A CHANCE TO START OVER

Joey was right. I missed out on a lot of things. I never went to school events and my home life made it difficult to make friends. Other kids got a chance to shop for prom dresses, go to sporting events, and make memories they'd have forever. It's not that I didn't want any of those things for myself, but I craved survival and focused more on escaping. I didn't get the opportunity to worry about much more.

I watched her straighten my curls until I became unrecognizable. The girl staring back at me in the mirror is someone I've never seen before. Her dark circles are gone, and there's a slight glow to her skin. I guess skincare is as important as Joey says it is. The bruises reminded me she wasn't fake, but the change was enough to make me feel more comfortable in my skin. I don't look like my father's daughter. I look like I'm getting a chance to start over.

Joey readjusted the wrap on my ribs before she started searching for clothes in the closet. She promised I wouldn't get hurt, and oddly, I trusted the words she said.

"I look different."

She stared at my reflection in the mirror. "Good different? Because quite honestly, you're like the most beautiful person I've ever met beside your brother."

"Yeah," I contained the happiness in my chest. "Good different."

She shot me a smile before sifting through the closet, shifting hangers until she found something. I wasn't sure if she wanted my help or not. I'm not a fashion icon nor have I ever cared what I wore, so I stayed in front of the mirror, trying to understand how I'm the same person I was an hour ago because I look like a normal adult. Like I attend college, and never knew what it felt like to be hurt by my father.

"How did you know college was for you?"

Joey let out a large breath. "Honestly? I didn't. I just knew I wanted to help people, so I enrolled in classes, and hoped I made the right choice."

"Did you?"

"I think I did," she shrugged. "There's days where it gets hard, but my love for helping people is larger than that."

"Have you wanted to give up?"

"All the time, but I have goals. If my plans don't work, I'll change the plan, never the goal."

"Do you think I should enroll?"

"What do you want to major in?"

"Whatever helps kids like me get out of homes like the one I lived in."

I watched the light flicker in her eyes before she gave me a soft smile. "Everything is worth trying. So, why not?"

"Could you help me?"

"Of course. Whatever you need, Sawyer."

I watched her pair clothes together and it made me silently thank whoever made our paths collide because I've been searching for a sign that everything will be okay and that's when I met Joey.

As I slipped off my seat, I promised the red-headed girl I'd be back after using the bathroom. She promised she'd find something before I made it back. I left the bedroom, listening to the music she played get further away.

"Woah, woah, woah," a familiar voice called out in the silent hallway. "Where are you going?"

My hair flipped over my shoulder as I turned to find the hazel-eyed boy leaning against his doorframe, studying me from head to toe. I couldn't help but look at him too. The satin black long sleeve buttoned up on his chest, covering the tattoos on his arms, but not the one on his neck.

"Your football game."

He looked stuck as if he wasn't sure what to do, and I didn't mean to make him uncomfortable, but I didn't have to go if he didn't want me to.

"It's only right if you wear my game day hoodie."

My head fell to the side in questioning, but he disappeared into his room. I listened to him fumble with something on his door before joining me back in the hallway with a yellow hoodie in his hands.

"Try it on."

I didn't expect him to watch, but he remained against the wall, waiting for me to slip on the sweatshirt. I adjusted the material over my head until it swallowed my body completely. The golden sleeves slipped past my hands. It made me feel extremely small, but a little cozy, and oddly more relaxed than before.

"Beautiful."

My lips parted in confusion. I can't believe he's saying that to me. I stared at my reflection and despite the comments Joey made about my appearance, I couldn't see what she did. So, when the man before me said such a word, I wanted to ask if he understood the definition of it. How could he consider me beautiful? I wanted to ask but Joey called out for me.

"Sawyer! I think I found the perfect outfit!"

"I'll see you later," a smirk spread across his lips as he slipped down the stairs.

I watched him disappear. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to go, but I knew I'd see him later. I'm at war with my thoughts. How can I ask for company from a man I barely speak to?

"Where did you get that?"

I turned to find Joey's head peeking out from the bedroom. "Um – Carter."

"He gave you his football hoodie?"

"I guess."

"It has his name and jersey number on the back," her smile grew wider. "He likes you."

I think I liked him too. I think I liked everybody in the house. Especially Joey. It made me think something isn't wrong with me. That I am capable of making friends. That I am capable of starting over.

I tried not to think too much of it as Fletcher called for us from downstairs. With my hands in the pocket of a sweater way too big for me, I followed Joey outside where my brother waited for us in his car.

I saw the way he looked over me, but Joey brushed it off when he asked about it. Fletcher's eyes continued meeting mine in the rearview mirror, but he didn't say another word, and I tried not to worry about it when we pulled into the parking lot.

Joey asked me to stay close, and as security navigated us through the stadium, I felt the music pounding through my feet. There's light at the end of the empty tunnel we walk through, and before I know it, we're stepping onto the sidelines.

A group of football players from both teams stretched on the field. The stands were slowly filling with fans wearing their black and gold. A jumbotron played recaps from previous years played on the jumbotron, and as I looked around, slowly taking everything in, I felt my heart's pace quicken.

"I'm glad you could make it."

"Of course," Fletcher pulled him into a hug. "We wouldn't miss it for the world."

The football player's right eye fell into a wink as he looked at me over my brother's shoulder. It wasn't until he pulled away that I noticed we're wearing the same number.

"Eighty-seven," he pointed at my sweater. "Nice choice. Where'd you find a hoodie so quickly?"

My teeth sunk into my lower lip. "A friend gave it to me."

"I haven't seen you around before," a blonde man wrapped an arm around Carter's shoulder. "Gonna introduce me?"

"She's Fletcher's sister," Joey spoke up beside me. "She just moved to town."

"Lucky us," he grinned at me. "I'm Tory."

I tried focusing on him, but I kept my sights on the man beside him who suddenly got quiet.

"You're not my tight-ends girl, are you? It'd be a shame to find out you were already taken."

"Nope," Joey smirked. "She's single."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Is that so? You did say you're new around here. Where exactly? I think I'm considering relocating."

"Come on," Carter smacked his shoulder pads. "We've gotta go."

"Yeah, Taylor, it's time to go," Joey chuckled. "Sawyer isn't into punters anyway."

"What are you into?" He questioned as he jogged backward toward the coaching staff. "You know what? Stick around afterwards and tell me instead."

"Only if you win."

He pointed at me, grinning. "You're on."

"You're fucked," Joey snorted. "They're undefeated at home."