Author's Note:Well, I'm on holidays and have been reading so much lately that I decided to come back.
Warning: Moving forward, chapters will increase in their profanity and sexual references.
As always, I hope you enjoy the latest chapter. Let me know what you think!
- Chrissy
~ My Favourite Game ~
x~X~x
Chapter Eight: The Game
The next few days came and went in a blur of classes, homework, and way too much caffeine.
Oh, and a fool-proof plan of action to avoid Lucas Scott as much as possible. A plan that had taken almost an entire Sunday to concoct that involved a carefully crafted schedule of when to eat and where, the minuets it takes to cross campus between classes and the cafeteria and the library, the routes taken to avoid all possible interaction including when he had training and when he had classes, and even to a point where I knew the exact amount of time, in minutes, that I had to get into a place and out of it before the inevitable run-in. Haley had come home from the library that afternoon and had seen the elaborate strategy, burrowing her brows in confusion as her eyes flicked between the blueprint on my desk and my own gaze of determination.
"Is this really necessary?" Haley sat down across from me, and I curled my knees to my chest as I felt the bed slant from the weight of her. "It was only a kiss, right?"
This isn't something that just happens. You don't just feel this with anyone.
His words from that evening vocalised themselves in my mind and I closed my eyes in annoyance. Fuck you, Scott. I don't feel this with anyone. Period.
"Brooke?"
I shook my head and sent her a gaze that firmly relayed that this plan, this conversation, and this topic were not up for discussion. I couldn't. How could I dissect a feeling with her that I couldn't even label myself? How on Earth could I look at the one person who wouldn't judge me when I was so clearly, deafeningly, judging myself. She was too good for this world, and I was too broken.
With a few more prods of kind words and reassuring smiles and my continual refusal to speak, she finally dropped it, her eyes relaying concern as she sighed and shook her head before getting up from my bed and making her way to the desk in the corner. That was the good thing about Haley. She knew when she wouldn't get anywhere, and she just eased her foot off the gas. With her back to me she set to work, pulling out some books and a pen.
"I hope you know what you're doing."
I felt a slight punch to my stomach then. I don't know why her words impacted me so much. She didn't look at me but I could sense the tenseness in her body as she waited for my reply.
I laughed, the sound escaping me in a half-twisted howl. "Not in the slightest."
She turned and shot me a look of sympathy before turning back to her books and leaning in. So, it was settled. I would put my elaborate plan into action come the following morning and I would place the world back in the order is should have been, pre axis tilt.
I had to see Lucas three more times that week since our class together fell on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but he had been absent for the first two days and I found my nerves rapidly growing instead of decreasing, which thoroughly annoyed me.
"They've got a big game on Friday," Peyton had announced as she slid into the seat next to me and flashed me a sweet smile. "First major one for the season. Sometimes they get to take extra credit assignments to miss classes here and there so that they can prepare. Truth be told, I think the school believes the team can actually get somewhere this year with the new dream team." She pulled her fingers to air quote the last two words. "Candy?"
Breaking me from my thoughts I looked down at the bag of Twizzlers and smiled, noting that her choice in candy was just another reason why Haley would like Peyton. I nodded in response to her statement about the boys but raised my hand to decline the candy. My stomach would not allow it in the state it was in, but sitting here and knowing he wouldn't be walking through the doors made my insides relax ever so slightly. Rachel and Bevin made their way towards us and took their place beside Peyton, the redhead shooting me a look through narrowed eyes before sliding back into the chair.
"So what, she's one of us now?"
"Lay off, Rach," Peyton sighed, reaching forward, and grabbing a book from her shoulder bag. I couldn't help but notice the record that jutted out of the side, and she followed my gaze, reaching in and pulling it out to place in my hands.
"Ramones. You like them?"
"Am I supposed to?"
The words were out before I could stop them and Bevin laughed, a pitch so high even Mariah Carey would be impressed. Rachel snorted and reached for some gloss, carefully applying it to her perfect lips as she stared at me through narrowed slits.
"Bitch much?" Rachel leaned forward and flicked her fingers between Peyton and me. "Are you always this snarky when people are trying to be nice to you?"
I sighed and sent Peyton an apologetic look, but she met my gaze with one of amusement as she placed the record back into her satchel. "Sorry. Words tend to come out of my mouth before I've fully thought them through. There was no malice behind that statement, at all."
"That's probably not all that tends to fall out of your mouth-"
"No need to apologise" Peyton chuckled, cutting off Rachel's verbal onslaught before it had even begun and waving me off with her delicate hand at the same time. "I like that you tell it how it is. I find it refreshing. And also, I kinda knew your taste in music sucked when I opened your Spotify that one time."
That time she saw I was following Clay and made an assumption that was completely off track. But I hadn't corrected her and she hadn't brought it back up again, and something inside me told me she never would. I shook my head and laughed and her, gently shoving her on the arm as I listed off all the achievements of the artists I liked. She crinkled her eyebrows and scrunched her nose at each one of them but when I mentioned some artists like The National and Sufjan Stevens her eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store and I felt as though she and I were starting to find some middle ground. Truth was, although extremely mainstream, Taylor Swift had gotten me through some hard times last year and I was thankful for it. Her voice soothed me, especially her folksy stuff. I also associated her with a time when the world hurt a little but Clay as with me, and I pictured him pulling a hand down over his face as Cardigan rung out in my room for the millionth time. He made an obvious show of how tortured he felt, covering his ears in faux agony, and even sliding down the wall like the Wicked Witch melting in the Wizard of Oz just for dramatic effect. I smiled at the memory.
Taylor Swift would be a love that lasted a lifetime with me, I was sure of this. But I let Peyton know that should she wish to share music with me, I was open to hearing it. This seemed to satisfy her and she sent me a wink before the professor drowned out the rest of the lesson with his words of wisdom.
Wednesday came and went in much the same way.
Peyton came and sat with me, the girls begrudgingly followed, and the boys were nowhere to be seen. She began her tutorials of music in between our professor's voice and the tasks at hand. She actually amazed me with her wealth of knowledge, and I found myself spending time between classes with her, simply enjoying listening to her as she shared her passion for all things music. Haley joined us sometimes, and it started to feel like maybe a friendship as forming there. Peyton was so easy going and didn't push me to reveal too much of myself. It was a nice change of pace. I liked her, and I admitted to Haley she had been right about Peyton. She was so different to Rachel that I often caught myself wondering why they were even friends, but the reason was clear.
Lucas and Nathan. All things centred around the Scott brothers.
Across that week, I had successfully managed to navigate avoiding Lucas but that didn't mean his name was ever that far from my hearing. People talked about him and Nathan like they were gods, that they were the reason this school was going to win the championship this year because now Clay Evans had all he needed to pull us over the line. Where Clay had carried the team last year, Nathan and Lucas were the superstars the school needed to become the best of the best and there would be no stopping them. The boys idolised them. The girls lusted for them.
They were epic.
But over that week, Lucas hadn't sought me out. No calls, no texts, not run ins. I had half expected something and often felt my eyes scanning for him whenever I moved from place to place on campus. But of course, he wasn't there. First game of the season saw to that and despite my incessant push to stick to my plan, I felt my mind wandering. Faltering.
But why? I wanted to avoid him, it was easier that way. Every time I felt my resolve crumbling, I verbalised out loud what I said I wanted… to not feel like I was tumbling down another rabbit hole of falling for someone who had the potential to destroy me.
Benn there, done that. Wasn't keen for a sequel.
So by the time it reached Thursday and I had successfully navigated multiple days of no contact, I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If I could make it to the end of the week and not have a run in with him, I knew everything could be put back in place the way it should have been. I had one more day to go.
Finally, Friday arrived and as I sat at my desk and began to pull out my books and pens to settle into the lesson, everything went to shit. My whole body sensed it the second it happened, a shiver sweeping over my entire body and engulfing me in a wave of nerves.
He had entered the room.
I didn't have to look up to know it was true. I felt his presence the moment he arrived and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. It was like a siren went off deep within me and took hold. Instinctively I looked up from my book and found his eyes directly landing on mine, boring into me with such intensity that I couldn't look away. He had cast a spell and I was locked under it. Bracing myself for the inevitable encounter and silently wishing I could be swallowed up by the ground, I bit my lower lip and watched him. His eyes swept over me, taking me in as if searching for something. His eyes broke from mine and lowered slightly to watch the lip that had disappeared behind anxious teeth and his breath hitched slightly before he returned his eyes to mine. What was he searching for? Was it an answer? Did I even have one for him? As I contemplated what I was going to say, my heart thumping nearly out of my chest, his shoulders straightened and tensed. As if in slow motion, he broke the spell of our standoff gaze, and his eyes went from searching me to stone cold, a wall replacing his look of curiosity and blocking me out. Instead of coming to my side and placing himself near me like the first time we met, he shuffled across the room and sat a few rows back, my heart skipping a beat as I strained to not look at him. The others followed him as was the usual way whenever a Scott walked into the room, and as they passed me I was met with the usual responses from them – a large goofy grin from Nathan followed by a deep chuckle as if he enjoyed my uncomfortableness when a sigh left my lips; a small nod from Jake as he placed an arm around Peyton's shoulders and pulled her up the stairs with him to the back; the blonde beauty throwing me a kind smile and small wave as she glanced between me and Lucas who was now way ahead of her, eyes flickering with a question that never permeated her lips; and then of course I was greeted with a look of pure hatred from Rachel who didn't even both to cover up her disdain for me as she manoeuvred herself quickly up the stairs and to the other side of Lucas, casually rubbing her fingertips up against his thigh as she did so. She turned back and smirked at me, gleeful in Lucas' apparent lack of acknowledgement. A small lump sat at the base of my throat and my stomach kicked a notch.
"You know where to find me, Cheery."
It was the longest class I had had so far this year. I was thankful when there was only ten minutes to go and I would finally be free from the weight of the presence behind me. It took everything in me not to look back at him and will my face forward. I barely registered what was said, but I jotted down notes here and there when my brain decided to focus and release me from my thoughts of him.
"Okay, you've got ten minutes to think, pair, and share. On you go."
The professor's voice cut through my thoughts, and I glanced down at my book. I barely had three sentences and had somehow managed to doodle a million love hearts across the page. I sighed deeply and realised I would have to beg someone for the notes. Whilst I was contemplating my dilemma, I felt the small thud of the chair to my left being filled. I didn't have to look up to know who it was. His aroma filled my senses and brought me straight back to that moment in the library, a tingle coming to my lips as I relived the sensation right then and there. I brought my finger to my mouth as if to will the physical reaction away, silently cursing under my breath.
He noticed my movement just as I had noticed the grin that had touched the corner of his lips. This was different from the wall I felt earlier. In fact, it felt like the complete opposite and his intense mood changes were actually causing me whiplash. I was angry now, so I didn't bother to lift my head up when he sat and instead, I kept my eyes trained to the page before me that was covered in the ridiculous doodles. When he said nothing, I decided I would.
"You ignored me when you walked in today." I still didn't look at him. My god, that was hard.
"You've ignored me all week." I turned to look at him and he shrugged, baby blues hitting me with their own mix of mischief and promise. "You knew where to find me."
He was right. I did know and he had left the ball in my court. It wasn't a criticism on his part nor was it a judgement, he was just stating a simple fact. The truth of his words held more power because of his apparent lack of care. Why did that bother me so much?
My stomach lurched and my throat went dry. His gaze held mine and when he finally broke free from it, I felt as though I had been held in place by him. I realised then and there he would always have that effect on me. The cool, calm and collected girl who had built the strength to keep herself protected and safe from anything that could cause her harm, was suddenly defenceless around this one boy. It infuriated me.
"It's cool," he sighed, writing some notes about the book the class was supposed to be reflecting on across my half-blank page. I looked down and realised he was darting around all the love hearts, but stopped at the last one and scribbled his initials in it. My fingertips curled around the edge of the desk, knuckles going white as I tried to steady myself.
"Really?" I pointed at his initials with my eyes, and he smiled.
"Really." He was so definitive, so confident. So strong. It was like nothing could break him. "For what it's worth, I don't happen to think I'm the scary monster you believe me to be."
I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"It would be so much easier if you were."
He smirked and leaned just a tiny bit more so that our arms were now touching on the table. I didn't fare move, my whole body reacting to his touch. My skin was on fire. I hated him for the way he made my body react so obviously.
"Yeah? Why's that?"
I bit my lip. He noticed and swallowed. Hard. I guess he liked when I did that.
"Because then maybe I would be able to think clearly again."
Again, with that verbal diarrhoea of mine.
"Are you saying I'm in here?" He reached up and slid a lock of hair behind my ear before tapping gently on the side of my head. I didn't answer but I didn't need to, he knew it. He knew he had entered my thoughts and that he was wreaking havoc. I closed my eyes slightly at his touch and leaned my head into his palm, feeling my heart beating faster, the smell of him now a little too intoxicating. He grinned at my reaction, and we looked at one-another for a full minute. Everything inside me raged with an intensity that I had refused to let myself feel all week. Suddenly I was back in that library, heart racing, no control, body wanton. He leaned in closer so that his lips were positioned just above my ear, and I felt my breath hitch in the back of my throat as a slight gasp slipped out.
I didn't need to answer him. He didn't need my words. He knew he was right.
"Good," his voice was breathy, the warmth of his fingertips tickling the bare flesh of my neck as he raked them over the heated skin. "Now we're even."
My breath hitched in my throat, and I saw his eyes glance down at my lips before sliding back to meet my gaze once more. He was so close I swear he enveloped me. His eyes twitched slightly, and I realised he was in the exact same state as I was.
"Why won't you just let me in?"
Oh god. This was a silent torture.
A whistle rang out from behind us.
The chair to my other side shuddered under the weight of Nathan as he launched himself into it and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. His chest was hard, and I could feel the tightened chest muscles beneath his shirt as my back pressed against him. No wonder the girls swooned. His head rested on my shoulder and nuzzled close, shooting a goofy grin at his brother who narrowed his eyes at him in response. I could feel the bouncing of his chest against me as he chuckled from the reaction.
"So, we're going to see you tonight at the game, right? First of the season and it's a belter."
I glanced up and realised that people were already piling out of the room and that somehow, unbeknownst to me, the class had ended. I glanced around, eyebrows shooting up and heads bending together in whispered hushes. There was even a line of girls who had been watching, all looking with curious glances at the girl between the Scott brothers.
"Game?" The word came out choked, hushed and uncertain. Nathan laughed and ruffled the hair on the top of my head, his booming voice echoing across the classroom as he roared and glanced at Lucas in amusement.
"Is she for real? Does she live under a rock or something?" When Lucas said nothing, he turned his attention back to me, rolling his eyes like his time was being wasted by having to explain this to me. Not that I asked for an explanation, though I knew I couldn't stop Nathan from giving me one anyway. He seemed like the kind of guy who said and did whatever the hell he wanted.
"It's THE game, Brooklyn. Start of the season. You must be there to cheer us on. Well, to cheer me on because I know you won't be able to take your eyes off me and my awesomeness."
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes, but that move only made him laugh even more. When I still didn't respond to his request he stood up on his chair, eyes turning on him as he circled his mouth with his hands and called out.
"For the strength of the Pack is the wolf…"
Voices erupted around him, loud, clear, and determined.
"…and the strength of the wolf is the Pack!"
Cheers erupted around us then and Nathan jumped back down to the chair and sat behind me once more, shaking me from side to side. I looked at Lucas but couldn't read him, the wall had gone back up again.
"You're coming, it's settled. We can't win unless all our peeps are there, and you are one of us now."
Nathan leaned in and held his head against mine so that our cheeks were touching. Lucas stilled in his position and shot his brother a look. The wall fell slightly but I couldn't read the exchange between them. Nathan released me and held his hands up in defence, but the smile never left his eyes as he got to his feet and looked down at me.
"Since when?" I barked out, suddenly feeling the need for air. "Who decided I was one of you?"
Nathan glanced at his brother ever so briefly before flicking his eyes back to mine. It was a quick glance, but I noticed it. He decided. They both did. It was done. A quick nod and Nathan slid his bag over his right shoulder.
"Stop avoiding the inevitable, Brooklyn, and come watch us. You'll have fun. We will make sure of it." He flipped his brother off with a raise of his middle finger and he jogged down the stairs to meet up with the rest of his group. Peyton shot me a wave and Rachel shot me daggers.
So this was my life now? I was one of them?
"You should come," Lucas breathed beside me, standing to his feet and handing my back my pen. "It will be better if you're there."
My stomach dropped and that familiar feeling of helplessness came over me again. I could only nod in response, words having left me, and he took off after his friends, each falling in line behind him as he made his way out of the room. It was only when he finally was out of sight that I realised I had been holding my breath and I let it out now in one long rush of relief.
"Oi," the big booming voice returned, and I jumped at Nathan's voice. "Bring Haley with you tonight."
Holding my hand to my chest in shock, I turned to glare at the younger Scott. He let out a booming laugh again. He got off on annoying me, it would seem.
It was my turn to flip my middle finger at him.
He saluted me with a smirk before turning in his heel and exiting the room. I could still hear the echo of his laughter as he made his way down the hall and left me to my thoughts.
x~X~x
The basketball stadium's lights lit up the entire area surrounding it including carparks and all streets as people streamed their way forwards to grab their seats for the night's game. Grabbing me by the hand, I could feel the excitement pulsating through Haley as she led me through the thickening crowd of sports fans, darting through the already packed carpark on route to the gate for our section. Flicking me a wide grin, we made it to the door and handed over our tickets, the tall, older gentleman sending us a smile as he gave us directions to our section. Grabbing soda and a program, we made our way to our seats and settled in. I could feel Haley fidgeting beside me, hands clasped tightly and bobbing up and down on her bouncing knees. Reaching out I clasp my hand over hers and raised my eyebrows.
"You good?"
"Oh yes," she exclaimed, eyes glassing over in excitement. "I'm more than good. Can you believe we're here?"
Honestly, I had vowed never to step foot in one of these stadiums again. Haley didn't wait for my response, her energy bursting at the seams. "Do you think we will win?"
"Nathan seems to think so."
At the mention of his name Haley blushed, her porcelain cheeks deepening as I looked at her. "Is that why it took an hour and three outfit changes to get ready to come here?"
"I haven't been out in ages. I wanted to look nice. We're in college, after all. Isn't that part of the experience?"
I squeezed her hand a little tighter. "Mission accomplished. You look a lot more than nice, Haley. I hope you know that."
Haley's knee stopped bouncing and she sent me a look of pure love. I was still getting used to having a friend that wasn't after anything, let alone one that appreciated what I had to say.
"Coming from a goddess like you, I appreciate it. We can't all throw on some tight jeans and a tank top and look like we've walked off a runway. You do realise you're going to have to let me in on how it is exactly that you can spend fifteen minutes in a bathroom and come out looking like you do?"
I rolled my eyes at her and drank some soda. She giggled and brought her own to her lips. It wasn't long before the cheerleaders strutted out onto the court and began warming up, stretching their long limbs in full view. It wasn't long until I caught a familiar flash of auburn locks and noticed Rachel. Of course, she was a cheerleader. As if sensing my gaze, she jerked her head up, eyes finding mine and landing with a thud. She paused her stretching to shoot me a glare and I couldn't help but laugh. Saluting her with my soda, I shot back a wide grin and waited. Haley's eyes drifted towards the court and watched the standoff, Rachel's nose wrinkling up in disgust as she turned her back on us.
"What's up her ass?"
I smiled at Haley's words but settled into my chair, shrugging it off and looking out over the sea of red that was before me. I didn't care what was up her ass. I just wanted to get through this game, make sure Nathan saw that I had attended and that I had brought Haley with me so that he didn't harass me for the next week, and get home. That was it. Anything more than that would be complicated.
It wasn't long before the teams jogged out onto the court. The visiting team was announced first, and claps and cheers were echoing across the beams. The atmosphere was electric, and you could feel the excitement in the air. Everyone here was ready to watch a good game of ball. Then the announcer began to introduce our line up and the thunderous roar that came when Lucas and Nathan were announced was tremendous. They jogged out onto the court together, hands reaching out and slapping a low five as the crowd cheered. Palms and feet thumped onto the ground and railings as the brothers made their way across to their respective bench, enveloping me in the glory of their god-like stature. I swore the ground shook.
"Wow," Haley breathed beside me, and she clapped furiously, pulling me to my feet and encouraging my own applause. "Can you imagine what that roar must feel like for them? Can you imagine it getting any better?"
Nathan stood up and strutted forwards and backwards as he shot his hands in the air, inciting the crowd even further. It was a frenzy and I swear I almost lost hearing in my right ear as the girls behind us squealed in delight. I pulled my hands to my ear and winced slightly, Nathan choosing that exact moment to spot me in the crowd. He strutted back to his brother and tapped him on the shoulder, pointing to the crowd and pulling a hand to his ear, cupping around it like a headphone. The girls beside us screamed again and Haley stilled beside me, her gasp clear as day as she reached down and grabbed my hand.
"Did Nathan just point at you? Oh my god, he didn't, didn't he?"
The girls behind us froze at Haleys words and looked at me with quizzical glances, before leaning their heads together and whispering.
"Nathan told us both to be here, tonight."
If the girls hadn't reacted before, they did so now. Eyes grew wide and small sneers came from their lips as they looked both Haley and I up and down. I shot them a dark look and they quickly looked away, but not before putting their heads together and laughing once more. Whatever. I was used to this jealous bullshit treatment from most girls. I'd dealt with it before, and it was actually a thousand times better than the alternative. At least their disdain was a true reflection of how they felt. Their jealousy was refreshing. I didn't have to question it, or them or even myself. They weren't being nice for the sake of getting closer to someone else close to me. It was real.
So, I let it go. I let their jealousy go and I didn't react. They could sneer all they wanted. Haley shot me a puzzled look but decided to follow my lead, and I gripped her hand to give it a tight squeeze.
When I turned my attention back to the court, I could see that Lucas remained seated on the bench, elbows resting on his knees as he glanced up in the direction his brother had pointed. Despite the distance between us, I swear I could see the tiniest lift from the corner of his mouth as he smirked.
Fucker.
And then came Clay.
His name echoed across the court when he was announced, and the crowd went wild. If Lucas and Nathan were gods, Clay was akin to Odin. Red streamers flew in the air and landed all around us, the cheerleaders encircled him, flipping their bodies and clapping and encouraging the crowd as everyone roared his name.
Evans. Evans. Evans. Evans.
Clay threw a wave up at the crowd, did a quick circle to ensure he got everyone, and quickly jogged towards his team. They parted for him and began clapping his hand with their own, a smile spreading across his face as he seated himself on the bench. It took all of ten seconds before I noticed his smile faltered as he sat down. It was brief and well-masked, but I saw it. The noise of the fans faded away and I leaned forward, trying my best to make out what was going on. As if he sensed me, Clay looked up in my direction and his eyes went wide, most probably with the shock at seeing his little sister in the crowd. I realised then I hadn't told him I was coming, and I felt shame envelop me. I had been so wrapped up in my own problems that I hadn't bothered to let my own brother know I would be at his first game. Not that it mattered to Clay. It never did. He loved me anyway. A smile stretched across his face then, replacing the look of pain that had engulfed his delicate features earlier, and I calmed slightly.
I knew something was up and I knew I would have to circle back to that. I just needed to get through this game first.
"Really? Him too?"
"She must give it up. Only reasonable explanation."
I heard the snicker from behind me, but I didn't even bother to dignify their bitchiness with a response.
I continued to watch Clay but then his coach was in front of him, and the team stood to their feet, taking their positions on the court as the buzzer sounded off. I spent the entirety of it studying the trio before me. Whatever I had to say about them personally, the Scott brothers could play. Add them to the mix of my brother and I could see why people were excited for the potential of a championship this year. It was like they were one, completely and totally in sync. When one would dribble, another would be there to catch. When one would get blocked, another would suddenly have their hands in exactly the right position. It was like poetry in motion, and although I knew my brother could carry the team if he had to, it might not have ended in a championship which is something that would seal his fate with the scouts. The new level of professionalism and skill was something to behold.
I was excited for my brother. He deserved this.
By the final siren, the team's win was on another level. A clear thirty-point trouncing of their opponents. I knew that meant Clay would feel a weight off his shoulders and that thought brought me comfort.
"What a game. Wow, just wow." Haley cooed.
I smiled. At least someone was happy to be here.
I stood with Haley, and we made our way with the crowd towards the parking lot. She couldn't contain her excitement as she relived a play-by-play of the game, bouncing like a giddy schoolgirl beside me. Stats, shot percentages, impressive plays all tumbled out of her mouth in quick succession. If you hadn't been at the game, hearing her would have made you wish you were. Finally, we reached my car and I sighed, leaning against the driver's side as she continued her rant.
"And the three-pointer with five seconds to go in the second quarter? I mean, the style and grace. Clay is something else but man, with the Scott boys by his side they really are a dynamic trio. Could you believe it? They're going to do so well this year. They might even go all the way. In fact, I bet they will. Can you imagine it?"
I smiled at her and raised my eyebrows. She stopped her verbal onslaught and laughed, bringing a hand to her forehead, palming herself as she closed her eyes. She let out a small groan.
"I've been ranting, haven't I?"
"A little," I laughed at her comment and she made her way to the passenger side and placed her hands on top of the car. "But I find it adorable."
She huffed in embarrassment and reached her right left hand down to pulled on the handle of the car door but stopped suddenly. Her expression faltered and a look of shock came over her features before she nodded over my shoulder. I turned to find Clay, Lucas and Nathan walking to the team bus and shrunk back a little into my door. I was like a deer caught in the headlights and all I wanted to do was sneak out of view. The reality was though, it wouldn't have a made a difference if the car had swallowed me up. Nathan's head jerked to the side and his eyes lit up at the sight of me, a broad grin plastering across his face as he held two victorious hands in the air and faced us.
"Ahhh, you're still here!"
Lucas' eyes caught mine and I could see a faint smile etched on his lips.
"Didn't I tell you? Bet you couldn't keep your eyes off me, Brooklyn." Nathan surged ahead towards us, and I braced for impact.
Clay shot me confused look and I sent back a subtle shake of the head. He held his bag over his shoulder with his hand and sent a quick wink in my direction before he continued on. He knew he'd come find me later and I knew the inevitable questions would follow, but not right now. Right now, he got that I didn't want to speak in front of the boys and he appreciated it. Just another one of the many reasons why he was the best possible human I knew.
Jogging over, Nathan landed at my car and shot a look over my shoulder at Haley, a small smile crossing her features as she tried desperately to act cool when he sent her a nod.
"Do you know what winners get?" Nathan leaned in and raised his brows at me.
I jerked at his words and sent him a glare. Haley gasped behind me.
"Winners don't get shit from me."
I pushed him off and he stumbled back slightly, laughter spilling from his lips as he held his hands in the air.
"Not like that, dirty girl. Parties, Brooklyn. Winners get parties."
Just then the cheerleaders began filing out of the stadium and I watched as Rachel turned to see the scene before her. People stopped. People stared. Whispers began. Peyton and Jake sidled up to Rachel and turned to look in the direction she was facing, and I swear if it could have, I would have flicked a switch that transported me out of there. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid and for some reason, it just seemed to follow me everywhere I went. Sensing my tension, Nathan backed off slightly and frowned, studying me with an intensity I hadn't experienced from him.
An angry, croaky voice broke through from behind us and screamed out loud. "Scott, hurry up. Bus is leaving and I don't want to be waiting on your ass. Winner or not, I have a wife to get back to."
"No worries, coach," Nathan called out, his concern now replaced by the signature goofy grin I had become accustomed to. He began walking backwards, eyes flicking between me and Haley as he rubbed his hands together before pointing one directly at me. "See you at our place in an hour, Brooklyn."
"I don't like parties." I glared back, folding my arms across my chest in defiance.
"You'll like this one. Everyone is going and they're all celebrating us. What isn't fun about that?" He turned and faced Haley, and I could feel her gasp slightly under his gaze. "You too, Hales. Get your ass to my party, pronto."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and jogged to the bus. People began to disperse; the show was over. As the bus peeled out of the parking lot, I could feel all eyes from within the vehicle on me, questions and suspicions etched across all their faces. The Scott Brothers didn't talk to just anyone and as far as they could tell, I was a no-one. I felt the fear bubbling within me but pushed in back down, into its box. I wasn't going to freak out here. Not now. Not in front of everyone.
"Oh my god," Haley squealed, running over to the car, and grabbing onto my hand. She jumped up and down like an excited schoolgirl.
"We're going to our first basketball party. A real, live college basketball party. Can you believe it?"
"Didn't we already go to one of those?" I breathed, giving her a solemn look as a flash of me unconscious in the backyard sent a shiver through me.
"It's not the same," she stated, pulling her lips together to contain the excitement clearly bubbling within her. "This is a game day party. They are legendary. Hell, even in high school the Scott brothers were renowned for their game day parties. My cousin went to school with them. She told me all about them. She was kinda in with them, but not. More like third string, really. But everyone was invited to these parties."
"Did you ever go?" When I asked the question and saw the falter in Haley's eyes, I had my answer. She hadn't been invited.
"Are you worried because of what happened last time? Lucas won't ever let that happen again, you know that, right? He was like a dog with a bone and…"
I shook my head at her and she smiled. I knew it was a lie, but it wasn't fair for me to push my problems onto her. She wasn't invited in high school? Well, she was invited now, and I wasn't going to be the one to stop that from happening, even if it meant stuffing myself in the corner for the entirety of the evening whilst she lived the experience she deserved. I didn't want to go but I also didn't have the heart to refuse her. The more Haley's eyes showed the hurt of her high school years, a look I more than understood, the more determined I became. I was going to make sure Haley got the college experience she was searching for because for whatever reason, she had come into my life and had become one of my closest friends and that meant, she was family.
Motioning for her to jump in the car, she clasped her hands together in delight and scurried over. I threw the car into reverse and headed out of the parking lot, trying my best to push down the feeling of dread that bubbled in my stomach as we made our way to the house of basketball.
x~X~x
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