#Chapter 17: Tough Questions

After the hockey game, I followed the other cheerleaders onto campus for a brief practice. After, I showered and changed into my day clothes in the locker room. The other cheerleaders were talking excitedly about going to the hockey team’s after party at the athletes’ dorm. Nicole sat beside me, reapplying her dark makeup in her compact mirror. As she penciled in her heavy eye-liner, she asked me, “Are you going to the party?” Honestly, I just wanted to curl up under my covers for a while, but I knew if I did that, I would only think about Asher. Asher would be at the party, probably, but he wouldn’t be the only one. I might not even see him with how many other people were going. Plus, I could distract myself there in a way I couldn’t at home. I really didn’t want to think about Asher anymore. “Are you going?” I asked Nicole. She nodded. “Sounds fun.” “Okay.” Since Nicole was going, I would too. I wanted to be better friends. We both finished getting ready. Nicole wo