– 8 months before –

“Cris!” Jaimie grabs my elbow and swirls me around on my feet. “Did I understand correctly?”

“Did you understand what?” I pretend to not know what this is about. I’m not in the mood to bicker with him about my decision.

“You quit soccer?” His eyes are wide in disbelieve; as if he’s pleading for me to tell him this is a joke.

“Yeah man…” I shrug my shoulders to pretend it’s not that big of a deal. But it is a big deal for me to quit the one thing I loved ever since I was four years old. “I didn’t enjoy myself anymore.”

“But we need you! You can’t just stop halfway through the season.”

“I can, and I did,” I deadpan, crossing my arms. “Why would I continue to play if I didn’t enjoy it, at all? I mean, you guys are great, but I just don’t feel like playing anymore.”

Let me clarify my decision to quit even though I loved soccer. It’s honestly the fact Finnley told me he hates it. Not that I started to hate it, I started noticing I only did it because I was good and it always had Finnley compliment me. Without him watching the games, or practice, I feel like I’m doing it for nothing. It’s stupid, but it’s the whole reason I started to dislike playing soccer. After that, I noticed I had to literally drag myself out on the field, in rain and cold weather, to kick a fucking ball around on a field. What’s the fun in that if there’s nobody complimenting you afterwards, nobody wearing your shirt to show that they’re there for you? At least, not someone I care about. There’s enough girls out on the bleacher showing they are there for me; it just doesn’t cut it.

“Are you serious?” Jaimie sounds a little defeated. “Can’t you at least wait two more weeks and help us against Alexandrian?”

They’re our biggest competitors. Not that we’re aiming to be champion. Hell, it’s only been two years when we didn’t end up last in the competition. For some reason two years ago it all clicked and we started winning. We came in third two years in a row and it’s the best result my team ever had.

“No, I’m sorry. If I continue two more weeks, after that you’ll beg me for two more weeks. I just can’t do it anymore.”

“Well, that sucks,” he mutters, pulling his backpack back up on his shoulder. “I thought you enjoyed playing soccer.”

“I did, but not anymore. I might go and find something else to keep myself trained.”

“Well, if you miss us, don’t hesitate to come back, okay?”

“I will,” I tell him thankfully. “Thanks for understanding.”

“Hey, that’s why we’re friends, right?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true.” We share one of those brotherly hugs, before heading to our own classes.

The morning goes by uneventful; classes are boring, since it’s a Monday people are overall quiet and tired, teachers are fresh and cheerful, handing out too much homework like they always do on Mondays. They always let us hand in our homework on Mondays or Tuesdays, preventing themselves from having to work during the weekends. All the more do we have to do during our free days.

When lunch comes around, Emma and I get ourselves food and head over to our regular table, waiting for Finnley and Jacob to meet us there. Every so often more people join us. Sometimes people from soccer, sometimes Emma’s girlfriends. Today it’s Felix, Tom and Evan who join us, because they all came over to ask if I’m really going to stop playing soccer. I tell them the same I told Jaimie, along with the fact I already handed in my stuff; it’s final.

“Cris!” Jaimie comes running through the two-way entrance door of the cafeteria, panic in his eyes. His backpack nowhere to be found. “It’s Finn!”

“What’s Finn?” I already jumped up, along with Emma and Felix, the latter one of the few friends who hangs out with us because he is fond of Finnley.

“He’s in a fight, outside.” Jaimie points towards the doors. I run as fast as I can, Jaimie taking me over, leading me the way outside.

Finnley is in the middle of a circle of cheering teenagers, right in front of Tobias and the same guy that was with him in the bathroom. There’s three guys along with them. Again; Martin is behind Finnley, blood gushing from out of his nose. Finnley seems to be fine, so far. Although, Tobias spits out blood, fuming in anger and Finnley is outnumbered. I bet Martin isn’t going to help him when they start fighting. But then again, someone already hit Tobias once.

“I told you not to get into my business.” Tobias spits at Finnley, who doesn’t seem to be phased in the least.

“I told you to leave him alone,” Finnley simply responds.

“Fuck you, nerd.” Tobias lunges forward, attacking Finnley, who catches him, but incapable to stop them from falling over.

I push people aside to make it to the front of the crowd, trying to get there in time to get Tobias off of Finnley. As soon as I managed to push through, I run towards the two of them, Tobias hitting Finnley square in the face, holding his sweater in one hand.

But before I can attack him, one of the guys steps in pushing me back.

“Stay out of this,” he deadpans, holding up his fists, telling me he is willing to fight me.

“You his bitch, or what?” I smirk at him, telling him this fight is on.

Along with Felix, Jaimie, Tom and Evan the fight at least is fair in numbers. I don’t know how many hits I’ve taken, or how many times I’ve hit the guy in front of me, but eventually it’s Martin’s voice who stops all of us.

“Finnley! Knock it off!”

I hit the guy in front of me one last time, before I snap my head in Finnley’s direction. He’s hold back by Martin, who’s too small to do it with muscle power, but at least Finnley listened to him while he stands in between Tobias and Finnley.

“The hell?” Jaimie looks at Tobias in disbelieve. “What happened?”

“Finnley kicked his ass.” Emma appears next to me. “It was awesome!”

“All of you, inside.” Three teachers break up the crowd, pointing at every single guy who has at least some blood in some spot. “Now.”

“I hope you won’t be punished too bad.” Emma grins at me before she takes off again. I walk towards Finnley, who already turned around to follow one of the teachers inside. The other two are bend over Tobias, who’s whining and groaning in pain. I’m plain simple impressed, but also surprised since I didn’t know Finnley had it in him.

“Hey, you okay?” I catch up with him right after walking passed the crowd.

“Yeah.” He smiles, blood seeping from a cut above his eyebrow, along with a nosebleed. “Thanks for always having my back.” He’s pinching his nose to prevent blood from seeping out.

“I’m your best friend.” I grin back at him. “But it seems as if you didn’t need any help.”

“Oh, well…” He shrugs when we walk inside. “I bet they all would’ve jumped me if you guys didn’t keep them at bay.”

“I guess…”

“No talking.” Mr. Franklin, the teacher who’s holding open the door to the principal’s office snaps at us. “Sit down and stay quiet.”

“Sorry I got you into trouble.” Finnley whispers when we are seated along with our friends, three of the bullies and Martin. The other two, including Tobias, are nowhere to be found.

One of the teachers offers Finnley some paper towels for his nosebleed, telling him to follow him inside. The rest of us just stays put and eyes the other group with hatred noticeable in every movement.

* * * * *

I can’t believe you didn’t get suspended.” Emma waited for me after school. We all had to talk to the principal one by one, which took some time before all of us had their turn. I got two weeks of detention and a last warning. One more step out of line and I will most definitely get suspended.

“Did you talk to Finn already?”

She shakes her head, looking around the parking lot. “You think he got suspended?”

“Maybe.” I grab my phone and send him a text to ask about his punishment, before I follow Emma to the bike shed.

“But it’s big time gossip, you know.” Emma skips beside me cheerfully. “Everybody is laughing over the fact Tobias got beaten by Finnley. They say he went to hospital, along with that guy Jaimie beat to pulp.”

Like I said, don’t get in a fight with Jaimie. But apparently, don’t get in a fight with Finnley either.

“So, what’s the deal with that kid Finnley stood up for? I caught them in the bathroom the other day and it seems Finnley is always getting in trouble with Tobias because of him.”

“I don’t know. For as far as I know, Tobias is on his back for being a nerd.”

“Ugh.” I shudder slightly. “Not that it’s good of a reason to bully a kid. But why would Finnley get in trouble over that?”

“Cris, don’t be dense. You know Finnley hates it when they call people nerds just because they’re more intelligent.” She retrieves her bike from the shed before looking back at me. “Besides, you did the same thing for Finn in his first year.”

“I know…” I sigh. “But Finn is my best friend and I’m his. We’d do anything to help each other out. That kid is just… some kid.”

“Well, since Finn knows what it’s like to be a bully’s target, I guess he decided to be there for the kid.”

“Well, I’ll ask him about it tonight.” I watch Emma walking with her bike and follow her towards the bus stop. “We’re supposed to go gaming.”

“What are you going to ask? Why he’s sticking up for a bullied kid? The kid honestly reminds me of Finn when I first met him. The shy attitude and the geeky appearance.”

“Finn never had a geeky appearance.” I chuckle only thinking about Finn dressing like the kid does. Not a good combination if you ask me.

“So, not the clothes, okay. But a bag full of books.” Emma shrugs. “It’s cute, but obviously those bags are a target for bullies.”

“Tobias is just a douche and he deserved every bit of what Finn did to him.” I wink at her. “And now I’m heading home, because I have to finish my essay before I’m allowed to game with Finn.”

Emma cocks a brown and sends me a questioning look. “Your parents are forcing you to finish homework first? That’s new.”

“Not my parents.” I roll my eyes. “Finn. He said he had to do something after school so I couldn’t come over straight after. Then he went on and told me I should really finish my homework first anyway, or else he’ll make me do it.”

“He’s a great influence.” Emma giggles softly, obviously amused by Finn blackmailing me to do homework.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, good luck with that essay.”

“Thanks, Em.” She takes off with her bike and I wait for the bus to come around, heading home while overthinking today’s events. So, Finnley is capable of defending himself. That’s certainly new to me. Where did he learn to beat the shit out of someone like Tobias?