my veins once I realized they were talking about Micah.

My Micah.

Okay, not like that, but like hell if I would sit back and allow him to become another pawn for Olivia to use. He deserved to be someone's first choice, and the thought of him fucking Livy made my stomach churn with dread.

The mental image was enough to pull my phone out and text him.

Me:

Hey, I'm done for the day. Where are you?

Micah:

Home. Why?

Me:

Mind if I come over?

Micah:

Sure. Want me to get you? We shouldn't be alone, remember

Me:

It's a five-minute drive. I'm at ZGT

There was no reason for me to rush to his house. But somehow, in my delusional mind, the fact that I went to him would mean that Livy wouldn't get to him.

Olivia had already won Grayson. She didn't get to keep Micah, too.

I decided it was better to walk than to drive. It wouldn't take me long. I knew his dad had spent more hours in the gym than he had at home, but I didn't want to risk him seeing my car and asking Micah questions he couldn't answer. Did Micah ever think the house was too big for the both of them? Because that thought crossed my mind all the time. One of my sorority sisters had asked me if I would be moving into the house, but it didn't appeal to me. Why share a room with another girl when I had a home to myself? They thought living with my dad was some sacrifice on my part. Neither my father nor Mr. Pierce had a wife anymore, but both men were married to their jobs.

I wondered if sometimes Micah felt as alone as I did. Trapped in a house full of memories.

As I walked up to the door, I looked at my outfit, asking myself once again why I cared about these things with Micah when I never did before. I felt good in my pelted mint mini skirt and black blouse. It was cute and sporty. It looked good without trying too hard.

He must have been waiting for me to get here because I didn't even get a chance to knock before he was already opening the front door.

"Hi." My voice came out lower than I had intended.

"Hi yourself," he shot back. His eyes were on my face, but then slid down my body. His gaze not only burned me, but it made my heart rate speed up.

It was just Micah. There was no reason to feel nervous.

I followed him into the living room, where he had the TV on the sports channel.

"How was the game?" I asked because suddenly I was feeling more nervous than I should have been.

Micah leaned back on the couch, looking ahead but not paying attention to the newscaster.

"You obviously heard they lost," he muttered.

Sitting next to him. I turned my profile to see him and not the television.

"Did you see Gray after the game?"

Micah's body tightened when I asked my question, which I found a bit odd. I thought their animosity was slowly fading, and they were on track to become friends, but I guess I was wrong.

"Why?" His question was a slow drawl.

"Because all the girls at ZTG were upset he didn't come downstairs to the party." I shrugged. "I figured he was feeling sad or some shit."

When Micah finally turned to look at me, his light brown eyes were so intense they took my breath away.

"I think we're all trying to deal with this situation as best we can."

I got the feeling he wanted me to drop the whole Grayson thing.

"Micah," I blurted his name before I could think better of it.

"Yeah?"

"Why did we stop hanging out?"

His jaw clenched, and his eyes flashed with pain.

"You're the one who stopped texting me," he said in a clipped tone.

My throat constricted.

"Why did you let me?"

Micah had been a reminder of what had happened, and after the incident, I slowly checked out from our friendship, severing the last tie I had to that night.

How stupid had I been?

"I don't like to be where I'm not wanted. I've had enough of it with my dad."

His answer broke my heart, making me hate myself a little more.

We just sat there staring at one another, feeling the energy in the room begin to change. The tension got so thick it threatened to choke me.

"Ava," Micah groaned as our faces got closer.

I'd made a lot of mistakes in my life, but this felt right. I was going to kiss Micah because I wanted to, and if I had stopped lying to myself, I would have admitted it long ago.