Perfect For Me

CHAPTER 42 (Ryan Lander)

"Why didn't you do anything?" "What? Where? When? Against what?"

It was currently Thursday after winter holidays. Me, Andy and Jeremy - or Andy, Jeremy and I, as Liam would say- sat on the soccer table, as always. It was unusually quiet here, no laughing about unfunny and inappropriate jokes, no giggly annoying cheerleader girlfriends. Coach had, like every year, forced us to daily practices. And it's only been three days, but they were hella exhausting! Liam's team did the same, after all everything had the purpose of winning against each other to be able to go to the championships.

"Against nothing!", Jeremy pulled me out of my thoughts. "WITH that girl that was practically pushing her boobs into your face!" Oh, that explains the pissed look on Liam's face the whole time! "Why would I want to do something WITH her?" Jeremy looked at me as if I was crazy. "Because she was hot! And obviously flirting! And you haven't gotten laid in weeks! And she was totally your type! And you usually always do something!"

He was right. I usually jumped at every opportunity to get a girl into my bed but recently I hadn't even noticed all the females fighting for my attention. Maybe because of a certain dark haired, blue eyed rivalry captain of mine. Maybe. His tight black V-neck did nothing to keep me focused on anyone besides him. Not that I would want that any different.

"You're staring." "Aaaahh!" I whipped my head around to look at Andy who had whispered in my ear and apparently found my shock incredibly funny. When my heartbeat calmed down, my head processed what he had said. "I'm not! Erm, well, at whom should I be staring anyways?" Wow, Ryan, great way to proof your friend wrong. Really convincing.

I shook my head at myself. By now I didn't even really care anymore if my friends found out about Liam. I knew they wouldn't tell anyone, and my boyfriend would be okay with them knowing too. After all Nate knew as well, even though Liam swore he had never told him!

Yeah, I probably should tell Andy and Jeremy soon. Maybe today when Andy would be driving us home. After I had shown Liam where his place in this school was. Because not even my "secret lover" was allowed to laugh at me. Not the way he was doing it currently.

Apparently, me getting scared by Andy was the most hilarious thing the other team had ever seen. "Well, I knew you were a scaredy-cat, but almost peeing yourself because of some whispering is something I didn't even expect from YOU! Should we get some tissues in case you need to cry?", Liam mocked me. I knew he wasn't really serious, I could see it in his eyes that he did enjoy the bantering but not because he wanted to make me feel bad. No, just because it was fun. Somehow.

"Well, at least I'm not the weakest hear. 'Cause I think someone who calls himself an athlete shouldn't be puking after a little warm up, should they?" It had been in the first year of high school and I admit that maybe the herbs I put on his pasta were more than just innocent herbs, but he still vomited after embarrassingly being the slowest at warm-up. Back then I had found it hilarious. Still did, to be honest.

"Oh come on, asshole! That was ages ago and you know as well as I do that it was your fault! You-", before Liam was able to finish his sentence, I walked out of the cafeteria. I probably would have started laughing if I had been there any longer. I somehow found it hilarious to think that everyone believed we were enemies when in reality we loved each other.

Nevertheless I would prefer sitting next to him and making fun of our teammates instead of each other. And to be seated next to each other in class, without having to pretend that I hated him. Instead we could talk and make jokes and maybe I then finally would be able to distract him enough to for once get better marks than him. Screw that, I would never be even half as good in school as he was. Or half as intelligent.

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"Ugh! It's the same each year! And each year I ask myself why I chose to be part of the soccer team!", Jeremy whined. Coach had pushed us to our limits today. Even I could feel my ambition in soccer fading. I REALLY wanted to win against Liam but thinking of the next five weeks of daily practise like the one today almost made me give up on the sport. Still, as a good team captain I didn't say anything of that. "Quit whining Jeremy! We have to win against Liam's team! I only will take victory home!" A few more or less enthusiastic "Whoo"'s could be heard. Wow, maybe I should start rehearsing my motivational speeches. Seemed like I sucked at them. But that was something for another day.

"Let's get going boys, mum will kill me if I'm late for our family dinner." Andy sighed and stood up, while Jeremy tried to at least put on his pants. It really was a miracle how someone could be this slow at changing.

I turned around and together with Andy started walking towards the parking lot. When we walked outside, I could hear a shuffling of feet behind us. "Wait for meeeeee!" I laughed. Jeremy was like a chaotic kid!

Not even two minutes later we all sat in Andy's car, ready to be driven home/ drive home. It took almost fifteen minutes to get to my house by car. I planned on telling them about Liam just before I would get out of the car. That way I would be able to run before they would have registered what I had said. Hopefully.

My phone started vibrating in the pocket of my pants the moment Andy had started the engine. Almost dislocating my body while trying to not have to open my safety belt maybe wasn't the best idea directly after practise. I rubbed my shoulder and looked at the display. Great. The devil himself. Contemplating shortly, I pressed "Accept".

"Hi Liam." I could feel the unbelieving stares of my friends on my back. Yeah, me talking to Liam would have shocked me too if it wasn't for our background story no one knew about.

"Hey, 's not fair! You just walked out before I could finish embarrassing you!" What? Oh! Lunchtime! I laughed. Liam sounded like he was pouting. Like Ethan, to be honest. Like fake baby voice and purposeful over-the-top sulking. The image was too cute.

From the corner of my eye I could see Andy and Jeremy exchanging looks via the mirror. They obviously could not believe their ears. Me talking civilly with Liam Williams and even laughing with him!

"Well, life's unfair." I shrugged my shoulders. "But hey, can I call you back later?" I didn't really want my friends listen to our whole conversation. "Okay. Just call me. Love you." Oh. Andy and Jeremy didn't even try their eavesdropping. I mean, not that they were able to hear what Liam was saying but if I said "I love you" back..... But if I didn't...... Oh, f*ck it! "Love you too. Bye."

I screwed my eyes shut, not wanting to see my friends' reaction. They hadn't seemed judgemental before, but what if they hated me now? What if they thought I was disgusting? What if they would out me to the whole school? What if they would beat me up? No. Andy couldn't even kill the spiders he found in his bed. He wouldn't beat me. But Jeremy? No, he probably wouldn't either. Probably. But what-

"Urgh, why do you always have to be right?", Jeremy groaned on the backseat. Looking around he grabbed his wallet and took out twenty dollars. With a whine he shoved into Andy's hand. "Well, told you so. It was so obvious!" What was going on? Searching for answers I looked at Jeremy. He sighed. "Andy and I made a bet if you would eventually fall for Liam or not. Obviously, I was in the wrong!"

I threw my head back and let out a relieved laugh. My life really turned into one of these stereotypical teenage romance movies. My friends betting on my relationship!