Ok so next chapter, i know everyone's desperate to find out how Lexie reacts to Tim and Lyla, but the actual confrontation is still a couple of chapters away, however the drama is starting to build up now. So i hope you enjoy. Oh and thanks so much to everyone who wished me luck for my exams. There finally nearly over :)
You found me
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Shit, I was so late it was unbelievable. Hitching my bag up my shoulder again I raced round the side of the locker rooms aiming for the football field. I was going so fast I didn't see the blur of movement and the next thing I knew I was on the floor. I was getting really fed up of being on the floor. I seemed to be forever hitting things. I looked up, this time however instead of finding Tim or Matt waiting to pull me up I found a face I didn't really know. The boy was black and lean. He was scowling down at me like I was muck. I grabbed my own bag and got to my feet smoothing down my top and pushing my hair behind my ears. "Sorry, wasn't looking where I was going" I said
"I noticed" the boy sneered. His tone instantly put my back up, I glared up at him.
"You are?"
The boy's sneer widened, he really had that disgusted look down to a tee. "Voodoo" he drawled. Ah so this was the new quarter back that they had brought in from Louisiana.
"The new 'second string' quarter back" I drawled back, letting the full force of my Texan twang come out. When normally I tried to hide it. Voodoo's eyes darkened and I knew my comment had got to him.
"I ain't second in nothing girl" he said dangerously. I raked my eyes up and down his tall frame.
"So sorry. My mistake, you must be third right?" I could have laughed out loud at his look of outrage but I kept my mouth shut, instead I moved round him and waving resumed my run towards my cheerleading practise.
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Tim felt awful. Guilt was clawing at him inside. Lyla had come over again this morning and he had been unable and unwilling to say no to her. All he kept seeing was Jason and Lexie's faces clouded over with disappointment as they found out. He could hear the cheerleading practice on the other side of the field and he was doing his best to ignore the whole thing. Not wanting to see either Lyla or Lexie. One person he had noticed who wasn't ignoring the cheerleaders was Voodoo. He seemed almost obsessed with them. When Tim turned to look at him he was once again staring over at them. "Which one you staring at?" he shouted out, curious whether he wanted to be or not. Voodoo casually turned round to look at Tim. Taking his helmet off to talk to the fullback. "What's it to you fullback?"
Tim shrugged and went to walk off again, when voodoo's voice called him back "You know that girl's the only reason I can find to stay in this godforsaken place"
Tim turned back and looked over at the cheerleaders "Which?"
"The brunette one on the end" Voodoo eventually said.
Tim followed his gaze and his stomach clenched angrily when he saw Lexie. She was laughing and dancing around with some others, her hips swaying in time to the beat of some awful music. Her hair was swinging round her face and her top had ridden well up her stomach showing off the fact that despite her parents protests she had pierced her naval. Voodoo was staring at Tim now. "What's up fullback. Have I touched a nerve"
Tim turned to glare at him "Don't go near her" he hissed stepping closer to Voodoo.
"What's it to you who I go near?" Voodoo drawled. "She's not yours is she?"
Tim couldn't understand the feelings he got when voodoo said 'yours' he almost wanted to scream yes. But that was stupid, Lexie street was more like a little sister than anything else. She definitely wasn't his. "Just don't touch Lexie" he growled out. Voodoo turned back to the cheerleaders
"Lexie" he drawled, making it sound really lecherous. "I like it"
Tim would have jumped the guy if Smash hadn't suddenly appeared and put himself in between the two of them. "Riggs what the hells wrong with you" he hissed. Tim hadn't realised he was showing anything was wrong.
"Nothing" he growled out.
"Then get back to practise" Sam commanded. Tim looked back over at Voodoo, his gut telling him to slug the guy especially when he turned back to staring at Lexie, and licked his lips. He took a step forward ready to go for him when he heard coach shouting "Riggins get your ass over here now" Tim paused and looked over to the coach. "NOW" he screamed. Tim nodded and pulled his helmet back on. Running over to the coach.
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My head was spinning from all the twirling I was doing, and I was out of breath when I finally collapsed on the track next to Shannon laughing hard. I laid flat out on the floor closing my eyes and letting the sun pound down onto my exposed stomach. I didn't plan on moving anytime soon. However Shannon suddenly poked me "Hey that new quarter backs watching you" she said slyly. I cracked one eye open to squint at her
"What?"
"The quarter back Voodoo is it? He's watching you"
I sat up quickly and looked over the football field. Sure enough over the field Voodoo was staring straight at me. When he noticed that I had spotted him he simply smirked, his eyes never left me though. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable I wrenched my shirt back down to cover my stomach and I got to my feet dragging Shannon along as well.
"Lyla" I shouted making the other girl jump. She turned to look at me questioningly.
"We've finished our routine we're gonna go change and everything" It wasn't a question but a statement and Lyla must have recognised that as she simply nodded and I dragged Shannon off the football field. I could feel Voodoo's eyes on me the whole time, making my skin crawl. I didn't like him watching me, for some reason it made me feel dirty. Why weren't my shorts longer? My shirt not quite so tight?
"Lexie what's going on?" Shannon hissed as I continued to drag her away from the field. "We weren't anywhere near finished, unless you count all that spinning as our routine"
"I just need to get away for a minute" I snapped back, not stopping on the furious pace I had started. Shannon remained quite this time and when we got to the exit to the field I looked back over my shoulder. Voodoo was still watching me, his helmet under his arm and a very smug look on his face. He waved at me when he noticed me looking back at him. It made my stomach revolt. I didn't like the new quarter back one bit. I turned my back to him once again and walked off into the changing rooms.
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"Jailbait"
I heard the shout from behind me and laughing stopped to wait for Herc to catch up to me, he skidded to a stop on my right side. "Hey Herc, you look decidedly chipper this morning"
Herc grinned at me "it's these chairs, no matter how much you complain, they don't half put you at the perfect level for admiring the female rear"
I laughed again, "Is that so?"
"And when it's as perfect as yours who's gonna fault me for looking?"
Snorting I continued walking, Herc wheeling beside me. "Just don't let Jason hear you say that"
"Ah QB doesn't scare me"
"Lucky you" I muttered, following Herc into his and Jason's room. Jason was in his chair looking at a picture of Herc who was stood on two legs, arms raised above his head with a medal dangling round his neck. He almost jumped when he realised we had come in unnoticed. I smiled at him and moved round him to sit on his bed, crossing my legs Indian style underneath me.
"When was that Herc?" Jason asked.
Herc looked surprisingly happy as he stared at the picture "That, that was a while back"
Jason pushed himself backwards and I watched suddenly proud of him, he was moving himself around now. On his own. "Hey your getting good at that. Very nice" Herc said, nodding at Jason's progress.
"Herc what's your injury?" Jason asked quietly.
Herc smiled "Same as you C17C1. Got our fingers, were the lucky ones round here"
"Oh yeah, real lucky" Jason said sarcastically as Herc turned to leave us be. He looked back at Jason at this comment.
"It's all relative QB"
"How long before you started playing quad Rugby?" Jason suddenly asked. I frowned, quad rugby? What the hell was that.
Herc shrugged. "I dunno about a year. Although half of that year I wasted drowning myself in self pity"
"Six months?" Jason asked quietly.
Herc nodded wheeling himself out of the room. "Six months QB. See you later jailbait"
"Bye Herc" I shouted to his retreating back. Jason slowly manoeuvred himself around so he was looking at me sat on his bed. "Hey" I said quietly. Jason smiled at me.
"Hey"
"Your looking really good. I'm so proud of you"
Jason smiled, "Thanks Lexie"
"So what's quad rugby?"
Jason's face practically lit up at the mention of the sport. He wheeled himself closer to the bed and I twisted round so we sat opposite each other. "Herc made them take me down to centre this morning to see it" he said putting his hands on his lap. "Its amazing Lexie. Exactly what I need. A sport, I don't work without sport, and this. It works like football taking the ball down the pitch into the end zone. But of course we have to carry the ball on our legs while we push the chairs…"
Jason went on and on about the sport until I could have probably recited the entire rule book to you verbatim. Laughing I put a hand over his mouth, effectively cutting him off from whatever he was about to say. "I'm glad you found something to smile about again"
"I really did, I needed that Lexie, I really needed it" I smiled at the wistful look on Jason's face. "Have you seen Lyla today?" he asked, rapidly changing the subject.
"Yeah why?"
"She just didn't come round this morning. I wondered if she was ok"
I frowned and nodded "She seemed fine at practise this morning. I'll ask her though"
"Ok, how about Tim?"
I frowned at the mention of Tim. Still not sure what last night had been about. I hadn't told anyone about Tim's late night apology but I found myself spilling it all out to Jason. Who was frowning as well by the time I had finished. "Tim only apologises when he's done something stupid" Jason said, then a frown appeared on his face and he added on "or when he's about to"
"I know, which is why I'm so worried. I wish he'd just stop all this crap and get over whatever his problem is and come see you"
"I don't think that's it anymore" Jason said softly "At least not everything anyway"
"What do you mean?" I asked
"Well he already apologised for not coming to see me, he wouldn't do it again. Which means he's probably done something else completely idiotic"
I groaned and rubbed my forehead "Well whatever it is I don't want to know. I have enough problems already"
"What?" Jason asked, I groaned and proceeded to tell him about my freaky staring match with Voodoo, and how creeped out he made me feel. "Tell Tim" was Jason's immediate response.
I frowned "haven't we just established that Tim has enough problems of his own, plus we don't know what he's done yet" I muttered.
"No but no matter what he won't let Voodoo hurt you"
"Voodoo won't hurt me" I reasoned "He just freaks me out abit plus I don't think he's used to people talking back to him"
"I still think you should tell Tim" Jason said "just to make me feel better, please Lexie"
I groaned theatrically but nodded "Fine, I'll tell Tim. But I won't be held responsible for the consequences. Ok?"
Jason smiled at me "Fine" he said.
I hopped off the bed and leant down to kiss Jason's cheek. "You need to shave street" I grumbled "Your cheeks beginning to feel like a toilet brush"
Jason laughed "I'll take that into consideration thanks"
"So I'll see you later, I think the team were talking about coming round to see you before the game. For good luck or something"
Jason's eyes lit up at this news. And I really hoped the team did come now. "Alright Lexie. You coming tonight as well"
"I'll try" I said, walking for the door. "Oh and Jason, I'm glad your getting on better with Herc now as well"
Jason snorted "I don't have much choice"
"Just admit it bro, your starting to like him" I could hear Jason's laughter most of the way down the hospital corridor, as I went to find where I had parked my truck.
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Pep rally's were a big thing for the cheerleaders. So why wasn't Lyla smiling. I couldn't help but notice this, even when I was flying and twisting through the air. Lyla hadn't cracked a smile once. She looked miserable and depressed. When the main routine was finished and the Panthers came streaking into the hall I managed to get myself over to her. "Lyla what's wrong?" I asked softly.
She turned to look at me, her big brown eyes glazed over "Nothing, I'm fine"
"Come on Lyla you don't honestly expect me to believe that do you?"
"Believe what you want Lexie" Lyla suddenly hissed "but I'm fine, perfectly fine"
Sighing I shrugged "Okay, whatever" I moved back over to my team, and took up the chant again, moving around to the sound of the band. Nearly all the football players were in the hall now and the music was dying down. Looking behind me I found three pairs of eyes all lodged firmly on me. Tim, Matt's and Voodoo's. Tim's look I couldn't really interpret. Matt looked worn down and almost as depressed as Lyla, whereas Voodoo looked almost hungry. I shivered and turned my back to all three of them. I could guess what had happened to matt. Coach had decided to start Voodoo, and to be honest at the moment Matt was the only one of them that I was interested in talking to. I smiled my way through the coaches speech and laughed at the appropriate places in Smash's rap. Then when we were finally able to leave I moved over to Matt. Taking his hand I walked with him out of the hall towards the buses waiting to take us to Arnett Mead. "Hey you ok?" I asked quietly.
"Coach is staring Voodoo" Matt said equally softly.
"He had no choice Matt" I tried to explain "If he didn't this whole town would have gone for his throat"
Matt turned to look down at me "M-maybe he's just the b-better player"
I shook my head "I don't believe that and neither should you"
"B-but it's true" Matt mumbled dropping his gaze.
I grabbed his chin and forced him to look back up at me. "No Matt he's not. Being able to throw that football isn't everything. Who took a beating for the team and kept his mouth shut? Who can make this team play and follow them? How much have you improved over the last week? Voodoo may be able to throw the ball a long way but he isn't a leader, he isn't a quarter back. You are and don't you dare forget it"
Matt looked shocked but I think I had got through to him "Thanks L-Lexie"
"No problem sweetie" I said reaching up to hug him "Now have a good game QB1"
I pushed Matt towards the bus and watched him get on. It was only then that I noticed Voodoo was still staring at me. He looked utterly pissed off as well. I just glared at him and turned my back. Following the rest of the cheerleaders to our own bus. I smiled slightly to myself when the bus pulled up in the hospital car park. I followed Lyla off the bus and watched as the football players got off the bus. Tim being last. Lyla had disappeared and Tim was watching the line go away without him alternating glances between the retreating football players and the door of the bus. Gritting my teeth I marched up to him grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the door. It was more shock than my physical strength that got him to move. I had no doubt that if Tim didn't want to move I couldn't have forced him.
"Your coming Tim" I gritted out "even if I have to drag you the whole way."
"I'm coming Lexie. I am" Tim said. His voice wavering. Somewhere on the way to Jason's room me dragging Tim had turned into just holding his hand. We joined the back of the line to Jason's room and I squeezed Tim's hand.
"It'll be alright Tim" I said softly. "Whatever it is you've done he won't mind"
"You don't know what your talking about Lexie" Tim said softly.
"Whatever it is that made you come find me last night Tim to apologise. It can't be that bad that we can't sort it out"
Tim looked down at me "It can" he muttered. The line was moving and I walked forward with Tim, still holding tight to his hand. Tim didn't seem to want to let go and I wasn't complaining. We passed Voodoo near the door and I moved into Tim's side to hide from his eyes which immediately snapped to me. I saw Tim look up at my sudden movement into his body and the tension that fled into him when he saw Voodoo. I placed my other hand on Tim's chest and pushed him towards the door away from Voodoo. We didn't need a fight in the hospital corridor over something as trivial as Voodoo's eyes freaking me out. Tim's grip on my hand tightened when he saw Jason laying in bed. I heard the slight sniff and I clung even tighter to Tim. He could do this, for both of them. Jason must have heard as his eyes moved to the doorway, when he saw me he smiled and then he looked over at Tim. Tim walked over to Jason, taking his hand in his empty one. "We miss you Street" he drawled, looking down at Jason. Who was obviously trying to hold back his emotions as well.
"Where the hell you been?" Jason demanded.
"You know.. round" Tim said softly. Giving Lyla a quick glance who was stood at the head of Jason's bed. The two boys didn't say anything else, but it was hard to pick between the two who was trying hardest not to cry. I smiled at Jason and moved forward to kiss his cheek. Still keeping hold of Tim's hand. "I love you Jason" I said softly. He smiled and kissed my forehead.
"go" he said softly. Pushing me away from him. Tim gave him a weak smile as well before we both walked out of the room, still holding each others hands.
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I couldn't help but bring Voodoo into the whole thing as well. I think i'm just evil lol. Anyway we have even more drama coming up next so let me know what you think.
