Worth the Chance (Watertown University #2)

20. Eliza

Chapter 20

Eliza

I used to love going shopping. I still love buying clothes but it’s changed from what it once was. Going from being one size for years and years to suddenly going up two sizes affected my relationship with my body. Now I find shopping in stores just more overwhelming. I used to grab something and know it would fit but now I have no idea. It might fit. It might not. It doesn’t help that sizing on women’s clothes is all arbitrary but that’s a discussion for another time.

We decided to start at the thrift store, hoping to find some unique but cute dresses that would work for our costumes. It was a bust so instead we headed to the mall. We found one store that had a whole host of cute dresses so we loaded up and were in the fitting room.

“Ooh, I like this one.” I hear Mia say from the next stall over. “Let me know when you have one on so I can see.”

“Okay, one sec.” I grab one of the dresses off the hanger. It’s a tight purple dress and I immediately cringe when I see it in the mirror. I’m all for showing off your curves if you want but my butt is about two seconds away from coming out in this one. The tightness around my breasts is constricting even though I grabbed this in my regular size. “Alright. I’m ready but I hate this one.” I call to Mia.

We both open our curtains and I’m immediately stunned by how pretty she looks in her dress. It’s a tight fitting satin dress that hugs her minimal curves perfectly. The black velvet choker she found really is tying together the whole vision of Cinderella.

“You have to get that.”

“I think I will.” She twirls in front of the big mirror.

“You don’t like that one?” She points to my dress.

“My butt is two seconds away from being on display.”

“So? You have a great butt. The whole party would be blessed.”

“Uh, no.” I laugh. “I’m going to try another.”

The next dress I try on is much better. It’s a short sleeve dress that’s tight at the top and flowy at the bottom. It’s cute, comfortable and I can actually breathe in this one. I take a look at myself in the mirror and smile, feeling much more like myself.

“Okay, here’s the next one.” I pull back my curtain and Mia gasps dramatically.

“That’s the one!” She claps her hand and I can’t help but laugh. I love her enthusiasm. She’s that way about a lot of things, always trying to be happy and upbeat.

We finish up our shopping trip with a stop at Crisp Kitchen, a build your own bowl type place that’s fully gluten free. I haven’t tried it before but they just opened up this location as the brand branches out from their home state of New York. We’re only twenty minutes from campus so if this place is good I can see myself here too often. Good things it’s supposed to be healthy-ish

Mia shows up to my house around eight on Halloween, with an overnight bag that contains her costume and something for me to drink. I tend to avoid alcohol as I find it way too confusing to make sure it’s safe for consumption, safe for my gut that is, it’s arguably not very safe for other reasons. After a bit of research though Mia and I found a clearly labeled bottle of vodka along with pineapple and cranberry juice. Hence, the glass I’ve just been handed as my ‘getting ready drink’ as Mia calls it.

We play and sing along to some music as we do our makeup and hair. I braid my hair and weave some fake flowers throughout. I keep my face makeup pretty simple but add a shimmery gold to my eyelids with a purple eyeliner. Once we are both done with that we put on our costumes. I complete the look with my old white converse not trusting a new pair of shoes at a house party. Mia’s long blonde hair is pulled back into a neat bun with a cute headband, she also went the converse route for footwear.

“Wow, we look so cute!” Mia exclaims at our reflections in my mirror. I can’t even lie, we do. I’ve struggled with my confidence a lot the past few years but since being at Watertown some of it has been coming back. And tonight? I feel really good. It could also be the one drink I’ve had talking but hey, that’s fine. Confidence is confidence, right?

The football house is only half a mile away so we decide to walk there. It’s a little bit cold in our short dresses so we hike it as fast as we can. We get to the party just after ten and it’s already packed. Some rap song is blaring on the speakers and it smells like beer in here. We make our way down the front hallway lined with bodies and into the living room which is some kind of dance floor with all the furniture pushed to the side.

I take a swig of the drink I brought. Yep, vodka and juice poured into a plastic water bottle, classy. As we both semi awkwardly cling to the wall, downing our drinks, another girl comes up to us.

“Mia! Eli!” Alexa stumbles over to us.

“Hey Alexa.” Mia greets her. She pulls us both into a hug. “C’mon come dance with us!” She practically tugs us to the group of girls she’s with. A couple of the girls are grinding up on some guys who I’m guessing are football players. The rest are just having fun, dancing to the beat of the music. Thankfully, the music changes to some early 2000’s hits that feels more my vibe than the rap that was playing.

Garrett

Coach Williams isn’t one for long spiels. He usually keeps it short and sweet. Of course today of all days he decides to go on and on about how proud he is of us while simultaneously reminding us of the one game we lost. “I don’t want another loss tomorrow, boys.” He continues to go on but I can hardly pay any attention to him. Trying to discreetly check my phone and see if El has texted. “Alright now go shower. You all stink.”

With that I gather my things and practically bolt to the shower. When El told me she was heading out tonight I felt emotions that I wasn’t quite sure how to process. I felt protective over her which could be written off as her being Ryan and Liam’s sister but I also felt a surge of jealousy. Especially when she showed me her costume last night. It’s this little dress that swoops down in the front and will most definitely make her tits look phenomenal. I hate the thought of the guys at the party ogling her.

I take the quickest shower known to mankind, hopping out before half my teammates have even gotten to the showers. Not wanting to go home, I guess this is where I’m going to put on this goofy outfit I went out to find this week. Some of the guys are one hundred percent going to make fun of me when they see this but whatever. I put on the khakis, a white long sleeve and top it with a navy vest. I even found this tan crossbody bag thing. Before I can duck out of the locker room without the guys seeing me, Alex rounds the corner in his towel and a howl of laughter escapes him.

“What the hell are you wearing?” He can barely get the words out through his fit of laughter.

“My Halloween costume.”

“What are you supposed to be?” Now it’s Bryan rounding the corner chuckling to himself.

“Flynn Rider.”

“Flynn Rider?”

“Yeah, from Tangled.”

“Why?”

“El is dressed up as Rapunzel, hence Flynn Rider. Her prince.”

“Wow man you’re whipped.” Alex is still laughing as he opens his locker.

“Anyways. I’m off.”

“Yeah, go save your princess.” Bryan chuckles as he crosses the room.

“Hey, yours is also at the football house.” I whisper to him. “Cinderella.”

“Shit. Wait for me.”

“Hurry up, then.” I motion for him to get a move on and Bryan quickly pulls on his clothes which are not a costume, just regular clothes.

When we pull up near the football house, I notice how packed it is. I have to park a few houses down. From outside I can hear the thump of whatever's on the speakers inside. There’s a few guys in the driveway that I recognize hiding out behind a car nursing beers. They offer us a nod as we head up the front door. Inside it smells like stale beer and sweat. Damn, it’s packed in here. We attempt to weave our way through the crowd, making it down the hallway and into the kitchen.

“Hey, what’s up Garrett!” Ben, the quarterback of the football team, comes up and greets us. “Hey Bryan, good to see you too.”

“Hey Ben.” I nod, scanning the room to see if El is in here.

“Can I get ya something to drink?”

“All good.” I shake my head. “Just looking for my girl.”

“Ohhh shit. I heard a rumor your wifed up. So it’s true?”

“It is.” I can’t help the smile that takes over my face at the knowledge that people know Eliza is all mine. In their eyes anyways. “I’m going to go search for her.”

“Right behind ya.” Bryan confirms. He’s never been that big of a fan of Ben or the guys in this house. The football team as a whole is fine but there’s been a few shady guys on the team over the years.

We move out of the kitchen back into the hallway making our way to the next room which is the living room. Living room is probably a generous word, the ratty furniture is pushed to the side and it’s a makeshift dance floor. We stand on the outskirts as our eyes scan the crowd looking for Rapunzel and Cinderella.

“Garrett.” Nails rake up my arm as a raspy voice purrs in my ear. “Long time no see.” I turn to look at my side and I’m surprised to see Ivy.

“What are you doing? Where’s your boyfriend?” It doesn’t surprise me that she’s just as shitty as him.

“We don’t have to tell him.” She attempts to give me a look but honestly it’s just sad. I turn back to scan the crowd and finally my eyes land on El. She throws her head back laughing at something Mia says as they dance to an upbeat pop song, singing along to the lyrics. It brings a smile to my lips seeing her enjoy herself .

“Right, well I’m not interested.” I take her hand off of me and drop it to her side. “Plus, I have a girlfriend.” She huffs but I don’t stick around to hear anything else. I make my way across the room to my Rapunzel. As I get close I swear I can see those hazel eyes sparkle when she takes me in. Her mouth drops as her eyes move from my face to scanning my body.

“Hi, cupcake.” I lightly tug the end of her braid.

“Hi.” She sounds breathless and I can see she’s a little bit tipsy. “You’re Flynn Rider?”

“I mean he is Rapunzel’s prince, right?” She nods with a smile on her lips, those dimples popping out. I lean down to whisper in her ear, “you look stunning.” A faint color that I can just make out in the dark room flushes on her cheeks.

“Dance with me?” Like I could say no.

As the song changes she turns around swaying her hips against me. Instinctively I place my hand on her hips and try to move to the same beat as her. When I finally peel my eyes off her and look up I see Mia and Bryan in the same position as us. We spend the next fifteen minutes dancing before El turns around asking to go home.

“Let’s go.” I grab her hand, lacing her fingers with mine as we make our way through the crowded house. Mia and Bryan follow closely behind her. When we get outside Eliza breathes a sigh of relief.

“The cold air feels so nice.” She giggles and then proceeds to sit down on the front step, unlacing her shoes.

“What are you doing, El?”

“My feet hurt.”

“Nuh uh. C’mon princess.” I bend down and scoop her into my arms, a little shriek followed by a fit of giggles comes out of her.

We drop Bryan off at his place and then head back to the house. Mia planned to stay over since she knew they might drink. When we get into the house Mia heads directly upstairs talking about how she needs a shower but El hovers downstairs.

“You hungry?” I move into the kitchen.

“Yeah.” She follows me plopping down on one of the barstools behind the counter. I fill up a water for her and pass it over.

“How about some chicken tenders?”

“Yes, please.” She nods eagerly as she sips the water. I place enough chicken fingers for the both of us in the air fryer before getting out our favorite condiments. Honey mustard for her and sweet chili for me. When our food’s ready we eat in silence. It’s nice to be able to just sit here with her. No awkwardness or expectations.

“Thanks for coming tonight Gar and dressing up. That was really sweet.” She smiles at me before kissing me on the cheek and heading upstairs for the night. Sweet. Yeah it was sweet.I’ve always prided myself on being a decent guy but I’ve never had a girl tell me I was sweet. I don’t know, it feels good.