No Turning Back (Full Circle) (23 page)

“Well, when I heard Cash’s ringtone and I found out it was Luke Bryan, I had to find out what’s got all you girls tore up!”  Just so he knows, he can’t find out what has girls tore up about Luke Bryan ‘cause he ain’t a girl!

“You are not right!  Did you know that!?”

He just giggles.  “On a serious note, I was thinking we should use a country song.  I came across this one and it made me think about how everybody’s different, and if we didn’t have that, the world would be boring.”

He’s definitely got my attention on that one.  I can’t wait to see what he’s picked out.    I cross my arms and look at him waiting.  I am totally unprepared by what plays on his iPhone.

“How about Miranda Lambert’s “All Kinds of Kinds”?”  I sit there in silence.  That has to be the least likely song I would ever thought Joe would pick, but it’s perfect.  Not to mention it’s one of my favorites.

“It’s perfect.  That song says it all.  I think that especially with our volunteer project it’s perfect!”

There is no need to buy that song on iTunes because I already have it downloaded, so I insert it into the video. 

“You do realize that once we have this finished we will only have to go to class on Monday to watch everybody else?”

“Exactly the reason we are presenting Monday!” 

“See that’s why you are my favorite girl on campus, even if you do like unique animals,” Joe says as he drapes his arm around my shoulder.

“At least you don’t refer to them as roadkill anymore!  How about let’s find something for supper and watch a movie.  I’m starved!”

We eat supper from Wendy’s then watch a little of a movie on FX.  Joe has decided to let me sleep alone tonight.  We have been together all afternoon, and I honestly think he wants some male bonding time.  As much as I hate to admit it, since we aren’t together, I need to let him see what else is out there because sitting in here with me all the time isn’t going to help him.

Friday morning I wake up to that awful alarm clock as usual.  I meet Georgia and Tori in the hall and we make our way to practice.  On the way there it is awfully quiet.  I know we are half asleep, but usually someone says something.  I finally decide to break the silence. 

“So, anybody got plans for tonight?  Other than chillin’ on the stoop?”

“Nope, that sounds like that is it, but I heard something about you going to play golf at Quail Hollow tomorrow,” Tori smirks.  “But I sure didn’t see Jackalope Joe sneaking out of Kluft for practice this morning.”

“Yeah, we are going to play golf, and yes, I slept alone.”

She looks at me like she typically does… not believing a word I’m saying.  I believe she thinks that just because Joe stays in my room almost every night that something is going on.

“Listen girls, Joe and I have an understanding.  I like him.  He’s like make your-eyes-wanna-melt sexy, but no we aren’t doing anything, I swear!”

“Well, if you’re not, I’m about to try to get a piece of that!” Tori states with confidence.

For it to be so early and the silence earlier, Tori can go from asleep and irritated to her spunky self in less than a second.  We get out of the car and I notice Joe when I walk in.  He throws his hand up and waves before going to the weight room.  We make our way to the locker room and then to the pool.  Practice isn’t as bad as earlier in the week.  Coach has been hard on us, but I think she knows when it’s time to relax just a little bit.

Once practice is over, we shower, eat breakfast in the café, and then I go to Biology as usual.  Once class is over, I make a mad dash back to my dorm room to change and get ready to play golf.  No, I do not play golf, but I do love to drive a golf cart.  I have decided what to wear, and knowing that I do not have one item in my closet that fits the country club look, I knock on Tori and Anna’s door.  Anna can dress and her daddy takes her to play golf all the time when she is home.   I don’t think she ever plays though.  She answers the door and I go in.  I give her a rundown of what I’m looking for and within five minutes I’m getting ready. 

I have to hurry so that we can make the drive and tee time at eleven.  I take the white Ralph Lauren golf looking pants and a pink three-quarter length Ralph Lauren golf shirt and laugh to myself. 
Whoever would have thought?
  I slide on my pants and then the shirt, apply my makeup and straighten my hair.  It’s starting to get cool out so I grab a lightweight jacket just in case.  I glance in the mirror and am glad I did.  I totally forgot that you can’t wear bright panties with white pants!  I make that quick change and walk down the hall to meet Joe at his Jeep.

I walk out the dorm and see Joe standing there.  He has gone from cute surfer guy to hot country club golfer on a stick!  He is propped against his Jeep with his arms folded wearing a pair of plaid black golf pants, a bright green polo shirt and scally cap with a frayed mohawk top.  Whoever thought a golf hat could be so stinkin’ cute!  He is the complete package.  If only he had an argyle vest, it would be perfect!

I walk to the passenger side as Joe comes to open the door for me.  He cranks up the Jeep and we make our way to Quail Hollow.  The drive isn’t too long, and there isn’t much scenery.  The drive takes about forty-five minutes.  I start to get a little anxious the closer we get.  I am definitely not a country club girl, and I have never been one to put on the dog.

As we turn onto Gleneagles Road, I begin to see green everywhere I turn.  It is beyond gorgeous even though a leprechaun might have thrown up here. I am in complete awe of this establishment.  I understand why Tiger and any other golfer would want to play here. The Jeep turns into the drive, and we make our way through the pavilion of trees covering the road.  It honestly makes me feel like I’m in a movie where you are about to drive up to a big plantation or something.
Ohmygosh!
It is exactly like a plantation. I see a gigantic white house with four columns, doors and windows all the same height and a circular drive at the front of the club.  It feels like a southern girl’s fairytale… just call me Scarlett.  Joe parks the car at the entrance and the valet attendants take it. We walk in the large wooden door to check out the place. Immediately, I am overwhelmed by the beauty and obvious money that is within these walls.  The carpet is a deep royal blue, the walls are made of solid oak and the fireplace is rocked from floor to ceiling. 

“Squirrel, come on.  It will be here when we get back.”

I pull myself from my thoughts and follow Joe to the golf shop.  We check in, grab a score card, and wait for the golf cart.

When the golf cart arrives, I jump in the driver’s seat.  There is no way I’m letting him have all the fun.  We make our way to the first tee, and I shank it to the right big time.  Joe falls over laughing then realizes we have an audience.  He quickly pulls himself together and hits the ball straight towards the green.  I am no golfer but do have fun and actually have a pretty good score.

After the ninth hole, we return in the golf cart and I see Piper’s brother waving.  Joe and I walk over to thank him before heading back to campus.  We walk back out of the club and to the Jeep.  As we drive back down the long driveway, I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to live a life like this.  Today, I’m almost certain this is the type of life that Joe was accustomed to before his family lost Lucy.

Joe and I have a talkative ride back to campus.  In fact, it’s mostly Joe doing the talking.  I can honestly say this is the best surprise I could have given him.

When we pull into campus, it’s getting close to supper time.  I give Joe a hug before I go to my room and tell him I’ll see him later tonight.  I have no idea what the Kluft girls have planned, but I’m sure it involves booze, music, guys, and a good time.  Before I can focus on tonight, I have to get out of these clothes and shoes. 

I walk into my room and change into what I love to wear, jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt.  I pull my hair up and plop down on my bed to watch a little TV before figuring out what to do tonight.  I turn on Food Network and about doze off when I get a text from Cash.

Cash: Hope golf was great

Me: It was, should have seen my outfit lol

Cash: I bet, totally not u

Me: I know :) any news from Dustin?

Cash: Not yet, Tessa and him are getting close though I’ve seen him with her a lot

Me: thanks! Love u!

Cash: Love u 2

Dustin and Tessa. I would have never put that together. But then again, they do make a cute couple.  If this would have been a month ago, I would have been furious, but I now know that Dustin is on our side.  It’s funny how things are beginning to change for Dylan.  He just doesn’t know it yet.

I pull myself off the bed and make my way to Caroline’s room to see what is going on.  She’s in a towel, sitting at her make shift bar, eating Stromboli, waving me in.  Seriously, put on some clothes.

“How was golf?”  She asks with a mouthful.

“Good, that place is huge!  I mean I felt like I was Scarlett in
Gone with the Wind
at that place.  So you gonna wear that towel out tonight?”

“You know I could start a new trend!”  She winks.  That is true.  I have noticed that Caroline has a way with people and their attire.  Whatever she wears, someone else has on within two weeks.  She finishes her Stromboli and then pulls a cute pair of jeans and a one-sleeved top from her closet.  As she’s getting ready, Tori, Anna, Georgia, Jenny, and Cassie all walk in.  I have a feeling they have a plan for us tonight already. 

“Hey Char, while you were gone today, we found out they are partying in Irvin tonight on the third floor.  We already got our drinks of choice tonight, and no one needs to drive tonight.  Let’s all get tore up. Watchathink?” Anna asks.

“Y’all know I’m not big on that.  I mean I’ll go have a good time and maybe let loose a little, but practice is going to come early in the morning.”

I start to hear chicken clucking, and I know I’m in trouble.  I think someone has been talking to Piper, Tessa, or Cash.  I can’t remember a time in my life that once someone called me a chicken that I didn’t prove them wrong. Why should this be any different?

“I don’t know who y’all are cluckin’ at, but this chick is game!  Just remember we do have practice at nine tomorrow!”

“Alright, mama hen!  Get a cup and fill it up!”  Tori basically yells at me.  I know she doesn’t mean anything by it, but sometimes she needs to learn to take it easy on someone’s feelings. 

I grab a cup and my koozie and fill it up with Caroline’s famous PJ.  I have come to realize that it is a little bit of this and whatever is left in the fridge.  Somehow it always tastes okay.  Caroline turns on the radio and we just chill before going to Irvin.  You never want to be too eager going to a party in the guys’ dorm.  They just might think you’re easy, which I’m not.

We are all three drinks in before we make the not so long walk across the volleyball court to Irvin.  There are a few people standing outside the dorm as we approach.  I can’t help but wonder if one of them is Dylan’s inside man.  I glance at Georgia and she nods.  She’s got my back… even if she is a little tipsy.

As we make our way up the stairs to the top floor, I wonder if they are ever going to paint these dingy off white walls.  I honestly think they have been this way since they were built in the Stone Age.  I also know it wouldn’t take campus police five minutes to figure out where we are on campus and that we are all underage, but for some reason, they just don’t care.  As long as it’s in a cup and you keep the music down somewhat, it’s all good. 

When we walk on the hall, the lights are down, but there are lamps in the dorm rooms and a few strings of white Christmas lights hanging down the hallway.  I get a little tickled that some guys have Christmas lights in their rooms but whatever.  I can see Lucas and Crystal along with the lacrosse guys, minus Joe.  She’s sociable, but stays right with her man like someone’s gonna try to take him. That’s highly doubtful because she’d beat their ass.  I start to wonder where Joe might be and decide to send him a quick text.

Me:  I’m on 3rd floor where r u?