Chapter 3

MaxPOV

I slammed my locker closed, earning a few looks from the teachers. I didn't care, I could swear right in my face, and they wouldn't give me detention. Ah, it pays to be top athlete in the school. Yeah, I'm better than my brother. Just don't tell him is said that.

I turned and ran into a hard, well muscled chest. My first thought was, Iggy, what are you doing behind me? I almost said it to, but then I saw the color of the offending object, if you can call it that. Black.

"What do you want?" I snapped irritably.

"We have to talk," Nick whispered in my ear. He had a deep, sexy voice.

No, I did not just think that.

"About what?" I asked.

Like I didn't know.

"You know what. I want to talk to you sometime," he said. He was still way to close for my liking.

"Move back," I commanded. I was pressed against the lockers, and his body still almost pressed against me.

He didn't do anything.

"Move back," I said, pushing him. He didn't move.

Well, he was stronger than I first thought.

So I punched him.

Well, I tried. He caught my hand as if flew for his chest. I hissed at him. Yeah, I hiss and growl at people that get me mad….

Nick raised his eyebrows as I hissed. I tried to pull my fist out of his hand. I couldn't. Wow, this guy was strong.

"Do you play sports?" I asked. Where on earth did that come from? I thought.

"Yes; soccer, basketball, track, and lacrosse. I also ski, but that might not be any help here," he said slowly, looking surprised that it came out of his mouth.

I looked at his outfit, and then said, "Well, you're lucky you came to this school. Our colors are blue and black."

He chucked quietly, bathing my still-to-close face with his breath. It smelled amazing.

I did not just think that.

I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent. Like woods and earth. Wow, I loved that smell. We live in Arizona, and there wasn't much woods here.

The bell rang, and I opened my eyes. He was looking at me, his eyes dark under his black hair.

That's when I realized it.

No, not that I was in love. That I was holding his hand.

He had never let go of my fist, and I had relaxed it in his soft hand. He was now rubbing circles in the back of my hand with his thumb. His eyes caught mine, and I started at what I saw in them.

Love, or something like it.

I felt my face go hard, my eyes ice cold. I recognized what was in his eyes. Not love, want.

I pulled my hand away, picked up my books up from where they lay forgotten on the floor, and turned to walk to my history class. It would be starting soon.

Nick was in my way. I raised my eyebrows. He smirked, said, "After soccer practice, at the tennis courts. Be there," and walked away.

Why on earth should I? I thought, but, of course, he wouldn't answer if I asked.

__________________

Something was on my mind all the way through history. What did I feel when I thought it was love in his eyes? Something foreign and unwanted. Something that felt warm and happy and good. Something I never wanted to feel again.

But I knew that was a lie. Of course I wanted to feel it again. Just not from a sexist pig. Not from an emo sexist pig. Not from Nick. Never from Nick.

"Maximum!" yelled the history teacher, you guessed it, Mr. Allin.

"What? Do you have some aversion to calling me Max?" I yelled right back.

"I have been asking you a question for the past five minutes!" he yelled.

"And this question is…?" I asked. Everyone's eyes were on me. I was used to it, being start athlete and all, but that doesn't mean I liked it.

"What is the Battle of Little Bighorn also known as?" he asked, still, you guessed it again, yelling.

"The Battle of Little Bighorn was also known as Custer's Last Stand," I recited from memory. Hey, don't blame me; I had to keep my grades up. So, in case you're wondering, which I'm sure you're not, I'm top of the class. Another reason eyes always followed me.

"Thank you, Max," said Allin.

I nodded and went back to daydreaming about Nick.

No, I was not daydreaming about Nick. Wow, I've been doing this a lot today. Think something, and then say I didn't think it…. Yeah, I'm having a bad day. I've just decided that.

The bell rang. I was out of my seat and down the hall before almost anyone else was out of the room. Just one more class today; French. I loved French class. It was always fun. Well, kind of. You just never had to do anything, because out teacher could ramble on forever if you asked her the time. Not good if you want to learn something, but great for daydreaming.

Then soccer practice. Coach wouldn't be there today, so I was in charge. I knew everyone on the team personally, and knew what they could do. I wouldn't let them get off with less than their best.

I loved these days, the team hated them. Go figure.

Then, maybe, just maybe, I would meet Nick. Just maybe.

_______________

French went by in a blur, starting with, "What time is it?" and ending in a full blown story about something or other. I really couldn't have cared less. My thoughts were on soccer practice, what I would make the girls do, how I would keep them away from the boys, who practiced next to us.

A team is only as strong as its weakest link, I thought. Well, in that case, we were really, really bad. Lissa had signed up for soccer today, after learning that Nick was playing. Well, at least she's going to be on JV, not varsity. We only have to practice together.

And I was coaching today… Lissa was gonna be hating life when I got through with her. Smiling to myself, I thought about it. This was going to be great.

The only thing I was worried about was how I would act with Nick practicing next to us.

Wait, why was I thinking that? I was going to be fine! I didn't like him, I didn't want him, I didn't care about him.

So why am I thinking about it?