Chapter 3

"Brett". Chloe whispered.

"Get the fuck away from her", Brett shouted at Tom who used the lockers to steady himself.

"Or what", Tom laughed before he felt another fist hit his cheek. He stumbled back, his head colliding with the lockers, causing him to groan in pain. His fists clenched so hard that his knuckles turned white, and his eyes burned with anger. Tom pushed himself of the lockers and charged at Brett, his shoulders collided with his stomach, knocking the wind out of Brett. Tom used this distraction to take his revenge, he launched his fist into his face causing him to fall to the floor. He then climbed on top of him and struck him a few more times before he was shoved by Chloe.

"Stop it Tom, you're hurting him", she pleaded. He turned to look at Brett, blood dripping from his nose and lip. He stood up and kicked him in the ribs before storming out of the locker room.

Brett rolled over in pain clutching his side, Chloe reached down and stroked his face, doing her best to not hurt him.

"Brett, can you look at me, we need to take you to the hospital.". As soon as he processed this words his eyes went wide and he backed away from Chloe, shuffling to the other side of the lockers. Chloe didn't understand what had happened until she went back through what she said. Then it clicked, Brett didn't want to go to hospital. Something about them obviously worried him.

"Ok no hospitals, but can I at least clean you up. I think your nose is broken and you lip is all cut up"

"No"

Chloe furrowed her eyebrows at his clipped reply, "What do you mean no. I just want to make sure you're alright".

"I'm fine", Brett got up of the floor and slowly walked towards the door, hand clutching his ribs. Chloe rushed forward and blocked the door.

"Brett stop being such an idiot, I am not letting you leave here on your own, you can barely stand". She said sternly, hands on her hips and her jaw clenched. Brett slumped his boulders and looked to the ground, the redhead placed her thumb and forefinger on his chin and lifted it up. As their eyes connected, the stormy sea met a calm ocean. She brought her hand up to rest on his cheeked and stroked his face softly. She could see him leaning in as there eyes stayed connected, she could feel his breath on her lips and the redhead sighed. He brought his hands up to her waist and slid them round her back, pulling her closer. With one last look the gap was closed between them.

The kiss was after and slow, neither wanting to take it further and risk it ending. The kiss lasted a few minutes before the pulled apart, both dazed with big smiles on their faces. Chloe took Brett's hand and pulled him out the locker room towards her car. The ride back to Chloe's house was full of comfortable silence and the soft sound of the music coming out of the radio.

The redhead took tom over to sofa and told him to sit while she went to find the first aid kit. She cleaned up his face the best she could without hurting him and took a seat beside him. Out the corner of her eye she could see him playing with the hem of his shirt, the nerves radiating of him. To calm him down she took one of his hands and brought it into her lap. She knew he was struggling with what he wanted to say so she decided to help him out.

"Brett".

Huh, yeah".

"Would you like to go on a date with me", Brett didn't know what to say, he knew what he wanted to say but the word wouldn't come out. Instead he just kept opening and closing his mouth trying to get the words of the tip of his tongue. Not trusting his voice at the moment he just nodded his head. The smile that broke out on her face made his day, actually more like his week. Her smile was so infectious that he couldn't help but mirror it.

He left her house later that day feeling the happiest he has ever felt in his life, nothing could ruin his day. Or so he thought.