To Elluviel: I'm so glad you liked last chapter. I'm not a member of my school's maths team, so I apologise if my depiction of a meet was unrealistic. All my teachers have told me is the bit about there being cookies or biscuits, but that's probably because they're trying to persuade me to join. Anyways, lets just pretend this is how it works in Jim's school's league. ;)

To Artemis Holmes: It means so much to me to read such admiration of my work. I'm so happy that I could create something that makes you happy. You're welcome for the email, although I'm not sure why my inbox would be full. Anyways, if you do need to reach me and PM doesn't work, leaving a review on my story should trigger an email alert and I'll get back to you. Most of the fics I read in my free time are medical hurt/comfort, which is radically different than this story. I'm not sure if you like that kind of thing, but I'd be glad you share with you some good stories if you are. Otherwise, all I can suggest is looking at Archive of Our Own. They sort stories by tags, so you can search for a more specific genre or character. There are lots of great fics there! Thanks again for reviewing!

Chapter 29: Kings and Queens

One would think that at this point in our lives, Sebastian and I would have grown apart, but that was simply not the case. Despite our differing interests, we still got along famously. I'd forgiven him for joining the football team against my wishes, and he'd accepted my new role as maths team legend. After school, he'd come home with me to my house or me to his and we'd do our homework together—if neither of us had practice. We took exactly the same classes every year just for this reason: helping each other with homework. Our academic interests were similar enough that it wasn't much of a sacrifice for either of us. However, the juggernaut that never ceases to carve rifts in male friendships was approaching, and fast. Neither of us saw it coming; it struck from the depths of our minds where the most primordial of instincts reside. A woman.

I guess it's not surprising that two people as similar as me and Sebastian would fall for the same girl, but she appealed to us in very distinct ways. I'd known her longer than Sebastian had—we'd been acquainted since the middle of ninth class—but I didn't begin to see her in a romantic light until one fateful night.

~0~

For weeks, Sebastian had begged me to go watch him play in another football game. I'd only gone to the first one in an attempt to rekindle our friendship and earn his forgiveness. Now that he wasn't mad at me, I had no reason to bend to his wishes. It's not like he'd ever come to watch me in a maths meet. Every time he approached me with the distinct look in his eyes that meant he wanted something, I automatically responded, "No." I had far better things to do with my life than sit on some cold, hard bleachers and watch a bunch of dudes kick a ball all over the place. Finally, I gave in just to get him off my back.

The football game began just like any other, players running all over the place and no goals being scored. I was bored out of my mind until I sensed someone sneak up behind me and take the vacant seat beside me. I glanced over and was shocked to see Elie from maths team.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her. The rest of the maths team and I had discussed the frivolity of contact sports on many occasions, so I assumed she was of the same mindset as I was.

"My mum made me come to support my brother," she replied. "It's his first year on the team, and this is supposedly a really important game for them. Believe me, I don't want to be here. Why are you here?"

"My friend Sebastian keeps pestering me to come watch him in a game."

"You're friends with Lord Moran? My brother talks about him all the time, he treats him like a bloody God."

"Yeah, we've been friends for a long time. I couldn't keep denying his request, it was exhausting. Who's your brother?"

"I don't know his number, but I might be able to point him out to you if I see him." She scanned the field, sticking the tip of her tongue out in concentration, and I couldn't help but realise how cute she looked. "There he is!" she exclaimed, pointing out the boy currently defending the player with the ball.

"Your brother is Derrick Darner?"

"Yeah, how do you know him?"

"Sebastian talks about him. I mean, he talks about a lot of his football friends, he doesn't single out your brother or anything like that, but the name just kind of stuck in my memory for some reason. Maybe it's the alliteration," I rambled. I internally cursed myself for sounding so stupid, what was wrong with me? I never had trouble talking to other people; my oratorical skills were one of my most refined qualities.

"Are you okay? You look a little sweaty," she pointed out, wiping my brow with the back of her sleeve. I flinched at her touch, not used to physical contact from other people—besides punches from Sebastian or my brother. Connor had grown up into a feisty little bastard, already the same size as me despite my two-year seniority. Puberty had found him early, and he never stopped reminding me of it with demonstrations of his physical prowess.

"I guess I'm just hot," I said nervously. "Not hot like, sexy hot, but... temperature hot."

"I figured as much. But don't sell yourself short." She winked at me before rising from her seat and returning to sit with her girl friends. I'd never experienced flirting before, only seen on television or read it in books, but I knew immediately that's what she'd just done with that last comment. Elie Darner had flirted with me.

And I liked it.

~0~

The day after the football game—which Sebastian's team had lost, by the way—Sebastian was understandably grumpy. It was his first loss of the season. I tried to tell him that it was my fault; that I was a jinx and he shouldn't have forced me to come, but he wasn't having any of my logic. I decided to change the subject and tell him all about my encounter with Elie.

As I told him what had happened, I observed his face contort into an emotion I didn't recognise. He looked almost angry, but that couldn't be right. Even in the middle of a fight, he'd never hate me enough to be angry at my happiness.

"What's the matter? You look unhappy," I said, wondering what could be bothering him. He couldn't possibly be this sore a loser.

"Elie Darner? You said that Elie Darner said this to you," he clarified.

"Yes. Is there another Elie in our class?"

"Just making sure. Why do you think she said that to you?"

"I don't know. I guess she likes me."

"It would seem so," he grumbled through gritted teeth.

"Why does this make you so upset?"

"Because I've had a crush on Elie Darner since seventh class!" he whisper-shouted. I'd never known a confession to sound so threatening in my life.

"I'm sorry, Sebastian. I didn't know; I was just playing the moment. I won't reciprocate anything if it makes you feel better."

"No, I'd be a terrible friend if I ruined your first relationship."

"Sebastian, it's no big deal. I don't even like her that much."

"Yes you do, Jim. I know a thing or two about romance, and I can see it in your eyes when you talk about her. Besides, you two have way more in common. You can bond over maths team and such. There's plenty of fish in the sea."

At this point, I stopped trying to step down. I knew a losing battle when I saw one, and Sebastian was too proud to ever let me let him win this. He was compassionate; he'd feel guilty every second he was with Elie if he thought he'd stolen her from anyone, especially his best friend. As much as I hated to admit it, I was glad he hadn't put up more of a fight, because I truly liked Elie. If this went well, I'd score myself my first official girlfriend.

~0~

That night, I read every book I could find about romance and getting girls. I had one shot at this, and I wasn't going to screw it up with a rookie mistake. I learned that I couldn't come on too strong because girls didn't like to feel oppressed. Subtle romantic gestures were appropriate, but anything too extravagant and she'd think you were trying to cover up some fatal flaw in your personality. I devised the perfect, simple plan in my head to win her over completely. My job was a little easier since I already had proof she was interested.

I decided to do it during maths team practice that day, since I'd be surrounded by people who supported me and there'd be no chance for confusion. I walked into practice like it was any other day, but inside I was panicking. Never before had I put myself so far out there, and I feared my first attempt would go horrible wrong. When Elie walked into the classroom, my breath hitched and I disguised it as a hiccup. I stood up and walked to meet her halfway across the room, flashing a smile I hoped didn't come across as pained. I'd rehearsed this moment a thousand times in my head, but nothing prepared me for the intense knot of nerves that had formed in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't ignore the fact that she was three years older than I, and I feared I misread her comment at the football game.

Despite my misgivings, I couldn't turn back now without turning an awkward situation into a humiliating one. I got down on one knee (not to propose, but to define my actions as romantic) and held out a single rose with a small note tied to it. Elie blushed an adorable shade of pink and gingerly took the rose from my fingers. I'd spent an hour meticulously snipping off the thorns so there'd be no chance of her cutting her fingers. She opened the note, which read simply, "Will you go out with me?" and gasped. At first, I feared I'd mortified her with my advances. I bit the inside of my lip and braced myself for cruel rejection. Her hand flew up to cover her open mouth and she nodded gleefully. I internally sighed, relieved that nothing had gone horribly wrong. The rest of the maths team clapped as she yanked me to my feet and embraced me in a rib-crushing hug.

Of course the football team chose that moment to be on a water break.

I could sense a piercing stare before I thought to look up from Elie's shoulder at the window in the door. Sebastian stood there glaring, the look in his eyes saying far more than his mouth ever could. Apparently he'd expected I wouldn't actually go for it, that I'd feel too guilty about taking his crush away from him. It hadn't occurred to me that he might react like that. I tried my best to look apologetic without letting Elie know that was going on, but I think I tried too hard and looked love-struck instead. I probably caused more trouble than I prevented by trying to fix it then and there.

Sebastian walked away, taking the rest of the football team with him. Some of the more rambunctious players gave me a playful thumbs-up or winked mischievously as they passed. I guess it was pretty impressive for me to have scored such a great girl at only thirteen. If I had known that dating instigated so much more stress than it relieved, I'd have stayed far away from any romantic relation. In all honesty, life would be so much easier if human mating more closely resembled that of animals. Your mate didn't have to love you; you just had to have the mutual goal of procreation. It sure would save a lot of time and trouble. If all relationships followed the same perilous track that mine did, then courtship should be dismissed as an absolute waste of time. I could have saved myself so much effort, time, and emotional endurance if I'd stayed away from the realm of romance. In fact, if I could go back and change one thing about the entire course of my life, it would be my stint with Elie Darner.