Lunch rolled around and I got my food before heading out to the field where I met Hayley. I haven't had any classes with her today so far which means she's heard things and I am about to get grilled.

"Hey," I played it off.

"What the hell is this that I'm hearing? You're going out with Alex?!" she interrogated.

"Well uh- what exactly did you hear?" I asked.

"He asked if he could sit with you in lunch and you said yes, he asked if he could walk you to class and you said no, he asked you on a date and low and behold, you said yes!" she hissed.

"That last one is not true." I took a bite out of my sandwich while sitting down.

"But the first two are?!" she questioned.

"Hey," two voices came up. We looked up to see Daniel and Alex standing there.

"Hi," I squinted up at them since the sun was shining bright. Alex shifted and blocked the sun.

"Can we join?" Daniel asked.

"Sure," I shrugged. Alex sat down beside me and Daniel sat with Hayley. "Can I tell her?" I whispered to Alex while Daniel and Hayley got busy in their conversation. Alex didn't answer, he just shrugged. "Are you gonna tell him?" I questioned. He just shrugged again. "Can you talk?" I hissed.

"I'll tell him if you want to tell her because clearly if one knows, the other will too," he sighed.

"See, that wasn't so hard," I smiled before rolling my eyes at him.

"You know, for liking me you are a little too sassy," he said.

"Well, for being the guy I like, you are a little too annoying," I replied.

"Please," he scoffed. I just rolled my eyes again and went onto my phone. I was scrolling through my social media when I got a text. From Cody. 'Can I meet you by the cafeteria right now?'

Should I go?

"I'm coming with," Alex mumbled while standing up. "Let's go," he put his hand out for me to take.

"Where are you guys going?" Hayley asked while Alex pulled me up.

"We have to grab some stuff for our uh- biology project." I quickly lied before beginning to walk with Alex.

"What is up with you and using biology as an excuse all the time?" he chuckled.

"It's an easy excuse," I shrugged. We were walking in a comfortable silence until I noticed our hands were still linked and then I stiffened and got all weird.

"You can let go if you're feeling uncomfortable, you know," he chuckled.

"O-Okay, thanks." I quickly pulled away as we reached the corner.

"I'll be here and just call me if you need help, okay?" he asked.

"Um- how exactly am I supposed to call you?" I questioned.

"When you tell him you're talking to someone right now, make sure you say my name and I'll be there on cue," he shrugged. Okay, that's not too bad. I nodded and turned the corner, leaving him there.

"Hi," Cody met me in the middle.

"Hi," I replied. "You wanted to talk?" I asked awkwardly. I hate this.

"I'm sorry about what I did. It was wrong and I wanted to apologize and uh- try to make things right?" he said but it came out like he wasn't too sure about that apology.

"Did someone ask you to apologize to me? Cause you don't sound like you mean it." I stated while folding my arms across my chest.

"Look, Faith, I didn't mean to hurt you like I did. I really liked what we had going on just- it wasn't working. We had been fighting. A lot."

I scoffed, "We had been fighting because I was losing you. You were refusing to hang out, you weren't answering my calls and texts as much, you were keeping secrets and lying. You didn't even come to the game that I organized while I was coming to games that you weren't even playing in because you were benched," I reasoned.

He sighed, "Can't we just go back? Please?" he asked.

"No, we can't just go back. I'm done with you, Cody. I'm talking to someone else." I know I'm supposed to say his name but I think I've got it under control.

Okay, maybe I'm trying to avoid conflict and confrontation.

"Who?" Why is he acting like he didn't see us kissing earlier?

"Alex," I said. He had to swoop in some time. Right on time, he walked over and stood beside me.

"Hey," he kissed the side of my head. "What's going on?" he looked at Cody then back at me.

"Cody and I were just clearing things up. Right?" I arched an eyebrow at him.

"No, not right. You're talking to him? You hate him!" Cody exclaimed.

"No, I don't!" I defended myself.

"Oh, really?" he scoffed. "What exactly do you think of him then?" He looked at me challengingly.

"She doesn't need to answer to you," Alex said, his voice scary calm.

"You need to leave us alone so we can finish our conversation," Cody stepped closer.

"Or what?" Alex did too. I stepped in between, facing Alex.

"Don't do anything stupid, let's leave," I said lowly. While he was busy in his staring contest with Cody, I managed to pull him away. Once we were away at a safe distance, I leaned against the wall, sighing into my hands.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have dragged you there," I groaned.

"Um- you didn't. I did," he replied. The bell rang and we had two periods left until we gotta go home. "I'll see you during practice?" he sighed.

"Yeah, I'll meet you there," I said before we split up, going to our classes. I had math and then geography, neither with him, one with Hayley, one with Daniel. I walked into math, completely exhausted, craving my bed and some sleep.

"He told me what happened," Daniel took a seat beside me.

"I don't hate him," I sighed. "I do find him annoying but I've never hated him. I think." I said.

"He thinks you do," Daniel replied. I groaned into my hands while our teacher, Mr. Harris walked in.

x-X-x

I zoned out for both classes and was now making my way over to the field. I got there to see Alex already practicing, by himself. "Hey," I said once I made my way over to him. "Where's the team?" I looked around a little.

"Oh, it's not actual practice. It's just me."

Oh, that explains it.

"You can just sit on the bleachers."

He's mad at me.

He is so mad at me.

I walked over to the bleachers and placed my bag there before walking back over to him. "Can I talk to you?" He didn't respond. "Alex?" Still nothing. He was busy shooting goals into the goal post.

I huffed before walking over to the goal post, dodging the ball he kicked and standing there with my arms folded across my chest.

"What are you doing? You would've gotten hit," he stated.

"Yeah but I didn't." I shrugged. "I need to talk to you," I sighed. He walked over to me, standing directly in front of me, really close. He stood there impatiently, waiting for me to talk.

"I don't hate you. Okay? I do find you annoying at times and you can be a pain in the ass, but I don't hate you. I did once upon a time, but now I don't. You want to know what I really think of you?" He just stared at me.

"I think you're extremely talented in every sport you play, you are one of the most determined and dedicated people I have ever met. You stay hours after school just to make sure everything is set for your matches and games, as the captain, you make sure everyone is good at what they do and you make sure they enjoy it. Your girlfriend cheated on you and instead of focusing on that, you started helping me get back at my ex. I don't hate you. I think you're amazing." I said in one quick breath.

"Do you?" he took a step closer, grabbing the goal post, his arms up and flexed as he hung on to it. I took a stumbling step back.

"I just said it so uh- yeah," I mumbled. Our eyes were locked and it was making me nervous. If I moved further back, I would touch the net and fall so I stopped but he didn't.

"You think I'm amazing?" he questioned.

"If you're just trying to get me to boost your ego then-" he cut me off when he leaned forward and freaking kissed me! I could have pulled away but his arms fell onto my waist, holding me there.

After we broke away, he whispered, "He was watching." And then he went back to practicing like that didn't happen. I was tired of sitting on the bleachers, just watching so I went and lied down on the grass.

Well, artificial grass.

I heard him sigh before jogging over and lying beside me.

"Are you still mad at me?" I asked while looking up at the setting sun.

"No, but you know who is? Your mom." I turned to look at him. "You never told her you're staying back with me," he laughed.

Great.

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I'm tired but he is actually so cute.