Caught in the Middle

Chapter 2: Part 3

I ran through past the bleachers, my steps turning to a fast walk as I scan the field. Where the fuck are you Isaac? I knew Tuesday mornings they had soccer practice but there were no one on the field. Not a single player, not even the couch. I reach into my bag, scavanging for my phone... Where the hell is it? Frustrated, I drop my bag to the ground, quickly pulling everything out until nothing were left at the bottom but just a couple of wrappers, a comb and a hair band. Shit... did I just leave my phone back at the cafe? I groan at the thought I may need to confront Finn again... but also of the conversation we just had still revolving on my mind...
Not only did I not have my phone on me either... I mean, I could have lost it for all I know - I want to scream in my head - but I also had no way of contacting Isaac now... what if Troy and his gang were planning on jumping him today??! I growl to myself, thrusting everything back into my bag angerily, before zipping up my bag, jumping to my feet, swinging round and smacking hard into someone, making us both stumble back. I loose my balance and fall flat on my back, gushing my leg against a rock on the concrete. Ofcourse it happened to be Finn... and he had dropped my phone in the heat of the moment as he had stumbled back too. He runs his hand through his hair, stressed, a shocked look over his face. He staggers at whether to pick up my phone first... or help an angery looking girl currently sprawled over the ground...
"Shit, Gabriela, how the hell do you never manage to see where the actual hell your fucking going?" He rasps, exasperated. I start to lift myself up onto my elbows, wincing a little at first, feeling the thrumming of the cut on my leg that were now bleeding... but pain morphs to anger again and I begin to glare at him.
"How are you everywhere?!" I groan, whilst he offers his hand to help me up.
A small smile tugs on his face. He obviously found something amusing about this, I don't know the hell what! He suddenly turns serious again as his eyes widen at that sight of the cut on my bleeding leg. I take his hand and he yanks me up, my body thrusting into him, and he holds me flush onto him. The impact almost rips the air out my lungs... I look up at him perplexed.
"Oh shit... look at your leg...your bleeding, Gab." He says, eyes not meeting mine. His just glaring at the blood dripping and sliding down my leg. And the only thoughts revolving my mind are... Had he just refered me to Gab? Does he think of us as close enough to be referring to each other by nicknames now? Are his hands purposefully brushing my thigh?! - are my next immediate thoughts!
He really does look at me this time, a worried look over his face. Scanning his eyes around, his eyes flicker to the bleachers. At first his hesitant, but eventually he picks me up, lifts me over his shoulder, and carries me slowly over to make me sit onto a seating on the bleachers. He clearly knows Im baffled, crumpling his brows at me questioning.
"Finn. I have legs... I can walk." I answer his curious gaze. He scoffs, looking at me with with an incredious humoured look.
His eyes go back to my leg, a worried look crossing him again. His about to bend closer to look at it more carefully when we both hear someone.
"Hey!" We both hear as someone yells a distance away. Finn and I both look up, turning our gaze to see Isaac standing in his soccer uniform, making his way over to us from over mid field. It had looked as though the team were just beginning to run onto the field, about to begin their practice... and I wonder why had they been so late... none of this would have happened if only they were just on time...
"Hey Finn! What are you doing hanging around my sister?" He yells again as he nears us. But his smile is mocking, tugged to one side, I knew he were only teasing. Finn, on the other hand... His face hardens, strengthening himself up, trying to appear confident, fists curling by his side. His tense. I could tell. But also obviously agitated. I can sense Finn is not fazed by Isaac's playfulness. Infact he appeared slightly strained. And if Im not mistaken, the way his watching my brother with his piercing glare... he really appears to want to take him down. He steps forward, widening his stance, cracking his knuckles infront of him, whilst Isaac climbs over a long railing dividing the field and the bleachers, to meet us where we sit. Preparing to face Isaac, Finn swings his fists by his side. Does he really want to take on Isaac today... right now?! I notice as his gaze flickers sideway taking notice of my presence, making a mental note I were still there... His eyes drift back to Isaac, glaring at him.
"What was that Isaac?" He barks back. This is the other Finn... the one I've noticed when loyal to his friends...
But Isaac clearly doesn't seem to take notice, only laughing mockingly in return.
"I said, why are you hanging around my sister?"
"Do you really want that answer?" He growls with a mocking scoff, an angered smirk spreading over his face. Isaac's smirks is just as dangerous as he glares back, taking a closer step. His snicker is dark, eyes gazing away, then narrowing back on Finn. I begin to feel tense... I need to do something... my breathing picking up... a million thoughts running through my mind... I just didn't want anyone to start with just one punch... My heart was on edge as I literally sit at the edge of my seat-
"Isaac! Stop! Could I just talk to you for a min-" I begin to say before being abruptly cut off.
"Gabriela!" He roars, cutting me off. "Finn really wants this." And Isaac's not hesitant to show how eager he seemed to take on Finn too... to start something. He strides up even closer to Finn, nose looking down on him. "I wonder if you remember? What I saw that night? Do you remember, Finn?" his eyes firmly held on Finn." Do you remember?" His smirk excited but threatening. My gaze turns to Finn, whose fists begin to loosen... His jaw clenches and he looks uneased. He shifts on his feet. W-what the hell? What are they talking about?
"Your dumb brain is confused." He snaps, his voice breaking a bit.
"I'm sure Troy wouldnt be, would he?" Isaac's voice hoarse and deep, I hadnt heard him like this before. He tips his head to the side, then back again, as though indicating to his team on the field, who were doing laps by now. "You feel like taking me on now Finn?"
Obviously, when Finn's eyes peer past Isaacs shoulder, he had only expected there to be Isaacs friends there to support him. He noticed two team players watching on... Axel and Julien, both of who are good friends to my brother, and also on the team. I stand up immediately, feeling myself redden... but instantly feel a stabbing pain radiating from my leg. Finn turns, furrowing his brows at me, wondering what I were doing, and watches as I limp toward Isaac.
"Isaac!" I snap at my brother. "Dont be a moron! Do you want Mum to know, because I can arrange that. She could have you transfered you within a week. Do you really want that?!" I step closer to him, both glaring at each other.
"Gab. Sit. Your leg-" Finn says firmly.
"I'm sick of all this. You and this whole Bailey thing... this could end quick." I threaten him, pushing him back alittle with my hand. He stumbles back, a little shocked. He snorts.
"Whose side are you on?" He says watching me intensely.
I can't respond... He may be my brother but he were being almost just as big of a jerk as Troy himself. When he realises I won't answer him, he throws his hand down, scoffing as he turns on his heel.
"Whatever, Gabs. Go cry to mum. What do I care?" He says as he begins to jog back to join Axel and Julian, then the rest of the team.
"Apparently very little!" I yell back at him, in which he responds by quickly flipping me his middle finger.
As his further down I realise I had forgotten to tell him what I had come to tell him in the first place... Troy's intentions... I limp back to the bleachers, feeling Finn's stare on me. Grabbing my bag, I hug it close to me as I slide onto the seat.
"What Finn?" I question, not looking at him. He doesn't answer, so my eyes drift to him, trying to read him. He swallows, his gaze flickering over me. I'm not sure he knows what he wants to say, but he suddenly starts to look around, tapping at his pockets, as though something were missing. He clears his throat as his eyes narrow on something further down on the ground. He jogs down, and retrieves it off the ground and returns, holding out my phone in his hand.
"I hope it still works." He says, clearing his throat again. I take it, with a faint sad smile. I look up at him, and his eyes are wondering over me, like he were itching to ask me something... something he cant get out... so instead he decides to slide in next to me.
"A-are you not going to class?" He questions in a flat tone, trying to deepen his voice, trying not to come off as timid but tough... after all that had happened. Maybe to try not to seem as though he cared... I think about the question for a short while, before I roll my eyes, dropping my gaze to my hands over my bag.
"No." I reply. "I'm... staying." I look at him this time. "I need to warn my brother... you know?... about what you said earlier... I probably shouldnt even be telling you that."
Finn groans, dropping back, running a hand frustratedly through his hair, ruffling it up a little bit. He shoves his hands into his pockets, not looking my way and doesn't say anything... just gazes out toward the field, watching as the team do their laps. We sit in silence for a while, before he picks himself up and walks off before the team finish their practice.