Fading Boundaries Again

Chapter Twenty

"When do you need protection now?" I retort with a chuckle. "In between the girls who throw themselves at you?"

Zeke laughs, bringing his bowl to the counter to eat with me as he says, "Yeah, but none of them are looking for commitment, so you?"

"Yeah, fun for one night with no strings attached," I tell him with a faux sigh. "Oh God, how can a person ever not complain about it?"

He shoves a hand at his shoulder, "Shut up. You know you are looking for commitments too." He is laughing, but then he simmers down, a new thought popping in his head as he looks over at me. "Well, you already have committed to a relationship with Liv, right?" he starts, and with a teasing smile, he says, "Or was it just a hate sex thing you guys did?"

"No," I say instantly, shaking my head. God knows we didn't even technically hate each other for one, and for two, Liv never had underlying social frustration around me. So, it never would have happened that way. I feel the frown on my lips, where I say, "Uh, well..."

Zeke immediately gasps, "Wait, what are you saying?"

I scratch at my head, trying not to look too sullen about it, as I admit, "Um, Liv and I are not, well, hanging out together anymore."

"You dumped her!" he asks, outraged by even the suggestion of it.

I shrug, "Well."

"She dumped you!" Zeke shouts, and upon seeing the look on my face, he frowns. "Oh, I'm sorry, dude. You and Liv had really fun together from what I've seen."

"Tell me about it," I mutter into my pasta, knowing how much of a loss I really had. I fake a smile at Zeke as I tell him, "Well, here's to moving on. You'll help me, right?"

"Ooh, like, give you my little black book?"

I raise an eyebrow, "Your little black book?"

"Well, you know the names of every girl I've—"

"Yeah, I'm not that desperate now," I tell him with a laugh. Zeke only shrugs, muttering something about having to take me out this weekend to make me feel better.

🏈

I ended up ignoring my friends over the weekend, busying myself with all the assignments I had for my classes. Taking two lab classes per semester is not for the weak; a lot of time and work go into it. But I did choose this major, and I liked it (on a good day), so I will be sticking it out. On Monday, Zeke is complaining to me about having to go to class after practice as we walk back to our house.

"I don't understand how the coach expects us to focus in class when I can barely regain my breath."

I laugh, "There's a whole hour break in between practice ending and class starting, Zeke."

"I know, but still!" he complains further, shaking his head.

"I think it actually helps me," I tell him, looking out toward the street as I think about it. "You know, it gives a boost of energy. I really need to get going."

Zeke is probably rolling his eyes at me as he says, "Of course you would think that. Come on, Jace, choose to be lazy like the rest of us."

"I am lazy!" I tell him with a defensive shout. "Only after all my classes and practice."

"You're not lazy then," he says to me, shaking his head. "You just function on a healthy schedule."

"Well, can't hate the player, hate the—" I trail off, my eyes catching onto the familiar face getting outside of a building in front of us. I haven't seen Liv ever since she broke up with our deal, and now that I see her again after a whole weekend, it still hits me that I won't ever be able to just walk up to her. That makes me very sad, knowing that that's what breaking up means in the first place. I wonder how real couples do it after owning years with each other because just over a month and I still couldn't believe it.