Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,16

Katy? Let the pain go.”

I laughed and pulled in front of Rollo’s dorm. “You’re starting to sound like Sharon.”

“I guess that means you better listen to me,” he leaned over and kissed my cheek. I tried not to flinch, telling myself, ‘This is Rollo’.

Rollo noticed my small movement and gave me a sad look. “You’re never going to be the old Katy, I know that. But I know you can find some part of yourself again.”

He opened the car door and ran inside the building.

I sat there for a moment.

Could I pick up the pieces of my shattered life or were the pieces too small to ever be found again?

~***~

I had just walked into my condo when my phone beeped. I pulled it out of my purse and read the text. It was from Piper.

Wanna meet for dinner?

What time? I need to shower. I typed back.

Is an hour and half from now good?

Perfect. I said.

I jumped in the shower and then dried my hair before curling it into loose waves down my back. I grabbed my silver headband and slid it on, to keep my hair from falling in my face.

I didn’t really have, ‘going out’, clothes so I just put on jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black blazer. I had a pair of red ballet flats somewhere and after ten minutes of digging through my closet, I finally found them. I looked at my watch and saw that I had about thirty minutes left before we were supposed to meet.

I text Piper, and asked if she needed me to pick her up and where we should meet.

I can drive. How about Tate’s? I heard they’ve got good food. She quickly replied.

That’s fine. I text back, even though I wasn’t sure it was. I’d never been to Tate’s but I knew it was a bar. I didn’t do bars. I didn’t really do anything, though.

With a sigh, I grabbed my purse and keys. I squared my shoulders and said to myself, “It’s all about healing, Katy. It’s time to heal.”

~***~

Piper was already there, and it looked like everyone that went to our college was there too.

The place was packed.

Piper waved me over to the table she’d snagged.

“I’m so sorry for texting you at the last minute,” she said, before my butt had even connected with the seat.

“It’s fine,” I smiled. “I’ve never been here before.”

“What?” her jaw dropped open. “According to everybody, this is the place to be and haven’t you lived here for a year, now? You’re a sophomore, right?”

“Yep,” I nodded, “I just don’t get out much.”

“Girl,” Piper drew out the word, “I’m going to have to change that.”

I laughed. “You already are. I’m here aren’t I?”

She smirked. “Huh, you’re right. Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

I laughed. “Not too much fun.”

“Never,” she winked.

~***~

By the time our food arrived, Tate’s was even fuller and the noise level was off the charts. I was going to have a killer headache, between the loud music, guys yelling at the TV’s, and the people playing pool.

Yep, I could already feel one coming on, the pounding behind my eyes a telltale sign.

I dug some Advil out of my purse and swallowed them down.

“Headache?” Piper asked.

“Yeah,” I said before taking a sip of water.

“It is really loud here,” she nodded in sympathy.

“The food’s really good, though,” I took a bite of a burger the size of my head.

She smiled and dipped a fry in ketchup and then in honey mustard. “It is-” her brows furrowed together as she looked over my shoulder. Suddenly, a smile broke out across her face. “Hey, it’s that guy from the coffee shop.”

Before the words were even out of her mouth, I was turning around.

Immediately, as if he was the only person in the room, my eyes met his.

Jared grinned widely and then turned to say something to the guy he was with.

Like Jared, this guy was gorgeous, only he was blonde, the hair a little longer on top of his head and shorter on the sides.

Jared turned back towards me and began to saunter over. I realized I was still staring at him like a lovesick puppy; so, I quickly turned back around to face Piper. I sent her a ‘help me’ look but she was too busy checking out Jared to notice. I kicked her shin and she finally looked at me.

“What?” she hissed, but it was too late.

Jared now stood behind me. Heat rolled off his body and I found myself leaning back, trying