- 2 -

i n s t a g r a m  s t o r y

i m e s s a g e

9:57pm

I really don't want to go to this fucking party.

After winning our first game of the season, 3-0 against Cornell Big Red. The team headed back to the lockers room, got ready to go grab a bite to eat and for the party. However not before a little team celebration in the locker room, which consist of a lot of jumping, cheering, and Alex busting out a couple dance moves.

Weirdo

Coach then pulled me aside during the celebration and explained that my grade in economics are not doing so hot. I would need to raise it to be able to play the next game. He suggested asking a classmate from econ to tutor me.

Fuck

That ruined my night.

And here I am, laying on my bed and staring at my ceiling while the constant shaking of the house and loud music booming.

"Yo, you good bro? Everyone's asking where the hell you are." Damien barged into my room without knocking. I rolled my eyes and slid off my bed.

"Yeah, I'm coming just give me a second."

Why are people asking where I am? I don't even know or like half the people downstairs in our 2-story house.

As I was walking downstairs, I spotted a familiar pretty brunette chatting with a short black haired girl. They were keeping an eye on a blonde chick, which I'm pretty sure is their friend, dancing with Alex. I think I've seen the brunette in my economics class and she is goddamn smart from what I hear when our professor calls on her. Always answering with these complex words and whatnot. Maybe she can help tutor me, I thought.

I was pushing my way through the crowd to get to this brunette but these random ass people keep calling for me. I wanted to groan and tell them to fuck off, but I didn't.

I really just hate people

"Aye Gray, come grab a drink with us."

"Where have you been man, great play today!"

"Hey handsome, dance with me and we can have a little fun later." A girl I don't know says seductively. I shrugged her off my arm.

Unlike Alex and some other dudes, I'm not really a hook up kind of guy. Sure I've fucked some girls before but other than that, I don't feel comfortable knowing every single girls on campus have seen me in my vulnerable state.

My mama always taught me to respect women and their boundaries. When a woman says 'no' it means no. Or when it's dark out and I'm walking home from football practice and see a girl walking in front of me. I stop and pretend to be tying my shoes, so she doesn't feel uncomfortable or think i'm following her.

"Hey, you're in my econ class right?" I finally approached the brunette. She's about 5'6, her head meets right under my chin as she looked up at my 6'5 height.

"Uh, yeah. Brielle." She stated kind of awkwardly. Her friend was already making her way towards the dance floor with another guy. I saw Damien glaring at her hand that was interlocked with the random dude.

Intresting...

"Grayson. So I- uh, I was wondering if you could help tutor me. My grade is not doing so good and I wouldn't be able to play for our next game." I tried explaining to her. "I know you're probably really busy and all, but- I'll pay you-" I got cut off.

"Yeah, yeah I can tutor you." she says.

Wow, that was quick. I must be really good at persuading people

I thanked her and we exchanged numbers. Just as I was about to head back upstairs, Brielle was making her way towards the front door. I checked the time on my Apple Watch and it read 10:09pm.

I caught up to her and asked, "You heading home?"

"Yeah, I got an 8am class tomorrow. It's still kind of early, I'm probably just gonna chill and watch Netflix or something." She said shrugging.

I can't believe I'm about to ask this. There's just something about her that's pulling me towards her.

You literally met her 5 minutes ago, shut up, my inner thoughts said.

"I know this ice cream parlor we could go to. If you want of course since you're probably just gonna go home and no ones gonna be there but I'll be with you if we go the ice cream parlor so you can have company just in case you get lon...ly" I rambled.

Shit. That's the most I probably ever talked to someone. Why the fuck am I rambling. I never ramble, only when I'm nervous. Fuck am I nervous?

Brielle let out a little laugh, "Of course I would love to go."

I opened the passenger side door of my navy blue Mercedes G Wagon for her.

"Nice car," she complimented.

The whole car ride to the ice cream parlor was silent, none of us saying a word. But not an awkward silence, more of a comfortable silence.

We got to our destination and I hurried out to open the door for her. She thanked me and we headed inside.

We stood behind three people in line. "What flavor are you picking?" I asked.

"Definitely cookies n cream, how about you?"

"So you're that kind of girl," I teased her. "I'm getting mint chocolate chip."

"Hey! What's that supposed mean?" Brielle sort of, pouted, trying her best to hide her smile but failing miserably.

"Nothing..." We moved up the line and ordered. As Brielle was about to pay for both our ice cream, I snatched her card out of her hand and gave the cashier my card instead.

She was about to open her mouth to say something, but I placed my pointer finger on her lips to shush her.

"You're already tutoring me, let me pay." I stated and she hesitantly nodded.

We picked a booth and sat down first and I asked, "So what are you majoring in?"

"Business," Brielle responded. We chatted a little about ourselves, nothing too deep. And lost track of time since it was now an hour and a half since we left the party.

Brielle was in her third year of university, just like me. She lives about 10 minutes away from Columbia University's campus that she shared with her friends. Her mom and stepdad lives in Chicago, she has a little sister, who's 4 and a cat.

I was about to ask her about her father, but decided not to. I didn't want to pride into her personal life since we've only met less than two hours ago.

I drove her back to her apartment and we both said our good night's. I pulled up to the football house and parked my car on the driveway with a smile on my face.

Shit

i n s t a g r a m  s t o r y

i n s t a g r a m  d m

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Wow that was a lot of writing, anyways I really liked how this chapter turned out ☺️