AN: I'm sorry that it's been quite a while since my last update and for the mistakes towards the end of this chapter. I hope it was worth the wait. This chapter is more of a filler to get us to the hard stuff.

Chapter 4

Emily and the boys were running sprints today in the blazing heat. The sun radiating heat at an ungodly temperature. Sweat dripped off their bodies as they crossed yet another yard line to the opposite side of the field. Coaches wanted them to shave off a couple seconds off their 40s or to keel over according to the players. This would be a completely different story if they weren't running those sprints in all their gear. Emily could do this in her sleep but the added pads and helmet made it that much more difficult.

The QB didn't necessarily have to be as fast as the receivers but she disciplined herself to do everything that the receivers did. It helped the boys trust her when she first came to RU. They all assumed that she would wuss out of from the hard training but she would beat them in every competition that she was allowed to partake in.

"Shit Em, I don't know how many more of these 40s I can run." Caleb heavily pant out. Toby nodded along side his pals.

"One more then we can call a quits for the day." The QB took her stance on the line one last time after catching their breath. She zoned in on the opposite side of the field where the cheer squad practiced. Alison being the head cheerleader was a sexy sight to see for Em. To see her in charge and commanding the girls through practice and routines.

"Whoever is last gets to put together our ice baths."

"Deal." Toby and Caleb agreed.

The whistle blew and the players took off. Each one of them were pretty neck and neck but the last remaining feet had Emily slightly in front of Caleb and Toby. The trio leaned their chests out hoping they won the race.

"Fields!" The offensive coach shouted. Toby had been the last one to cross the finish line which was surprising when the man had such long legs. But for as muscular and fit as he is, speed wasn't his forte.

All the brunette could do was raise her arms up in victory as she forced her lungs to contract fully and her heart to gradually slow down. She ripped off her helmet in hopes in cooling herself down. Her legs felt like lead as she attempted to carry her worn out body to the athletic training center. As much as she despised ice baths, she craved the relief it would bring from all the soreness she could already feel setting in her muscles.

Xxxx

Cheer practice was particularly difficult these days because of the double time they were doing to perfect their sideline cheers at football games, in addition to learning their routines for upcoming competitions. Their first one wasn't until after football season concluded but they weren't National Champions for waiting around until competition season to begin to learn routines.

"Ugh! Girls stop. Again!" Alison was ready to rip her hair out of her scalp because today was one of their off days. They came few and far in between but it drove her nuts. She paced the sideline watching the girls attempt this set of eight counts again. Once again it wasn't coming together and it looked like a hot mess.

"Ali! Can we take 5? You're ready to kill us and we can't get it right now." Hanna spoke up for the team knowing their team captain wouldn't rip her a new one for the suggestion.

"Fine! Let's take a break." Ali stomped away trying to calm herself down.

"Hey, we'll get it. This happens sometimes ya know." The other blonde trying to get a chuckle out of the other.

"I know… it's still frustrating though. I just want to be read-" Hanna and Ali were interrupted when they hear a voice behind them.

"Excuse me? I hate to bother you but do you lovely ladies happen to know where the coaches offices are?"

Both cheerleaders turned to see a handsome man standing behind them. He stood at probably six feet tall, athletic build, sun kissed skin, black hair with the brightest hazel eyes that either girls have ever seen. They both choke up trying to formulate a sentence to this stranger. He had one of those charming boyish smiles plastered on his face.

"Uhm... H-hi." Ali spit out. The stutter surprised her because there was only one person in her life that made that happen.

"Erm...h-h-hey." Hanna tried next while tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "It's right through those double doors and follow the hallway to the gigantic mural of the Titan and turn left."

"Then the secretary at the front desk should be able to help you out." Ali added after the other blonde while smile her perfect smile at him as well.

"Thank you. I'm Derek, by the way. I'm new to town." He casually checked out Hanna and Alison but not in the creepy way.

"Oh, I'm Ali and this is Hanna."

"Nice to meet you gorgeous ladies. So cheerleaders or dance team?"

"As if." Hanna alway took a huge offense to being confused for the dance team. No one would admit it but the dance team at RU was atrocious. No one ever sat in the bleachers to watch their routines.

"What she means is that we're cheerleaders." The longer she spoke to this guy the more comfortable Ali seemed to be.

"Sorry my bad. I only meant that in the most complimentative of ways. Two beautiful women, blonde, toned bodies that I will gladly assume are flexible." Derek put himself closer to Alison and speaking each word to her as if Hanna wasn't standing there. The other blonde watched the interaction and was in awe of how smooth this guy was. He exuded confidence but not cockiness.

Ali saw the subtle way Derek moved himself closer to her personal space. She could spot from a mile away when a man or woman was hitting on her. Not that she was conceited in any way but he thought he was suave in his "moves" and she had a talent at reading people. She wouldn't admit it out loud that he was good though and she could appreciate his attempt.

"Nice observation but the quickest way to insult any of us cheerleaders is asking if we are on the dance team? Since you're new, you wouldn't know that they are awful so we can let is slide. Right Han?" The head cheerleader slid back next to where Hanna was in hopes of putting space between her and Derek. She didn't want to give him the wrong idea.

"Right. But I suppose he'll learn since he'll be sticking around?"

"I sure am ladies. I'm transferring in from a small college in New York." Derek was attempting to keep their conversation from coming to a halt.

Once Emily was finished with her ice bath with the boys she thought she could catch the end of Ali's practice. But what she saw across the way coming from the tunnel out onto the field made her stop and the boys smacking into Emily's back. She didn't hear their questions or see their confused looks. Her eyes zoned in on the dude hitting on her girl. She wasn't typically the jealous type but she didn't recognize the stranger who was speaking to Hanna and Ali.

Toby and Caleb followed the QBs eyes and realized why she wasn't moving any longer. Caleb also didn't look all that pleased at the man talking to the blonde pair. Hanna had the star struck eyes on him and was instantly annoyed.

"Hey guys, it seriously could be nothing okay. Can you two take a deep breath?" Toby tried to steer her two best friends from getting to worked up. It's not like they've never seen a familiar scene before. Both Caleb and Emily took a deep breath as Toby requested and started walking their way across the field.

Ali was growing bored over the conversation but Hanna kept it going. They were just about done with there break and she wanted to resume to practice.

"Well it was really nice to meet you Derek but we really need to get back to practice." She turned to walk back to go back to her squad when a hand grabbed her hand. Ali didn't shake it off right away but it stopped her in her tracks. The hand in her own was rougher than what she was used to. Derek's hand was larger and meatier than hers. It didn't feel right at all.

The head cheerleader turned around and raised her brow at him telling him he better get to it or let go now. Once Emily saw the way this bozo had put his hands on her girl she was ready stake her claim but realized how ridiculous it sounded in her head. The QB decided to slow down and come up behind the trio.

The girls on the sideline spotted the conflict brewing off to the side of the track once they saw who was walking up behind. During their break they were all eyeballing the handsome man who they didn't recognize. They were practically drooling and hoping that the blonde pair would introduce him to them. But everyone knew who Ali was dating and vice versa with who Emily was dating. It was no secret to this campus so to the cheer squad, this guy was very brave with his attempt at hitting on their beloved captain.

"Before you go, I was wondering if you could show me around town. Then maybe I could take you to your favorite restaurant." Derek smiled sweetly at the blonde. He let go of Alison's arm but dragged his fingertips over her skin as he did so. She shivered at the subtle way he touched her and didn't like the feeling.

Ali was about to answer when she felt a tan arm thrown over her shoulder with a 5'7'' strong frame fitting perfectly into my curvy one. Now that feeling was what she always craved. It was like coming home and she couldn't live without it. Caleb takes his spot by Hanna grabbing onto her hand while Toby stood by them all watching how this scene will play out.

"Sorry she can't because her favorite restaurant isn't in Rosewood." Emily cut in while pulling Ali's body more into hers. The blonde wrapped her arms around the brunettes waist knowing exactly what she was doing. Ali just shrugged while eyeing Derek. He gave the pair an odd look but more focused on her.

"Uhh, whatever this is is cute but I kinda wanted her to answer for herself." Derek ignorantly assumes that they are just friends and Emily smirks at his assumption.

"Actually I can. Seeing as I'm the only one who takes her there." Ali tries to not add to the exchange especially during this display of possessiveness coming from Emily. She knows she's always been the more jealous one between the couple. But she's eating up the attention and actually it's really turning her on.

"Can you give us a second? I'm just wrapping up this conversation with Alison."

Derek was growing annoyed of this girl interrupting when he was certain of scoring with this hot blonde. He checked out the brunette and realized that she was also hot. She stood tall and strong, definitely had the long legs, tan and toned, and perfect wavy dark hair that looks like she came from the beach. He thought "too bad she's not exactly my type".

"Why don't you just go and join the rest of your team over there and Alison will join you in a bit?" He stared right into angry brown eyes and didn't realize why he was receiving the nasty look. Emily's fist clenched hard at her side trying to ignore that arrogant comment.

"That's not my team but I can tell you her answer though, she'll have to pass and say no."

"Who do you think you are? I'd like to hear from her." Derek's anger was starting to take over and he was done putting up with the brunette's attitude. He drew his shoulders back trying to show his dominance. Caleb, Toby, and Hannah were watching the exchange between Derek and Emily as if they were watching a tennis match.

"I'm her girlfriend so that's who the fuck I am." Emily stepped out in front of Ali to block her from this douchebag. The blonde could see how worked up her girlfriend was starting to get so she decided to finally step in.

"Look Derek but I'm going to have to say no. I have a girlfriend so thanks but no thanks." It was the nicest the cheerleader could be without purposefully rolling her eyes and wanting to give him a tongue lashing of her own.

"You seriously can't be dating a girl." He was appalled at the idea that the beautiful girl he just met was dating the brunette that he was growing to dislike by the second.

"Excuse me I can date whoever I want. We're done here." Ali and Em went to turn around hand in hand and leave the stunned man when the football coaches voice cut through the tension.

"Oh good, you two have met." The head coach, Coach Bryan, announced.

"What?" All heads turned towards him. As Coach Bryan was flanked by the Defensive coach, Offensive coach, and the Special Teams coach.

"Em, this is Derek. Derek this is Emily, our starting QB." Coach Bryan introduced the two even though a whole exchange just happened between them.

"This is your QB? I thought Em was short for a guys name?" Derek looked utterly confused at this piece of information.

Alison began to grow even more defensive even though Em fell back next to her side once her coaches had arrived. She had never been good at letting other people talk down about her girlfriend being the QB for RU. Sure, they were used to it since they were in high school but Ali felt insulted as her girlfriend and as someone whose watched how hard Em has worked to be number 5 in the country. Hadn't he heard of her, she thought. The QB had made multiple ESPN and Sportscenter headlines since high school. She loved to brag about her girl so this made no sense to her.

"Anyways Em, he is transferring to our football program from NY. He's going to be your second string and your back up, if need be." Coach Bryan officially stated.

"Oh, that's great." Emily said through gritted teeth.

"Well he'll be officially joining practice starting tomorrow. So he'll be shadowing you and the boys. We can talk more tomorrow." There was no room for arguing then Coach Bryan turned to Derek. "Let's go to my office."

Derek followed without the coaches then looked back at the couples in disgust. He wasn't about to sit by and let some girl be the starting QB. So he smirked as a plan came to his mind and turned back to follow the coaches.

Emily was rendered speechless from the news. She knew that the day would come that her coaches would have to find a backup. Not because she needed it but because she was going to leave their program after next season. So someone had to step up and start learning everything that she knew but did it really have to be that fucking guy? The guy who had no disregard for her or respect for her girlfriend or the guy who assumed she was a cheerleader.

"Babe…" Ali needed to resume practice but not before she could check on her girl.

"It's fine. I knew it was coming. You go back to practice, I'll see you at home." The QB didn't want to talk about it just yet.

"Okay… I love you." The blonde knew when to back off.

Emily pecked her on the lips then walked away with tense shoulders and a stiff gait to her stride. She needed to let some steam out so she headed to the only place that would allow her to do so when her girlfriend wasn't available to her just yet.

"Alright, ladies let's get into formation one more time." Alison clapped her hands together trying to shake her thoughts away from the last twenty minutes.

Xxxx

Alison came home to an empty apartment which shocked her because she figured Emily would have beat her home but the air was frigid. No warmth radiated around and her girl always made it that way when they would be home at separate times. She combed through her blonde curls as she thought of all the possible places her girl could be especially since she is in such a foul mood.

Checking the closet, Ali saw that her girls other gym back was missing. She immediately knew where she was and contemplated whether or not to go to Emily or wait for her to come home. After today's events, she figured she would go to her. The blonde hopped back into her vehicle to make the short 5 minute drive to her girl. Pulling her car up to the curb, Ali stared at the dingy looking building from the outside. The exterior had misplaced bricks, some chipped paint from an old sign, with the unkept landscape.

The blonde stepped into the building and it opened up to a state-of-the-art kick boxing facility. The first floor held the boxing ring where people would spar and have practice matches. The second floor was where the speed bags, sand bags hung from the ceiling, sparring pads, and practice mats so everyone who wanted to learn new combinations and increase the force and velocity of their hits. The third floor held the most up-to-date workout and gym equipment with open rooms and mirrors for free weight workouts. It was the ultimate facility for anyone who is training or working out to get in tip top shape.

A couple years ago the apartment building was up for auction because it was being foreclosed by the bank. So the Fields decided to invest in the building and because of Wayne's background in the military he bought the building. He specialized in combative skills, specifically hand combat. Emily at the time also had some money from working through the school year in high school that she invested into their gym. She was co-owner of Fields Fitness Facility with her father. The QB spent her summers working at the gym instead once they opened. She had a voice in the design of the gym and how the operations worked.

Since college, she works there still more so during the off season and Em goes there to blow off steam. Everyone cleared the way to give the QB her space because if the boss lady was angry it wasn't good for anyone.

Alison went straight to the staircase to head up to the second floor. She could hear grunts and some sparring pads taking a serious beating.

"Geeze Em, can you lighten up please? You're making it kind of hard for me to keep my position." She recognized the voice of who she assumed was holding the sparring equipment while her girl took her shots. The blonde turned the corner to see Spencer taking hit after hit to the body sparring pad she was trying to hold up. Her girl's wrist were wrapped with gloves covering her hands, basketball shorts, and an old Rosewood High School cut off. Sexy didn't even cover that naughty thoughts that Alison had running through her mind. She zoned in on one singular drop of sweat that was sliding down Em's cleavage. The cheerleader shook her head to get out of her dirty thoughts because clearly this was not the time.

"Hey Spence, you wanna trade places?" Ali started to shed her sweater and hopped up on the practice mat.

"Please do, cause I need a break." Spencer handed Ali the sparring bad. She took her position in front of Emily.

"Come on, don't be shy. This isn't the first time we've done this." The QB nodded and swung away. She barely spoke any words, just swung. Emily particularly was hitting way too hard that she knocked Ali backwards and fell onto her ass.

"Shit, I'm sorry babe." Emily ripped her gloves off then threw them on the ground and reached for her girlfriend's hands to help her up.

"It's alright Em. You ready to talk yet?" Ali just sat on the mat and lead Emily to sit down next to her.

"I know I don't know Derek but I don't like him already just from my interaction with him today." The brunette started to wring her hands in her lap. It was a habit she picked up on when she became anxious or felt tense. The blonde placed her hands right on top of them hoping to pull them apart and hold one.

"I agree. I'm definitely not a fan but you can't let him get to you like that. Plus you don't have anything to worry about, he won't ever start over you. You're the captain and you've earned your spot."

"I know…" The brunette sighed. "There is something about him that isn't right with me. I sure as hell am going to give him hell just like Jake gave me before he left." Jake had been the captain and first string QB when she was starting out at RU. He had taken her under his wing after she had to proved to him how serious she was about the game. He was like an older brother that she never had but man did he make her bend over backwards to prove herself.

"There ya go babe. And I'm sorry about how disrespectful he was towards-"

"Don't you dare apologize for him. He's a little prick that needs to learn some manners. I'll kill him with kindness and kick his ass all over my turf." The QB's foul mood switched gears just at the thought. Her girlfriend always did have a way of turning things around for her. "Thanks baby, let's get outta here and go have some dinner on me."

"By the way, there's nothing more sexy to me than how jealous and protective you got over me." They rose from the mats and the blonde packed away the equipment while Em put her gear into her duffle bag.

"I was not-" Emily started while heading to the elevator.

"Ah ah ah… you know you were, so don't even think about lying to me." Ali raised at eyebrow at her as they rode the elevator down to the ground floor. The QB stepped in front of her blonde and planted her lips on her. The kiss was hard, needy, and downright filthy. The cheerleaders hands found their way to Emily's hips and gripped so hard that she was sure to leave indent on that smooth skin she loved so much. The brunette heard the elevator ding so she ripped herself away from her girl knowing she left her in a daze.

Alison stared at Emily's ass as she sashayed out the build to walk to her car. She blinked once and starting picking up her pace to catch up to her girlfriend.

"You can't kiss me like that and leave me like that." The cheerleader whined with an adorable pout.

"That was just a sneak preview for tonight. But we've got to get some food first." Emily winked at her girl while slipped into the passengers side. The couple pulled out of the parking lot with no intentions of letting Derek affect their night. No one got in between Emily and Alison, they were as solid as they come. They've had their ups and downs like any other couple but at the end of it all, they knew that they were each other's number ones. So whatever life threw at them, they would handle it because they are simply Emily and Alison.

AN: Thank you for reading! Leave me your thoughts and/or reviews! Until next time loves!