Every inch of my body ached by the time the coach was done with us. My muscles beamed with adrenaline to the point I didn't feel the dull throbbing like before. My stomach and left shoulder had been throbbing ever since yesterday's encounter with Harold. Let's just said he didn't take it well that I disappeared for two days.

Not like he missed me or some shit. He just hates not being in control, I guess.

I got mad each time I let myself think of it, furious at how powerless I felt beyond that doorstep, frustrated at the lack of escapes there was for us. I couldn't wait 'till I reach eighteen so I could go away.

I once tried, but the cops ended up bringing me back since my mother was still my legal tutor and it only got worse.

No, I had to wait until I was on a legal age or 'till my mother wake up and kicked his sorry ass out our place. Just take a guess which option was more likely to happen.

Thank fuck I got football, it allowed me some good rush that not only numb my destructive emotions, but also was a way of relief for this anger. I felt it pilling in my guts, getting bigger and bigger and if it wasn't for these small explosions of adrenaline I was sure it would be even more unbearable.

And now that football would also help me with the scholarship it became an even better scape route.

The coach blew the small whistle and everyone stopped dead in their tracks, our attention on him at once. "Alright, guys that's enough for today."

Already? But the way my muscles ached told me he was probably right. I'd pushed myself far enough for today. I couldn't afford a lesion now. Not when there was so much on the table. Not when there were actually chances.

I leaned forward, holding on my knees to regain my breath as coach Grey clapped his hands. "Very good job, everyone. Han, easy on the catches and Kurt watch out on the-" I zoned out, focusing on my beaming limbs, drunk from adrenaline but exhausted. I really tested my limits today. It's gonna pay off tonight.. but well, maybe this way I could sleep at once. "Okay, that's all. See you all tomorrow."

As we made our way to the changing rooms, dragging our bodies there my gaze had already found Kimberly among the cheer squad that was practicing on the other end of the field, on our way out of here.

I was more than ready to make my way to her and finally call it a day, but frowned when noticed Kimmy was panting, her face flustered from effort and her hands holding onto her tiny waist. Even with everything, her eyes were narrowed at whatever Gina Holmes, the captain, was saying to her. Whatever it was, it didn't seem like my friend enjoyed it very much.

"Nate!" Bear jogged towards me as we walked out the field, sweated and flustered as well. I held back a grunt of impatience. He could be cool at times, but also a total dick and I was really not in the mood to deal with him right now. Luckily, I covered it quickly.

"Hey, man. What's up?"

Bear took out his helmet with a sigh and wiped his forehead with the arm. He gave me a side grin. "Where were you yesterday? I was trying to call you the whole afternoon. Sandy, that busty brunette I told you about, wanted to come over with a friend... but you were nowhere to be found!"

Now, that could have kept me out a bit more...

Nah, Hailey'd offered their plan too, but at that point -having been missing two whole days- delaying it only would make it worse than it already was.

I shook my head. "Yeah, sorry. I was busy."

"Really? With Nadia?" he gestured towards the cheerleaders where the blonde was doing some stretching routine with another couple of girls. "I heard you two left Charlie's together."

"Yeah, yeah." I wasn't going to go into details about my weekend when neither of us really care about the matter anyway, so... "I just got lucky."

"Right." Bear chuckled. "So what about tomorrow? Would you be able to come? I just need you to get with her friend so I could get friendly with Sandy, you know? And don't worry, the girl is hot too, she's-"

At the moment, nothing I would dread more than go entertain a girl I didn't even know so he could get laid. Nah uh. Awful plan. So I cut his persuading ramble: "Can't."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously as we reached the end of the field and stopped there, fresh breeze felt heavenly after our heated practice. "And why not?"

"I'm busy."

"With?"

"Stuff, okay?" I snapped, a bit irritated now. "Look, I'm sorry. Just ask Seth or whatever."

He barked out a sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, right. Since when has he ever look anyone besides Kimberly?"

"Besides Kimberly what?" the brunette girl suddenly stood by our side, fixing the strand of her sport bag over her shoulder with a frown and my blood freeze. I barely noticed the rest of the cheer squad moving past us as well to the changing rooms too.

Seth's been head over heels for Kimmy ever since we can remember, but she didn't know... and wasn't supposed to know. Not from us, either way. So at her inquiring look I choked out: "Nothing." and cleared my throat to quickly add: "Just telling Bear here I was waiting for you."

"Such a gentleman." she rolled her eyes, going through her bag and dismissing us, what gives me the perfect chance to send Bear a warning glance and he rose his hands, amused more than concerned she would even notice the slip.

"So?" he pushed yet again. "About tomorrow?"

"I just told you." I huffed, already tired of this interaction. "I'm busy."

"Yeah, like yesterday, uh?"

"Yesterday?" Kimmy finally fished her pullover from the bottom and quickly pulled it over her head. It was the Roosevelt's jumper, green with the school's badge in golden-yellow printed over the front. Her dark eyes lit up maliciously, but beyond it she looked exhausted. "Oh, yesterday. Yeah, you have a lot of explaning to do."

Bear chuckled and eyes us mockingly. "You share those kind of things? Kinky if you ask me..."

"What are you still doing here?" Kimmy rolled her eyes before I could respond myself. It was no secret she couldn't stand Bear. And her being her, never actually had felt the need to hide it.

"Grumpy much, uh princess?" mocked the player, but my friend wasn't in the state to deal with him neither. In fact, the brunette looked even tenser than usually.

"Fuck off."

"Alright!" he stepped backwards, towards the changing room and gave me one last glance. "About tomorrow?"

"I'll think about it, okay?" I gave in at last; not really meaning it, but wanting him gone so I could find out what was wrong with Kimmy and her sour mood. That satisfied him and with one last salute the guy finally moved towards the school's building as well.

I turned to Kimberly just as she shook her head and gave me a narrowed gaze. "Tomorrow?"

"He wants me to go on a double date or some shit like that." I shrugged.

"Date, uh?" her eyebrows shot upwards. "I'm surprised he even know girls are something more than a couple of holes."

"Ew, gross, Kimmy."

"Whatever." and resumed the path behind everyone else.

"So," I attracted her attention falling into step with her -not hard since she was kinda dragging her feet going baby-like-slow. "What was that about?" I wondered nodding behind us to where the cheer captain was having a word with her second in command.

"Oh, that?" she rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Nothing. The fucking barbie is being a bitch about today's improvement. Apparently I'm not in good shape."

"Well," I struggled to fine the proper way to make my point, but there wasn't a gently one: "You kinda are a mess."

Her eyes flared. "Fuck you!"

"No! Not like that. I mean, you've barely done, what, and hour? You usually doubled that before sweat a single drop." she keep glaring, but I could see something passing her orbs. Concern? "Are you okay?"

Whatever that was it vanished as soon as it appeared. "What's up with everyone today? I'm perfectly fine!"

"Okay!" I frowned, getting irritated now. "I haven't done anything so cut this shit."

"You- uh!" she pinched the bridge of her nose, inspiring deeply as if calming herself.

I didn't say anything else, striding towards the locker rooms as she waited for me to pick my belongings from the changing room and reunited with her outside again. This time her anger had partially dissipated in a calmer expression.

A hint of remorse in her eyes, but this was Kimberly, that's the most I'd get out of her.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you, Nate. You're right. I..." she sighed. "It's been a shitty day."

"It's fine." I snaked my arm over her shoulders and let her lean into me as we rounded the building and took the side exit that connected directly to the parking lot.

It's not an usual thing to see her get vulnerable, so I felt a sense of helplessness of how to make her feel better.

That was the moment when my stupid sense of humor decided to chip in.

"I'm used to you being a bitch by now. Nothing new here."

Instead of getting a sassy remark or some backfire from her, she seemed to get more saddened. "I'm really tired, you know?"

Seriously, what was wrong with her? I didn't like seeing her like that. "Maybe that's the reason why you weren't able to keep up back there?"

That same glint from before swirled in her eyes, but again it was gone as fast and Kimberly diverted her gaze forward, leaning away and out my support. "Yeah, that must be it." brushed her ponytail off her shoulder and gave a bright smile. "So, tell me about the small trip to Gracie's place? How did that turn out?"

"Good." I found myself smiling at the memory of that improvised sleep over.

Honestly, when I accepted to stay I wasn't planning on honestly having that much fun. It was a chill night; just that group chatting, joking and playing stupid games until Taylor put on that movie.

I have to say too, that the short girl didn't have another snap-moment towards me and the others were cool. Even Hailey seemed to be kinda over what happened.

I hope.

"Better than expected."

"Aww look at you." she reached out and pinched my cheek. "All smiley and lovesick."

"Shut up." I pushed her hand away and she let out a laugh. Well, at least it lifted her mood, even though it irritated me. "It's not like that."

"Really?" she perked one brow, her eyes slide beyond my shoulder and a malicious glint appeared there as she smirked. She pointed there with her chin. "Then you won't mind that, would you?"

What?

I followed the way she signed and my stomach tightened. There stood Hailey, by the school's main door before a blond guy whose back was facing our way.

For a moment I thought it was the chump of Justin Ames, but after the first look I realized it was actually Bear. That didn't exactly ease the sudden knot in my guts.

I mean, what was she doing here? Classes had ended long ago. And with Bear of all the people!

Her brows were knitted as if annoyed at whatever he was saying; but clenching the notebook in her hand firmly. Her body language was a open war on whether she rather march away or stand her ground.

My frown pursed. "What on earth?"

Before realizing it, my legs were already moving towards her. Don't ask me why. I just... did.

Her frustrated expression morphed into something else when her light gaze found mine. Did she softened? I didn't want to fool myself, after all, she seemed a disappointed in me when I left them yesterday. But when she smiled when she saw me approaching a weight I didn't know was there was lifted from my chest.

She threw what looked like one of her sassy remarks to a smirking Bear, took one last note and slid the notebook on her jacket's pocket. "Hey."

"Hi." I stopped beside them, glancing between the two students in bewilderment. They had literally nothing in common and I knew for sure they so not liked each other. "What are you still doing here?" I decided for a tentative approach, after all I wasn't sure what ground we stood right now.

"Well, apparently your article was so well accepted that we're supposed to do another one."

"About me." grinned Bear, crossing his arms over his bloated chest. "Isn't that an interesting turn of events?"

Hailey didn't take that taunt lightly, her lids dropping to two small slides. "Can you do it tomorrow or not? Miss Glennson is pressing me, so come on." she let out rushedly through clenched teeth.

It was clear she would rather be anywhere else than here asking him for this, she dreaded it even more than when she asked me an interview and that's saying a lot.

Flashbacks of when I was the one in that situation almost made me laugh. She truly had a nice touch when asking for those interviews. But there was also a desperate undertone in her voice and I was sure Bear sensed it as well.

"Well, Gracie." he smirked like the jerk he is -again why did I hang out with him? I felt like I'd been asking myself that more than actually hanging out. But I couldn't remember even five good reasons. "You know I'm really busy tomorrow."

My blood freeze. No. I had a bad feeling about where this was going. It only got confirmed when I looked at him and found his smug gaze. I frowned. "Come on, don't be a jerk."

"Please," pressed softly Hailey, now more concerned than anything, her infuriation slipping away the more Bear denied the interview. Maybe she was risking a bit more than a simple article? "I really need this work done on time. I'll help you with homework if you want-"

"Homework?" he almost laughed, but contained it in at the last moment. My anger spiked at how he was intentionally playing with her. "Nah, it's not that. I'm sorry Gracie, but I'm really, really busy tomorrow, remember?" he turned towards me and procceeded innocently. "You know, that thing I told you about."

I can't fucking believe this. My blood boiled in my veins. Was he blackmailing me? Into making me go to that stupid double date? His smile stretched when he realized I was indeed following, not like Hailey that stood there with her brows pursed cutely.

Cutely?! Come on!

Bear sighed to add more drama. "Maybe if I had a little help I could find time to do this interview."

Both their gazes were on me now as he turned the situation in his favor. Bastard. I don't care about the stupid interview! I wanted to tell him his games of manipulation didn't work on me. I wanted to tell him to go to hell for trying to force my hand like this! But Hailey was, like, begging me with her gaze, and somehow I found myself saying: "Fine."

What? No no... Take it back!

"What's that?" Bear's smugness multiplied and I had to force down the urge to smash him.

Take it back, Nate. Do you really want to go out with him a couple of girls you don't even know? But my mouth seemed to have will on its own. Taking in a deep breath I found myself muttering through clenched teeth: "I'll help you with it. Happy?"

"Very." He grinned cheekily. "Thanks man." and turned towards a more light Hailey, that looked between us like watching a tennis match, confusion all over her face. "Then we can do the interview after classes?"

"Oh," she seemed baffled once he dragged her back into the conversation, blinking a moment. "Sure."

"Perfect. And after that we'll go work this out, okay Herond?"

My hands fisted. Fucking idiot. Manipulative snake. Idiotic-

Not wanting to create a scene here -in front of the few leaving sudents that still around- I spun on my heels instead of answering and marched to where I'd parked Letty this morning.

Kimmy was there, leaning against my beautiful baby and watching the scene from afar, arms folded and giving me a knowing look.

"So?" she detached her back as I unlocked the vehicle and we both slid inside. "How did it go?"

My chest squeezed and I clenched my jaw. What the hell was wrong with me? Why did I even agree with that? Why her last small, relieved smile made it worth it?

"I don't wanna talk about it."

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