Will

We lost.

By 17 fucking points. My chest aches as the team and I walk silently back to the locker rooms. The guys are doing their best to stay positive but it's really fucking hard.

We were doing pretty well the first half of the game, up by 10 points. Not by that much but we felt comfortable. We shouldn't have stayed comfortable. Everything became a shit show for the second half.

Our communication was poor and we weren't connected the way we usually are. I was looking forward to this win. I worked so hard for this win. I can't help but feel like all my efforts were for nothing.

I've always been competitive. In the back of my mind I know it's a team effort but it's not easy to accept this loss when we've had so many wins before this game. This was the one that truly counted and we lost it. I can't stop thinking of the things that I could've done but it's too late now.

After we finish showering and changing, Easton comes to pat my back.

"It's okay man, you still have time to win a final. Three more years to win."

Being one of the older guys, Easton has seen his fair amount of players and has expressed to me how he's seen how hard working I am. How dedicated I am to this sport, and now he knows how disappointed I am right now.

"We've got this Jameson. We will win." Dev says, coming up to stand next to me, Easton and Quinn.

I know the guys are just as disappointed as I am but they've never seen me this quiet before and at this point, they're trying to make me feel better.

The guys are planning a get together after this to cheer up the team but I'm in no mood to socialize. At least not with a huge group of people.

The only person I truly want to talk to is Thea. She's been like my own personal cheer leader throughout these past few months and I know she'll comfort me the way no one else really can.

As Quinn, Devon and I are walking back to my car, I pull out my phone to text her.

: Hey, how's that guy's game going? Ours just ended

I didn't want to tell her through text that we lost. It hurts too much to completely acknowledge it.

The guys and I decide to swing by Wendy's to grab some food, not caring about our diet anymore since the season is officially over and we won't have to start up practice again for another few weeks.

"You guys wanna go to the house after this?" Quinn asks from the back seat

"Fuck no, I'm too tired to deal with anyone else besides you two tonight." Devon sighs

"Same, I just want to go back and either get fucked up with you guys or go directly to sleep." I say

I don't mention my hopes to see Thea and talk to her about our loss.

After we get back to our dorm I check my phone again. It's been about 45 minutes since I texted her and she still hasn't responded back to me. Weird, she always texts me back within at least 10 minutes. Even when she's busy studying or doing a project.

I know that I won't be able to actually fall asleep until I express how I feel about this to her. I would talk to Alana but it's just not the same.

Guess my only other option is to get drunk enough to forget everything.

"Yo Quinn, you still have that bottle of Casamigos? I plan on blacking the fuck out tonight." I say

"Yeah man, lets get wasted. Just the three of us." Devon says

And on that note, we do.

***

Thea

I wake up the next morning to a pair of arms wrapped around my waist and turn my head over to look at Zach. A grin spreads across my face as I recall everything that happened last night.

After kissing all night and drinking a little more, we decided to come back to his place and hangout but ended up falling asleep.

I scooch over to the very end of the bed and maneuver myself out of his arms. I slept well last night but judging by the way he contorted his body to me makes it seem like he's going to wake up with a sore arm and neck. Poor guy.

I quietly pad outside to his shared bathroom. Ugh. Once again, I hate using a shared guy's restroom. This bathroom is looking way more disgusting in comparison to Will's, I have to admit. Will's is more messy while this one is dirty. Huge difference.

I find a semi new toothpaste and push some onto my finger to clean my mouth while mentally crossing my fingers and hope that a lot of the mess in here doesn't belong to Zach.

I then check my phone and notice 20 new notifications. Most are coming from Kari and Sienna while 1 came from Will.

Shit, how could I forget about Will's game? It was so important to him and I was so preoccupied with impressing Zach that I completely forgot about it.

: Hey bitch, where are you?? The guy's lost today and they're gonna need their favorite girl to cheer them up :(

: Hellooo

: Why aren't you answering?? Your second bestie just lost his game

: Hii, I tried calling you, are you okay??

: Nevermind, Stella picked up and said you're occupied

: Sisi told me that you're partying it up with the lacrosse team. You better call Will as soon as you can. I saw his face after the game ended and he was devastated

My heart drops. They lost? I was sure they would win, they were so confident last night. Scratch that, they've been confident this entire week. Several more text messages were sent by them and I begin to feel horrible. God, Will must be a mess right now.

I quickly open up my one single message from him.

: Hey, how's that guy's game going? Ours just ended

He didn't even mention anything about the loss, and at that moment I feel like such a shitty friend. God, what must he think of me? He must have thought that I ignored his message or something. My eyes begin to prick with tears. I know how much he wanted this and I wasn't there for him when he needed me most.

"Hey, I thought you left or something."

At Zach's words I jump.

"Shit, you scared me." I say, while slipping my phone back into my pocket.

He didn't offer me any clothes to change into last night and I felt weird to ask. We've only known each other for such a short of time after all.

"Sorry, I thought you heard me walking in." He says while leaning on the door frame

"It's okay. Hey listen, I really have to go. Something came up and I need to meet my friend."

"Is it your friend Will? I heard the basketball team lost last night. A shame, they got so far." He says with an odd voice and shift of his stiff body

"Yeah, how did you know we're friends? We're pretty close and I didn't get a chance to talk to him last night since we went out."

"One of the guys on my team mentioned that they see you guys together a lot. Were you guys ever in a relationship and stayed friends or something?" He asks with a little jealously in his tone

I automatically feel my spine straighten. This is exactly what I was afraid of happening. I didn't want him to think that I was too invested in Will or something- but he's my best friend, of course I want to be there for him.

"No, he's just my really close friend. We got a long really well and we hangout a lot. There's nothing going on between us."

Zach sighs and rubs the back of his head.

"I'm not going to lie, I don't think I'm comfortable with you seeing him as often as you do. I get your friends with him and all but I know his reputation with girls and if we decide to take this further, I wouldn't want you guys hanging out like that. People talk you know?"

At his words, I freeze. He doesn't want me to hangout with Will? But I've known Will longer and I trust him with all my secrets. He just gets me the way I get him and he wants me to cut him off? But then again, this is normal right? I mean, I've heard of guys not liking when their girlfriend is best friends with the opposite gender. Not that we have that label yet but still.

It happens all the time I guess? I sigh.

I think Zach and I may potentially have something. I don't want to end us either.

"Okay, I get where you're coming from. I'll talk to him about it." I manage to say softly with a little disappointment

"Great, I'm happy that we had this talk. Like I said last night, I really like you Thea." He says while coming up to hug me.

I guess I'll break the news to Will. Right after I finish comforting him.