Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

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Lucas' POV

It took a long time for either of us to stop pretending that our pregame ritual was much more than that. Yeah we were winning and Nate and I were scoring more. We were definitely motivated but the thing is something happened between us. I'm not just talking about the sex or the near sex. There'd been an unspoken rule in our little game; no completion, no penetration. That worked fine for a while. A lot of what we did before a match was out of anger. We both have the bruises and bite marks to prove it. Then a month or so into it, we'd barely make it to the showers.

It started with Nate telling me I'd played a great game. I'd been sitting on the bench in front of my locker basically waiting for him to come down. The remark shocked me I suppose cause all I could do was stare at him. Not once since I joined the team has he ever complimented me. Yell at me, yeah. Bark orders and push me around, sure. Compliments from him were a foreign language he didn't understand being spoken to him. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

Then Nathan started getting more touchy. Like he was desperate for some contact. It was clear to me during our ritual as time went on. The kissing and the touching became softer, and there no more bruises and bite marks anymore. Whatever it was that caused the change, I was grateful for it. Fighting with Nathan was both mentally and physically exausting. So I returned the gesture, telling him he played well too. And let me tell you, it wasn't hard for me to miss the genuine smile on his face, and when his eyes brightened with the compliment. Right then and there I knew something changed between us, and I needed to find out how it happened.

"Nathan?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you stop by my house after school? There's something I think we should talk about."

Nathan smirked, "Really?"

"I emphasize the word 'talk', Nate."

"Alright if that's what you want."

"Thanks."

I was hoping he and I would figure this out together. Wondering if it will change what we have between us, and what we do together. If I were honest with myself, I really don't want to stop what Nathan and I are doing. But sometime between now and when we started out ritual, it got more intimate, like we were lovers. And I couldn't wait for the next time we would get together for another sexual encounter. Hopefully when Nathan comes over, I'll get the answers I need.

"Lucas?" I hear Nathan say, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Hey. You're here a lot sooner than expected."

"Yeah well, it sounded important."

I could only sigh, "It has to do with our ritual Nathan."

"What's wrong with them? We play our best because of it, and you want to stop now?"

"I never said I wanted to stop!"

"Then what's the problem?" Nathan said as he sat down on my bed.

"Somewhere along the line, the ritual changed. Haven't you noticed? It's like we no longer do it out of hatred and disgust for one another."

Nathan got that far off look in his eyes, and I knew what he was thinking. He's recounting every single ritual we performed together. A few moments later I can practically see realization dawn on him. He understands what I've been saying. And I'm hoping he comprehends why I all of the sudden am questioning it.

"I guess we have been becoming more intimate lately."

"Yeah." I say as I sit next to him.

"So what now. What do we do? Do we stop?"

"Honestly?" I look at him.

"Yeah."

"I don't want to stop." I whisper.