((Note; Time line and ages are all screwy. I am aware some people should be way older than others but for the sake of the story I disregarded this))
I'd never had this much trouble catching my breath. But damn, was that striker from Bravos Academy fast. We were matching pace down the side lines, but he had control on the ball and I was struggling to find the right moment to stick my foot out and snag it. Out of the corner of my eye I could see my fellow defender, Theon, shuffling towards us from across the field, leaving his position. Idiot. I thought, seeing the other opposing striker make his way to where the field was now wide open, due to Theon idiocy. Jaime was yelling at me from his post at the goal, cupping his gloved hands around his month hoping his voice would reach me. While I couldn't hear him I could see he was trying to notify me of the wide open striker Theon had left alone on the other side of the field.
At that moment, I knew we were doomed.
In one last attempted to save us I stuck my foot out, already at an awkward angle to tackle block the guy. But, it was a futile attempt and only caused me to stumble. I saw the grass before is hit it, feeling my calf muscle strain as I hit the ground. I didn't see the goal, but by the sounds of Jamie's screeching, it must have been a post pass to the wide open striker.
I rolled over, staring up into the sky. There goes our shot at championships. I thought as I watched the clouds and heard the buzzer that ended the game. For a moment I thought about just lying here on the grass to wallow in my self-pity. That was in till Robb Starks head poked into my view. He was our center striker, and his curly brown hair was damp with sweat. He stuck out a hand to me and I forced myself to grab it and stand.
"You did what you could." He stated grimly. I groaned a little bit. He sounded like I was a heart surgeon who accidently cut the central artery. Jaime caught me on my shoulder as he came from the goal keeper position, giving it a firm squeeze as he passed. As I walked with Robb and Jamie back towards where coach and the rest of my team stood I mourned silently for myself and how I knew coach was going to chew me out about my mistake. How could I be going to collage on a full ride soccer scholarship when I couldn't even stop a guy who was only a few lengths in front of me? I brooded as I pulled my cleats and shin guards off, but was interrupted by an arm slug over my shoulders. I knew it was Renly's before I even looked. He grinned lopsidedly at me, but I only frowned in return.
"Oh, c'mon, we still have a chance at coming in third in the state!" He stated, squeezing me as he talked. I frowned back.
"You wouldn't be saying that if it was you who fucked it up for the team," I mumbled. Renly shrugged his shoulders, taking his arm back and reaching down to unlace his cleats and pull them from his feet. I crinkled my nose as he did so. "You sure do smell," I muttered, feeling a slight smile tug at the corner of my lips. Renly shot a glare at me and threw the cleat at me. "Oh no please don't let it touch me, oh god," I said, covering my mouth and scrambling backwards on the grass, feeling the disappointment of the loss of the game leaking from my mind. Renly laughed a little as he rescued me from his cleat by scooping it up and putting it into his bag. I stood, shouldering my soccer bag and waited for Renly, curling my bare toes into the grass. Renly was our right striker, but he was second string, behind Jon, so he didn't play nearly as much as I did. I was left defense, and since I did track on the off season I rarely got tried, so normally I would play a whole game. While Theon was subbed in half was through the game on my right, taking Renly's older brother, Stannis', place.
Renly clambered to his feet and we started off towards the dorms. I glanced over my shoulder to look at Jaime, my current roommate, and to see if he was coming. Renly lived in junior dorm building next to mine. Senior dorm was a palace compared to junior dorm. At least, that's what I had thought when I moved up. But that could have been because I roomed with Viserys Targaryen junior year and he scared me a little bit. Jaime Lannister compared to Viserys was a major improvement. Granted, Jamie insisted I make my bed every morning and he liked to hold secret card games at midnight every once in a while but I could get over that, and I had. It was May of my senior year of high school, and much to my dismay prom was approaching.
I squawked unhappily as my bare feet hit the black tar of the walk way and burned slightly. I veered off course to the grass beside it so I wouldn't burn the soles of my feet. Renly looked at me out of the corner of his eye, grinning that lopsided grin at me.
"Y'know, that problem of yours could be solved if you just wore sandals after the games," Renly stated, shaking his adidas sandal clad foot at me. I shook my head.
"Sandals aren't my thing," I said. Renly snorted. I looked at him, "They are a blatant attack on men's sport fashion everywhere," Renly laughed at this as we met the fork in the path between the Junior and Senior dorms. As he laughed I couldn't help but let a little smile slip from me. Sure I just blew the biggest game of my season, but if I could make Renly grin that lopsided smile as me, maybe I was going to be alright.
"Okay, fasionestia, meet me back here in fifteen for dinner." He pointed to the ground between us. I nodded.
"Maybe twenty, you stink so bad I think you need a shower," I said. Renly laughed again and I couldn't help but feel a little proud of myself. I'd made Renly laughed at me twice in the last five minutes. Renly nodded in agreement.
"Okay, twenty." He agreed. I nodded. Renly held a hand in farewell as he turned away and walked off down the path towards the junior dorms. Leaving me standing there looking at the back of his soccer jersey, the big number 29 splattered across his shoulders, and how the fabric stretched so nicely across his shoulder blades. Faintly I could see the muscles of his back shifting under it as he walked. He carded a hand through his hair, allowing me to see the bronzed skin and the movement of the muscle in his bicep. I watched mesmerized, as his black hair fell from his fingers, one slight curl from the next.
I shook my head and turned away from him, briskly starting off down towards the senior dorms. You did not just check out your best friend, did you? I pushed through the main doors. No, that did not just happen, that can't happen. I scolded myself as I started up the stairs, Jaime and my room was on the second floor. It should be written in the gay hand book; thou shalt not check out thou's best friend. Renly and I had been friends since fifth grade, and never once had I looked at him like that. I've looked at other guys, sure. It's hard not to look at Robb Stark's ass as he scores a winning goal in soccer, or Jamie's shoulders when he's getting ready to go to sleep in our dorm room. But never had I looked Renly. He had always been my best friend. And you do not look at your best friend's rippling back muscles.
I groaned at the thought and rolled my shoulders out as I unlocked the door to my dorm room and pushed it open. I had beaten Jaime in the walk from the soccer field to our dorm, but I knew he would show up soon. Tossing my soccer bag onto my bed I shouldered my way in the bathroom we had attached to our room. That was another plus of senior dorms. No more shared bathrooms on each floor, each room got their own. I stared at myself in the mirror, pushing my curly blond hair out of my face watching my blue eyes. Thou shalt not check out thou's best friend.
Thou shalt NOT check out thou's best friend.
Even if thou's best friend has great shoulders. And arm muscles.
I shook my head and groaned, collapsing back against the wall. "Thou shalt not check out thou's best friend." I said firmly to myself.
"What was that now?" I spooked sideways, narrowly avoiding the back swing on the door as Jaime pushed it open, grinning at me.
"W-What?" I stuttered, looking at him with wide eyes. This is it. This is the day Jamie Lannister finds out you're gay and will realize you've been looking at his shoulders for the last eight months.
"I thought I heard you say something," Jaime said, looking me up and down. I shook my head quickly. He hummed quietly, raising an eyebrow at me. He hadn't shaved in a while, something to do with going to college and his new roommate looking like he's about thirty and wanting to compare, so the wisps of a dirty blonde hair was staring to grow it. It looked good.
"No, I didn't say anything, maybe all those soccer balls to the head are starting to get to you," I said, pushing my fingers through my hair, trying to play it cool. Jaime smirked at me, but said nothing and retreated back into the other room. I went back to looking at myself in the mirror and picked up a cloth to wipe the dirt from my neck that I hadn't noticed was there. After I pushed my hair into the perfect I-just-woke-up-but-I-still-look-sexy look I moved back into the other room and shuffled through my wardrobe of clothing that I shared with Jaime, who was currently residing on his bed.
"What time is it?" I asked as I pulled a pair of jeans out of the drawer and fished for a tee-shirt. I pulled my jersey from my shoulders and tossed it onto the ground. Jaime frowned as the jersey hit the floor. He hated clothing on the ground.
"6:30," He yawned. Sure enough as I looked out the window I could see Renly waiting for me where we had agreed to meet. Rushing now, I pulled my tee-shirt on and wiggled into the jeans and just as I was starting to the door I heard Jamie clear his throat. I turned to look at him, lifting an eyebrow in question. He motioned to my jersey on the ground.
"I'll clean when I get back," I said hurriedly. Jaime frowned in disapproval. "Can I leave now, mom." I muttered jokingly.
"Your shirt is on backwards."
"Wha-" I stopped to look down at my chest to see the tag of my tee-shirt looking back at me. Sheepishly I fixed it before leaving the dorm. Jogging down the steps from the dorm and towards Renly I looked at my phone, two notifications of texts messages from Margery flashed across my screen.
Good luck.
Did you win?
I reached Renly and smiled in greeting as I typed out a response.
No. Heading to dinner right now. Meet me there?
"Margery?" Renly asked as I pocked my phone. I nodded in response, taking to matching his strides as we walked down the path towards the dinner hall. We idled in chit chat as we walked and reached the hall in a few minutes. Pushing open the door Renly waited till I had a hand on it before he let go, making sure the door wouldn't shut in my face. We found our table, which was right by the end of the line to the buffet style, food we had available to us. It was funny how high school students always sat in the same place, yet wined when given assigned seating in class. Renly and I choose this seat because we could sit and watch our peers. Granted we dropped comments, none of them to nice, about everyone as they walked by.
I fished around in my pocket for my food card before realizing with a start that I had left it in my room. Renly must have read this from my expression. He whipped out his card and smiled at me.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"No don't bother I can run back and get my card…" I drifted off as I realized that Renly would never give up once he insisted on feeding me. Renly stood and shrugged.
"You're one of those geeks who eats healthy food even if they are star soccer players and conditioning every day so I will figure something out," He stated before spinning on his heel and starting off towards the food. My eyes drifted to his shoulders before quickly looking down at my hands. Thou shalt not check out thou's best friend. While I waited for him to return I took my phone out again, looking at the response of yes from Margery about meeting me for dinner. I left my phone on the table in front of me. A few moments later Renly returned, taking a seat next to me. He handed me a plate of salad. I eyed it carefully, Renly was not renowned for his salad making skills. Renly shrugged at my look as he shoved a few french fries into his mouth.
"I just followed Sansa and put whatever she was putting on her salad on yours," He said, voice slightly muffled as he ate. I pursed my lips, Sansa seemed pretty reliable in salad making skills. Maybe whatever was in this salad was the secret to why she was so skinny. Shrugging I started eating it. As we ate we did what we always did, commented to each other about who walked by.
"I heard that Jon's natural hair color isn't black." Renly whispered to me as said boy walked by us. I laughed a little bit.
"No way."
"Yes way!" Renly said, grinning around the food in his mouth.
"How would anyone know? It sure looks natural," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. Renly smirked.
"Well, I heard it from Osha who heard it from Ygritte," Renly said, forking another handful of french fries into his mouth.
"And what would Ygritte know about Jon's hair color?"
"You know how they had a thing a few month back, well, obviously they did the deed and she said that down there-" Renly motioned to his own lower regions."-the hair isn't black." I scoffed.
"I don't think so," I muttered, spearing a tomato with my fork. Renly raised his eyebrows at me.
"Like you would know any better!"
"Point taken," I mumbled, moving back to watching the students file by. "Oh, well I heard that Gregor Clegane is on steroids." I said, pointing my fork towards the senior in question who was shoving some poor freshmen out of the way. Renly snorted.
"Well duh."
"And Brienna," I started, motioning towards the sophomore, "Jamie is going to ask her to prom." That caught Renly attention.
"Who are you asking to prom?" He asked all of the sudden. I looked at him, opening my mouth as if I had a quick come back in mind, which of course I didn't. I snapped my mouth shut quickly. Not that I hadn't thought about a prom date, it was one of those nagging things in the back of my mind. My junior year I hadn't even bother to go to prom, I chose instead to stay at home and shoot virtual zombies in till I thought my brain had melted into a puddle of mush from staring at the screen for so long. But this year, it being my senior year and all, I knew I couldn't skip out on prom. The hardest part so far had been finding a date, being gay and all I wasn't sure I was qualified to ask a girl and break her heart a little bit because I was to awkward to really want to kiss her.
"I haven't thought about it," I lied, chewing. I watched the line of students move for a second before I let the question slip from my mouth. "Who are you asking?" I scolded myself for hoping a little bit that he wouldn't answer. For a moment he didn't, he just ate in silence. This worried me slightly.
"Well, I've been meaning to talk to you about this," Renly started, putting down the food in his hand. I swallowed. Oh god, what having to do with prom could Renly and I have to consult each other about. "I asked Margery."
My heart dropped into my stomach.
Thou shalt not be jealous when thou's straight best friend asks thou's sister to prom.
"Wait, like my Margery?" I said, placing my fork down. "Like my sister, Margery?" Renly card his hands through his hair and I cursed myself for finding the slightly sheepish look on his face attractive.
"That's why I said I need to talk to you about it-"
Speak of the devil, Margery sat down across from me. I had almost forgotten that I had told her to meet me for dinner. She smiled and greeted us, her brown hair swept up into the bun on top of her head. She wore sweatpants and a tank top, but as always, my sister looked perfect. Glancing towards Renly I swore I saw a look in his eyes that he never gave to me; lust. Suddenly losing my drive to eat this wonderful salad that Renly had copied from Sansa I stood, knocking the water I had open over in the process. Renly scooped it up as quickly as possible, but it still spilled across the table.
"Sorry, I'll just-" I stumbled, suddenly embarrassed and used my tee-shirt to try and wipe up some of the water. Renly and Margery both looked at me in question as I stood above them, "You know what, I'm not feeling too good, I'm just gonna go. See you guys tomorrow," I said quickly. I saw Renly open his mouth as if he argue with me before he snapped it shut. Margery narrowed her eyes at me.
"But, you said you would meet me for dinner." She said stubbornly.
"I'll just… I'll see you second period tomorrow," I said quickly before walked away towards the door, feeling their stares boring into my back. I wasn't lying, I didn't feel great. And I really didn't feel great as I walked towards my dorm, my shirt damp from the water spill and clinging to my stomach and the knowledge that my best friend was taking my little sister to prom without asking me weighing down my heart.
I tried to convince myself that I was upset because she was my sister, and he should have asked me first before he asked her. But, as I walked with the imaginary vision of the both of them sitting in the dining hall, holding hand and laughing like a love sick middle school couple I knew deep down that it wasn't that it was my sister holding Renly Barentheon's hand that made me upset, it was that I wasn't in her place.
Jaime made me clean my side of our room when I got back and even dared to get mad at me when I didn't fold the clothing as I put it into the drawer. He stopped me as I reached for my jersey, mumbling about the dirt and how he would get it washed and tossed it in with his clothing. Jamie owned a car, so he actually had the ability to leave campus when it was permitted. Because of this, getting clothes washed was a much easier task for him then it was for me. The only way I could get mine washed was if either Jamie did it for me, or I went back home on the weekends, which I rarely did.
Once my two drawers of our beauro was deemed acceptable from Jaime I collapsed onto my bed, not noticing the ach in my calf in till I hit the pillows. Groaning I reached down to touch it, Jamie stood over me like any worried goalie would if his star defender was aching. Jamie was my goal keeper, the only goal keeper I might add. So while I wasn't always his biggest fan, we got along. And we had won and lost games together, so I guess that forms a kind of bond between two guys.
"Does your calf hurt?" He asked, sitting down at the foot of the bed as I propped myself up on my elbows.
"Yeah that bastard striker from Bravos made me fall," I muttered, kneading my calf between my fingers in a hope to make it feel better. Jamie laughed at my words.
"From how I saw it, you made yourself fall, he was just making the best play of his season." Jaime said, pushing my hands away from my calf so that he could rub at it instead. Jamie was going to collage to be a trainer, so whenever someone got hurt on the team we were much more likely to go to Jaime then to the nurse who might forbid us from playing. I flopped back down onto the bed, letting Jamie do his thing. The flood of memories came back about Margery and Renly and prom and I groaned a little bit in frustration. Jaime looked at me.
"Still upset over the game?" He asked, obviously making my groan out to be a sign of my frustration about the game, not over my best friend going to prom with my sister.
"Yeah," I lied, gritting my teeth a bit as Jaime dug his fingers into my calf muscle.
"It wasn't your fault," Jaime muttered, looking down at the work he was doing on my calf. "You did really fuck up by letting that striker get a few lengths in front of you and not being able to catch him…"
"Thanks," I grunted, covering my face with my hands, "Thanks for reminding me about that splendid occasion."
"But the goal wasn't your fault. Theon shouldn't have left his position on covering that other striker, it was a dumb move. If he had stayed where he was then the striker you couldn't catch would have tried to shoot on goal. And we all know I would have stopped it," Jaime finished, grinning at me. I didn't bother to comment that Jaime was worse at stopping goals coming from the right, which was where the striker would have been shooting from. We descended into silence, Jaime rubbing my calf and me staring up at the ceiling. The sound of a knock at the door interrupted our moment of silence.
"Come in," I yelled to the door, propping myself up to look at who it was. The door knob jingled for a second before it was opened. I knew it was Renly just by the grey sweatshirt that he had his hands shoved into. Sophomore year Renly and I had been the only ones who had gone to the soccer camp that had given us those grey sweatshirts. Jaime dug his fingers particularly hard into my calf and I squawked in argument to it.
"Am I interpreting something…?" Renly said, moving a hand to grip the door frame. I scrambled to my feet quickly.
"No, no, Jamie was just," I started before stopping myself and moving towards Renly. Gently I pushed him out of the door so Jaime wouldn't have to watch our whole exchange. As my hand touched his chest I winced slightly at the heat that pooled in my stomach at the feel of the muscle underneath his sweatshirt. Renly had changed since I had last seen him, now wearing something that looked much more like he was going to sleep in. Which he should have, it was 8:30, and they made us shut lights off at 9 on school nights.
"What are you doing here?" I asked quietly as I shut the door behind me and leaned against it. Renly reached into his pocket and pulled out something.
"You left your phone at the table when you left." Renly stated, pressing the electronic into my palm. I scolded myself for being such an idiot. How do you leave your phone on a table and not realize it till two hours later? I hurriedly stuffed my phone into my track pants pocket.
"Oh, uh, thanks," I managed to say, feeling embarrassed to a whole new level. Renly rocked on his heels for a moment.
"We don't have to go to prom if you don't want to," Renly said suddenly. My head snapped up as I looked at him.
"What?"
"We don't have to go. I was only going to go if you were," Renly said sheepishly, running his fingers through his hair, "We can go up to the peak instead if you want, just the two of us," The peak was what everyone referred to as the mountain about a two hours' drive away from school. It had a little base town with shops and hotels and stuff like that so on the weekends kids who could drive would head over there just to get out. Renly's family had a condo on the outskirts of town that they vacation to a lot. The thought of Renly and me all alone for a weekend sounded nice but I shook my head.
"No." I said, "It's my senior year I have to go to prom," I mumbled. Renly looked as if he was going to argue with me before I held up a hand to stop him, "Besides, Margery is counting on you," I forced a smile onto my lips. "And I know for a fact that she already bought her dress," I had helped her pick it out last weekend. I realized suddenly that if I had helped her pick her dress out a week ago, Renly must have been hiding his secret about asking her for just as long. Even worse, Margery had hid it from me too. Renly nodded, a slight smile on his lips.
"Well, in that case, we need to find you a date!"